Stranglers of Bombay band

Rich Hein

Rich's interest in music began at an early age watching the Beatles cartoon show, leading to a lifelong appreciation for the bands music. The Monkees and Hardy Boys shows also gave early inspiration for what would later happen. "I remember my friends and I grabbing tennis rackets jumping up and down on couches pretending we were in a band says Rich. "I told my friends when we get older we're going to start a band!" Rich would be the only one of this early circle of friends that would do this!

Up tempo music always caught Rich's ear and it wasn't long into his teenage years that hard rock and Heavy Metal were discovered. Using the Beatles as melodic guides, bands such as Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, and Kiss were early favorites. Local bands such as RAIL and Striker gave even more incentive to get into the music business, as they were actually approachable and gave lots of much needed advice and inspiration.
With a hard rock muse, Rich began to play guitar and sing in local Hard rock bands such as Agent, Black Horse, and Arson (which featured a 16 year old guitarist named Ray Vasquez!), and played mostly teen parties and a few high schools. Rich also did a short apprenticeship in "The Touch" a very popular top 40 band in the Washington area. -Later upon moving to the Spokane area, Face First was formed with former co Black Horse guitarist Eric Deane. The band lasted 3 years from 1987 to 1990 and was featured on the independently released "Metal Meltdown" series. A local club favorite in Spokane, Face First often headlined the main rock club in town "Gatsbys" Face First also featured singer / Bassist Scott Elnes who went on to be a member of Northwest favorites Inflatable Soule and M-Set. A five song demo was submitted to EMI America to favorable reviews just as the music scene was changing to grunge. Face First didn't fit in.

Now Rich is back with Stranglers of Bombay, and plans on doing this for the long haul. With a stable and talented lineup, the band is very formidable in both personality and material. Drawing from artists as diverse as Rush, Roger Clyne, and the Beatles, the SOBs are starting to make some noise on the local inland empire club circuit. Stay tuned!

Steve Gavin

Steve's parents introduced Steve to music at an early age, piano lessons in the second grade. As Steve grew older he became an audiophile listening underground and psychedelic rock on the latest, high-end stereo turntables, amps and speakers, while amassing a large record collection.

When Steve entered middle school, he decided it was time to learn to play the guitar. He bought a guitar and an amp and signed up for lessons. Unfortunately, no one had bothered to explain to Steve that practice was another word for homework and Steve didn't do any. After three months, Steve quit lessons and eventually sold his guitar and amp.

Thirty years passed and one day Steve received a call from a good friend asking him to play in a garage band for fun. Steve was apprehensive only knowing two and a half chords and not able to play them very well. Tired of just listening to music, it was time to play music and Steve said yes and joined the band. After a quick trip to Hoffman's Music store, Steve emerged with a guitar, amp, and multiple effects pedal (more money than talent). After the band showed Steve how to hook everything up, he was ready to go! After a couple of years playing in a garage, the band took on a name, Beats Workin - and Joe, Kathy, John, Roger, and Steve hit the Spokane club circuit. After playing around town for about eighteen months, Beats Workin disbanded.

After waiting to play for so many years, Steve was not ready to give it up, he still only knows two and a half chords, but now plays them much better. At this time Rich Hein entered the scene and with great patience, the Stranglers of Bombay would form. Currently, a formidable lineup, not only based on talent, but also on friendship and fun, the Stranglers of Bombay are ready to take on the local music scene. Hope to see you soon!

Ramiro Vijarro

Ramiro Vijarro started his musical career at 16 playing acoustic upright bass in his high school jazz ensemble, studying electric bass and playing with the top-40 cover band ‘Prestige’. After a 10-year hiatus, Vijarro began playing the Spokane area in 1987 with the classic rock group ‘The Breaks’. Three years later the blues bug bit him and he joined the Spokane band, J.R. Boogie gaining experience working clubs, festivals and shows allacross the Northwest;opening for many national acts, including Delbert McClinnton, Charlie Musclewhite, Edgar Winter, Mick Taylor, Jimmy Rogers and Johnny Clyde Copeland.

Since 1997, he has worked with ‘D.C. Black and The Healers’ strumming up their brand of rockin’ blues throughout the Northwest, followed by taking the helm at bass in Spokane’s popular top-40 band, ‘Legend’. Vijarro then joined ‘The Pat Coast Band’ in early 2002 touring all around the Northwest region and completed a studio project titled, ‘Don’t Touch My Guitar’. This album received the Inland Empire Blues Society’s award for 2003 ‘Best New Album’. Vijarro also performed with reggae singer Benville ‘Raggs’ Gustaffe and his reggae/RB band, ‘Bush Doktor’ throughout 2005-2006. In addition to performing with the touring band, he continued to expand his fretted and fretless bass skills freelancing and playing with his blues, jazz, folk, and rock duo ‘The Doghouse Boyz’ as well as with the jazz-funk improvisational ensemble ‘Pressure Groove’ which featured guitarist, and friend, Ken Luker. Vijarro is considered one of the most solid bass musicians in the region, for which he received honors from the Inland Empire Blues Society and fans as the 2002, 2003, and 2004 ‘Best Blues Bassist’. ‘The Doghouse Boyz have also received the Inland Empire Blues Society’s 2003, 2004, and 2005 Empire Award for ‘Best Acoustic Blues Act’ putting him in the I.E.B.S. ‘Hall of Fame’ for three consecutive Empire Awards; for Best Blues Bassist and Best Acoustic Blues Act. Ramiro is also currently performing with friend Richard Taylor, singer/songwriter, and the Planetary Refugees playing mostly original progressive Reggae with an emphasis on reggae beats and socially conscious lyrics addressing human rights and environmental issues. You can also find Ramiro occasionally sitting in on bass with his duo partner, Neil and his electric blues rockin' band Laffin' Bones.

Through the wonders of craigslist.com, Ramiro met up with The Stranglers of Bombay in November of 2008. He's been rocking and rolling ever since with fellow musicians Rich Hein,guitar/vocals, Steve Gavin, guitar/vocals, and Tony Samuel, drums/vocals.

Tony Samuel

Tony has been in to music all his life, listening to records on his parent’s stereo and ‘8 tracks’ in the car. In the early days he tried guitar, harmonica, keyboards and even the accordion (poor kid.) In the sixth grade Tony ended up playing Tenor Sax in the school band and played through his eighth grade year. Tony started playing drums December 25^th, his seventh grade year, and it was very apparent that it was going to stick (ba da boom!!!! very punny!)

Lessons, who needs them? Tony learned to play from watching “Solid Gold” and the “Muppet Show” and all the drummers he could see at concerts and events. Some of Tony’s early influences were drummers: Terry Nobles from RAIL, Neil Peart from Rush, Bill Ward from Black Sabbath, John Bonham from Led Zeppelin and Phil Rudd from AC/DC. Later influences include Terry Bozzio, Buddy Rich, Carl Palmer, Cozy Powell, Vinnie Appice, Tommy Aldridge and the drummers of Drum Corps International.

Tony played drums in his high school bands (Marching, Concert, and Jazz) his junior and senior year. He played with bands: Tyrant and Now Mama Now in Spokane WA; The Fabulous Chancellors, The Blue Rayz, and Motto Kitty in Boise ID. There were also numerous start ups and jams in Spokane, Boise, Biloxi MS, and Germany. Tony plays drums for the worship music at Turning Point Open Bible Church, and has played with worship teams in Idaho and Germany.

When Tony met The Strangler of Bombay at his first audition, the band was receptive to his hard-hitting sounds. When Rich and Tony discovered they had actually been RAIL fanatic twins separated at birth, the deal was sealed.

Let’s Rock!!!!!!!!