Meet the Band - Pete, Ed, and Gregg

Peter Bernas- guitar,   vocals

May The Better Man Lose was the debut disc from Peter Bernas, the Chicago-born son of Polish immigrants. The quite, polite young man of today with songs that seemed wrenched from his heart may have taken a number of musical paths based on his early experiences.

Coming from a family where the struggle of a new life in America did not include the arts, as a child he perchance purchased a junkshop guitar and seemingly found a partner for life. Working to afford lessons, he yearned to learn the songs of Metallica and Motley Crue. He became skilled enough to become the jazz guitarist in his high school band. After being in several bands, he thought that a rock guitarist was, to borrow an appropriate phrase from John Lennon, something to be. But there are the pressures of the real world and rent paying that causes many to hang up their toys and dreams. Yet, if music is indeed your salvation and true means of emotional expression, the songs will come out and be realized eventually. Hence, eleven original, very personal songs from Peter Bernas make their debut, plus an adaptation of a Ralph Covert song sung in Bernas' parents sole language, Polish.

When he picked up the guitar after a few years of not playing, it was not to re-invent macho riffs but to serve the songs he was compelled to write. He took his prototype compositions to the open stages in suburban Chicago such as Durty Nellies and the Lunar Brewing Company. His childhood friend, Ken Jagmin, was doing the same at the time. For a time, Bernas did play guitar in Jagmin's band. "Even tho' I've known Ken since grade school, we rarely played together. While we share similar tastes, Ken is much more of an Elvis Presley fan and I'm a Trent Reznor admirer." Jagmin and Bernas both decided to take the Old Town School of Folk Music songwriting class taught by Ralph Covert. Covert is the former leader of the longtime popular rock'n'roll band, The Bad Examples, with almost a dozen albums and successes on both sides of the Atlantic. Another classmate was Dean Goldstein, leader of the band Coin. Covert has now produced debut albums for all three of his former students.

On the first day of recording, a cancellation from a guitarist proved most serendipitious. Blues guitarist John Duich, who also was in The Bad Examples for over two years, was to fill in for just one track. That first track worked so well that he wound up playing on the entire album. His sudden death from heart failure at a young age in January of 1998 meant that this was his last recording session. A short instrumental from these sessions is included on this album. Bassist Pickles Piekarski, a longtime musical collaborator of Duich's, has dubbed the piece "The Paul Super Apple Blues" for reasons he says, "John would have definitely approved." The band assembled for the recording includes Ron Barnes (Middle 8), Pickles Piekarski (Bad Examples), John Siegle (Insiders), and Buddha Slim (Remainders). Ken Jagmin, Dean Goldstein and Jeff Vezain appear as background vocalists. Originally the bassist in Dean Goldstein's band Coin, Greg Interdonato collaborated on the music for "With You On My Mind."

"I'm not a born performer," says Bernas. "These songs come from my depths as a person. Making the recording is a way of validating my artistic side - something that wasn't part of my family experience. My parents still have never owned a phonograph. I wanted to create something permanent that I could keep with me for a long time."

Peter Bernas unexpectedly passed away in his sleep on Friday, January 30th, 2007.

Ed Kurzeja - bass

Edward Kurzeja was raised in Addison, Illinois, and plays bass in the band Made To Be Broken. He has known Peter Bernas since childhood.

Ed, like Peter, is the son of Polish immigrants. Polish was his first language at home. It wasn't until grammar school did Ed speak English fluently. He has always been fascinated by musical instruments, but never was able to get his hands on one. In high school, Ed discovered his musical talent. His first guitar was given to him by his long-time neighbor, Clarence Pennington. He began playing and writing on his own.

Then in 1993, a few talented friends Damon and Art joined together to form the band Untaken, in which Ed played bass. Ed moved on to join My Sedatious Sister in 1994. This band was very successful. They produced a self-titled album and played out at the Thirsty Whale, Gateway Theatre, and other local venues. Ed decided to pursue his original love, the guitar, and formed the band Velour in 1996, in which he played lead guitar for a few years.

In 1999 Peter Bernas, who had just produced the album May The Better Man Lose, contacted Ed and asked him to play live with him at radio station WIIL FM 95.1 (Kenosha) to promote his new album. Ed accompanied Peter on bass that night and soon after, Peter, Ed and Gregg Interdonato formed the band, Made to be Broken. At the present time, these three luminous musicians are in the process of writing music for their first album, coming out at the end of 2000.

Gregg Interdonato -drums

The man behind the drums of the rock band Made To Be Broken, is none other then Wood Dale's own Gregg Interdonato, or as family and friends alike know him,"Fuzzy," a name given to him by a childhood friend.

Gregg, is a well-versed musician, and competently plays all the following instruments: drums, piano, the trumpet, guitar, bass guitar, and he isn't a bad singer to boot! He is well known for his background vocals and harmonizing skills.

Gregg is 29 years old, married to Kim with whom he resides with in Wood Dale. He came from a musical family and grew up surrounded by musicians. His father, and all 3 of his father's brothers were in a big band known as "The Donatones," a band that spent a better part of the 60's and 70's gigging in the area.

During his tenure at Elmhurst College (88-93) he was the trumpet player with the Elmhurst College touring jazz band. He played many gigs during this time with the jazz heavy hitters: Art Farmer, Bobby Shoe, Clark Terry and the great Frank Mantooth. The band toured extensively in Europe, and during this jazz education the tour played everywhere from England to Scotland to Germany. Gregg has been known to say that the Montreux jazz festival will always be a highlight.

After college, Gregg for many years fronted his own band called Fuzzy Kaos and recorded a record in which he played all the instruments and wrote all the songs. The album "Moon Persuasion" is a very passionate effort and spotlights Gregg's creative drive. Gregg was also the original bass player for the band Coin, who also happens to be on Waterdog Music.

You can always come out and see Gregg each and every Tuesday at Lunar Brewing Co. in Villa Park, where he has run the open-mic night for the past 3 years. Gregg has music in his blood, and if you need to jam, Gregg's your man!