Published: March 14, 2006
101st Airborne Division Band Tours Iraq
by: Spc. Lee Elder, 133rd MPAD
"Photo by: Spc. Lee Elder, 133rd MPAD" |
TIKRIT, Iraq - Members of the 101st Airborne Division Screaming Eagle Band are forming a new rock combo and taking their act on the road.
Band members will play a variety of rock singles when they tour outlying base camps later this month. The tour will not only broaden the band's appeal, but will allow them an opportunity to entertain many soldiers who might not otherwise get a chance to see them perform in their usual venues.
"Our mission is not just to play music at different types of ceremonies," said Staff Sgt. Mike Krzmarzick, a member of the 101st Airborne Division Band. "We're here to make the troops happy and play the music they want to hear."
Krzmarzick, a Canby, Ore., native, plays trombone in the band, but fronts the rock combo as a guitarist and lead vocalist. Also sharing the lead vocals are Sgt. David Casper and Spc. Hillary Doody.
Casper, a Marin, Calif., native, said band members were looking forward to their week-long tour of the outlying base camps. The tour is being called "FOB hopping" by the band members.
"We're looking forward to hitting the road," Casper said. "We're here to play for the Soldiers, have fun and drink near beer." Other band members include Staff Sgt. Timothy Willis (keyboards), Sgt. Bill Batten (bass guitar), Spc. Patrick Haig (drums) and Spc. J.C. Long (guitar).
"The great thing about the band is that we can go from four to eight people," Krzmarzick said. "That way, we can go where we need to go even if it means just climbing onto a Blackhawk."
Most of the band members are familiar with each other, Krzmarzick said. When they're back home at Fort Campbell, Ky., Krzmarzick joins with Haig and Long in an off-duty band called "One Less Day," which plays at venues around the Clarksville, Tenn., area.
"Photo by: Spc. Lee Elder, 133rd MPAD" |
Soldiers who come to see the band expecting to hear John Phillip Souza tunes are mistaken, Krzmarzick said. The band has a repertoire that includes tunes from many of today's well-known bands. Among the tunes featured are:
"Take Me Out," Franz Ferdinand;
"Sugar We're Going Down," Fall Out Boy;
"Photograph," Nickleback; and
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams," Green Day.
And, yes the band does play "Freebird." The Lynyrd Skynyrd tune is one of rock music's most requested songs. Casper laughed, "Soldiers request that all the time."
The combo also teams with other band members to play jazz and country tunes as well, Krzmarzick said. Brad Paisley's "Alcohol" and Big & Rich's "Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy."
Band members said they hope the tour will generate more requests from units for their services. The band wants to be known for more than performing at changes of command other formal Army ceremonies.
"We want to play for barbecues, organization days and unit return ceremonies," Casper said. "Our mission is to play what the Soldiers want to hear."
Anthony D Buchanan
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