Band Stories

About FRAYD........The band is primarily an all original band and has roots in many different musical projects.

The songwriters, Ric & Sheree Fray stuck together through them all and then formed a solid lineup with drummer friend, John Pontrelli.

"When the band first got together, we went through several name changes like, Black Castle, Rictus Grin, Psycho Child, Valhalla, and then one day, Iron Tears came about.

Iron Tears was actually a band that evolved from all the other short lived bands that we went through."

Iron Tears was a band that originally came out of Tinley Park, IL where singer/songwriter Ric Fray and schoolmate/guitarist Al Brzostowski teamed up with guitarist Sheree (Thomas) Fray from Worth, IL and started writing original songs.

After going through numerous drummers, Dino Losurdo, originally from Oak Forest, IL joined and the band rehearsed and started playing out.

Iron Tears played for parties and small clubs around the south side of Chicago and then got to play at the Riviera Night Club in Chicago which for the band was one of the greatest shows ever!

"My adrenaline ran so high during the show, when I got off the stage, I puked in the hall! It was great!" - Sheree Fray.

Iron Tears had recorded a six song demo of original material at Dungeon Studios in St. John, IN and shortly after, the band broke up due to Dino moving to Georgia and there were personal issues with Al. Well, the old line-up fell apart but the machine kept going.

Iron Tears evolved into another project, this time calling itself FRAYD. The name FRAYD derived from Ric & Sheree Fray’s last name.

After Dino left, drummer, John Pontrelli from Chicago’s south side filled the spot and a new bass player joined.

The band rehearsed at the old Zenith building in Chicago.

"When we got there, we had to clean up the room, buy a security gate and hope our gear wouldn’t get ripped off!"

After rehearsing for several months and putting a solid set list together, the band booked shows and went into the studio to record a 13 song disc entitled, "In Loving Memory Of All Things Lost."

The CD was recorded at Star Trax Recording Studio, a Chicago south suburb studio and shortly after, the band held a CD release party at the studio for friends and recorded a live disc that night.

After shopping the "In Loving Memory" CD, the band’s lineup changed again. Members went through some musical differences and once again the machine’s parts had to be replaced.

The band needed a drummer again. Shortly after finding another drummer, the band changed it’s name to Gravity Well.

Gravity Well produced a 2 song demo that was recorded at Gravity Studios in Chicago along with numerous new songs. Once again the band played shows and more band members fell down the Gravity Well.

This time the band really needed to replace the drummer and bass player. Another add was put out.

More musicians responded and again the machine was up and running.

As time went on, the core of the band decided to take a break and went into recording mode for the next year.

The band concentrated on recording new material as the singer worked on playing the bass and singing at the same time.

Gravity Well, (now FRAYD again) has always been and will remain a machine. Some of the parts may break but it will always get back up and run!

After numerous changes in line up, Gravity Well decided to reform with old drummer friend, John Pontrelli on drums for a fresh start as FRAYD once again.

The band is happy to announce it's current lineup and all the new music that will be posted on the site.

FRAYD records in their own home studio, LaMajik Studio.

The band is currently in the studio recording and getting ready for the completion of "Reprogram/Resurrection" which will be finished this July.

The band has been so busy recording for "Reprogram/Resurrection" and writing additional material as we have plans for a 3rd upcoming CD entitled: "Smash The Machine" which we will begin plans for this fall.

"In addition to all the new music that we have, we also have plans for some upcoming videos which we hope to start around the end of this June."

Band Story #1

The band used to practice at the old Zenith building in Chicago. One night while getting ready to practice, I decided to tape the practice session. We had an old tape deck sitting there. I walked over to it and was getting ready to press record. Well, the button was missing and when I tried to press down on it, my pinky finger slipped into the space and got stuck. Don't ask me how this happened but it did.

The rest of the band members were plugging in and waiting for me but they didn't realize I was now thoroughly attached to the radio. I was pulling and yanking at it trying to get my finger to release but it wouldn't.

Now I'm in a panic and started to cry out loud. "My finger is stuck". The band was yelling at me to hurry up. The bass player walked over to me and started to pick up the radio while my finger was still stuck in the hole! I yelled, "hey, my finger!.......ouch!......he starts laughing hysterically. The rest of the band walked over to me and laughed. By now, I'm feeling pain and I started crying!

I didn't think it was too funny. I said, "Now I can't play and I'm going to have to go to the hospital with this stupid tape deck stuck to me" and right at that moment, my finger suddenly slipped out!

Everyone was shaking their heads and laughing. I was glad I didn't have to go to the hospital looking like a fool. My suggestion would be to stay away from or at least don't ever stick your fingers into gadgets or electronics with missing parts! (S. Fray)

Band Story #2

An ex bass player used to love to wear eye make up and do it up with the whole rock star act. He really craved attention and was a good looking guy. He usually had a couple of chicks hitting on him after a show.

One show he heaped on the eye make up for what ever reason, and totally went the wrong way with it. This show though no chicks hit on him, but he did get an admirer that night.

The creepiest, fattest, sweatiest homosexual man you can imagine got the wrong idea about him and kept following him around the bar acting like he was getting ready to make his move.

Add the fact that the bass player was a huge homophobe and the night couldn't have been more funny.

We watched as the bass player got the deer in the headlights look. We've never seen him leave a bar so fast. His ego was shattered that anyone might think he swung that way.

After that the eye make up was used sparingly. (R. Fray)

Band Story #3

FRAYD's 2007 XMAS Bash was literally a blast! 4CD2H8 came out and jammed with us!

Shortly after the party was over and the weather conditions in Chicago got to be below zero degrees, the band decided to move the gear out of the rehearsal space which is where the party was held. The band hadn't gone back out to the rehearsal space for a few weeks and when we did, we thought the place got ransacked by a couple of animals.

The refrigerator door was flung open, what looked like baked potatoes were flung all over the floor, dried pop was sprayed everywhere! It looked like something out of a poltergeist movie! It was a complete mess and we looked around thinking raccoons must have gotten in because the garbage is around the corner. Well, it was actually a Diet Pepsi explosion!

The liters of pop that were left over in the refrig exploded due to excessive cold. The pressure built up so much that it blew the caps completely off and sliced the sides of the bottles! Not to mention, it broke pieces of the inside of the door and cracked the doors. Can you believe this? and people actually drink this shit??

As for the so-called potatoes, well, that was chunks of frozen pop that shot out of the liters and landed across the floor. Glad no one got blasted in the face while we were partying in there ~ FRAYD