Syd “Folsom” VanGeel (Guitar, Vocals)
Before becoming a member of the big 8, was doing covert work with the SAS in England as a counter terrorist specialist.  Syd has or as he is known in the terrorist underworld, “Bachalachalacka” (pro. Back-a-lack-ha-lack-ha) was captured and spend time in a prison in the small country of Kaplackastan.  

During that time and between tortures he befriended a certain brew master; captured during the same period, who was researching hops for a special beer called Kaplackastan Light, now known as Bud Light, they occupied there time thinking up new ideas, between tortures, obviously the brew master developed “the bud light institute”, fka “the kaplackastan light institute”, and Syd came up with the concept of the Big 8, the rest is history.

Danny “C-Note” Vee a.ka. Cadillac Danny (Guitar, Vocals, Mid-Wife)
Danny came to the big 8 when he was discovered playing in a pub in Kapuskasing, for the Country/Retro Rap Fusion band “C sharp or you’ll B flat”.  Known simply as C-Note, it was discovered that Danny used to be an accountant for the now infamous “Partriachie family food company” Apparently after that court case, in which all the family members were indicted, he was placed in the witness protection program and placed in Kapuskasing.  When Syd heard the combination of Country and Retro Rap, he knew he found the right vocalist for the Big 8.

Ray “The Ref” Lansbergen (Guitar, Vocals, Bartending)
The Ref was a founding member of the Big 8 and although there is no direct correlation there is speculation and rumor that he may have been responsible for the creation of bud-light, mostly due the convulsions that start when you mention “Kaplackastan” or “Bud-Light” around him.  Ray came to the Big 8 when he was discovered outside his lab contemplating a new type of beer created from chicken hearts, hops and plutonium, code named project “Bang for the Buck”.  During the fermentation process, while contemplating the half life of the beer and sitting outside the brewery strumming on 6 string, Syd happened by, to see why the brewery might have weapons of mass destruction on site, and the rest is history!

Brent “The Kid” Ferrie (Electric Guitar, Waiter)
The Kid was discovered by happenstance when the Ref, Folsom and C-note were asked to be the celebrity judges for a new Canadian game show “Quantum Physics Trivia”.  The kid was in the game show band and impressed the group with his a medley of “O Canada”, “House of the Rising Sun”, “Keep On Rockin’ In The Free World”, “Lean on me”, “Freebird” and “Stairway to heaven”.  When the show wasn’t picked up, due to the fact it required a 3 hour spot, we asked the Kid to join The Big 8.

Ross “Rosco” Ewart (Harmonica, Conciliatore)
One day while rehearsing and listening to some blues 45’s we heard an amazing harp player, and after researching the source of the tunes, we discovered it was a harp player and we went on a quest to find him.  First we had to explain to “The Kid” what a 45 was, and then we found Rosco.   He was being held in a jailhouse in a small town in northern Manitoba, for indecent exposure and hunting using dynamite, without a license.  Suffice it to say we pooled our cash, hired a lawyer, “Rockin’ Johnny Pine” and RJP managed to get him out on community service, and the judge sentenced him to “The Big 8”.

Darren “Tiny” Middleton (Drums and Percussion, Bouncer)
Tiny was discovered when we were all in a small pub in a small town on the tropical island of Newfoundland.  As it turns out he was there on a work exchange program from Belgium where he learned the martial art of DrumKata.  In a conversation the Band he demonstrated the martial art by playing a rendition of “Rush’s Tom Sawyer” on C-notes head, rendering him unconscious, but impressing the crowd and the conscious members of the Big 8.  Tiny was in the band ever since.

Frank “Biff” Baratta (Bass, Standup Comedy)
We were in a mad search frantically searching for a bass player to round out the rhythm section of the band, when we discovered Biff.  Biff a twice decorated coast guard search and rescue worker, and a music scholar and graduate from Whatsamata-U in Torino Italy, was discovered while we were in pub checking out a “Milli Vanilli” cover band.  Biff was installing the floor and said, I can play bass, and Rush rules… that was good enough for us.

Dennis "The Professor" Webster (Keyboards, Interpretive Dancing)
The Professor was discovered while he was performing at a regional combine show and shine. What impressed the big 8 was his ability to play piano in a scintillating version of Madonna's like a virgin, while performing a one man Tango, rose and all. We knew we had the right keyboard man for us!

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