aving dreams of forming a rock band and making it big? Looking to make your first multi-platinum CD? Three former FHS graduates have started down the rocky road to success in the music industry. Paul Wisher, Rob Harper and Jared Denny formed The Habit two and a half years ago, and although Harper left the band, past and present members have worked to make it succeed. Before The Habit, Tom VanDyke played in a band with Wisher and Denny called “Wooden Staple Cuts.” The three had little success. VanDyke left the band after he had creative differences with Wisher. The band practiced on and off until June 1996, when they dubbed themselves “The Habit.” Their first performance was at Rockfest ‘96. Despite many personnel changes with band members, including Beau Johnston, Jason Lamb and Sterling Norrick, the band has done anything but give up. In mid 1996, Wisher and two friends, Steve Perky and Bill Sherwood, along with Norrick, left for Mexico with plans to form a band. Instead, they sold their instruments and gave up on the idea. Their plans were stopped short when the four broke down in Mesa, Arizona. Norris and Wisher returned to Kalispell. The band continued, but seemed to be going nowhere. Finally, Wisher and VanDyke made plans to head to New York City, where Denny would join them after he graduated. The two set off to New York City in March, 1997 with $70, Van Dyke’s Volvo and a dream. In Denver, the two ran out of money, food and gas, and were forced to find work as magazine salesmen. They arrived in Indianapolis in late March and ran into more trouble. “Two guys conned us,” said VanDyke. “Then tried to kill us.” The thieves stole Wisher’s custom-made guitar, VanDyke’s acoustic and ripped out the Volvo’s radio and then took off. Fortunately, the two managed to find Wisher’s guitar in the possession of a college student. Broke and running low on luck, the pair found themselves in Newcastle, Indiana. Wisher, who had lost his ID, was unable to work and hitchiked home. VanDyke stayed and found several jobs, and after several months returned to Kalispell. Wisher made it back to Kalispell and regrouped the band. Harper played bass, Denny on drums and Wisher played guitar and vocals when the Habit started production of their first CD in October of 1997. Halfway through the production, however, Harper split with the band and VanDyke rejoined. Although the tracks on the CD are played by Harper, VanDyke was involved in the mixing and effects production after the recording. The production of the CD was helpful, according to VanDyke. “We learned a lot about our music,” he said. The album, called Solvëig, was released under the label of Polestar Records, definitely not a major label. “We had to have a record company (to produce a CD),” said bassist Tom VanDyke. “We just pulled the name out of the air.” Although Solvëig didn’t get wide distribution, sales are decent, according to Denny. The band has sold 200 of the 1000 CDs produced. The album is available in local music stores and at all Habit performances. “We’ve pretty much saturated Kalispell, right now,” said Denny. The band hopes a tour could bring their music to other markets. Because of the expense of the CD, the band is stuck in Kalispell, paying off debts and saving up for future expenses. “Basically, what’s keeping us in Kalispell is money,” said Denny. Said Wisher: “We’re hopefully going to tour Europe in a couple of years.” |
