Useless Brother
Every great story has a beginning, middle, and end, and when it comes to the band Useless Brother, the story just keeps getting better. Useless Brother traces it's musical roots to Rockford and the early days of Cheap Trick when two of the UBros (Dave Peterson and Harlan Knuth) played in a band that frequently opened for the Tricksters and built a strong regional following despite the tender ages of its members.
At that time, Harlan was widely recognized as a child prodigy who had won several statewide guitar contests against much older contestants. (Harlan had mastered "Flight of the Bumble Bee" by the time he was 11.) The band seemed to be on the fast track to success... but fate intervened...
Harlan was severely injured in a freak diving accident, breaking his neck. Completely paralyzed, he would have drown but for the presence of his father who witnessed the accident and pulled Harlan from the water. While doctors initially questioned whether he would ever walk again, a gifted athlete, Harlan never gave-up and over the course of eighteen months fought back, recovering enough strength to walk and sufficient dexterity to master the bass guitar.
While the band continued for some time with Harlan on bass, the accident ultimately undermined its members' resolve and they went their separate ways. While pursuing other paths, Harlan and Dave never lost their passion for music or stopped playing their guitars.
Arik Jenkins, UB's front man, followed a similar path. Also a Rockford native, Arik took his musical career a step further, signing with Mercury Records and producing two solo albums. Arik and his band also seemed to be on the fast track to success... but once again, fate intervened...
His father's health issues brought Arik in from the road. While pursuing another path (Arik is part owner in one of the largest independently-owned music stores in Northern Illinois), Arik never lost his passion for music or stopped singing and playing the guitar.
A few years ago, Dave hooked-up with his Chicago neighbor and now fellow UBro, Pat Ryan, to jam with Pat's cover band. The sessions served only to reignite Dave's passion for music.
He placed a call to Harlan and posed a simple question: "Would you have any interest in completing the journey that we never finished as kids?" With that, Harlan was in.
Dave next talked to Arik and posed a simple question: "Would you have any interest in completing the journey that you never finished as a kid?" With that, Arik was in.
Dave also contacted a business associate, Dan Tremonti, who's brother Mark had founded Creed and Alter Bridge. Dan introduced Dave to the UBro's fifth and final member, Chuck Alkazian, a producer and musical savant from Detroit who rounds out the line-up.
Drawing from a deep well of original music, in 2005, the UBros went into the studio to record their first album. The album was released in a controlled fashion to friends and family in 2006. Following a strong reception, during the late summer of 2006, the band took its live music to the public for the first time, again to rave reviews, and capped the first stage of its "tour" with a highly successful opening spot in support of The Romantics at Rockford's annual On-the-Waterfront music festival over Labor Day weekend.
Having proved that the band is as capable live as it is in the studio, the next chapter in the story is now being written. We expect a happy ending.
