Originally they were known as The Discounts out of Odell, IL without the use of the Turban's sax, my vocals or Johnny Bubar's Trombone Too.

I met Joe D at a Halloween party in 1996 in Urbana (they had moved there just a few months earlier) and somehow we got to talking about how he was in a ska band and how I loved ska music and had a roommate who played the Sax.

A couple weeks later I was singing and the Turban was in too. We spent the rest of '96 and the first half of '97 writing songs and practicing them.

We didn't really play shows that often because we lacked connections and also a good demo tape.

In '98 we seemed to have hit our stride with Johnny Bubar now on the horns shortly after Joe D. left. We had recorded a very good full length tape "We Combat You, Big Time!!!” with the help of the great Ed Nudd, and we were starting to get asked to play more and more shows.

But then the semester ended and the Turban went to study abroad in Germany, Johnny Bubar graduated and moved to Chicago to become a Wacker St. analyst, and Ken quit, never really enjoying playing the Bass.

Joe & Ben went on to form The Bloody Knuckles with Ben's brother Steve. Later they were known as The Blackouts and then later The Living Blue - Ben left and Mark is now their drummer.

The Turban is now a husband and works and lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Ken moved to New Mexico and enjoys the company of a lady friend.

Ben took off to the open road. He apparently fights crime and solves problems, perhaps planting an apple tree as he goes. And now I hear he's the drummer for John H's The Beauty Shop.

b-ruce