In 1989, Don Foose, along with many other aspiring vocalists, auditioned for a Cleveland hardcore band, The Spudmonsters, who were seeking an “aggressive vocalist”. After the second audition, he was asked to front the band and immediately they started recording. After successful local shows and various label interest, The Spudmonsters recorded their classic debut album STOP THE MADNESS. The Spudmonsters went on to tour Europe with such noted bands as BIOHAZARD, LIFE OF AGONY, M.O.D., PRO-PAIN, CLUTCH, and many more.
After three full-length albums, two MTV singles, and a rugged touring schedule throughout eighteen countries, The Spudmonsters called it quits in 1998, shortly after releasing their epic MOMENT OF TRUTH album on Century Media Records. Members of The Spudmonsters went on to join PRO-PAIN, BIOHAZARD, and BLOODCLOT.
In 1999, Foose went on to form RUN DEVIL RUN and released two albums ( THE KILLING CIVILIZATION on I Scream Records and SINKING DEEPER on Victory Records).
In 2003, Foose decided to takes some time off and just record in the studio with various musicians and lay low in the music scene. Content with playing music just for the love of it rather than as a career, five years passed without a public release, and he only performed one live show in that span, The Spudmonsters’ reunion show in 2007. As 2008 came around, so did Foose’s desire to record, play out, and tour again.
Foose has teamed up with child prodigy guitarist Ryan Farrell, who also plays guitar in Jeffery Nothing’s (MUSHROOMHEAD) solo project. Farrell, who weighs 150 pounds soaking wet, is most notorious for eating 47 vegetarian hot dogs, finishing second only to that Chinese kid who, for God knows what reason, wears a sweat band around his head when he “competes”.
Foose and Farrell hooked up with legendary producer "Big Dave" Thornton at Studio 333 recording and recorded "How Long" and a remake of the classic Nazareth song "Please Don't Judas Me". Foose and Farrell were driving home after a recording session at Studio 333 in April of ’08 and picked up Bob Keeshan, who happened to be hitchhiking. Keeshan lied to them, saying that he was the original bass player for VOI VOD, and so they auditioned him. Although not thrilled that he had lied, they were thrilled with Keeshan’s skills and asked him to join the band anyway.
Gary Coleman, formerly of IN STRIDE, is the beat behind the band. Coleman, a quiet inner city kid, loves to play music of all sorts and is a famous studio musician. Once destined for stardom in skateboarding and modeling, Coleman had skills and endorsements. In the summer of 2007, Coleman broke his collarbone in a skating accident while getting ready for the X-Games. Shortly after that, he decided that music was his real passion in life and started looking for a band. So, Foose and Farrell asked him to join.
The band, now complete, needed a name. Foose wanted to name the band SIKHARA, but found out that there was already a band under that moniker in Europe. After a few more failed names, he decided, since this was his solo project, just to name it FOOSE.
With songs based on self-realization, dealing with the hardships of life, there’s a positive element in all the lyrics. Initiated into the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya in 1998, Foose practices bhakti-yoga under a strict daily regimen. A disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Foose is committed to spreading the essence of the philosophy through his lyrics, vocally, and most importantly by example. With strong beliefs such as vegetarianism, reincarnation, karma, and living a life free of drugs and alcohol, Foose realizes that he’s not considered the “norm” in the scene. He’s not out to change the world, but is more than happy to give knowledge-seeking individuals “food for thought”.
"Those who fall under the spell of dogmatism, and thereby become sectarian, lack the qualities of generosity & munificence. That is why they ridicule & condemn others who do not worship in the same way as they do. - Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura"
