Who is the Vinyl Legion band?
Erik Ruhmann - Vocals, Guitar and Bass
Erik Ruhmann started playing guitar in middle school after being inspired by the late Randy Rhodes and walking into his first music lesson wanting to play Crazy Train. He played in bands in high school and college on both guitar and bass. After college, Erik played decades of solo acoustic gigs from the US to Europe to Asia while devoting time to military service both home and abroad. After leaving the military, he focused on the personally rewarding aspects of singer/song-writer efforts while continuing to play acoustic gigs. An interlude of guitar amplifier building years piqued his interest back in to the world of full bands and electric guitars, Erik has now transitioned to full-band electric gigs with an occasional lapse back into acoustic territory. Erik’s musical tastes range in classic rock, blues, country, folk, alternative, pop and Americana. Bands would include the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chuck Berry, Wilco, Greg Brown, Jack Johnson, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Bob Dylan. Erik lives in Chelmsford, MA. |
Don Olesen - Drums and Vocals
In the days before The Vinyl Legion Band was formed, Don’s experience is a long history of playing most every kind of music a drummer can play. Don started out in central Illinois playing drums in grade school and moved into the High School Jazz Band. He learned to play jazz drums from a Band Director that had spent WWII playing drums in the US Navy Jazz Band. Don’s first rock & roll band (The Uncalled For) started in High School. Don went on to play in several rock and roll bands and then moved into the Country Music arena in college. Don played professionally (mostly out of the Musicians Union Hall) with several Country Bands and used music to pay for college and support his family. When Don graduated from college, he moved to New Hampshire and started playing blues and rock &roll once again. He has been playing throughout southern NH and northern Massachusetts for the last 25 years. Don plays with style – a style built on laying down a steady tempo for the band, cuing the singers when to come in and matching his playing to the music of the band. He believes that drums are the foundation of the band and that they are not a lead instrument. He can solo and has been awarded several honors for his solos but he keeps them few and far between. Don’s influences include Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, Buddy Rich, Joe Morello, Eddy Shannesey of the Tonight Show Band, Phil Collins, and Louie Bellson. It’s easy to understand Don’s drumming style based on this mix of Jazz and Rock & Roll drummers. Don lives in Nashua, NH. |
Roger Dumont - Bass and Vocals
Roger Dumont is the Bass Player for the Vinyl Legion Band. He hails from a musical family. Roger’s father played music from the age of 14. At the grand age of 15, Roger’s mom became a backup singer for Kit Carson and was recording in the studio back in the days of the 78 rpm records. Getting his first guitar at 9, along with some Beatle boots and a “Meet the Beatles” album, Roger started to play. He entertained his Nana, parents and anyone else that would listen. When Roger was 15 years old he brought some friends together to form a band. They had some, beat up amps, an Aria SG guitar, half of a Shure Vocal Master PA and a few Radio Shack Realistic mic's - they were ready to go. They practiced in an old barn and began playing Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple and Zeppelin for parties. The 1970's and 1980's Roger was in a few Lowell Massachusetts based bands as the Lead Guitarist. These bands included, Heart Breaker and Northern Lights, and a few others. After an injury, Roger began playing Bass Guitar. Later Roger formed the “On the Rocks” band. After a 6 year collaboration with Don Olesen on drums and many gigs, “On the Rocks” disbanded. In 2017, Roger joined Erik Ruhmann and reunited with Don to be the bass player for The Vinyl Legion Band. Roger's musical influences include SRV (Stevie Ray Vaughn), Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Led Zep, Robin Trower, Gary Moore, and Billy Gibbons to name a few. |
Where'd the band name come from?
In January of 2015, Erik Ruhmann was asked to be the opening act for a Saturday night gig at LLD's in Tyngsboro, MA. This was supposed to be an acoustic solo gig for Erik, but who wants to be an acoustic solo opener for two full bands. The Sunday prior to the gig, Erik contacted long-time ski buddy and bassist to see if he'd like to be part of a band for the gig. On Monday, Scot got a hold of Don who also volunteered for the gig. With one practice on Wednesday night, the band put together an hour long set of originals for the gig three days later. The band's name was "The Erik Ruhmann Band." The LLD gig was a great success and the band was formed. As a military veteran, Erik has been actively involved in supporting his local American Legion Post, the Alberton W. Vinal American Legion Post in North Chelmsford, MA. In an effort to build membership for the post and support local music, the band started an open mic and jam at the legion. At that point the band names entertained were, The Erik Ruhmann Band, Erik Ruhmann and The Vinal Legion Band, and The Vinal Legion Band. It was deemed that when we decided to play other venues, we'd be continually explaining why we spelled vinyl incorrectly and so The Vinal Legion Band was changed to The Vinyl Legion Band. Also, as it turns out, we all like vinyl records. Scot Castle left the band to form the much-trumpeted and critically acclaimed, Scot & Elizabeth Band which can be found playing lots of venues throughout New England. We wish Scot all the best and look forward to catching his live gigs with his new band. With Scot leaving the band, we set out to find a new bass player who had great bass and improvisation skills, could provide lead and backing vocals, and bring some added band development skills such as: digital recording, video production, promotion, and most importantly was a a great fit with the band. Did we ever luck out!! In November 2016, Frank Anes joined the band and has added a great new dimension to the VLB - see bio above!! |