JEREMY GARRETSON
Guitar
SickleEye's hot-wired lead guitarist. He started his musical journey
at the age of nine. Like a lot of parents, Mr. and Mrs. Garretson
wanted their first born to be well rounded, and this included
music lessons. Jeremy had piano lessons and lessons in music theory
from the time he was nine until he was fourteen years old. "My
mom signed me up for piano lessons and Dad made me practice,"
Jeremy says. At the age of fifteen, he fulfilled his desire to
play guitar. "I bought my first guitar, a Gibson, from a
friend of mine, and he showed me a few licks." From there,
he has taught himself everything he's learned.
He played in a few makeshift bands as a teenager with
Joe Hudson. In 1999, he and Joe became members of the band "Unleashed,"
and there he met Jason Brookens. In December of 2002, things were
not working out in "Unleashed," so the trio left the
band. In February of 2003, "SickleEye" was formed. "So
far, 'SickleEye' has been the biggest highlight of my musical
career." Jeremy said, "Playing with Joe, Jason, Zach,
and Sam (Zero) is very fulfilling." He also mentions the
fact that obtaining his yellow Zion from Bob Hartman of "Petra"
fame is his second biggest musical highlight. He says, "Bob
Hartman made me WANT to play guitar."
When asked what he hopes to accomplish through his
music, Jeremy had this to say: "Playing music is fun. It
gives me hope for the future, and it's something that I/we can
give to others. My hope is that our music will stir up the same
emotion in people that we have experienced ourselves. If music
can't be used to benefit others, it shouldn't be played!"
JASON BROOKENS
Drums
Timing, tempo, and stayin' in the groove. These are just a few
of the things that Jason has to deal with as the drummer for "SickleEye"
. . . it's a good thing he loves his job. Jason discovered his
love for the kit at age seventeen.
"I jammed with a few people in the local area,
but nothing official," Jason says. "I also play drums
at church." Jason's first official band experience was in
the band "Unleashed" where he met guitarist Jeremy and
bassist Joe. "I really enjoy playing with those guys and
I knew (after the breakup of "Unleashed") that I wanted
to again." "SickleEye" was formed in February 2003
by Jason, Joe, and Jeremy, but Jason isn't totally counting out
his "Unleashed" days. "I think the most memorable
and rewarding part of my musical experience so far, was hearing
the title track from 'Changes,' the first album from 'Unleashed',
on the radio." Brookens said, "I've also been on a worship
album recorded at my church."
While he has only been playing for what may seem like
a short amount of time, he has gained a lot of practical and technical
knowledge about his craft. "Margaret Lucia taught me the
basics of Music Theory; Mark Durniak, the worship leader at my
church, taught me how to express myself while playing in a structured
environment; and I can't forget Carter Beauford, who has inspired
and challenged me to be a better drummer." Jason sums up
his passion for music in this way: "More than anything else,
at the end of the night, I want to know that people enjoyed themselves.
Tapping their feet, clapping, dancing, even singing along . .
. That makes it all worth it."
JOE HUDSON
Bass
SickleEye's resident "Bottom Dweller." Over the years,
he has come to love the bass guitar, but admits, "I had no
real desire to play anything when I first picked up the bass--I
just did it because Jeremy was playing guitar and he needed a
rhythm section." At the age of 16, Joe bought a very used
secondhand bass from a friend. "It seemed like a fun way
to pass the time, so I figured, 'What the heck?'" Joe said,
"From then until now, every time I play, I play with Jeremy.
To be totally honest, I don't know that I would want to play without
him there."
Having received no formal training, Joe has "plucked"
and "popped" his way into several bands. "Unleashed"
was the first real proving ground of his musical career. "Being
a part of 'Unleashed' was a good experience, and even though it
came to an end, I can always take that experience with me."
Come to an end it did, but not until the band had released an
album entitled "Changes." He says, "One of the
absolute best things to come from my experience in 'Unleashed'
is Jason. Me, Jeremy, and Jason . . . It seems as if we were destined
to play together, and I believe we are."
His musical influences include Stu Hamm, Victor Wooten,
and, of course, Jaco. "You have to say Jaco if you're a bass
player--it's almost a rule." When asked what he hopes to
gain through his music, he said, "Music is the ultimate form
of expression--you can see it, feel it, and hear it. I want, more
than anything, for people to see past the melody and harmony and
allow the whole essence of this art to touch their very soul.
There is a message in there, you just need to find it."
SAM HUDSON
Vocals
It's been said of him, "He definitely has a set of pipes,"
and that is true. Now, Sam (Zero) Hudson has a chance to use them
as the supercharged and always outgoing front man for "SickleEye."
"Singing is my passion; people skills are my job," Zero
says. "I love people. I've always been a people person, even
as a kid. That's why I love having this gig." Coming from
a musically talented family, Zero has a raw natural talent and
a love for music.
Although Zero may be a rookie as a lead singer, he
is no stranger to the stage. Before joining "SickleEye,"
he performed background vocals for the group "Wolf Creak,"
and he also formed a short-lived "jam band" in which
he played guitar and sang before joining "SickleEye."
He also has a background in nonprofessional, dramatic performances.
"The absolute greatest highlight of my, so far, short musical
career, was being asked to audition for 'SickleEye.'" Zero
said, "It's a dream come true of sorts. Joe and Jeremy used
to jam together a lot at our house, but I was never allowed to
sit in on it. Now here I am years later jammin' right along with
them."
Zero cites many people as influences in music, but
the two that stick out the most are Kurt Cobain and Brooke, Zero's
daughter. "Kurt inspires me to be me, and Brooke is the reason
I follow this dream. I want to leave her with something that she
can feel--something that is as much a part of her as it is of
me." I asked Zero to give me one quote that would sum up
how he feels about "SickleEye" and his music as a whole,
and he said, "Rock On!"
1998-2011 
