Edito de The Letter OpenersHistory of the Letter Openers Rising from the ashes of The Super Glorious Fucking Assholes (a band that needs a substantial introduction, though sadly will not receive it here), the letter openers began in a Hollywood living room amidst much giggling, drinking, and guitar playing. The sole practioners of said activities were Mac Dunlop (vocals, rhythm guitar) and Martin Ransbury (lead guitar, vocals). Being the huge music fans and sexy men that they were (and still are, ladies), the boys decided to give the "band" thing another try. They spent several months cooking up some songs and telling each other how cool they were. This incubation period reached its boiling point in the early Spring of the year 2001. After placing ads in some of Los Angeles' finest periodicals, the search began for the individuals who would complete this puzzle. Luckily, a worthy candidate presented himself almost immediately. John Srebalus (bass guitar, vocals), formerly of a former band, possessed the talent, disposition, and spot on musical tastes that made his membership in the band a foregone conclusion. The search continued for a drummer and required the auditioning of a cache of talented gentlemen. However, none of them quite fit the bill. After exhausting a couple of months of frustration, the boys were poised to head back to the drawing board. It was at this point that Jon Goldberg (drums, vocals), formerly of the Consequences, called in to see if the band still needed somebody behind the kit. The ensuing audition was like none that had come before it. Jon bashed out the songs with a finesse and familiarity that would lead one to believe he had been playing them his entire life. More importantly, he fit the suit. And just like that, Los Angeles had another rock 'n' roll band on its hands. The band spent the ensuing summer & fall months diligently rehearsing at the Vicious Reasoning studios, in east Hollywood. After (originally) naming themselves the Lamed Vovniks, they finally hit the stage in November of 2001 at the Billiard Inn. A small crowd of friends and onlookers watched as four young men, brimming with nervous energy, bashed out 45 minutes of ass rockin' pop perfection (kind of). The band soon fell in with L.A.'s best indie rock scene, playing the Launchpad nights at Mr. T's Bowl and the Billiard Inn. They've also managed to jump on a few other stages around town, including Spaceland, the echo, Club Galia (San Francisco), the Filthy Rogue (r.i.p.), Zen Sushi, and Goldfingers, as well as playing The Clean Needles Now Benefit at The Garage. The band has also spent the last year recording and mixing its first ep. The summer of 2003 is upon us and there have been some changes blowing in the wind as of late. We recently bid an amicable farewell to our founding bassist John Srebalus. John has left the fold to pursue a life of happiness, harmony, and familial bliss. He will be missed. However, sauntering in to fill the void is the one and only Matt Peter (formerly of wasteband & Big Weirdo), a very talented multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. With the new lineup intact and an ep on the way, the band had yet one last adjustment to make. It was decided that it was time to retire the name Lamed Vovniks. This was not a decision made lightly, as people both in and out of the band had a special attachment to this moniker. However, there was a desire to have a name that was a bit more easily pronounceable, yet still represented the zeitgeist of the music & the membership. We are now the letter openers. Tell your friends. Antonitus (Singer of Songs) Lire la suite