Culture Shock began at the turn of this new millennium (2000).  We are a group of individual musicians from Northeast Ohio that have come together in pursuit of a common cause; to bring culture back to music and to bring you an artwork with the music that lives in each of us.

Our purpose is to tell a story and evoke emotions with our music.  This is our lives symphony and we take great pride in what we're creating. 
We have recently partnered with Knightstalker Records. Both Indie labels Middle Class Records and Knightstalker Records look forward to this partnership to produce and release our “artwork”.

___________________________________________________________________

A bit of History:
Culture Shock started as Kimberly Wilson’s phone number on a piece of paper that sat for a year or more in a candleholder at Michael Briney’s apartment.  From humble roots as a five piece cover band beginning in the year 2000 in Canton, Ohio consisting of Michael, Kimberly, Gene Lesnewski, Don Aukerman, and Drew Miller, over the years we’ve gone through several member changes (with Doug Rozenek replacing Drew in early 2001 and Gene & Don leaving the band in 2004) and as many ups and downs personally and professionally. 

In 2003 Kimberly Wilson became Kimberly Rozenek and in 2005 Beverly Richards and John Borzea joined the band.  This line-up set the ground work for the release of the debut CD “Celebrity” which is available here on our website or through your favorite music download sites.

In 2012 Culture Shock went back into the studio to begin recording our second CD “Stop and Hear the Music”.  Over the course of the next 5 years several more obstacles were thrown in our way; but we kept on working. 

In February 2017, Adrian Muica joined the band as our new Rhythm and Auxiliary Lead Guitarist. 

As some of you may already know, in July 2017, Beverly Richards decided to leave the band to deal with many family and personal issues that have been weighing heavily on her.  We wish her the best in all her future endeavors!

Through shear force of will or stubborn bullheadedness, depending on your perspective, we have persevered and are still rockin’.  Currently the band is finishing the final mix-down and mastering of “Stop and Hear the Music” and polishing the stage show in anticipation of our long awaited return to the stage!

 

Drummer, Backing Vocals, Songwriter, Audio Engineer and Producer, Video Editing and Production, SEO

Instrument History: I began playing drums in the 5^th grade. At that time I began my training by taking snare lessons one time a week. After I got pretty good at that and won a few contests I began to take drum set lessons also once a week. At age 16 I joined my 1^st band Medisin. By age 19 I was learning Bass Guitar and writing songs this was also about the time I joined my 2^nd band Valor which would over time evolve into The Shape. At 20 I started learning 6 string guitar to help with writing. After honing my craft for about 10 years with The Shape I discovered I wasn’t going to get where I wanted to be with that band and got scooped up by Michael Briney and Kimberly Wilson (who later would become Kimberly Rozenek) and thus entered my journey with some of the best musicians I’ve ever played with.  

Bands I’ve been in:
Medisin
Valor
The Shape
Culture Shock

Favorite Artist of all time: Jimi Hendrix hands down is the winner for me here. I would list my favorite song here, but I could never narrow it down to just one.

Musical influences: Jimi Hendrix, Kiss, Dio, almost anything from the 70’s or mid to late 60’s, Petra (before Greg X. Volz went solo), Jerusalem, and Stryper (anyone out there remember  Stryper?)

Hobbies: Songwriting, Videogaming, Computer Programming, Computer Art, Computer Modeling

Favorite Type of Movie: Psychological Thriller

Sign: Aquarius

(Founding Member) Bass Guitarist, Lead & Backing Vocals, Vocal Arrangements, Songwriting, Web Design, Graphic Design, Visual Effects Design and Production, Business Manager, etc. etc. etc...

Instrument History:

Vocals: Been singin’ since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, or at least since sixth grade.  (oh wait….I’m still knee-high to a grasshopper…just a bit thicker now that I’m “old”.) Joined my first band as lead-vocalist @ age 18 and the rest is “ancient” history….

Bass: First picked up the bass when I was 20 and was really horrible at it!  Nine years later when Culture Shock started, I picked it up again and with the help of Michael Briney and my hubby Doug, I think I’ve finally got the damn thing licked!

Favorite Artist of all time:  Michael Briney, Doug Rozenek & Al McKenzie

Musical influences:  Yes, Kansas, Styx, Janis Joplin, Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night

Hobbies: Trying to take over the world!  (No not really – that’s Hillary Clinton and let’s hope she doesn’t do it!) (Yep that’s a political statement…oh noooo!!! I’m on the list! LOL)

Favorite TV Shows:  Charmed, Star Trek (original series), Person of Interest, Continuum, Most Haunted, Laugh-In, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Benny Hill (oops…those last few aren’t very politically correct are they….my bad…hehehehe)

Things I hate:  Inconsiderate, nosey people, Smoking Bans, the Fat Police (mind you the spandex police need to stay!), Noise Ordinances, Abuse of Authority. (Maybe it would be a smaller list if I just put what I like eh?)

Sign:  Gemini

(Founding Member) Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals, Songwriter, Musical Arrangements

Born: Perry Township Ohio

In 1971 I started drum lessons at age 8 and continued them for 8 years. In 1975 I took an interest in Keyboards. In 1980 I began playing Guitar and by 1986 had moved on to Bass Guitar.

My biggest musical influences were Boston, Scorpions, Queensriche, Iron Maiden, Y&T among and many others.

I feel that they best thing I learned in life was to compose great songs for Culture Shock.

Sign:  Leo

Lead Vocalist, Lyricist

I discovered my ability to draw early in my life; so, at first, I thought I wanted to be a comic book artist.  Later, a schoolmate turned me on to a KISS album.  It changed my life forever. I heard these guys, playing rock music and it seemed to me like they were real life super heroes. I knew what I wanted to do!

I enjoy a variety of rock music and heavy metal, though melodic hard rock is my favorite.  My influences are Paul Stanley - KISS, Rob Halford - Judas Priest and Jani Lane - Warrant.

I have performed in bands with varying styles of metal and rock ranging from death metal to general all-purpose rock music; but now with Culture Shock’s original melodic with an edge rock sound, I’ve found a  new challenge and I’m loving every minute of it!

Sign:  Scorpio

Rhythm & Auxiliary Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals

Instrument History:

Born in only ‘97, I’m a little younger than the rest of the band. I picked up an alto sax when I was I was 10 and have been dedicated to music ever since. But I didn't find my true calling till I would pick up a guitar a year later. Ever since I plucked my first string I have been inseparable. Learning, collecting, and working on guitars has always been one of my greatest passions. Culture Shock is my first band unless you consider standing around in a garage making noise a “band”.

When I’m not working on great music with Culture Shock, my other main focus is with computers and basically anything that runs on electricity. I’ve been passionate about electronics nearly as long as I have about music. I’m currently working on a Computer Networking degree at The University of Akron and plan on graduating in 2019

Favorite Artists: Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Styx, Fleetwood Mac, Boston, and many more.

Hobbies: Guitar, computers, and not being an offended snowflake like the rest of the people my age.

“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans” -John Lennon

Sign: Capricorn