Craig West "Things To Do When You're Not Famous" Craig West plays the electric guitar in the Chris Belsito Band ... but it wasn't always that way, so lets go back to the beginning. Craig has played music for most of his life - studying piano, various saxophones,clarinet, trombone, bassoon, flute and kazoo in his youth before picking up a guitar in his teens and throwing his promising future away. Craig first played with Chris in 1992 in a band called 40,000 Years along with some other fellows who have now become wraiths. At some point, the various members of 40,000 Years realized they had nothing in common and the band broke up. Later that year when Chris began work on what would become his first album, he invited Craig to join him on guitar. This first incarnation of the Chris Belsito Band recorded some music for the CBC and played a few shows before Craig left to play guitar at a much higher volume than Chris would have been happy with. After leaving the Belsito Band, the volume crazed guitar player co-founded and co-wrote all the material for heavy avante garde group Iron Lung in 1993. Although Iron Lung was critically acclaimed by anyone who saw the band perform, no recordings were ever made, and the band broke up in early 1994. In 1996 Craig formed a power trio called Clockwork who recorded an album that was never released. Clockwork ceased to exist in 1997, and Craig went on to record a song called Weight In Water with Chris Belsito under the name of Hemlock Tea. Weight in Water was featured on a Sault Ste. Marie compilation album called Local Steel in 1998. This one shot group also featured drummer Roy Kreutzberger from Iron Lung and Clockwork as well as George Ravlich, who also played bass for the Rainhorses and on the Chris Belsito Turbulence CD. Craig Moved to Guelph, Ontario in 1998 and in a fit of madness, switched to bass, sold all his guitars and played with the ill fated alt-rock band Soma. Soma released an EP in 2000 featuring songs written by both Craig and ex-SSM guitarist Luke Ellis. Soma began disintegrating after the first rehearsal, but too two long years to finish the job. Having learned his lesson, Craig sold his bass, bought a guitar and moved back to the Sault. Returning to Sault Ste. Marie in the spring of 2000, Craig co-founded a new band called Spiderback with Dwayne Slack (guitar), Mike Robillard (bass), and Chris Suraci (drums). Spiderback would go on to play over 50 shows and released at CD called Acrobiotics in 2001. Spiderback went on hiatus when Dwayne and Chris moved to other cities, leaving over 20 songs unrecorded. They still play together on special occasions when all four members are in the same city at the same time. 2002 saw several new musical adventures for Craig West. He returned to the heavy power trio format with a band called doomedthinkingman, and officially rejoined Chris Belsito. doomedthinkingman featured Mike Robillard from Spiderback, and drummer Matt Pedalino. doomedthinkingman was active for about 6 months before Craig decided to put the band on hold and pursue a more acoustic based approach to music. The new band, Startlefish would build on both Spiderback and doomedthinkingman with emphasis placed strongly on song writing. Startlefish features the nucleus of Craig and Mike Robillard, along with a collective pool of other musicians. Other musicians who have played with Startlefish include Ed Young (of the Chris Belsito Band), Roy Kreutzberger (dragged out of musical retirement), Al Watson, Frank McCormick, and Patti Goodwin. Startlefish is currently recording a CD which they hope to release sometime in 2004, and frequently play live in formats ranging from the two man acoustic show to a full blown rock band. And coming full circle ... when Chris Belsito began working on his first new album since 1996, Craig offered to join him, and played all the electric guitars on the Turbulence CD as well as in the live Chris Belsito Band. He says that playing with Chris is probably like playing with Bowie (but on a much smaller scale). Craig sometimes still plays guitar at a much higher volume than Chris is happy with, but he has proven himself to be an integral part of the Chris Belsito Band, and until they can figure out a way to get rid of him - you will find him wherever fine Chris Belsito (and Startlefish) products are sold.