William Stenner

William Stenner: Bio Singer Songwriter I write music because it is therapeutic for me. Whether Im happy, sad, mad or even just relaxed, there is always a tune that begins to flow in my head. Not only does it flow in my head but I can feel it. If I don't get out the music that is inside of me I start pacing and getting very ancy. Ever Since I could remember I was always fascinated with how music was made. I used to beat on pots and pans and to my mothers suprise, I was holding a beat. In the late 1980's I would hang out with this punk rock band called Side Effects in Whittier, Ca. I was 13 or 14. We tore down a skate board ramp and turned it into a stage so Black Flag could play a backyard party. It was held at family friends house by the name of Creepy Pete. I then Joined Ritual in the Early 1990's We released a 5 song demo and played local shows. In 2002 I was one of the founding members of The World Black. We released a full length Cd in 2005. Shortly after that Founder and friend of mine Carl Crandell of Psychoacoustix Records passed away and so did the record label. The state of Florida dissolved the label and that brought an end to The World Black. I was a DJ to an internet radio station called Krushradio.com. I was a DJ for about 2 years but called it quits So I could work on my Music. I had a few names I went by as a Solo Project. One was The Willie Black, which was a name given from a friend. The other was Faded Jr. which was getting good notariety on the internet but I still could not find the right sound I was looking for. Then one day I wrote a song called Your Eye's. It was way different from my earlier writings. Something in me clicked and I knew I had to get it recorded. I contacted Marty Rifkin and he said he could work with my material. I hired him to produce my music and that is what I do today. I decided to just go with my name, William Stenner, Write music and share it with whomever wants to hear it. I must say I have been influenced from bands such as The Beatles, The Doors, Audio Adrenaline, Metallica, Slayer, Tom Petty, D.R.I, The Crucified, Freddy Fender, Bruce Springsteen, Deliverance, The Knack, Joe Walsh, Jackson Browne, D.C. Talk, Thin Lizzy, Boston, Cream, Eric Clapton, Deep Purple, Ozzy Osborne, Elvis Presley, Steely Dan, Rolling Stones, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, James Taylor, Leonard Skinnard, Living Sacrifice, Blind Melon, Iron Butterfly, Nazareth, KISS, WASP, Iron Maiden, Willie Nelson, The Cheers Sitcom opening song, News Boys, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Guardian, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Vengeance Rising,The Eagles, and many many more. Ritual Biography Ritual formed in 1991 beginning with Vic Mendoza, Larry Lucero and Tim Haase as the founding members. Ritual was being managed by Roger Martinez of Vengeance Rising at that time. In 1992 Vic Mendoza left Ritual and began a project called Coronation. Vic Mendoza was holding auditions. He contacted Panda Bear Studios for a list of musicians.Willie Stenner was on the roster at that time. After a few auditions Vic Mendoza chose Willie Stenner to join Coronation. After listening to Vic and Willie practice Ritual asked the two to join Ritual in 1992 which would make it a five piece band. Roger Martinez did not like the idea of having Willie Stenner in Ritual and asked the guys to fire Willie Stenner. The other band members got together and decided to let Willie Stenner go but Vic Mendoza would not stay in the band if Willie was to be gone. Willie’s band mates decided to keep Willie Stenner in Ritual. In the Beginning of 1993 Roger Martinez decided to let Ritual go and shortly after that Tim Haase and Demian Bridwell decided to form Electric Rattlebone. Vic Mendoza, Larry Lucero and Willie Stenner moved on and released Ritual’s second demo called Crematorium of the Deceased. In 1994 Vic Mendoza left Ritual to continue on with Coronation. Willie Stenner and Larry Lucero continued on and were not looking for any band members at the time but were practicing to obtain a sound that the two were collaborating on. In 1994 Larry and Willie hired Nicene Creed’s bassist Bill Burke to play a show in Grand Rapids Michigan. The show was played May 21st and was the last Show Ritual Played. Willie Stenner got married April 21st of 1994 and settled in to start a family. In 2005 Larry Lucero and Willie Stenner started collaborating and re-did a Ritual song called Suffer The Un-Holy 2, It can be heard at www.myspace.com/ritualcrematorium The World Black Biography The World Black formed in 2002. Vic Mendoza was going to sell his music equipment that he worked so hard to get. He called Willie Stenner to see if he would be interested in buying it. Willie Stenner went to Vic’s house not to look at the equipment but to give him a gift. Willie Stenner knew how much Vic’s projects meant to him and did not want to see him quit fulfilling his passion. To Vic’s surprise, Willie Stenner handed the cash to Vic and said, “Keep your equipment”. Vic couldn’t thank Willie enough and even though Vic vowed never to work with anyone in music again he felt indebted to Willie. Willie and Vic agreed to record just one song and let it go from there. After they recorded “In Me” people started requesting for more songs. Vic and Willie again recorded “Alone to Despair”. After Behind the Blinds was recorded Vic came up with the name ‘The World Black’ and the songs were posted on the internet. Vic Mendoza was contacted by Carl Crandell of Psychoacoustix Records and offered a recording deal. Vic notified Willie and the two agreed and went to work. After The World Black was done recording their first album and just released Willie Met with Carl Crandell in Las Vegas to discuss The World Black. There was a decision made that the record label wanted Willie Stenner to take over The World Black and Vic Mendoza focus on VM. Whether Willie agreed to it or not the decision was going to be final so Willie felt it was his responsibility to inform Vic Mendoza of the decision. Willie told Vic he would just completely quit and walk away from the project and Vic disagreed telling Willie even though he knew something like this would happen that Vic built The World Black specifically for Willie. Vic demanded Willie continue with The World Black. In Nov 2005 Willie Stenner decided to ask Larry Lucero into the project. Willie and Larry flew out to Vegas and recorded ‘Little Drummer Boy’ which was going to be on the Psychoacoustix compilation album titled “Realms of Christmas” the recording went well but ended up unmastered and unreleased. In December of 2005 Carl Crandell contacted Willie and asked him to find a company that would be able to shoot a low budget music Video. Willie Shopped around and found a good deal. Willie Called Carl to tell him about the deal and was loaded with the bad news that Carl Crandell had just passed away that morning. Willie was shocked and in disbelief. He had just talked to Carl a day before that. The Passing of Carl Crandell brought the passing of Psychoacoustix Records and an injury to The World Black. Vic and Willie have since talked about one more album and have begun recording. Nothing is to be expected real soon but something is to be expected in the future. Mojave Living Biography Where do I start with this biography. My Mom, Brother and her boyfriend lived in the middle of the Lucerne Valley Desert in from 2006 to 2007. I used to drive out there and take them food. I would bring them home with me so they could wash their clothes. Usually they would end up staying the night and we'd barbecue. I would get bored so I 'd go record some really quick tracks and have them freelance lyrics over the songs. We all had a blast making these tunes. The Sound Experiment Biography The Sound Experiment is a very slow work in progress. I just started it. It was actually inspired by Jim Ladd's Headsets. After hearing Sons of our Suns I wrote a song in honor of it. So with that being said it is a very short biography on The Sound Experiment because its going to be a never ending work in progress.