Damir Simic - Shime

Damir was born in Zagreb, Croatia, where he began playing guitar while he was 14.  He was heavily influenced by his father, a renowned Croatian jazz guitarist.  But, as soon as he heard Van Halen's classic "1984" album, he knew he wanted to become a world class rock guitarist, like the man himself.  He began practicing four hours a day, and listening to such guitar greats as Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Tony MacAlpine.  In the process, he began to develop his own playing and songwriting style.  He began playing and recording with various well known musicians in his own country, and was featured often on Croatian radio and television shows.  It was here, that he became known as Shime.  (Pronounced SHEE-mah)

In 1991 Shime's "quest" took him to Los Angeles, to follow the same dream that most young musicians have - to make it BIG.

  He soon signed a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell, which saw his songs featured on soundtracks around the world.  He's been featured in various music publications, including Music Connection, Guitar Player, and Guitar for the Practicing Musician.  He's performed with such contemporaries as Rudy Sarzo, Simon Wright, Richard Black, and Carmine Appice.   And he's recorded with players like Barry Sparks, Jeff Scott Soto, and Mike Terrana.

In 1996, Shime got together with Tony MacAlpine, and engineered his latest opus, Violent Machine.  Tony returned the favor in 1997, by playing on three tracks off of Shime's debut album, The Quest - currently available on Metropolis Records.  Working and playing with his childhood heroes, it looks like Shime's dream is finally becoming a reality.