John Michaels is the bandleader, guitarist, and main songwriter for "The Inside" which John started in 1986 after meeting Mr. Blues at a Chicago Blues jam. From Milwaukee, John has been playing blues and rock music since the 70's in the Mid-West and had gained airplay with several songs in an early 90's band named "Street Flight Gypsy" who was popular in the area and played gigs with Savoy Brown and Sue Foley . A versatile guitarist and prolific songwriter John is adept at numerous guitar and music styles but has always remained true to blues and blues influenced rock and roll. Although John is a solid studio musician he is most at home on stage where is playing is soulful and explosive.

Richie Howell is the bands lead vocalist and frontman. From the City of New Orleans, Richie has a strong and dynamic voice that is worthy to front "The Inside" . Richie started working with the band back in 1993 when he and John Michaels first met. After two years of performing solo back home from 1996-98 he rejoined the band just in time to record the latest CD "No Parole" and has taken his place in fronting "The Inside" .

Jeff Walker is the bands keyboards player and back up vocalist. Originally from Seattle, Jeffs experience goes back a few years also. Jeff was the keyboards player for the popular and successful band "Spooner" from 1980-94 who released 3 LP's with Capitol Records and Affiliates. It was after "Spooners" breakup and several of Jeffs bandmates went on to form the popular pop band "Garbage" that Jeff met John Michaels and began working with "The Inside". Jeffs "groovy" keyboards are a perfect balance with Johns guitar playing and has proven to be invaluable in supporting the band.

Mr. Blues , a veteran harp player from the Chicago Blues scene has added his unique sound to the band. Mr. Blues has played with such greats as Willie Dixon and Lefty Dizz as well as other too numerous to mention Chicago blues artists. Mr. Blues met John Michaels at an open jam one night in '86 and the two have been working together ever since.
Mr. Blues dynamic and often ferocious harp playing has given The Inside an extra dimension in sound.

Drummer Jeff Lisk , another Chicago veteran, and old friend of
Mr. Blues, has played with the same string of greats as well as a list of others from Jorma Kaukonen to Junior Wells . Jeffs talents and experience as a drummer are hard to equal much less surpass. His skills as a percussionist were also usefull in recording The Inside with some very tasty conga and timbale tracks. Jeff also owns Maddrum Productions where he instructs his students in the art of percussion and drumming as Jeff himself is skilled in a wide variety of styles and world beats.

Bassist Jimmy Gunn was with The Inside at its formation in '86. Jimmy goes all the way back to the early 80's with John Michaels and they worked together in Street Flight Gypsy . Also from Chicago, Jimmy is himself a skilled songwriter and has collaborated thru the years with John Michaels on many songs including several of which appear on the "No Parole" CD. The two have worked together both in the studio and on the stage and have remained solid friends.

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