EVEN STEVEN LEVEE
EVEN STEVEN was born in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. He was weaned on The Yardbirds, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin early on in life which made his approach to music raw and loud. He attended Miami Dade Junior College in Florida as an Art major by day while playing bass in clubs and coffee houses at night.
Even joined up with Grammy Award winning producer Frank Filippetti, and together they formed the band LIFE FORCE. Life Force’s unique sound led them to Paramount Records. Shortly before the release date of their first record, the energy crisis brought an end to the Paramount Label. (Vinyl is a petroleum product. Go figure!) Life Force became LIFE SOURCE and the group hit the road touring the US and Canada for the next 2 years. After Life Source disbanded, Even toured the South and Mid West with PROFILE, a Cincinnati based dance band.
Even Steven returned to New York and joined BRAD FACTOR:10 "The Yuppies From Hell", . The band's persona was "The worlds first Yuppie Heavy-Metal Band" and their music and stage show reflected that. BF:10 developed a strong "cult" following performing songs like "BMW Love", "Power Breakfast" and "Have a Nice Day" at major rock venues like 'L’AMOURS', 'The CAT CLUB', 'LIMELIGHT', 'BLACK CAT' and many others. It was at 'Black Cat' that Even Steven was formerly introduced to the club's booking agent and promoter, HARRY SLASH.
(After the stock market crash the group began to do fewer performances with claims they had been incarcerated in a minimum-security federal prison for the non-release of their song "Margin Call".They would only come out to do a show if there is a cause relating to their community service agreement.)
Even Steven has hosted jam sessions in a number of NYC's hottest clubs like Spodee O dee's, Limelight, Danceteria, Nirvana and Space At Chase. It was at Space At Chase in 1993 that Even, Harry Slash, Roderick Kohn and Paul Sheenan formed the first "Blues/Rock" based incarnation of "HARRY & THE SLASHTONES", eventually adding Steve Bondy and Brad Rosen.
Even would be part of the subsequent style and lineup changes and incarnations of The Slashtones. including the "Jazz/Rock" 2nd version, the 12 member "Slashtones Orchestra" spectacle and then the satirical "Comic/Rock" version the band would stay with for a while.
In 1995, Even Steven was invited by Viceroy Music's president, Arnie Goodman, to perform on the Peter Green tribute CD, “RATTLESNAKE GUITAR". Choosing guitarist RAY GOMEZ from the Stanley Clarke Band and drummer (the late) BOBBY CHOUINARD, formerly of Billy Squire in one of his last recordings, was the perfect line up. They recorded two songs for the CD, "Evil Woman Blues" and "Lazy Poker Blues" with vocalists PETE McMAHON and TROY TURNER respectively. Rattlesnake Guitars included musicians from Pink Floyd, The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, The Animals, Jethro Tull, Savoy Brown, David Lee Roth, and many other special guest performers.
Even continued to play with The Slashtones until late 1995, when the need for back surgery forced him to step down from the group and was replaced by Tony Moore until The Slashtones were "canceled" by Harry Slash in early 1997. The "Series cancellation" didn't last very long as The Slashtones had two spin-offs. First out in early 1997 was "Life?! (II))", the studio project with the rotating cast that recorded original music of the (original) ECW Extreme Championship Wrestling. television show. Even Steven recorded several songs with "Life?!" including the ECW themes for 'Ravishing Rick Rude', 'SuperCrazy' and 'Francine'. Even was also part of the second spin-off, the acoustic side-project called "(Not) The Slashtones" that performed "unplugged" versions of songs from The Slashtones' "Comic-Rock" era. That project ran from June of 1997 until it's cancellation in January of 1998, (The "Life?!" project's name would be changed to "Harry Slash & The Slashtones" in mid-1998.) For a time after that, Even was the bass player for the band FREAK PARADE, featuring two original founding members of the 70's futuristic rock group "UTOPIA", keybordist Moogy Klingon and drummer Kevin Ellman.
Currently in the 21st century, Even might be playing bass, writing, producing, recording music or voice-overs while working with his Protools System. His involvement with computers and technology take up a lot of his schedule although he still finds time to perform and tour with old friends The Moogy Klingman Band and Buzzy Linhart. You might also find him playing live around New York City with his studio band AFU Good Friends As Co-Owner of i~Potato Music, Even is producing new Hip Hop, Folk, and RnB artists with partner and long time friend, ARTHUR STEUER.
i~Potato is Music for the hearing prepared featuring: MC Magic D, Gun Hill, Barbara Lee George, Shea Parka, AFU GoodFriends, Michou, and i-Potato - The Adventures of Lumpy and Homefry.
Keep an eye out for the return of Brad Factor:10 "The Yuppies From Hell"
See Discography for more music
