The Band
From the Introduction to the limited release 2001 DVD, Burning Sensation Live:
"It is often difficult to capture the true spirit of a band in the sterile environment of the modern recording studio. To avoid this pitfall, Burning Sensation has forgone the trappings of the studio and moved directly to electrifying live performances. You are about to see the fruits of this philosophy."
"Four 'men' armed with limited musical ability (except Dave — maybe) formed a unit capable of blowing away a (free) alcohol-primed audience in the smallest (most intimate) of venues.
Over six weeks of planning, playing and soldering went into what you are about to witness.
In the spirit of 'Live at Budokan,' 'Double Live Gonzo,' 'Kiss Alive,' 'Kiss Alive II' and 'Earnest Saves Christmas,' we are now pleased to present the following."
"Please grab hold of your seats 'cause you will be blown away!!!"
The NEWEST Addition to Burning Sensation
Buffy Larson — Buffy, aka America's Sweetheart, Mary Elizabeth Larson, Hurricane Buffy and/or Baby Bird is the latest woman to grace the stage with Burning Sensation. This Kansas-bred hottie came to our attention after falling under the insidious spell of Dr. John T. Elliott Jr. late one night in Adams Morgan, and she's lived up to those classy beginnings ever since. With nine-foot legs and a six-foot smile, she has the charm, presence and vocal chops to cover up the sloppiest of guitar solos — when Buffy's on stage, all eyes (male and female) are drawn to her like magnets.
Equally important, her Dewey-Beach-hussy-make-out-queen background has prepared her well for life on the road with four strong men (giving Hugh the benefit of the doubt). Though her vocal range will now allow us to cover Led Zeppelin and Journey tunes, we're not doing any so it doesn't matter. But the heat generated by duets between her and The Doktor of Love is guaranteed to burn the house down, particularly when mixed with our illegal laser light shows and highly flammable costumes. Buffy Larson, an integral part of Burning Sensation 4.0 -- she's half chanteuse, half instigatrix, and ALL Lady.
Returning MEMBERS of Burning Sensation
Doctor (of Love) John Elliott — John is Burning Sensation's front-man and resident Genius. The inspiration for television's McGyver, he not only invented air, earth, fire and water but also built the band's world-renowned light show using a gum wrapper, two beer cans, and a half-squeezed tube of KY jelly. As a former Scientologist, John uses patented Mind-Control techniques to whip audiences into a frenzy of lust, desire, and vague unease.
Since the first Burning Sensation show, John has launched successful lines of unisex party shirts and hair-care products, using the proceeds to amass the world's largest (known) collection of pornography. John's effect on female audience members defies belief — though often repelled at first, they soon fall under his spell and listen in rapt attention to his impromptu lectures on the scientific method.
Dr. Peter M. Vallone (aka Petebot, Pinball Pete, Sneaky
Pete, Peedo) — Secretive and elusive, Peter Vallone is the musical genius behind Burning Sensation's Blow Your Pants Off guitar sound. Pete's apparently mild-mannered ways mask the mind of a madman, obsessed with pinball, robots, and learning the first three bars of every song ever written.
DNA scientist by day, Pete spends his time attempting to clone himself so that he can play EVEN LOUDER (he was born with an auditory defect, common to most lead guitarists, that allows him to hear only the frequencies of his own guitar playing).
Some attribute Pete's greenish tinge and strange manner of communication to a dangerous cloning experiment that backfired horribly — they speculate that Pete's genes were combined
with those of his faithful sidekick Greedo, who at the time was
asleep in the pocket of Pete's lab coat.
Had the cloning procedure worked, Burning Sensation might have ended up with more than a single decent guitarist.
As a service to his loyal fans, Pete offers the following distillation of his years of obsessive online "research." He'd also like to point out that "racecar" spelled backwards is "racecar."
Colin P. Delany — Raised in a stagnant pond in the backwoods of East Texas, Colin nevertheless blasted onto the national scene with the publication of his acclaimed historical romance action-adventure fantasy mystery thriller, The Epistemological and Pedagogical Implications of Rampant Pudpulling (Theory versus Practice), which was later turned into an Oscar-winning movie starring James Garner, Alicia Silverstone, and Corey Feldman as Flipper the Talking Vibrator.
Shocked and awed by the world-wide attention that followed the first Burning Sensation show, Colin withdrew from society to a barstool strategically hidden in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood of DC, never to speak again. He now communicates with his legion of fanatic followers only through the bass guitar, playing it in the ancient Etruscan style, with tongue and toes.
Hughbert Q. Paquette —
Small in stature, but large in the pantaloonal region, Hugh will run circles
around you on the soccer field or in any type of domed "recreational"
stadium. One of the newer additions to the Burning Sensation
lineup, with the mutually-agreed-upon departure of David Branning from the drums (too
much drinkie-drinkie), Hugh has stepped into the spotlight. A couple of summers ago, he purchased a
new drum set and learned how to play to our satisfaction in less than a
month. Even today, his playing is a veritable roller coaster of tempos, ranging from
Largo all the way to Presto with a brief stop at Moderato, all in a single
song!
Hugh has a famously vicious temper that has earned him the nickname "Dr. David
Banner" — do not make him angry. Hugh and Pete have been working on their
funk side project "Splashes of Love," but that is beyond the focus of this
website. FYI: Hugh does his own stunts.
The Dearly Departed
or,
members (d)emeritus
Dr. David Branning — As a physics graduate student at Los Alamos, Dave was bitten by a mutant radioactive stapler in a bizarre editing accident. He soon developed potent special powers, chiefly the ability to render enemies comatose in seconds by reciting the plotline of any comic book ever published (believe me, we've suffered more than once). His touch also embodies The Power of Greyskull and can cure ailments ranging from cancer to the clap.
Formerly inexplicably irresistable to the women of DC, Dave moved to an undisclosed location deep in the nation's heartland after the first Burning Sensation show, where his manly vigour was tamed by a faithful sidekick known only as Vicki. His whereabouts are still unknown, but he emerges periodically from his hidden laboratory to fight crime and to transport drum kits of lethal power across state lines. Without Dave, Burning Sensation would not exist.
Matthew Stevens — A member of an elite British counter-intelligence unit, Matt uses his Uncle Fester-ish charm to further the interests of Crown and Country. His current mission has been a great success — he has clearly suppressed all traces of intelligence in Burning Sensation.
Though he is easily addled by drink, his guitar skills cannot plausibly be denied, and many critics consider him the sole reason behind Burning Sensation's Grammy nomination this year. Often torpid, Matt secludes himself away between missions and shows, emerging only to sun himself on large, flat rocks.
Side note: Matt is the only member of Burning Sensation to have a tattoo of Flamey. He
won’t tell where it's located on his body, but here's a hint — it "taint" to
hard to find.
Alexis T. Ellicott —
Someone once pointed out that if you remove the "c" from Ellicott then John
and Alexis would have the same last name. This indeed is a factual statement,
albeit a pointless one. Alexis is the latest in a series of girl backup
singers recruited for "action" in Burning Sensation. With the departure of
Angela Bardo in October of 2003 (she is off having John and Pete's baby), Alexis brought us back to the 4 to 1 boy-girl ratio to which we have grown accustomed throughout our career (and lives, for that matter).
With a 4-octave range, Alexis brings us the potential for covering Mariah Carey and Journey tunes (though we will do neither). Most importantly, her extensive collection of wigs and weaves will keep audiences on their toes. Nicknames: Queen Bee, Seed Lover, Nessie.
Jerry Herbilla — Dark and tormented, Jerry brings a warped artistic perspective to the Burning Sensation light show. He performs his duties with maniacal intensity, his calm exterior belying a mind aboil with dreams of subverting the good order and decency of The Nation's Capital.
Though the band relies on his skills to blind audiences to our fundamental lack of talent and style, Jerry's propensity for the unexpected and unexplainable makes us do so cautiously. But never fear: by the end of the night, he'll be safely subdued by a potent combination of sweet liquor and the subtle attentions of the ladies of D.C. (look for his patented glassy-eyed stare right around 1 a.m.).
Mystery Guest Number One — she's tall, she's sexy, and she's a scientist. You'll want her, but you'll never have her. This mystery guest will make the audience stand up and bark.
Justin C. Harding, Doktor of Jurisprudence — The most lethal member of the band, Justin uses raw cunning and his skills as a TaeKwonDo master to run the Burning Sensation light show with blinding speed and perfect timing. The strong and silent type, he's deadly in a different way with the ladies. Ask him to show you his "special moves" and you may never be the same again.
Our Inspiration
Flamey — Our inspiration and muse, Flamey is never seen yet always present in our lives. He gives Burning Sensation the heat and light that make our shows possible. We salute him, and promise to pay our bills on time from now on.
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