Brian Cline Band

"When I grow up I want to be a musician so that I can meet new people and make people happy." Brian Cline wrote that for a school paper when he was eight years old and has been attempting to make it a reality ever since. Cline grew up in a musical family and both his mother and uncle were professional musicians. Inspired by the Beatles, he learned a few guitar chords from his uncle and took piano lessons from his mother and, even though none of his seven-year-old friends would form a band with him, Cline's passion for music took off from there.

Cline got his first professional gig at age 14 as part of his uncle's band and he played electric guitar on his uncle's album. Shortly thereafter, he formed Mae Dae and started playing bass, writing songs, and, because no one else would, singing in the band. Gradually, Mae Dae morphed into the progressive rock band Enchant in an attempt to emulate some of his primary musical influences of the time: Marillion, Rush, and Genesis. Enchant was Cline's main project until he left the band in 1991, mostly because of artistic direction. He found himself wanting to be a male Sarah McLachlan rather than Rush or Dream Theater. By the time he left the band, Enchant was well on its way to becoming established and had even forged a relationship with idols Marillion. In 1993, Dream Circle Records, under the aegis of IRS Records, released Enchant's A Blueprint of the World, produced by Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery and with Cline still in tow. The recording sold over 25,000 copies in Europe and Japan. Cline also wrote music and played bass on Enchant's third release in 1997. Post-Enchant, Cline found himself going through something of an identity crisis, ending up in a different band every two months. After awhile, he began writing more and playing with working bands which, if they did not necessarily satisfy him musically, they at least gave Cline a sense of structure, helping him learn how to read an audience, how to be professional, and that when you do something from the heart, people respond. While taking time off during his wife's pregnancy, Cline developed the idea to strike out as a solo artist. Within three months, he was gigging on his own, playing original and cover material. Requests from audiences for a tape or CD to purchase came more frequently, so in early 1998, he entered the studio and recorded Hold the Keys, consisting entirely of original songs. The album was released on his own Dionysongs and sold at his shows. After the album, Cline began searching for musicians to play with in a full-band context. Bass auditions were held and an old acquaintance of Cline's, five-string fretless bassist Andrew Lion, turned out to be the right fit. Aaron Gottlieb took the drummer's seat after getting up on-stage at a Cline gig, singing harmonies, and confidently telling Cline "If you want funky, I'm you're man." Electric guitarist Rob Sherman had been in a favorite local band of Cline's, None of the Above. He was saved from the disco band he was playing in that made him wear polyester and an afro wig. His addition rounded out the newly christened Brian Cline Band. They began building up a following by playing myriad dates ranging from concerts and festivals to night clubs and corporate events, and they began recording as a full band in 1999.