Initiation by Kevin M. Buck

Here Buck developed a taste for the excitement of the live show, but he still hungered for the guitar-heavy sounds of Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, the vocal assaults of Bruce Dickenson and Ronnie James Dio.

Buck soon formed Euphoric Darkness, an original heavy metal band, with his school-mate Eric Pine on the bass guitar. Euphoric Darkness enjoyed a faithful following throughout the Chicagoland area, playing at such legendary clubs as The Thirsty Whale, The Riviera, The Vic Theater, and The Gateway Theater. The band later became known as Imagery.

At age seventeen, Buck was hospitalized for three months with a psychotic episode resulting from LSD and the improper use of magick. After a long rehabilitation process, he felt a renewed sense of spiritual love for his art. Buck continues to search for religious, philosophical, magickal, and mystical truth, although he no longer drops acid.

During his senior year at Lions Township High School, Buck found work teaching guitar at The Sound Post in LaGrange, Illinois. Thus, Buck began his thriving teaching career. He enjoys teaching, and is well-versed in music reading, transcription, and rhythmic dictation. Teaching has taught him both a great diversity of styles and patience with humanity. It also allows him to keep up on current music. Buck presently teaches guitar and music theory at A Sound Education in Brookfield, Illinois. He gives private lessons as well.

Buck formed The Blizzard of Ozz, the highly successful Ozzy Osbourne tribute band, in 1996. Today, The Blizzard of Ozz continues to tour the Midwest, playing over fifty Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne songs. Buck has received much praise for his work with The Blizzard of Ozz, and enjoys playing the music of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. "I wouldn't be in any other tribute act. I love the guitar styles of Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde, and Tony Iommi," says Buck. "The music offers enough diversity to make my job fun as fuck, and still allows for my own self expression."

Buck has shared the stage with acclaimed artists such as Dave Uhrich, Joe Stump, Joe Lynn Turner, Happenin' Harry & the Haptones, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, Disturbed, Trouble, Enuff Z'Nuff, and Roger Daltry who said that Kevin M. Buck is "one of the greatest guitarists ever." Leslie West of Mountain said, "this kid has a fucking encyclopedia worth of shit in his mind." Recently, Buck won the 2003 Guitar Idol Competition sponsored by 97.9 WLUP-FM in Chicago. Buck was also featured on VH1 CLASSIC in late July of 2003.

Kevin M. Buck's first album, Initiation, is a collection of the songs that have haunted Buck for the past ten years. These songs were inspired by melodies heard in dreams and meditations. Initiation displays the incredible guitar style that dwells within Buck's ethereal, and sometimes devastating, compositions. Initiation was recorded at Linder Ave. Recording Studios and released independently on Osiris Records. Buck's future plans include more recording and touring, and he hopes to have support from a major label.

Kevin M. Buck plays original music from his album Initiation, as well as carefully hand-selected cover songs. The current line up features: Tommy Salzburg, formerly of Metal Blade recording artists Tattoo, on drums; Eric Pine on the six string bass guitar; and Kevin M. Buck on guitar, mandolin, keys, and vocals. For more information, visit www.KevinMBuck.com or contact Kevin M. Buck online at KevinMBuck@hotmail.com or by phone at 708-655-3882.

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