30 Below became a live band (as opposed to dead) in February of 1999.

It all started when Ditts wife got him a drum machine that had four pads and a foot pedal for the high hat and bass drum. That lasted about a week when Ditt traded the machine in for the real thing, the ever so novice TAMA Rock Star Drum Kit. (Ditt still thinks he is a rock star)

Ditt and Bud had been singing and writing a little at Buds Bitchin' rock studio (basement and a home stereo) when the band took it's first step at stardom. Ditt called his buddy Sal (*Premier* bass player, but he won't admit it) to come over and jam a bit with Bud. He said Great, came over and they jammed. That was the second step in the bands birth. Then at the Sprint PCS (Bud, Ditt and Kurt have worked there) office the next day they talked to Bud's boss Kurt, who informed them that he had played in a band at one time and wanted to come over the next session. Five years later, a young guy named Eric Christofferson decided to drop his standards and play along. So they got together and they rocked the house!


And thus the band was born! The name came about one day at the office cafeteria when Bud, Ditt, and Kurt were having a bite to eat. What should the name of the band be? The dropped calls...no...The dial tones...no...Flip phone sally...no...Armchair Budda...someone had that one...So it came down to looking outside where the temperature was a balmy 3 degrees. They figured 30 Below had a ring to it and really screamed Minnesota!

That is how the band was born. Four Executives (in our regular daily lives!) and a head bartender at an exclusive downtown Minneapolis establishment playing in hobby band continue to exceed all aspirations we could have ever had.

If you have taken the time to come and see us at any of the fine establishments that allowed us to play there, we thank you very kindly. We continue to write originals, pick out obscure covers and strive to put together the most entertaining shows we can. One thing the business world has taught us is that 1.) It's all about the marketing, and 2.) It is much better to be lucky than good....

Cheers!

Sal Smith, 30 Below bass guy