Steve Karakas. Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards

  Steve began his musical career at age 7 playing the accordion.  Call it inevitable, call it fate, or call it his only viable choice-- nearly every step in his musical career would point him to the band called Beadhead.  After six years of accordion lessons he began fooling around with the guitar.  The leader of his high school band recruited him to play accordion in the marching band—seriously.  This impracticality eventually led him to play in the percussion section.  It was here he met his first rock and roll bandmate, Jay Lundell.  At 14 years of age they formed The Dynasty and even recorded an album.  The band broke up when Steve moved to California.  He teamed up with fellow Cal Berkeley students to form ...more  

Jay Lundell. Drums, Vocals

  Jay started playing at 12 years old after being inspired by watching “the Gene Krupa Story” on TV, and hasn’t stopped since. His early influences were the Beatles, Cream, the Rascals, and many of the Pacific NW bands such as the Sonics and the Kingsmen. His first band was with Steve Karakas, and when Steve moved to California, Jay starting playing night clubs at 16 with the Phantom.

Two years later, Jay played in Hawaii where he met the LA band Billie and the Good Guys. He joined them shortly after and played with the band in LA for several years. When he moved back to Portland, he joined Rainbow, a popular funk band....more

John Difalco. Lead Guitar

   John began playing the guitar at age 11 and bought his first electric axe after a friend turned him on to Rush's 2112. He was hooked. Through high school ( 80 grad Sunset High) , he began to develop his style and formed the band Equinox with current jazz drummer Alan Jones. Through that time, John cites Alex Lifeson, Brian May, and Jimmy Page as some of his early musical influences. John learned a great many of his guitar chops through jam sessions with his high school chum current KISS lead guitarist Tommy Thayer, whom he still remains in contact with. Previous to Beadhead, John played rhythym guitar with The Relics...more       

Shakara.  Percussion. 

  Percussionist Shakara joined Beadhead after a stint with the Oxymorons.  Her early influences include Tito Puente, Sheila E and Ralph McDonald.  She plays congas, bongos, cabaca, maracas, wind chimes and numerous other percussion instruments with Beadhead.  Shakara, no relation to Shakira, orchestrates the band’s choreography on tunes like Fins, 5 O’Clock Somewhere and Stars on the Water.  She’s an art history teacher and plays “Catholic Congas” at her church.  Shakara is the band’s bus navigator.  New music currently on her iPod is:  Tom Petty, Gnarls Barkley, The Pretenders, Nelly Furtado and Santana.

Bill Piland.  Bass and Vocals.

  Bill Piland is a legend in the Portland music scene.  He started with the Sleazy Pieces--one of the '70's bands that included other notables like Jon Koonce and Steve Bradley.  Bill joined the Sludge Bros. in the early '80's with Steve Karakas and Pierre Ouellette.  He's been a collaborator with singer/songwriter Gary Ogan.  A nod to musical versatility, Bill has been a long time member of the Beatles tribute band, "Hard Days Knights" and has been a regular with former Sludge Bros. player, John Dalrymple, in Seymour.  Before joining Beadhead, Bill paid his Jimmy Buffett dues with the Oxymorons.  Bill is a nationally ranked backgammon player and tours the country on its professional circuit.