MIXEDBREED

DONALD GOULBOURNE (guitar) grew up in Jamaica listening to a variety of musical genres ranging from reggae, pop, jazz and R&B to Latin and classic rock. However, it wasn’t until he moved to the United States that he had a newfound fascination for hard rock and heavy metal, thanks to bands such as Van Halen and Metallica. The sounds of the electric guitar – “grinding, screaming, shredding, and ripping” – had him so enthralled; it inspired him to learn the instrument. Don formed the group s...

DONALD GOULBOURNE (guitar) grew up in Jamaica listening to a variety of musical genres ranging from reggae, pop, jazz and R&B to Latin and classic rock. However, it wasn’t until he moved to the United States that he had a newfound fascination for hard rock and heavy metal, thanks to bands such as Van Halen and Metallica. The sounds of the electric guitar – “grinding, screaming, shredding, and ripping” – had him so enthralled; it inspired him to learn the instrument. Don formed the group soon to be known as Mixedbreed in late 1998. He was accompanied by former members Rick Hernandez (drums), Hewlester Samuel (bass) and former lead singer Rosie Murguia. The group initially played hard rock/classic rock tunes until asking Charles Blackshire to become a member the following year. Don plays two Fender Squires (blue and black) and a Gibson Explorer, as well as a Dunlop EVH95 Eddie Van Halen Signature wah guitar effects pedal and Line 6 Amplifiers. CHARLES BLACKSHIRE (bass, vocals) became interested in music at the early age of 5, thanks in part to Michael Jackson’s 1982 release “Thriller”. His influences included Jackson, Prince and later Metallica and Pink Floyd. He persuaded his parents to enroll him for piano lessons, which would later lead him into joining the Fine Arts program in Perrine Elementary School (1987-1988) and Robert Russa Moton Elementary School (1988-1990). After a stint in visual media, Charles returned to his love of music by joining a high school singing group called INFINITE in 1994. He is also an avid songwriter, penning tunes for genres such as rap, R&B and pop prior to joining the band soon to be called Mixedbreed in 1999. (Charles came up with the band name in the years to come.) Guitarist Don Goulbourne asked Charles to join the group initially as a vocalist, auditioning him with songs made famous by Journey, Led Zepplin and Van Halen. During early demo recording sessions, Charles took on rhythm guitar duties. He then switched to bass guitar, and at even took on multiple duties (rhythm guitar, bass, drums, and lead and background vocals) on certain recording sessions. Charles plays a black Ibanez GSR200 bass guitar. He also plays a red Ibanez GAX70 guitar (featuring a picture of Bettie Page) for several recording sessions, as well as a Cry Baby wah pedal. His use of amplifiers varies. FEDOR VIVAS (drums) was asked to join Mixedbreed in January of 2008 after co-members Don Goulbourne and Charles Blackshire auditioned a number of come-and-gone drummers in the past ten years. Influenced by bands such as Iron Maiden, Guns n’ Roses, Metallica, Sepultura, and Napalm Death, Fedor frequented several music stores at the age of 16, trying out several instruments. Initially wanting to play the guitar, he finally settled on the drums; he was fascinated by how hard-hitting and impactful it is, not to mention the ability to “piss people off” by playing them with great veracity. His cousin (a bassist) along with a guitarist friend formed the band Conflicto, and was asked to join, since they needed a drummer. Fedor currently plays Tama drums with Iron Cobra double pedals and Zildjian cymbals, along with an assortment of drumsticks. MIXEDBREED is currently looking for a second guitarist.