Local Musicians Signed to Record Label

By Eric Usinger

Most teenagers try to find ways to entertain themselves through many different venues. But, for the five local youths who call themselves Standing 8 Count, music is their ultimate motivation.

Just recently this group of hardcore heavy metal artists were signed to Rage Productions to record a 7" record with another local band.

The group consists of guitarist Eddie Sabino, a North Massapequa resident, bassist Ian Clugston, a Massapequa resident, guitarist Steve Pucciuo, a Bethpage resident, vocalist Charlie Claiborne, a Levittown resident, and drummer Nevio Krsulic.

The band was formed last year when two friends, Nevio and Eddie, decided to form a band together. They talked the matter over for a little while then decided to recruit a temporary singer. So, with the drums, guitar, and vocals set they decided to start writing some music.

However, there was one element that the group was lacking; a bass guitar.

During the summer of 1996 Nevio and Eddie had been shopping in the Sunrise Mall looking for something interesting to buy. They went into Animal House, a tee-shirt specialty store. There they bumped into Ian Clugston, a graduate of Massapequa High School.

The three began talking about music and discovered that they shared a common interest, and a common desire. Ian, who had just came out of rehabilitation for a substance abuse problem, which he extinguished, wanted desperate to get back to playing with a band again. While Nevio and Eddie needed to fill that musical void created with the absence of any bass lines.

In March of 1997 the group picked up Charlie, who had been a friend of the band, and asked him to be their new vocalist.

This group of local artists, while playing small clubs all over the area, like Dr. Shay's in Lindenhurst and Crawdaddy's in Amityville, have tended to keep their roots in the community.

"It's hard for bands like us to get shows because alot of adults are intimidated by the music but there are alot of good kids out there," said Ian.

Ian and Steve, who is a Liberal Arts major, are both students at Nassau Community College. Ian is studying Studio Recording Technology because he hopes to someday find permanent employment in the music industry, an area hat he has a passion for. But, in the meantime, Ian works as a delivery worker for Mario's Pizza Restaurant on Park Blvd. in Massapequa Park.

Eddie, a graduate of Plainedge High School, attends college at SUNY Old Westbury. He works at a local A & P super-market and he likes to spend a large portion of his time reading.

Charlie however said that he is dedicating all of his time to music and skateboarding.

"We are totally serious and we spend alot of time in the studio," said Nevio in exemplifying the band's dedication to the group. However, he added, they like to spend some time hanging out.

Playing handball at John J. Burns Park, sitting around watching Seinfeld, eating at the Massapequa Dinner, and hanging out at a local pool hall.

Ian, when not with the band, working or attending school, is one of the coaches for the freshman hockey league in Massapequa. Ian says that his participation with the younger kids has made for very gratifying experience for him.

The entire group agrees that the music that they play is largely misunderstood by many people. "They are not seeing it for what it really is," said Ian.

"It's all about who you know," said Charlie. "And we don't know anyone," added Eddie.

However, with the new record deal that Standing 8 Count has signed for, the group looks forward to a brighter future. "At the last couple of shows we've had some good responses with more people coming out to see us," said Ian.

"Yeah, our fan base is defiantly building," added Nevio.