- Night of the Black Wyvern

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Utopia Banished was formed sometime between 1997-1998, by Dani A. and Dave R. They had met drummer Nick T. through a mutual friend, and later acquired Marvin S. (through Nick.)

For about one year the 4 "jammed" and wrote some songs, and decided to get serious. The first show played was an instrumental set at a High School Talent Show. Performing their songs Bloody Mary, and Apocalyptica. Though they aren't the most original names, the songs created a very positive response from the audience. Shortly thereafter the band auditioned Jeff Hayward.

It was with this line-up that the band began writing more songs, and began performing shows. Frequenting at clubs like Traditions (Ridgewood,Queens), and Voodoo Lounge (Bayside, Queens). In mid 1999, the band and Jeff H. decided to part ways, due to creative differences.

In addition to Jeff leaving the band, Dani (who played guitars at the time) had began going to school in Boston, Ma. With only one guitarist at hand the group had began "auditioning" guitarist, and found Ian S. With a rather quick decision, the band decided to take Ian.

When Dani came back he took the position of vocals, and keyboards. Since this time, the band has recorded a full length album. Have gotten many positive reviews (from the promos sent out), had the opportunity to take many interviews. and have promoted themselves by playing some great venues

NAME: Danny Augugliaro
DoB: 10.5.82
INSTRUMENT: vocals, keyboards

NAME: Nick Tumia
DoB: 3.26.83
INSTRUMENT: drums, percussion
IDOLS/INFLUENCES: Richard Christie, Nick Barker, Gene Hoglan.
EQUIPMENT: Tama, Zildjian, and DW.
HOW DID YOU END UP IN UTOPIA BANISHED: i was looking for a band, and through a friend met Dave and Danny.
HOBBIES: drinking with the band, driving my car, and working.
FAVORITE UTOPIA BANISHED SONG: Utopia Banished.
FAVORITE FOOD: Mexican.
FAVORITE DRINK: Green Tea, Margaritas
FAVORITE TV SERIES: Beavis and Butthead, and South park.
FAVORITE GIG: Our first show at North Six.
MESSAGE FOR THE BAND: Fortunes of Man, Freedom Vanished, We Live in a World, Where Utopia's Banished

NAME: Marvin Silva
DoB: 2.8.83
INSTRUMENT: guitar
IDOLS/INFLUENCES: tomas lindberg, chuck schuldiner, peter tatgren, jesper stromblad, galder, vortex.
EQUIPMENT: Schecter C-1 plus Diamond Series, Marshall 412 cabinet, B-52 Stealth Series amp head, GNX2 Multi-effect processor.
HOW DID YOU END UP IN UTOPIA BANISHED: I was introduced to Nick by a friend.
HOBBIES: playing the guitar, hanging out with my girlfriend and the band, band practice, drawing, recording, and i have a weird collection of exotic animals.
FAVORITE UTOPIA BANISHED SONG: Foreshadowing the endless quest.
FAVORITE FOOD: Meat and Italian food.
FAVORITE DRINK: Heineken, Coors, and orange Hi-C
FAVORITE TV SERIES: Simpsons, Conan O'Brien, That 70's Show.
BEST UTOPIA BANISHED GIG: The show with Dying Fetus at lamour.
MESSAGE FOR THE BAND: Don't ever give up!

NAME: dave roberts
DoB: 10.4.82
INSTRUMENT: bass guitar
IDOLS/INFLUENCES: vortex, greg christian, steve harris, steve digiorgio, mikael akerfeldt
EQUIPMENT: fender jazz (defretted), broken Hartke B-90
HOW DID YOU END UP IN UTOPIA BANISHED: formed it, i guess
HOBBIES: it as at this point right now, that ive realized i have no hobbies...
FAVORITE UTOPIA BANISHED SONG: Foreshadowing the Endless Quest, and.or Arrival
FAVORITE FOOD: Nachos y Salsa con Queso
FAVORITE DRINK: Water, Goldslager, Coors
FAVORITE TV SERIES: Simpsons, Reno 911!
BEST UTOPIA BANISHED GIG: our best and my favorite was probably w/ Dying Fetus at Lamour. somehow we managed to get on the mainstage, right before the headliners, the crowd was amazing, and (at least) pretended to really be into us. it was a lot of fun. people chanted our name. also one of my favorite shows, was the last show we played with Ennihilate. Those guys were great, and i wish them all the best
MESSAGE FOR THE BAND: Stay true to yourself, trying to impress people never works

NAME: Ian Scott
DoB: 10/29/84
INSTRUMENT: Guitar
IDOLS/INFLUENCES: Wow, there are so many. Some of the bands that I like include Slayer(\m/), Death, Decapitated, Dimmu Borgir (I think their new stuff is very tight and original), Testament, Arch Enemy, At the Gates, Dark Throne, Control Denied, Cynic, Immortal, Suffocation, Meshuggah, Necrophagist, Nile, Plantet X, Amon Amarth, Spastic Ink, The Doors, Megadeth(old) and so many more. Musicians that have greatly influenced me include the late Chuck Shuldiner, Paul Gilbert, Al DiMeola, Michael Romeo, Dave Mustaine, Tony MacAlpine, Allan Holdsworth, Michael Angelo, George Bellas, the late Wes Montgomery, Joe Stump...the list goes on and on.
EQUIPMENT: My amp is a Peavey Special 212 combo amp and I am surprised it has lasted as long as it has. To make it sound loads less shitty, I use a Digitech GNX2 digital effects processor. I play a B.C. Rich Body Art Collections Gunslinger with a snake body design, but I also own a Blueburst B.C. Rich N.J. Series Ironbird. I use 10-46 guage Blue Steel Dean Markley strings. For pics, I use .85 mm Dunlop Tortex Sharps.
HOW DID YOU END UP IN UTOPIA BANISHED: I guess I have been in the band for the least amount of time, but I have held my own with these guys for over three years. It started when I met Alex, who used to play drums for the pagan war metal band, Grom. He lived in my building and we used to talk about cool underground bands. I remember one day he told me about this band named Utopia Banished, giving them much praise and telling me to see them at their next show. Their next show was cancelled, but I started a correspondence with Dave over the internet. I noticed that Utopia Banished did not have a singer. The band that I was currently in at the time was not going anywhere and tensions and creative differences led me to part ways with that band. So I asked if I could audition as a singer. I did, and somehow ended up as a guitarist and Dan became the band's singer and keyboardist.
HOBBIES: Reading, going to the gym, hanging out with my girlfirend Stephanie, hanging out with the band, practicing guitar...I guess that's about it.
FAVORITE UTOPIA BANISHED SONG: It's hard to choose one song so I will give you three of my favorites. I love playing the new stuff so I guess it would be BattleCry, Fury Arise, and Ruler of Seas in no specific order.
FAVORITE FOOD: Alaskan Crab Legs, absolutely delicious.
FAVORITE DRINK: I don't think I could function properly without coffee.
FAVORITE TV SERIES: I dunno, right now it's a tie between Family Guy and Reno 911.
BEST UTOPIA BANISHED GIG: I think one of the best show we ever played was the show we did at L'Amour with Dying Fetus. People really responded to us well at that show. Someone asked Nick for one of his sticks, and I remember all of us signing an autograph for someone, but I could be mistaken. I think we all felt like rockstars that gig, at least for a little while.
MESSAGE FOR THE BAND: Guys, we've done awesome things together and I have no doubt that if we keep at this long enough, we will eventually rule the world. That's not arrogance, that's having faith in the band. To those that have supported us, thank you very much and I hope you enjoy us enough to keep coming to shows and to keep listening to us.