GRIP ~ North Atlanta's Premier Rock Party Band

Click on the Players Pic Above For Individual Bio's

GRIP was formed by veteran Rockers Chip Hullender and Jeff Brashears. After many years performing in different Atlanta Original and Cover bands such as Sex Cab, Ripley, Cyan, and Thunderhead, they met in 2003 when Jeff joined STAGRR. After years of performing together with STAGRR they wanted to expand the show and music and do some new heavier Classics for the younger crowds they were seeing each weekend.

After Chip heard Chuck Ingram one afternoon playing a few hours made up of 30 second riffs of every Van Halen tune ever recorded at a neighbors outdoor holiday party late in 05, Chip talked to Chuck about joining the band. Chuck had been out of the club scene for over 20 years but his chops were still top form from his love of guitar. He had been entertaining the idea of gettting started again on his own but was having a time getting a band and all the material together. Chip suggested he learn the best classic dance songs STAGRR was doing and they could be up and running fast. Chuck was a real quick study....................

By late February of 2006 GRIP was playing Bogey's in Woodstock, Ga. After a successful show that GRIP'D the Bogey's crowd and management, the bucks got a little bigger, the drinks got a little stronger, and the gigs started coming..........just as Chip and Jeff knew they would!

The next member to join GRIP was Dave Sams on Drums. Dave had been drumming for years with Smooth Lime Groove and had recently joined STAGRR. Jeff and Chip felt like Dave would be a good fit for GRIP.

The band began working.................and working.............. and working! Playing Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina as well as many great establishments from Sugar Hill to Cartersville, in April of 2006 the band won the Best Cover Band and the Peoples Choice award at Killer Creek Harley~Davidson, that led to playing Sundown at Thundercreek and Mountain Creek Harley as well. In February o7 GRIP won the Best Rock Band award at the Whiskeystock Battle of the Bands and scored a summer concert series at The Copperhead Lodge Biker resort in Blairsville, Ga. All this before their 1st year anniversary!

GRIP's second year really started taking off. They had played the first Full Throttle Bike Night each month at The Alley in Woodstock all year long and scored the monthly Full Throttle Bikini Contest. GRIP opened for the Atlanta Rhthym Section and Chris Young at Copperhead Lodge and were asked to play the Trail of Tears Kickoff party at Thundercreek Harley-Davidsona (the largest organized bike ride in the world). In Septemeber GRIP got a sponsorship from Copperhead Lodge for their trip to Thunderbeach in Panama City to play Sharkys Beach Club and The Boardwalk Beach Resort.

GRIP began performing their Original songs Believe and Trampstamp but due to different musical paths it was announced on Rocktober 31st, 2007 that Mitch Marcello formerly of Southern Crush would be taking over on Bass, replacing founding member Jeff Brashears.

In 2008 GRIP began writing more Original material with Southern Boyz, Interior, focus, In My Cup and a reworked version of Trampstamp. In March they played The NASCAR Kobalt Tools 500 and Atlanta Motor Speedway and booked Thunder Beach Spring Bike Rally in Panama City, FL., the Rolling On For MDA Bike ride in Marietta Square, GA., Full Throttle Magazine's Rumble On The Noble in Anniston, AL and The Queens Reception Ball in Orange Beach, AL.!

In July of 2008 Ross Nuckolls took over drumming duties for David Sams and Doug Mowery was asked to Join GRIP to play Rythym Guitar, in that same month GRIP opened for Jeff Bates and JB Walker! GRIP now had five fingers and Nuckolls!