LUKYN SKYWYRD BIOGRAPHY
WHO'S WHO, BAND HISTORY, & OTHER RAMBLINGS

Once again, we begin our story of LUKYN SKYWYRD in the middle.  For this is not the beginning of the journey, nor is it the end.  It is the continuing saga of a little ol' band in southeast Wisconsin playing Northern bred Southern rock the best it knows how.  Let's take a look at the current lineup:

Keith Stefanec - Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar

   Jason Miller - Rhythm & Lead Guitar

       Bill Burki - Bass Guitar, Backup Vocals

 Matt Liesman - Drums & Percussion, Backup Vocals

THE BAND

LUKYN SKYWYRD pulls no punches, delivering the best music from the Southern rock era.  Music from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, Marshall Tucker Band, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, Outlaws, and Blackfoot are all part of the LUKYN SKYWYRD song list.  Evolving over these many years, the band has now begun to include country hits by the likes of Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Montgomery Gentry, and others.

Over the past twelve plus years, LUKYN SKYWYRD has played many exciting venues and events.  The band has played locals bars from Manitowoc to Racine, Milwaukee to Madison, and all points in-between.  It has outlasted many of those bars, has seen many go out of business, and has played one in particular that has changed ownership and names four times!  The band looks forward to playing some new watering holes and some old favorites.

Throughout its tenure, LUKYN SKYWYRD has played some incredible gigs including:  opening up for Bachman-Turner Overdrive at Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, St. Gregory's Fair, St. Roman's Fair, St. Francis Days, St. Rita's Fair, St. Stephen's Fair, Harvest Fair, Butler Cyclefest,  Summerfest on the Roadhouse Stage, Summerfest on the Sprecher Stage, 95th Harley-Davidson Reunion, West Allis 95th Reunion Welcome Roast, Butler Spring Jam, Vintage Classic Cycle Works Summer Bash, Tomahawk Bike Rally.  The band has opened for Edgar Winter and Foghat at the annual ABATE of WI Summer Hummer motorcycle rally and opened for the Marshall Tucker Band at the Milwaukee Rally.  Also, the band played many events for the 100th Harley-Davidson Reunion, including three days at Club Hog XX, Rally End in Racine, the Shriners Temple Rally, Water Street Block Party, and opened for Molly Hatchet and Paul Rodgers of Bad Company at the Milwaukee Mile.  Over the years, the band has become a favorite at private parties and organizations like the Sud City Vanner's Club and the Veterans of American Motorcycle Club.

LUKYN SKYWYRD has opened for the following bands:

Los Lonely Boys
Molly Hatchet
Marshall Tucker Band
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Paul Rodgers of Bad Company
Head East
Foghat
Edgar Winter
Kentucky Headhunters
Bodeans
Black Oak Arkansas

THE PLAYERS

To be honest, I did not know when this band would return.  No matter to what show or concert I would go, someone would eventually come up to me and ask, "Hey, what's up with LUKYN SKYWYRD?  Are you guys ever gonna get back together?"  "Well," I would say, "we'll see what happens.  I'll only do it if the right people come together at the right time."  Well, guess what?

While working at a new home construction site, a chance encounter resulted in my meeting Jason Miller.  Working in close quarters, small talk quickly turned to music.  After learning we shared the same musical tastes, I discovered he was a frustrated guitar player just waiting for a shot to play in a real band.  I suggested we get together and jam.  After a successful jam session, Jason was excited to put the band back together.  I was still reserved, knowing that the process can have a lot of bumps along the way.  I said if he can find some players, I would check it out.  Long story short, he found a couple of guys that didn't work out.  I said to keep practicing and keep me posted if you find anybody else.

Fast forward nine months later and I get a call.  "I think I got some people," he says.  We give them a short list of songs and get together to play.  Halfway through playing, I feel it.  There is just a certain feeling you get when you play with certain people.  It is hard to describe but you know it when you feel it.  Here we go again, just when I thought I was out, they just pull me back in...

So, just who is this Jason Miller guy?  Jason has dabbled on and off with guitar for the last 20 years.  He played trumpet for seven years and even played with the high school jazz band.  For the last 15 years, Jason's goal has been to be on stage with a real band by his 40th birthday.  After three years of false starts, it looks like he's made it.  Jason cites Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet,  and .38 Special as major influences on his playing.   Between playing in the band and spending time with his three daughters, Hannah, Maddie, and Ella, Jason says he's having the time of his life.

Now, what about those guys Jason brought into the fold?  Bill Burki had been out of the music scene for 15 years.  He and his wife, Pam, were busy raising their three boys, Billy, Mitch, and Ben.  Back in the early 80's, Bill played guitar in the Top 40 band, Mischief, and then switched to bass guitar when he joined the blues band, Lights Out.  Now that his oldest is starting his first year in college, Bill knew it was now time to return to music.  Discovering the band was in need of a bass player, Bill jumped at the chance.

Complementing Bill's solid bass, Matt Liesman and his drums is just what the band ordered.  Matt started gigging at 13 years old and gained experience in many bands, including:  the Long Hard Ride Band, Crossfire, Branded, & Xarismata.  Matt comes from a very musical family and they even played together in their band, Cabin Fever, sharing the stage with his mom, Bonnie, and sisters, Andi and Beth.  Matt even spent 5 years in Nashville with his wife, Jenn.  There, he recorded tracks with solo artist, Larry Elkin, former guitar player in the Rod Stewart band.

Finally, there's me, Keith Stefanec, band architect, benevolent dictator, lead singer, lead guitar player, keeper of the flame, song-writer, and survivor.  This whole thing started long ago but seems like yesterday.  After seeing bands like the 48th Street Rockers and D.S. Jukin, I knew what kind of band I wanted.  LUKYN SKYWYRD started out in the late 80's as a rag-tag bunch of guys who really didn't know what kind of band they were in.  But there was always the vision of what it could be.  Numerous personnel changes happened but none really made the difference.  After a couple of different line-ups, I put the name on hold and tried playing with a more established band, the Automatix.  It lasted one gig.

At the exact same time, the 48th Street Rockers were coming to an end.  Don Mueller, leader of the Rockers, asked me at their final Halloween party, if I would like to help put together a new project, Southern Spirit.  How could I say no?!?  Although not the perfect band, it gave me much experience.  For the first time, I got to play Summerfest, Steny's Block Party, and Butler Cyclefest.  I also made many contacts and learned the many aspects of behind the scenes like promotion, a well-maintained mailing list, and everything it takes to put together a decent product.  After two years, Southern Spirit ran its course.  In late 1995, LUKYN SKYWYRD returned.

For ten years, LUKYN SKYWYRD played some phenomenal gigs.  Personnel changes happened but always for the better.  By the end of that run, the band was getting better gigs and notoriety but there was a dark undercurrent that I didn't see coming.  I was blindsided after a gig one night and the band said they were planning on going a different direction that didn't include me.  I cancelled the remaining gigs, hung up my guitar, and didn't pick it up for a year and a half.  I really couldn't even look at it.

And so, we fast-forward to the present.  LUKYN SKYWYRD rises again for a third time like the phoenix rises from the ashes.  On this never-ending highway, many people have entered and exited through the swinging door.  So many, I've lost count!  But, I guess that's the only way we can end up from there to here.  The fire's burning again.  Hang on, its gonna be one helleva ride!!

-Keith Stefanec

In memorandum:

Every time I set foot on the stage, you are remembered. 
Every time I breathe, you are remembered. 
Every time I close my eyes, you are remembered.

Fly on Freebirds, you are free at last!

                       
Ronald L. Stefanec                                      Andrea M. Mallum
1941-2002                                                     1977-2005

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