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This is the story (so far) of Anonymous Paradice:
It's the middle of 2001, and Sara and Daniel have been talking about a band forever. Yet, no one had ever made the move to form one. This year, Sara took the plunge. "I just wanted to play with my best friend. I'd been a drummer forever and I loved drumming and I knew that I could get Daniel into it. So, one day, in our Language Arts class, I threw out the idea and he agreed. Stuff, unfortunately, went downhill from there," said Sara It started out fine, but, slowly, it became a "national conspiracy" (as Sara usually says in reference to things that great a big "hype" but shouldn't have). Some people wanted to join this band that didn't even really exist yet. "It was an idea and such turned into this big thing. Danny couldn't even play anything yet, and I was just looking forward to the future, but then all these people wanted in on it and suddenly the future wasn't looking so good," she comments.Things went sour. Some people at school started having problems with Sara "That whole situation is long and it takes more explaining that I like to usually give. I don't think we need to go into it. One day, I'll take the time to give all the details, but, for now, I just leave at: disagreements happened and slowly I was kicked out of the band I started. That's not really the greatest thing that can happen to you," Sara remembers. That's how it was. This "band" (which was really one person who had come in and taken over, and no names shall be mentioned because there is no reason for it, they're no longer in our lives) decided she should no long be apart of it. They broke the news to her one night while they were all online talking. Sara wasn't really the same. "It's lame enough to have people mad at you and stuff, but for your best friend, and other people you think are your friends, to kick you out of your own band, which they know is the only thing you really hold on to, it's the worst. They knew music was my one thing, the thing I fed off of and my inspiration." So, Sara left. The "band" (which chose the name of Spare Change, but later found out that name was already taken by a melodic hardcore punk band in San Diego, California) remained until the end of the year. Even at the end of this year, no one in Spare Change had real songs or could play any instruments (besides Daniel, who was already playing trumpet in the school's band). This was pretty sad. In the beginning on 2002, Sara once again approached Daniel (whom she had made up with now that a new year had begun and the person who'd decided she needed to leave Spare Change had left their school). This time, it would be different. No one would know about the band until it was a really thing. Sara tought Daniel how to play some songs on bass and he would use her bass whenever they played. That Chirstmas, Daniel received his first (and, as of now, only) bass and amp. After a few months of practicing and Sara showing Daniel the songs she had written duing the time they weren't on good terms, the secret came out. There was a new band, a good band, a REAL band, and this band had been named Anonymous Paradice. Sara was writing a song almost every week. Daniel had started writing, too. With around 20 or so songs that Sara had written and the few Daniel had written, there was a start of something beautiful. Sara could write. Praises came from friends and family and this was something that would effect the band greatly. They had a songwriter who was writing songs that people were liking and relating to, which is what she had been hoping for all along. "I wanted people to be able to relate. If people didn't relate, there wasn't much point. I set out to show people things and to break down barriers. It looks as though I've done that pretty well so far. People tell me they like my songs and they're comforted knowing they're not alone when they hear the more personal and emotional songs. That's the greatest thing I could ever hear because those songs mean so much to me. They're anecdotes and they're real." Now it was time to find a drummer, someone who would really be able to play with them and help shape this band. (Before finding Brandon, about 3 or 4 other drummers were tried out, including Sara on drums and, now back-up guitar player Alex, on lead guitar. Needless to say, this situation didn't work out very well.) Sara placed an ad and Brandon responded. "I wanted someone who could play well and liked our styles of music, but I also wanted someone who was cool and a nice person. I wasn't going to let the band take a jerk and end up ruining ourselves and our dreams," recalls Sara Now, there was a drummer. Brandon was officially part of the band in May 2003. A few practices came and went. "I grew really fond of Brandon. He's a really great guy and he's a lot of fun to be with and play with, but we both started to realize that time was an issue, and he didn't have much of it. We decided to keep him in the band and make a record with him, just for the fun of it. The record would be something to have and to remember the times with." The story of Anonymous Paradice, so far, is almost at an end. With a drummer who will eventually be leaving, a album that was supposed to be recorded in December of 2003 (but was postponed), and two aspiring musicians looking for the right person to put behind the drums, Anonymous Paradice has survived through rough days, emotional times, and the idea of "never being able to do what we're doing today." I guess I should end this by adding one more quote of Sara:"I like using what other bands use, especiall if they're my favorite bands and my heroes. So, I have to say this: If you're with us, you're one of us. I took that from Tiger Army, but I'm sure they won't mind. When I met them, they were really, really nice guys, and I guess that's what I want people to thing of us. We're really nice people. We love everyone. We've learned through what we've been through that you really can't judge people and when you do, you're usually wrong anyways. Danny is my brother. He's my best friend and he always will be. Brandon is a very awesome guy and he's definitely changed the look and feel of this band. I have to thank him for giving us such a great time, even if in the end, it won't work out. This is my life. This is my story, and it's not finished yet."
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