Eric Roy

Guitars: Jackson Soloist SL2H, Jackson DK2, American Fender Deluxe Stratocaster

Amplification: ENGL Powerball head with ENGL 4x12 cabinet w/ Celestion Vintage 60’s

Effects: Dunlop Crybaby 95Q, BOSS NS-2, BOSS DD-3

Picks: Dunlop JAZZ III

Strings: Elixers baby!

Other: X2 XDS95 Wireless

Everything, all things, started with a ukulele. Funny isn’t it? Some stupid dinky little ukulele at my friend Daves. That is the precise moment that I became a guitarist. 3 AM playing with a beat up ukulele. Not really glamorous I guess, not really the story that you’re accustomed to hearing. But that’s what it is. I didn’t know it at the time, you never know it at the time. I just knew that it was sure fun to play around with that dumb toy. But that ukulele quickly turned into my Grandpa’s Yamaha acoustic, and playing around quickly turned into learning songs. All my favourite bands, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, nothing was safe for my acoustic guitar metal hunger. Eventually though, I noticed that there was this certain growl that my steel-string just didn’t have. It was then that I turned my eyes in the electrical direction. After a tiring and frigid winter shovelling snow for $20 a week, I finally had enough for my very first electric, my Jackson DK2. From there it was just a matter of practice, practice, practice. After years of trying this band and that band, working with different people, and playing different styles, I just couldn’t find what I was looking for. Until Ian replied to my ad and drafted me to be a part of “Soul Tension”, which quickly became “Sirius Black”, which was then briefly and unsatisfyingly known as “Catalysis”, and then finally as “Midnight Dawns”. Now, with one journey behind me, I start out on the next, except this time, with my fellow ‘Dawnsites’ at my back. Up the Irons! You rock, I roll.

Pascal Courcelles

Drums: Gretsch Catalina Birch

Cymbals: Zildjian

Pedals: Tama Iron Cobra Flexi Glide

Sticks: Vater Power 5b

Other: Gibralter Hardware, Remo Drum Heads, Tama Roadstar Hi Hat Stand,

LP Percussion

It all started on my ninth birthday when I got my first kit, a five piece Trak kit. I was in heaven; I picked up the basics fast and started teaching myself. In my first week of drumming I had learned how to play the album ‘Throwing Copper’ by Live from front to back. It was a good feeling knowing that I had done it on my own.

I then started focusing on other drummers styles. To start it all off it was Dave Grohl; the heavy hitter from Nirvana. I enjoyed watching and hearing Daves playing so much that I learned every one of Nirvanas albums. Once I developed better motion and coordination between my hands and feet I wanted something different. I started listening to metal and more upbeat music, so I picked up on Shannon Larkin’s style of playing. He was also a heavy hitter but with a aggressive stage presence that I thought was awesome, I came to admire him so much that I picked up on all the Godsmack songs, and even some of his old stuff in Wrathchild America.

I have been very strongly influenced by Dave Grohl, Shannon Larkin, Vinnie Paul, Nick Menza, Lars Ulrich, and now Chris Adler. There are many more but too many to mention.

I started playing with the band about four years ago now and we have had a blast together, from drunken rehearsal to recording to playing a killer show live. I’ve learned a lot more since starting with the guys, my style has matured and I have grown into my own, but there is still a lot more to be learned and I am anxious to do so.

Ian Leung

Guitars: JCi Custom made flying V "The Relic". (http://home.cogeco.ca/~jciguitars/), ESP/LTD

EX-400

Amp: Diamond Nitrox head with Diamond 4x12 cabinet loaded with Celestion Vintage 30`s

Effects: None

Picks: Dava Grip Tips

Strings: D'addario XL 10-46

Other: Shure PGX wireless

Ever since I was a kid(and by kid, I mean grade 6 or7), I was always drawing fake tattoo's on my arms with a sharpie, trying to emulate my hero's. When it came time to actually get my tattoo done, there was really only once choice as to what to get: MUSIC, in Chinese lettering, on my forearm. Really, that is the only thing I could think of that I would want depicted on my body permanently. Music is really the only thing that I can see taking from the cradle to the grave. It really is the bond that we all share as humans. It's our mojo, our juice, our life force and our friend. Cheesy as fuck, I know, but I honestly believe that. Music is something I take with me everywhere, and no other outlet than Midnight Dawns has allowed me to let my music out so freely.

My musical education started with the oldies station. A strong influence on me is my Mom, who's preference of music is something that we share to this day: Beatles, Rolling Stones, Elvis, Guess Who, the list goes on. It was at the alter of these masters that I sacrificed being "cool" at school(by ignoring sports) and started to learn guitar. The first song I ever learned to play was "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles(the ultimate masters). Eventually, as my own personal tastes started to blossom, I discovered heavier music. The band that championed this new era in my life was the mighty Soundgarden. The album "Superunknown" simply blew me away. So much more than a grunge band, Soundgarden kicked the doors down of the temple that I called my musical perception, and allowed the heavy, and the arty, side of me to emerge. Other bands on the scene, bands like Bush, Silverchair, and Alice in Chains, added to this spectrum. I begged my dad to buy me an electric guitar, and graciously, he conceded, purchasing a guitar/amp package made by, of all people, Marshall. I still have the amp today.

I will never forget the day I heard "One" by Metallica. Some one had put it on a mix tape for me as a joke. The sound was something that the other bands weren't doing or couldn't do: Allow the song to unfold like chapters in a book. The guitarists weren't just playing riffs that sounded cool; the tone, the arrangement, and even the drums all told an immense story. It was like classical music, only loud and fast as shit. I immediately discovered the rest of Metallica's discography, and after I heard the "Black album" and "Ride the Lightning" the choice was clear: It was now all metal, all the time, for life. Although, now my favourite albums are Load and Reload. Yeah that’s right. Sue me. Those albums rule.

The music has completely infiltrated every facet of my life. I still strum the old acoustic around the campfire and sing songs with my friends. I still enjoy all types of music, from Iron Maiden and Pantera, to Martin Sexton(if you don't know him, for the love of god, go now and discover what real music is) and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Only time will tell where the winds of music will take me, but I know that where ever I end up, the tattoo on my arm will forever remind my that music is part of my life, and that dream shall never die so long as I draw breath.

Stu Coolidge

Bass: Barracuda Custom

Amp: Fender Rumble amp

Effects: Behringer EQ, BOSS Overdrive, Chorus, Wah

Picks: Dunlops (Rarely)

Other: Planet Waves cables

I was born in a little down called Warren, Manitoba...but that place is totally boring and almost entirely irrelevant. I say "almost" because if I didn't grow up there, I probably wouldn't have developed a strong hatred for country music or pop or rap...and therefore wouldn't have rebelled by listening to louder, faster, heavier music. I got my first bass when I was 16...and its still my only one. At first, I learned the most primitive basic skills to build upon by learning Blink 182 songs...that's right, I admit it, Blink was my fave band at one point in my life. I then progressed to playing old-skool Metallica in my room for hours on end, learning the mystical ways of Cliff Burton. I started a band with two of my friends. After the other members booted out my best friend for reasons I still don't fully understand, I never felt as committed to the band and later quit. After months of searching for a new band to rock with, I heard of this band called Midnight Dawns who were looking for a bassist. After jamming with them once, I knew this was a band that meant business. Yadda, yadda, yadda...many shows and many tacos later...here we are! I'm still in the band, I'm still a Star Wars freak, and I'm still writing this bio...But, Alas! I am done.