East West (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Corona, California , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
East West was a Christian rock group originating from Irvine, California, later moving their base to Corona, California. Their band name is inspired by the verse Psalm 103:12.
The lineup best known to fans featured Mike Tubbs on vocals and guitar, Mike "House" Housen handling guitar and vocals, James "JJ" Jenkins playing bass and providing vocals, and Bobby "Vee" Vegura on drums, percussion, and vocals. Prior to their inaugural U.S. tour in 2002, Housen departed and Jon Druse stepped in as his replacement.
In the May–June 2003 edition of HM Magazine, Mike Tubbs shared that the band was concentrating on crafting new songs and reconnecting with their audience following extensive touring, while also giving priority to family commitments.
Early history
East West was established in 1988 within the San Fernando Valley, featuring Mike Housen (guitar, backing vocals), Eric Kieselhorst (lead vocals), Stan Barrett (guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), and Ralph Lamagna (drums). The addition of bassist David Pryor came in 1989. Their song "Southern Dawn" gained rotation on KROQ-FM. The group frequently performed along the Sunset Strip, opening for bands such as Mary's Danish and Warrant. In 1990, Housen relocated to Orange County where he formed "Tears for Jane" alongside Ken James before reassembling East West in 1991 with Dave Barrs (guitar), Bob Vergura (drums), and Dave Detloff (bass).
With Mike Tubbs joining as guitarist in 1992, East West shifted toward a rapcore style infused with strong melodies, three-part harmonies, and heavy influences from extreme metal. This lineup also included Paul "Boomer" Droste on drums and Paul "Soth" Nasfell handling bass and vocals. They produced a five-track demo in 1995 featuring Housen as lead vocalist.
Following their debut performance at the Whiskey in 1995 where they released an untitled EP, Ben Dacanay took over drumming duties from Droste. Ted Su replaced Nasfell on bass in 1996 due to personal reasons. East West recorded Rachel's Silence in 1996 along with an unreleased album in 1997. After Dacanay and Su exited the band, Housen focused more on guitar and songwriting while Tubbs assumed lead vocal responsibilities. The group subsequently moved to Corona, California. Housen eventually left East West in 2003.
From Garage to Reality
East West dedicated themselves to producing music that explored human challenges while offering hope. Despite rehearsing out of a garage at home, their sights were set on performing for large audiences. After years spent promoting themselves, booking gigs, and building a local following, they attracted the interest of Floodgate Records—an independent Orange County label founded by Tim Tabor of The Prayer Chain.
Upon signing with Floodgate, Tim Tabor assured them of securing a major label contract within six months. The band continued writing songs and playing local shows. In early 2001, they visited Epic-Sony’s Malibu offices where they received significant encouragement to advance their career—fulfilling Tabor’s prediction.
Before officially signing with Epic-Sony, East West held a release party for A Light in Guinevere's Garden at the Glass House in Pomona, California. The event drew approximately 3,000 attendees and resulted in over 300 records plus merchandise sales. Epic-Sony planned another release event at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa, California, but police shut it down due to noise complaints after a brief performance by the band. This incident marked a downturn in Epic-Sony’s involvement with East West, likely influenced by underwhelming sales.
Following the conclusion of their six-month contract with Epic-Sony, East West signed with Word/Warner Bros., coinciding with an invitation to a major recording industry convention held in Nashville. Shortly before this trip, guitarist Housen departed the group. Producer Bob Burch recommended Jon Druse as his replacement; Druse quickly learned their repertoire and joined them for the Nashville event.
At the Nashville convention, East West participated in interviews with Steelroots (Rocket Town Records) and performed at both industry showcases and public concerts. These efforts led to a nomination—and eventual win—for "Best New Hard Rock Album of the Year" from the Gospel Music Association (GMA).
Upon returning home, East West resumed live performances while balancing full-time employment. Soon thereafter, they embarked on a three-month nationwide tour headlined by Pillar and supported by South Africa’s The Benjamin Gate. This tour broadened their exposure and strengthened industry relationships. International gigs followed at festivals such as Flevo Festival in Liempde, Holland, and Germany’s Christmas Rock Night (CRN). Back stateside, they undertook several shorter tours including a notable appearance for XM Radio in Washington, D.C.
Hope In Anguish
The album Hope in Anguish took a considerable amount of time to develop but was ultimately finalized within a few weeks. This rapid completion mirrored the enthusiasm brought by the new lineup featuring Jon on guitar, as well as the difficulties encountered while adapting to life on tour. Despite their desire for extended periods dedicated to post-production and mixing, the band regarded HIA as an important milestone paving the way for upcoming endeavors. They also created and launched a music video for the song "Vacant" and had plans for further releases. Nevertheless, prior to commencing work on their subsequent album, Mike Tubbs declared the band's dissolution during their farewell performance at Spirit West Coast in Corona Del Mar, California.
Discography
- East West Demo - Not for Resale EP (1995) (Independent)
- Rachel's Silence (1996) (TISUMI Records)
- Untitled (1997) (TISUMI Records) (Unreleased)
- East West (1998) (Backbone Records)
- The Light in Guinevere's Garden (2001) (Floodgate Records)
- Vintage (Reissue of East West) (2003) (Floodgate)
- Hope in Anguish (2003) (Floodgate)