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Full Name: Andrew Francis Volpe
(Confirmation name: Bartholomew)
Birthday: January 4th
Birthplace: St. Louis, MO (Barnes Hospital)
Nicknames: Ralph, Shooter, Dr. Power-Explosion, Kevin Robertson,
Ralph Masterson, Barry Whitewater
Height: 5’61⁄2”
Playing Since: guitar since I was 18; singing since I was 8 (Ms. Hughes, my vocal music teacher had me sing the National Anthem in front of the whole class to figure out who would be singing it at a citywide public school assembly, and I belted it like a handkerchief-dabbing-the-forehead gospel minister… I was a ridiculous child)
Gear: some Mexican Fender; a Fender DeVille; I use amp distortion usually; a BOSS tuner; a BOSS Metal Zone; GHS strings; Fender medium picks; "BEING IN A BAND" Rule #1: You must acquire a tuner BEFORE a distortion pedal.
Influences: Weezer, U2, Chuck Berry, Green Day, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, The Bee Gees, Prince, Dion and the Belmonts, The Cars, Reel Big Fish, Boston, Blue Oyster Cult, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Police, James Brown, Clarence Carter, Peter Cetera, Ween, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, Sam Cooke, The Jackson Five, Elton John, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Danny Elfman, The Beach Boys, Less Than Jake, Goldfinger
Favorite Part of Being in Ludo: playing shows If I Weren't in Ludo: I would finish my Music degree at Washington University in St. Louis, and then I would occupy space, or like, join the Peace Corps and stop world hunger or something
Previous Bands: Red Hot Roger, Karate Lunchbox, Pea-Whole Julio and the Chief Wiggam Funk Section, Sexy Men, The Thoughtful Rocket Monkeys, Cards vs. Cubs
Jobs Before Ludo: refereed Catholic
school basketball, made pizza at First Federal Frank & Crust Pizza Co. in
the Atrium of the Galleria, cleaned out apartment buildings and individual vacated
units at University Terrace Apartments in University City, tuck pointed a house,
sold futons at various Futon Expres’ locations in St. Louis, bussed/hosted/bartended
at Mike Duffy’ s Pub & Grill in Kirkwood, distributed surveys at various
Hardee’s locations, babysat, started and maintained an illegal mp3 website,
did copious data entry for a startup consulting firm’s website, sold refrigerators
on the Washington University South-40, interned in the editorial department
of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and I ran a very successful lemonade stand with
my sisters Michelle and Teresa several
summers in a row at the Lafayette Square House Tour
Favorite Ludo Show: "A Very Ludo Christmas II: Pmo is Born" - The Pageant (December 9th, 2005)
Why'd You Start Playing Music: because I was in Band, and they make you play an instrument in that class - I played clarinet in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade, and then I played alto sax from 8th through 12th grades; I was also in choir all that time; I started playing guitar because my sister had one she never played, and it looked invitingly lonely
1st concert: Bruce Springsteen, the Arena, St. Louis, MO, 1986
Best Concert I've Seen: Nuclear Family, The Skeletones, Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger – The Gargoyle – 1997
Favorite Moment On the Road: whenever anyone recognizes us or our van and says hi
On the Road I MUST Have: a pillow, my wallet
When I Was Little I Wanted To Be: an actor
First CD I Bought: Boyz II Men - II
Last CD I Bought: Ween - Quebec
Guilty Pleasure CD: Madonna – The Immaculate Collection
Book I Can Read Over & Over: Catcher in the Rye, Einstein’s Dreams, A Brief History of Time
Favorite Movie: Last of the Mohicans, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Least Favorite Movie: Notting Hill
Most Embarrassing Moment: when I tried out to join the Tumbling Team in kindergarten gym class, and having no idea how to do a flip, but still wanting to compete with my flippy-ass classmates, I just threw my body up into the air, hoped for the best, and landed with such staggering awkwardness on the side of my neck that my classmates did not know how to react… several of them were scared of me for weeks, and nothing that I did resembled gymnastics, so surprisingly enough, I did not make the team
Favorite TV Show Now: Strangers With Candy
TV Show Growing Up: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
Pet Peeves: really smart people who don’t understand irony
Worst Thing You Did Growing Up: when I was 11, I broke into my house after school one day when I had lost my keys, because I had promised my Mom I would frost the Thanksgiving cookies before she got home… the alarm went off and the police came
Brownies or Cookies: brownies
Pets: three ferrets – Randall, Skeletor, and Elmira
Favorite Color: blue
Favorite Song: U2 - With or Without You
Siblings: Michelle, 3 1⁄2 yrs. older & Teresa, 6 yrs. younger
Favorite M&M Color: red, because it was discontinued for many years
What Do You Do Before You Go To Sleep: think about how tired I am
Favorite Behind the Music: Motley Crue
Most Influential Person: Chuck Berry
Favorite Cereal: Cheerios
Favorite TV Theme Song: Perfect Strangers
Favorite Song to perform: "Hum Along"
What canceled TV show would you bring back? Mystery Science Theater 3000
What popular musical artist would you erase from existence if you had the power? Does anyone have a "Scott Stapp" eraser?
What band would you most like to do a show with? GWAR
[Questions compiled from www.ludorock.com message board.]