Whiz Kids: Paradise Destroyed to Release First CD by Year's End

It’s not just about getting a group of neighborhood kids together and jamming in a Channahon basement for an hour or two. Paradise Destroyed has been there and done that.

Now it’s time for the band to get down to business and take things more seriously. 

It’s perfection to get a song just right. The guitar riff to be played perfectly. The bass and drums keeping the rhythm. Vocals have to be in tune. 

And with that philosophy put into play, Paradise Destroyed is on its way to success.

Recently, the band recorded it’s first hit in it’s recording studio, in the basement of the McComb’s family home. “Pain,” will be featured on a CD that the band hopes to release by the end of 2011.

“Our goal is to have three or four more songs recorded and make the CD by the end of the year,” said Kyle McComb, drummer for the band.

Jake Strezo, wrote the lyrics to “Pain” and has written most of the band’s music. 

“The lyrics and music just come naturally to me,” Strezo said.

The band plays cover songs, including “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne and “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses. They even perform an instrumental version of GNR’s “Welcome to the Jungle.”

On April 23, Paradise Destroyed will be playing at The Hub in New Lenox. The Hub is a place for teens from the area to hang out and listen to live music. Admission is $5. 

The band has performed at the Battle of the Bands at the Three Rivers Festival and is looking forward to doing so again in August. They also have performed in talent shows at Channahon Junior High School and Minooka Community High School. The band also will be playing at many graduation parties this year, including their own.

Paradise Destroyed has a Facebook page and a Web site  http://sites.google.com/site/paradisedestroyedband/ for additional information.

Members of the band consist of brother and sister duo Kyle and Kayla McComb. 

Kyle is the drummer and manages the recording equipment.

A freshman at MCHS, Kyle can be compared to percussionists Dominic Howard of Muse and Dustin Hengst of Damone; which just happen to be two of his favorite bands. Kyle is also in the MCHS band and indoor winter percussion group. Last year in band, he was presented the Director’s Award.

Kayla is the singer of the band. 

Her smooth vocals resemble those of Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries and Natalie Merchant, one time lead vocalist for 10,000 Maniacs. Kayla is a seventh grader at CJHS and she is only 12.

Kayla has played trumpet since fifth grade and is in the jazz band too. She once took vocal lessons. She was the CJHS spelling winner in January, she is on the school’s track, soccer and scholastic bowl teams and she will be in the CJHS play The Bachelor King on Friday and Saturday.

Luke Pope, who plays bass for the band, plays a rocking bass like Ronnie Glover of Deep Purple.

Pope, 14 and an eighth grader at CJHS has taken bass lessons since fifth grade. He has experimented with the trumpet and drums, but didn’t care much for those instruments. He can play “Smoke on the Water,” both on acoustic guitar and bass.

And Jake Strezo, who taught himself guitar,  plays a mean guitar like Ace Frehley of Kiss during a performance of “Detroit Rock City.”  

Strezo, who is  13 and in eighth grade at CJHS, is not involved in any extracurricular activities at school. That’s OK with him. He devotes all his free time to writing and making music.

Regardless of the band’s future, all four band members see themselves always involved in music. Even though they play hard rock/heavy metal, they love all varieties of music.   

Strezo said he is relying on a music career and Pope wants to attend college and become a musician. Kayla is unsure about her college and career plans, but playing the trumpet and singing always will be included. 

And Kyle’s back-up plan is to enter the studio setting and work in the recording studio.

“We have fun but we are serious,” Kyle said. “We are good friends. We make it happen.”

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