BAND BIOGRAPHY

DIAMONDBACK IS:
​
Paul Lusky - Guitar + Backing Vocals
Jeff Wheeler - Bass + Lead and Backing Vocals
Jeff Alamed - Drums, Percussion + Lead and Backing Vocals
Bruce MacPherson - Keyboards
​

 Diamondback is a blues-based rock band from Hartford Connecticut. Formed in 1987 by Paul Bassett, Paul Lusky, Jeff Wheeler, and Tom Woodward. They released their debut CD "Diamondback" In 1990. The CD’s first single “The Cuervo song” was awarded as one of the ‘top ten best original songs in Connecticut’ at WHCN, a local radio station; which in turn led to consistent airplay and many live radio and television appearances. The debut album earned them A management contract with “Airtight Management” (representative of band members from Chicago, Tower of Power and Huey Lewis and the News) an endorsement deal with Dean Markley Strings and sponsorship from Jose Cuervo Tequila, stemming from their award-winning tune " The Cuervo Song." 
 
In 1991 drummer Tom Woodward retired from the lineup and was replaced by Jeff Alamed . Alamed toured and recorded with the band through 1997 and was replaced by Paul Mission. In 1998 Lead Vocalist Clark Dennis joined the line up as the Second CD ‘Legacy’ was released. Soon after, local and regional appearances turned into national tours and Diamondback became a fixture at large-scale "Bike Week" motorcycle rally events across the United States. Serving as either headliner or opening act in  Laconia, NH; Daytona, FL; Myrtle Beach SC; and Sturgis, SD.  Diamondback was famously joined on stage by Hulk Hogan on bass at the Sturgis Rally 1999. After the Seventy-fifth anniversary of Laconia's Bike Week Celebration, the Title track ‘Legacy’ was featured on "One Wild Ride'', a nationally broadcast, pay-per-view event. Diamondback’s cover of Walter Trout’s ‘Frederika’ inspired Mr. Trout himself to contact the band via YouTube to express his appreciation and compliment the guitar work. Around the same time, the band performed live on ESPN radio’s "Bruno and Golick Morning Show," which was broadcast over 650 affiliate stations and led to another of their original songs, ‘Leaving Em' Screamin’ being aired on ESPN’s video sport highlights show, "Maxed Out." 
 
. 
In 1999 Diamondback began recording material with Grammy award winning producer Tom Hambridge at Top Notch studios (most notably, Sunset Studios in Nashville, TN; and Longview Farm in MA. - made famous by the Rolling Stones, J. Geils, The Cars, etc.)  Unfortunately, in early 2000 guitarist/vocalist Paul Bassett left the band before the album's completion and the project was shelved.  
 local legend, guitarist Jimi Bell joined the line up in late 2000. [ Jimi had gained notoriety having auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne in 1987. Out of hundreds of guitarists it came down to Jimi and Zak Wylde.]  With the addition of Bell once again diamondback began writing and recording but in a much heavier rock direction. In 2005 Drummer Paul Mission was replaced by B.J. Zampa. With this line up Bell, Dennis, Lusky, Wheeler, and Zampa Diamondback opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd for the first time, at the famous Oakdale Theater in Wallingford CT. In 2007 Jimi Bell began working with the newly reformed ‘House of Lords’ and B.J. Zampa began touring with 80’s rock legend Dokken. (Clark Dennis continues to sing with Bell and Zampa in a cover band called Diamond Rock, as well as, appearing occasionally with the current Diamondback line up) 
By 2008 Diamondback had shed its skin once again with the return of former bandmates Paul Bassett and Jeff Alamed. Also, that year marked the release of ‘Blindsided’ a compilation CD featuring fan favorite tracks from the first two discs plus two bonus tracks. ‘Gypsy’ the first track was produced by Tom Hambridge in 1999 and the title track ‘Blindsided’ recorded in 2008 at guitarist Paul Lusky’s studio “The Rock Barn''. In 2009 Diamondback opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd for the second time at the Marion County Music Festival in Marion, SC. 
   For several years this lineup continued on, until once again in 2016 Bassett left the band for personal reasons and sadly passed away in 2020. In 2017 The Addition of Keyboardist Bruce Macpherson, who has toured and worked with Leslie Gore, Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones and holds an Emmy for musical composition, rounds out the current lineup. They continue to write, record, and tour, playing and sounding better than ever. Diamondback is the total package of ability, experience, and professionalism. In Fall of 2025 Diamondback Guitarist and founding member Paul Lusky performed with the band “Great White” Temporaily filling in for the legendary Mark Kendall.
Diamondback has shared the stage as opening act for a diverse group of artists over the years, including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sugarland, Los Lobos, Gretchen Wilson, Foghat, 38 Special, Hank Williams Jr., The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Allman Brothers/Gov't Mule Guitarist Warren Haynes, Molly Hatchet, Marshall Tucker, Missing Persons, Blackfoot, Steppenwolf, Pat Travers, Rick Derringer and many, many more. Other notable appearances include NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) in Nashville, TN (sponsored by Dean Markley Strings); Aerosmith's club 'Mama Kins,' in Boston, MA; the ‘Rainforest Benefit’ Official afterparty at the Harley Davidson Cafe in New York City, and inclusion in the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam at the Meadows Music Theater in Hartford CT.  As well as headlining at ‘the Harley Rendezvous' in upstate New York. Diamondback’s latest release “American Made” is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple music and Itunes