..
 
   
 
 
Regarded as one of the longest running purveyors of hard rock/heavy metal in the Rochester area, Wilkes Booth can trace its origins to 1994, when guitarist Dave Wilkes Booth returned after a 7 year stint playing the prestigious Sunset Strip in LA.

Within a year, he had assembled a high energy band including frontman Bobby "Rocker" Fredericks, bassist Jason Carter and drummer Mike "Oxbig" Fittos. This lineup played live extensively and recorded their debut CD "Blows U Away" in 1996, which received airplay on several college radio stations locally.

Although the bassist position has fluctuated at times, Wilkes Booth has been unrelenting in their passion for a classic hard rock sound. They have ignored trends in favor of playing fiery covers from Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Montrose, Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Poison, Steppenwolf and others. Wilkes Booth originals are played in the same passionate vein.

Their second release "One Night Stand" came out in the spring of 2003, and it too received some attention from college radio. Longtime members Booth, Fredericks and Fittos have been recently joined by veteran player Brian "the Ripper" Juda on bass. With the band's third release set for later in 2008, Wilkes Booth is set to continue for many years. For a complete history of the band please click on the Discography page link on the left.