The Mayfield Four

In mid-1996 the Spokane-based alterna-rock outfit the Mayfield Four coalesced around vocalist Myles Kennedy, guitarist Craig Johnson, bassist Marty Meisner, and drummer Zia Uddin. Drawing from the smooth Motown soul of Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder alongside the propulsive drive of Led Zeppelin, the quartet secured a deal with Epic Records and cut the live EP Motion, which appeared toward the end of 1997. The following May brought their first full-length release, Fallout, after which the band embarked on a fifteen-month promotional trek supporting Creed, Everclear, and Fuel. When the album did not register on the charts, Johnson exited, leaving Kennedy, Meisner, and Uddin to continue as a trio. In June 2001 they issued their sophomore effort, Second Skin, and rejoined Everclear on the road; around the same time Kennedy made a cameo in the feature Rock Star.