Bio

27MILES is a four piece original southern rock band spawned from the great outburst of raw musical talent from the bourgeoning Malibu music scene. Their unique sound can be traced to their roots and a philosophy to "keep it real by staying to true to who they are, honoring those that paved the way before them, and bringing back home their own distinctive and timeless southern rock sound." Formally Malibu's popular band 454, 27MILES features the rarefied combination of its original co-founders: singer, songwriter and guitarist Kevin Solomon, and songwriter and guitarist Donny Kulp. Frontman Solomon brings masterfully adept guitar work, a powerful, emotion-eliciting gravel voice and gift of gab personality; paired with Kulp's prolific songwriting abilities and visceral and passionately explosive guitar expertise. After the original line up of 454 disbanded, Kulp and Solomon launched 27MILES to get back to their musical roots, envisioning "the greatest rock band ever that truly reflects their influences from the great 70s bands such as Led Zeppelin, Skynyrd, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Hendrix, but was retooled and recast in their own style. By combining blues, southern rock and acoustic numbers that are melodic and mesmerizing and then set off with heavy choruses, a highly combustible bloodletting is eminent and guaranteed entertainment." 27MILES has brought all the original band back for the new year: Berry Oakley on Bass, and Jody Kern on Drums. Bios below: ------------------------------------------------------ Berry Duane Oakley (Bass Guitar, Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter) - Berry is the son of Raymond Berry Oakley - founding bass player of the Allman Brothers Band. Oakley is a vintage nut who's worked with countless musicians, artists, producers and song writers. He toured with several bands including his godfather's band - "RKB" - (Robby Krieger of the Doors,) from 1991-2000. In 1992 Berry joined Bloodline. Bloodline's line-up included Berry Oakley, Waylon Krieger, Lou Segreti, Joe Bonamassa and Erin Davis (son of Miles Davis). Releasing their self-titled CD for EMI Records (produced by Joe Hardy - ZZ Top, Jeff Healey) in August of 1994, Bloodline's first single, "Stone Cold Hearted" charted #19 on Album Network's Powercuts, #21, Radio & Records' Rock Tracks and #32 on Billboard's Rock Tracks. Bloodline toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tesla. They also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brian and toured with ZZ Top, Bad Company, Bob Dylan, Collective Soul, Eddie Money, Foreigner, Robby Krieger, Ian Moore, B.B. King, and more. In 1996 Berry put together OKB (Oakley Krieger Band) with Waylon Krieger, Duane Betts (son of Dickey Betts), & Alec Puro (deadsy). OKB slammed the circuit with its heavy Southern rock guitar sound earning Berry the Rock City News award "best bass player" in 1997. Then in 2000, Berry joined Blue Floyd, a jam band whose goal was to take Pink Floyd's music back to its blues roots. With top artists like Marc Ford (Black Crowes), Matt Abts (Gov't Mule), Johnny Neel (Allman Brothers) & Allen Woody (Gov't Mule), and later Audley Freed (Cry of Love, Black Crowes), Jeff Pevar (Crosby Stills & Nash), & Alvin Youngblood Heart, Blue Floyd has backed such greats as Matt "Guitar" Murphy, Steve Cropper, Buddy Miles, and many others as they toured extensively through the US & Europe. When he wasn't out with Blue Floyd, Berry could be found playing in Marc Ford & the Sinners and Malibu's notorious Backbone69. Berry appears on Marc Ford's solo debut record "It's About Time." In 2002 he joined the Chuck Negron Band; Chuck is the former lead singer of Three Dog Night, and Berry's step dad. Berry can be seen sitting in from time to time with the Allman Brothers & Gov't Mule, to name but a few. "My goal is to learn as much as I can from music and the musician's that I've been blessed to work with. And I plan to continue playing and to soon be producing bands and artist as well as my own music," Berry says. Oakley's approach and abilities are extraordinary, spontaneous and world class. He's been quite a busy and in-demand musician throughout his career, and has been playing in 27MILES since 2004. ------------------------------------------------------ Jody Kern (Drums) started playing drums at age 11, taking lessons from "Jazzy Gene" Owen and teaching himself to play along to records of the likes of Circle Jerks, Bad Religion, China White, TSOL, Bad Brains, and other great punk bands of the day. After learning all his favorite punk records note-for-note, he then ventured into reggae, ska and classic rock, striving to emulate such drummers as those from The Wailers, Steel Pulse, The Specials, The English Beat, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, and of course, Led Zeppelin. Being stuck in a somewhat remote neighborhood with nobody to jam with, Jody took a hiatus from playing at age 14 as surfing became his number one pastime. It wasn’t until age 18 when he was fresh out of high school that he picked up the sticks again. After three years of mental drumming practice, he returned as an even better, although raw drumming talent. A major turning point in his life was after jamming with his friend Chris Williams, a talented and then up-and-coming local guitarist/vocalist. They went through an instrumental garage version of Metallica's "Disposable Heroes". Afterward, Williams told Jody that he has a great talent and it would be a shame to let it go to waste. Jody thanked him and thought, "He may be right" and eventually made drumming the focus of his life. He practiced two to eight hours a day for a year and at age 20, attended the Percussion Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA where he blew away everyone in his jazz class with his creative and dynamic drum solos, it was there that he rounded out his drumming education. After attending PIT he got together with old pal Williams to form Mutilage, Malibu's extreme metal power trio. Throughout his career Jody has played with bands such as Malibu's own Last Call, Venice's The Degenerates, former Posh Boy and Fearless Records band Glue Gun in which he did two US tours and recorded the album "The Scene Is Not For Sale", Glue Gun's spinoff Unglued which at times included Louiche Mayorga (Suicidal Tendencies) and also Jim Cherry (Strung Out, Pulley, Zero Down) on bass, did session work with Jim Cherry, Soul Vibe featuring Donny Kulp of 27MILES on bass and the great Marc Palmer on guitar, Standard Issue with Kevin Solomon, also of 27MILES, and the Bad Samaritans, a maniac punk rock act from the San Fernando Valley. Jody can be heard on their newest release, "Regurgitate" (2006) on Burning Tree Records. Jody is proud to announce rejoining with his old friends "from way back" Kevin Solomon and Donny Kulp as well as ace bassman Berry Oakley Jr. in 27MILES and can be heard on their debut release, "Bringin' It Back". ------------------------------------------------------ 27MILES just finished mastering their first 11-song album called "Bringin It Back” at J.T. Meskiel's Document Room Recording Studio in Malibu. “27MILES are a great bunch of guys,” said J.T. "They brought their A-Game and were very focused and disciplined, producing a remarkable album they so richly deserve." 27MILES has remixed their new 5-song EP with world renowned producer Brian Joseph Dobbs, and it is available here right now.