Don has been playing keyboards almost all his life. He studied piano and saxophone early on, playing his first paying gig at age 14. In several high school bands, he played local venues throughout North Jersey, where setlists ran the gamut from prog rock to Led Zeppelin to the Grateful Dead.

While in college in Boston, Don studied music theory and composition while he played in a band that toured the New England club and military base circuit. Upon moving to Washington, DC, Don joined the Blueprints, a well-regarded local blues outfit. After the Blueprints, Don took on lead vocal as well as keyboard duties for Rebels in Rehab, a blues-rock/Southern rock band.

More recently, Don played keys for Apryl Raye and the Bootleggers, a Janis Joplin / psychedelic rock unit. After “Janis” was transferred (military) out of the area, Don joined Dance Little Sister, a Rolling Stones tribute act.

Growing up with and loving the Doors’ music, Don was excited when he heard that the keyboard seat in Strange Souls was open. After a quick audition, the deal was sealed. Who knew then that the Souls would wind up at the Whisky-a-Go-Go and the Troubadour?

From Boston to Hollywood, a long, strange trip with no end in sight!

Attempting to conquer drums for nearly four decades, Joe Zad has proven that musicians looking for fame and fortune by playing original music never make any money.

Committing full time to recording and live performances of such fabled groups as The End, The Crimples, Rhythm Circus, The Coyote Tripsters and The Treading Lemmings, Zad over the years has amassed plenty of band merch and unsold CDs with only a wife and son to show for it.

With a style forged from the appreciation of Kieth Moon, Martin Chambers, Clem Burke and Alan Gratzer, he has no business playing the jazzy rock stylings of percussionist John Densmore of The Doors. Yet, much to the chagrin of his band mates, he soldiers on, unable to be removed since he owns the sound system and admin privileges to the Facebook page.