Music was a way to get cheap therapy, said the Cunninghams' lead singer Seven Pearson.
"I was about 17 and there was a family tragedy," Pearson said during a phone call from New York City. "It was a dark time for me, a real sad time. I needed something. And I found getting up in front of people and letting out my emotions helped a lot."Pearson, drummer Eliot Freed, bassist Johnny Martin and guitarists Erick Craig and Scott Bickham - collectively known as the Cunninghams - will open the INXS concert at the Canyons (formerly Wolf Mountain), Monday, July 21. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
While growing up in Seattle, Wash., Pearson also spent a lot of time delving into music, all types of music.
"My mom and dad had quite a bit of Motown records," Pearson remembered. "Those tunes helped me figure out hooks and stuff. Then, as I got older, I hung around with friends who got me into Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Kiss. I was a metalhead and I listened to Motley Crue - yes, I'll admit that."
Throughout high school, Pearson was involved with different bands. But when he met up with Bickham and Craig, he felt something new.
"We played in a band together and wanted to do something else," Pearson said. "The band had wanted to do some heavier things - (Black) Sabbath like heavy, and we didn't want to. We wanted to do more rock-pop stuff, so we broke off and formed the Cunninghams."
Freed and Martin joined the line up later.
One of the challenges, said Pearson, was getting anyone to listen to the first demo.
"Eliot and Johnny weren't with us then," Pearson said. "So we were trying to sell the band without a bassist and drummer. We couldn't get gigs so no one knew who were were."
After Freed and Martin walked into the band's life, things got easier and more difficult.
"We got a record deal," Pearson said of the easier side of the coin. "But that's when the real work begins."
Pearson said the business side of the music scene is something new to the band.
"It's a good thing we've got a good management team," Pearson said. "We're only in this for the music. Thank (heavens) we've got some strong people on the team."
However, Pearson said his job has plenty of good things attached.
"We get to go out on the road, play our music, meet new people and see how other band's work," he said. "But if people only realized how much work goes into making an album and touring, they'd be surprised."