Pat is Shut Up And Drive’s lead singer/ guitarist adding flavor with some Keyboard work as well as flute.  He’s the guy front-and-center, handling the high-range vocals as well as cranking out some mean guitar riffs.

Pat’s Mom was a music teacher, so as a child he had the advantage of musically supportive parents. He began his music training playing piano and clarinet in grammar school, and began playing guitar at age 13.

  
He started his first band at age 14. Mom helped out by arranging the more advanced harmonies and chord structures in their repertoire, while Pat paid careful attention. Shut Up And Drive now benefits greatly from Pat’s experience in this area, utilizing his chord knowledge and vocal harmony arranging skills to add a degree of sophistication and depth to the band’s rock & roll punch.

Pat’s teen band soon had work doing school dances and weddings, but found themselves getting bumped from bar gigs for being underage, after some of the other local bands complained. Pat was 15 years old; were the veteran bands feeling threatened? A distinct possibility, considering the band’s advanced musicianship and vocal harmonies, not to mention their youthful excitement on stage. Whatever, the club and concert scene would come soon enough…in a big way.

After playing in various New England bands, Pat formed the Boston-based original music project “Blackout”. A rock band of the 80s, they modeled their approach around popular acts like Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Cinderella, etc. They quickly developed a huge following on the East Coast, opening for many national touring acts. However, with the onset of grunge the hard rock bands were suddenly finding themselves out of fashion, and Blackout bassist Robbie Merrill decided to leave to pursue a different musical path.  He is now the bassist in Godsmack, a platinum-selling group with worldwide success. Blackout disbanded shortly thereafter.

Pat moved to Arizona several years ago, continuing to sing and play guitar in local bands, as well as applying his skills as an arranger and recording engineer/producer, helping other local bands find “the sound”.

Pat, with bassist Jeff formed Shut Up And Drive in August 2002. They quickly recruited Nick and Rick, and within 2 months began tearing up the Arizona club circuit. “I started this band to go out and have some fun. I wanted to play some cool rock tunes, drink a few beers, meet some cool people and just blow off some steam, but it has evolved into a monster!” Pat says. “This band kicks ass, so come out and party with us!” is Pat’s way of saying…Shut Up And Drive!