| Four music fans have come together to create the band you hear today. Take each of these friends from the beginning, when they first fell in love with music, to the present, Area 51 brings together a culmination of influences and styles ranging from Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Tool, and Metallica. Area 51 creates music that is familiar, but at the same time hopefully brings something new to your ears. The band always strives to be better. Better for themselves, better for their fans. And although they ultimately want to one day be united with a record company that will work for them, now they work for themselves and their fans. Area 51 works to bring you everything that they have in their hearts and lay it out for you on a stage. The music speaks for itself, and our fans speak for us. Progressive. Metal. Rock. Hardcore. What ever you label it, know that its pure.
Area 51 began in July of 1996 by co-founders Xavier Mintaka (vocals and guitar) and Nathan Etana (bass), while attending King High School in Tampa, Florida. They added a drummer and guitarist and began building a fan base of their fellow students since their first show in December of 1996. During this time future band member Pat Floyd was involved with another local band, Nefulum Fes. Both bands supported each other throughout high school. James and Pat met each other this same year in the tenor section of advanced chorus and the shows pop group, in which Pat played guitar. About a year and a half after their formation the band drifted apart in late 1997 as a result of artistic differences between Xavier and Nathan, and the drummer and guitarist.
Many months had passed after the break-up when Xavier and Nathan came together and felt that it was time to reform the band. Nathan sent an e-mail in the spring of 1998 to Pat Floyd, who was attending Florida State University, asking him to join on lead guitar. Pat accepted the invitation and placed a fill-in on drums. After practicing that summer and recording a rough demo in Pat’s garage, Pat had to return to Florida State for his sophomore year.
Upon Pat’s return the following summer of 1999, he transferred to the University of South Florida in Tampa (graduating in December of 2001) to give the band his full attention. After a few months of searching for a permanent drummer, Joey Bottoms, a former band-mate of Pat’s, stepped up to complete Area 51. They recorded their first presentable demo I Want to Believe at USF on donated studio time. They began playing shows and quickly developed a reputation throughout the bay area. Unfortunately, after two and half years with the band Joey was let go in February of 2002 due to his persistent inability to keep his commitments to Area 51. After searching many months for the right drummer for Area 51, Jeremiah Lazzara came to an audition in winter of 2002 and hasn't left since that day. Jeremiah's addition greatly excelled the band’s ability to write and rehearse new material. They ditched all but two of their old songs and wrote all new material for Embryonic, released on February 20th, the 51st day of 2004. Most people in the bay area have come to know the name “Area 51,” and many know their reputation. Through hard work and dedication, Area 51 will continue to strive for success on a national level.
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