JOHN PRESS (A.K.A. DR. PEE) GREW UP IN ST. CATHARINES, ONT., CANADA WHERE HE BEGAN STUDYING PIANO FROM THE AGE OF 7. HE LATER WENT ON TO TEACH PIANO AND ORGAN AT THE ONTARIO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC UNTIL HE DISCOVERED THE JOYS OF ROCK ‘N ROLL. HIS EARLY DAYS IN NIAGARA WERE SPENT HONING HIS SKILLS IN THE BOUYANT CLUB SCENE AND WORKING AS A SESSION PLAYER AT RAINBOW RECORDING STUDIO WITH LOCAL RISING STARS RON SEXSMITH AND MARK ROGERS (NEWWORLDSON). IT WAS HERE HE MET LONG TIME COLLABORATOR DALE MORNINGSTAR, FOUNDER OF “THE DINNER IS RUINED BAND” AND OWNER/OPERATOR OF TORONTO’S THE GAS STATION RECORDING STUDIO.

JOHN CONTINUED TO HONE HIS RECORDING ENGINEERING AND PRODUCTION SKILLS AT HIS OWN VOICE AUDIO STUDIO THROUGHOUT THE 1980’S WHERE HE WORKED WITH MANY LOCAL LEGENDS SUCH AS MICHAEL KISUR (TELEVISION MUSIC FOR BEVERLY HILLS 90210 ETC.), IZZY WILDE, AND CELTIC ROCK TROUBADOR BRIAN DANIELS WITH WHOM HE IS STILL PLAYING IN THE BAND KNOWN AS CIRCUS.

AS A PERFORMER JOHN HAS WORKED WITH JASON COLLETT (BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE), KYP HARNESS, LEWIS MELVILLE AND TANNIS SLIMMON, THE MAYOR MCCA, AND MOST RECENTLY WITH JULIE DOIRON, JOSH FINLAYSON (SKYDIGGERS), DINNER IS RUINED BANDMATES MORNINGSTAR AND DAVE CLARK (RHEOSTATICS) ALONG WITH GORDON DOWNIE (THE TRAGICALLY HIP) IN A BAND CALLED THE COUNTRY OF MIRACLES RELEASING A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED RECORD “THE BATTLE OF THE NUDES”. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A 31-DATE TOUR OF NORTH AMERICA.