John Hepokoski

I was born in 1976 and raised on Homewood, IL, a suburb south of Chicago. I have vivid memories of wandering mesmerized around the Musicland store inside Washington Square Mall while my mom shopped for fabric. The first full album that moved me was Beastie Boys “Licensed to Ill” (1986). I listened to the cassette on my Sony Sports Walkman (yellow!) about 15 times during a family road trip to our cabin in Duluth, MN. The next year (1987), Def Leopard “Hysteria” and Guns N’ Roses “Appetite for Destruction” were released and I was blown away.

I began playing percussion when I joined my school’s concert band in fifth grade. Playing came easy to me and I continued through high school. I got my first drum kit in 7th grade, a Ludwig Rockers Series 5 piece. That same kit is played by kids (and me) today. I played in a semi-famous marching band drumline at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. My first rock concert consisted of playing Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” with 2 other guys about 50 times at a party (it’s the only song we knew). My first real show was my school’s Battle of the Bands talent show. My band played L7 “Pretend We’re Dead”, The Breeders “Cannonball”, Smashing Pumpkins “Today” and Metallica “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Now THAT’S a setlist! I was in an incredible (mostly) cover band at the University of Illinois called Simmering Downstream. In addition to regularly playing in packed bars and frat houses in Champaign and other midwestern schools, we played at The House of Blues, The Vic Theatre, The Cubbybear, Hi-Tops, and Gamekeepers.

My first live concert was New Kids on the Block- Hangin’ Tough tour at the Rosemont Horizon in January 1990. My mom took me and one of my best friends. We were the only 2 boys in the arena. My second biggest musical regret occurred in 1992, when I inexplicably chose to attend the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with my parents instead of seeing the U2 ZOO TV tour at the World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, IL. Bono famously called the town’s mayor from the stage when he learned about the noise complaints being called in. They also haven’t played ‘So Cruel’ since that show. Ever. If you ever meet me, please don’t bring this blunder up. And my third regret occurred in 2003, when I chose NOT to see a barely-known band named Coldplay at Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Denver. Hey, the only song I knew at the time was ‘Yellow’. How was I supposed to know that later that year they would be the biggest band on the planet???

On the flip side, I’ve seen some AMAZING shows. Phish Halloween 1995 (covered The Who “Quadrophenia”). Phish NYE show in Miami 2003. Jerry Garcia’s last Grateful Dead concert before he passed away in 1995. The final Grateful Dead Fare Thee Well show in Chicago in 2015. I saw The National OPEN for Arcade Fire. Saw Jane’s Addiction perform “Ritual de lo habitual” at Metro in 2016 ahead of Lollapalooza. Saw Imagine Dragons at the House of Blues when they were unknown. Same with Vance Joy, who opened for Head and the Heart at House of Blues. I collect concert posters and they adorn the walls of my basement.

Chicago has some unbelievable music venues. Chicago Theatre, Thalia Hall, Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theatre, Metro, Schuba’s to name a few...And Ive been to Preservation Hall in New Orleans- talk about intimate. In Seattle, I’be had a beer at Conor Byrne were Head and the Heart met during open mic night, and at The Crocodile, where Nirvana and Pearl Jam played regularly.

I wouldn’t marry my girlfriend until she could clearly and easily differentiate between Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors, and The Beatles. She passed. Eventually.

I’m trying to get all 4 of my kids to love music as much as I do. #4 is the closest so far.