Episode 2: Flyers, Pizzerias & Fate
How friendship, flyers, and pure chance built a band that would define a moment in time.
Every great band story has that one “meant-to-be” moment — the instant where everything clicks into place, often by complete accident. For Ultra Violet Vinny, those moments came wrapped in flyers, pizzerias, and the hum of guitar strings at a Long Island Sam Ash.
The Pizzeria Connection
After his early jams with Chris Sana, Matt Lee’s passion for original music was burning hotter than ever. The two had already built a solid foundation, riffing on ideas that would eventually morph into the UVV sound. But bands don’t become bands until more players join the fire.
That’s where fate walked in — wearing a guitar strap.
Matt had met Scott Miller at a local pizzeria. They talked often — about life, about the scene, about everything except music. Then one day, Matt walked into Sam Ash in Huntington, NY, and there was Scott — standing in line, holding a guitar.
It was one of those wait, you play?! moments that can change everything.
Matt struck up a conversation, invited Scott to jam, and that first rehearsal was all it took. Scott loved the music, loved the chemistry, and joined up without hesitation. The lineup was starting to take shape.
Enter Jim Pergolizzi
Every good band needs texture — the kind of sound that fills the air and gives songs their soul. Scott happened to know just the guy.
He introduced Jim Pergolizzi, a local keyboard player from the same town. Matt and Scott invited him down for a jam, and once again, the energy was undeniable. Jim’s keys wrapped around the guitars like light over shadow. The songs instantly had new life — deeper, fuller, more cinematic.
Another puzzle piece locked in.
A Wild Party & a Fateful Voice
Then came Paul.
One night, Matt found himself at a wild Long Island party — the kind that felt more like a rock video than a social event. Somewhere between the noise and neon, Matt started talking with a guy who, as it turned out, was a singer.
That singer was Paul Stoddard.
Matt handed Paul a demo and told him to give it a listen. A few days later, Paul showed up at rehearsal, grabbed the mic, and owned it. His voice cut through the room with power and edge — the missing piece the band had been searching for.
Paul liked the music. The band liked Paul. Just like that, Ultra Violet Vinny’s frontman had arrived.
Bass, Grit, and the Final Member
With the core lineup forming, the band still needed one last element — the low-end thunder. Matt reached out to Steve Amend, a well-known Long Island producer he had been working with.
When Matt asked if Steve knew any bass players, Steve didn’t hesitate: “I’ve got your guy.”
That guy was Tony Carroccia (T.C.).
T.C. came down to rehearsal, plugged in, and instantly locked into the groove. His style meshed perfectly with the band’s evolving sound — heavy, melodic, and full of punch. After that first jam, everyone knew it: the lineup was complete.
Fate, Flyers & the Spark of Something Bigger
By the end of 1991, Ultra Violet Vinny wasn’t just an idea anymore. It was a living, breathing band — guitars, keys, drums, and a powerful voice ready to cut through the noise of the Long Island rock scene.
Each member had come through chance, timing, and a touch of divine orchestration. A flyer in a pizzeria. A random meeting in a music store. A wild party. A producer’s tip.
Sometimes fate doesn’t need to shout — it just needs to play the right chord.
⚡ Next Episode: The Name in Neon
The band had the players. Now they needed an identity — a name that would shine bright in club lights and echo through the halls of Long Island rock.
