Episode 1: Before the Amp Was Plugged In
From garage dreams to early jams.
Every band has an origin story. For Ultra Violet Vinny, it didn’t start in a packed club, under neon lights, or in a recording studio. It started with air guitars, broomsticks, and the kind of wild imagination only kids with big dreams could have.
The First Stage: A Living Room Takeover
The seed was planted when a young Matthew Lee sat glued to the TV, watching KISS in all their pyrotechnic glory. The lights, the costumes, the riffs — it wasn’t just music, it was larger than life. Right then and there, Matt decided: this is what I want to do.
So he did what any future rock guitarist would do: he formed his first “band.” Armed with tennis rackets and broomsticks, Matt and his friends declared themselves the new KISS, ready to take over when the real one retired (lol). Matt took on Paul Stanley, Dan became Gene Simmons, Steven filled the role of Ace Frehley, and Rob — the only one with actual drumsticks — naturally stepped in as Peter Criss.
Every Saturday, their “rehearsals” turned a suburban living room into Madison Square Garden. And while it was make-believe, the passion was very real.
From Pretend to Plugged-In
At some point, Matt asked the question that would change everything: “Why don’t we actually learn how to play?”
The broomsticks were swapped for guitars. Tennis rackets went back in the closet. And slowly, through practice and persistence, those childhood friends began to actually make music. It wasn’t just KISS covers anymore — Matt’s curiosity started pulling him toward writing original songs.
Even then, Matt wasn’t imitating. He was creating.
Meeting Chris Sana
It wasn’t long before fate stepped in. One day, Chris spotted a “Guitarist Wanted” flyer. Answering that flyer led him to Matt Lee, a fellow guitarist with a style that locked in perfectly with his.
The two jammed, and instantly knew they had something worth chasing. Together, they began sketching out riffs, trading song ideas, and talking about the next big step: forming a full band. Their first working name? AzO (Absolute Zero) — a nod to the scientific term for the coldest possible temperature. A fitting start for a sound that was about to heat up.
The Chemistry That Birthed a Band
Matt’s sound was evolving fast. He was experimenting with different guitars, pedals, and tones — sculpting the foundations of what would eventually become Ultra Violet Vinny’s raw, gritty, and unmistakable voice. With Chris at his side, the sparks of something bigger were undeniable.
Long Island’s music scene in the early ’90s was alive with clubs, cafes, and bands pounding the pavement for a shot. Against that backdrop, the pieces of UVV began to align.
But that’s just the beginning….There’s a lot more to come.
