Gimp was a San Diego skate-punk I played drums for in the 90s (about 1995-98). The band was made up of five high school students (later to become four after our singer moved away). The project served as the perfect form of expression, release, and escape from high school life for both the band members and their good friends/fans who showed up at every show. The band ended up having the privilege of opening for the likes of Pulley, Lagwagon, No Use For a Name, Millencolin, Diesel Boy, and Strung Out during their super charged punk rock stint. Ironically, on their last day of school in 1998, the band played their farewell show as the boys parted ways for different colleges.
Gimp at an Arco gas station grand opening event show.
The band members consisted of:
Dave Prohaska (The bands’ singer until he moved away. Also the half brother of Chris Moore of Pivit.)
Ryan Smull (Lead guitar player and then took over on vocals later on.)
Kory Stetina (Rhythm guitar)
JJ Bannasch (Bass)
Me, Mark Hartenau (Drums)
However, prior to the formation of this version of Gimp, there was a previous version. The band actually started as an alternative-rock/metal band with me and a couple of Mira Mesa musicians (Rich Leneau on bass and vocals and Matt Sheffer on guitar). But then I transferred to another high school (going from Mira Mesa High to Torrey Pines High) so I had to find all new members in that area. Kory and JJ went to Torrey Pines while Ryan went to La Costa Canyon. This version of Gimp is what became the punk band that played regularly at Soma.
As high school students, JJ and I were in video/film class (as were our friends and fans of the band: Paul Garcia, Jon Zack, Dan Ring, and Alberto Contreras). So we had a lot of help with filming at the Soma shows and edited this video in class (as we did with videos for The Cause, No Motiv, and One by One too).
Since the Gimp days, the band members have of course embarked on their own careers. Ryan moved to Sonoma County and is now involved in the wine industry, JJ had a brief stint playing bass for Eve 6 and interning at Sony Music until launching his own digital marketing agency called Katana Digital (now sold to someone else), Kory co-founded the popular vegan bar and restaurant: Kindred (and has since opened Mothership too), and I, Mark:
Produced a punk rock music TV show called In Your Face TV (2001-2008).
Worked at an advertising agency where I made TV commercials.
Had my own digital marketing agency called Impact Media (2008-2018).
Did the production for a TV show on boat racing that is now on Amazon Prime (2018).
Put together an alternative-rock studio project call Feral Humans (2019-2024).
