- FILLAMENT WAS STARTED IN EARLY SUMMER OF '96 WHEN GUITARIST JESSE AND VOCALIST LARRY BEGAN LOOKING FOR A DRUMMER AND BASSIST TO START A DEFTONES COVER BAND. J. STARTED AS A RYTHM GUITARIST, MOVING TO DRUMS WHEN BASSIST CHRIS CLANCY JOINED UP AT THE START OF FALL '96.

- IN NOVEMBER, MIKE JOINED THE BAND TO ADD AN INTERESTING TWIST TO LIVE SHOWS WITH HIS BAGPIPES. HE MADE HIS LIVE DEBUT WITH FILLAMENT AT BATTLE OF THE BANDS, PLAYING THE INTRO TO "SHOOTS AND LADDERS."

- UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER BATTLE, THE '97 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL CONCERT, AND A SHOW AT A BAR IN HI-NELLA, NJ, FILLAMENT HAD TO LET GO OF CHRIS. ALTHOUGH THEY'D SPENT GREAT TIMES TOGETHER, HE WAS LOOSING INTEREST.

- SOON AFTER, J. MOVED BACK TO RYTHM GUITAR, MAKING WAY FOR GARY ON DRUMS AND JOEY ON BASS.