Eudora (or MotherKirk was it was to be known then, but doesn't really
matter now, but anyways.) was originally formed in a late hour meeting
in Snodgrass Hall on Kentucky Christian College Campus in Quad B Room
B2 several hours past curfew (catches breath...) in the fall semester
of 2000.
The original
meeting consisted of Jeremy Hazelton, Ben Hiller, Devin Phelps (Well,
Phelps came in later, or did he? no wait, no, I dont think he was
there. But he was!!! Ah ha! ah, well nevermind. But dont worry about
it, he gets kicked out as soon as the band is formed anyways.) and
David Wright. The foursome talked through out the night about ideas
and such. The group wanted to be primarily a praise band. Because
Phelps, Hazelton, Wright, a lead guitarist named Bill Francis and
strange black drummer named Chris Deering, had been together earlier
in a praise band in late 99'. The band was known then as "Mr.
Sock's Wild Ride", "Flying high with the SunBirds",
"The Bright Green Psychedelics", and finally "The Wiggs
of Biggness." The group was very undeceive back in the early
days. (It can also be noted, that Paul Halstead was the original lead
singer of the "Wiggs" until a tragic accident in a sporting
event. Halstead would go on to a solo career, and would later disappear
some years later in Haiti .)
Things were good
for the "The Wiggs of Biggness." They had a new lead singer,
Jeremy Hazelton. Hazelton would lift the band hopes from thier recent
loss of Paul. Also the "Wiggs" had just played to their
biggest crowd yet, at Tolosbough Christian Chruch. 30 screaming 13
yr olds came to that Wednesday night service. (Ok, Ok, maybe it wasnt
30 kids, we counted the big ones as 2.) But as the new century lurked
on the horizon, troubles began to stir for the "Wiggs."
The Biggness would soon come to a end. There would be three key events
would finally break up the "Wiggs."
First was Phelp's
refusal to play G-C-D songs. Phelp's would unplug his bass, and run
around the gym several times before colapsing on the floor. This added
much unneeded stress to the members who had just lost their lead singer,
Paul. Phelp's actions would set the gears of breakup
in motion. The second factor was Bill Francis's obsession with buying
more guitar equipment. The "Wiggs" would eventually run
out of transportation because of Francis filling his car with guitar
equipment. (It can also be noted that Deering the drummer would strangely
disappear from the band when Francis's obsession was getting out of
hand.) And the third and final factor that would end the Biggness,
would be Hazelton lending out his car to a girl named Jodi. She would
wreck his Metro and leave the band with no mode of transportation
at all. This would prove to be the final nail in the coffin for this
early hopeful praise team.
Anyways, back
to the MotherKirk. (errrr... Eudora) As the talks continued that night
it was decided that Hiller would be the drummer, Phelps would play
bass, Hazelton would be the lead singer and play guitar and Wright
would play guitar as well. The group would practice together over
the next couple of weeks. It was during this time that Hazelton and
Wright would begin writing "RoadMap." During the coming
practice sessions, Phelps would stop coming to practice. Phelps had
been dealing with a alter-ego since the break up of the "Wiggs."
Apparently the loss of Paul and several run in's with college officials,
had left Phelps mentally incapable of playing the bass.The band was
having trouble communicating to Phelps because they didnt know if
he was talk to Phelps or his alter-ego. In the coming weeks, band
meetings were held without Phelps. It was decided that Phelps would
no longer be in the band.
One morning, Wright,
who was was Phelp's roommate at the time, woke up Phelps and pulled
him out of bed. Wright told Phelps he was out of the band. Phelps
and Wright stared at each other in firmness, and then Phelps realized
he was late for his 8:00 class. Phelps walked out the door, was never
seen since. He was last reported seen walking the streets of London,
England with his rubby ducky in his coat pocket. So with Phelps disappearence,
the hopes of reviving "The Wiggs of Biggness" dissappeared
with him.
MotherKirk (I
mean, Eudora) was now without a bass player. MotherKirk (Ugh... Eudora)
would have most likely broken up if it hadn't been for two freshman
next door. Steve Cornett, a jazz bass player, and his roommate Mike
Turner, a Timex Drummer. Hazelton and Wright both wanted Turner and
Cornett. But this would mean two drummers, fortunately Hiller decided
to step down and play the guitar leaving Hazelton free to sing. Howbeit,
Turner and Cornett didnt come on board right away. Turner and Cornett
were unsure if they came on board that they would disappear like the
other previous members of the band. But Hazelton reassured them and
then later threatened them, so with that, Cornett and Turner then
joined whole heartedly.
The next obstacle
that would test the MotherKirk (Blah, Blah, Blah.... Eudora) and almost
destory them, would be to find a name for the band. Stress had reached
its maximum, Up to this point the MotherKirk wasn't known as MotherKirk.
(Too bad they changed their name to EUDORA!) The band was desperately
looking for some form of identity. It was During this time when Hazelton's
bottled emotions would be unleashed on Dave's unsuspecting reclining
chair. Wright would also suffer much pain for losing his beloved reclining
chair.
Names were thrown
around, such as, "The Crimson Perament Assurence", "Sigma
5", "Circle K" "Tremo" until Hazelton discovered
a character from a C.S. Lewis book, "The Pilgrims regress".
The character was a lady named "MotherKirk", she was a example
of the Church, and everything Christian. Also Kirk in Greek means
Church. The only problem was that, everyone hated it at the time.
So after three weeks of trying to find a name for the band. MotherKirk
finally decided to call themselves. "MotherKirk" (Until
they decided to change their name to EUDORA!)
MotherKirk (EU...
Ah forget it!!!) would play thier first gig at Hazelton's church in
February 2001, doing Sunday morning worship service. This would be
the only time Hiller would play with the band. During this time, MotherKirk
started devloping more original songs. MotherKirk was recieved well
and everything seemed like smooth sailing, Until. One day back at
college, Hiller would met a young lady. Hiller stopped coming to practice,
He stopped having anything to do with the band. MotherKirk would go
into the studio to record "Why?" (Scotty's Song) in April
2001. Hiller is strangely missing from the recording. Hiller would
remain a part of the band until the end of the semester when he strangely
disappeared. He was last seen on a Airforce base in Ohio disarming
a Nuclear Warhead or two.The
band never heard from Hiller ever again.
But the guys pushed
on. The semesters came and went, the songs also came and went, actually
nothing really stayed at all. Indecisiveness began to strike the band.
The Band would even begin doubt their own new name, MotherKirk. The
MotherKirk would continue to do shows, but the questions kept rising
up from the crowds. "What does MotherKirk mean?" So After
answering this question for the hundredth time and realizing that
even after explaining where the name came from the crowds still didn't
understand. The band decided they needed a name change. The band was
known as "Shooter McGavin" for a time, and all seemed happy
about the new name, for a while. Until the band found out their was
a nearby Pentecostal Ska/Punk band with the same name. So, Not wanting
to be associated with anything Ska, the stress reached a new high
for the guys as they sought a new name.
But who would
know that a old dead lady would play a key part in the band's new
name sake. Mikey was doing a paper for U.S. History class one cold
decmeber day. In a burst of rage, Mikey rose out of his chair in front
of his computer and said, "I'm going to end someone's life! I
can't find anything on Eudora Welty for my paper!" Steve-O who
was Mikey's roommate at the time said, "All I can find on her
is that she died, it seems to be the only thing she did!" The
two laughed like their were in bad sitcom or a badly written biography
of a band. (err... scratch that last part)
The name got thrown
around and it was decided on. The band's new name would be "Furlongo"
(I mean Eudora) The band was happy with their new name, Eudora. Also
the guys decided to classify themselves as "Emo." Because
when your a Emo Band, no one really cares what your name is anyhow.
So, with the new name, a New Era began for Eudora. And all seemed
well until.....
Coming up next
on VH-1's Behind the Kirk, Phelps returns.
