The Killing Floor was formed in 1986 by guitarist/vocalist Jason Shipley with original members Carmen Grago (guitar, vocals ex-Blue Meanies), Paul Kozlovski (bass guitar, vocals -Paul always played in Top Hat and tails), and Fred Hauser (drums). Named after the Howlin’ Wolf blues classic, the Killing Floor started as a roots/blues rock band and later progressed to a more commercial style. The group used a 4-song demo recorded by John Suchy (of Hectic Red) to open doors and connect with Greg Therres at Starleigh. Over the next 10 years the Killing Floor averaged about 90-100 gigs a year, and played extensively in the Ocean City area beginning in 1987. Seen around town at E.J. Bugs, J&D Saloon, The Brickhouse, The Zu, PurpleMoose (O.C.)…
In 1991 their original song “Temporary Man” was featured on the “Best Bands on the Beach” CD produced by radio station WZBH in Delaware. Other bands on the CD included Great Train Robbery, Y-Not, Transfusion, and others
According to Jason “we had a great following in the Ocean City area as a sort of Pink Floyd cover band, but actually we had about 300 tunes we could play by everybody from the Beatles to Bowie. The band played as opener for numerous nationals including The Grass Roots, Molly Hatchet, Diving for Pearls and others. Our full-time production crew consisted of Tim Miskimon (of Basement Floor) on sound as well as Mark Liberto on sound and George Evans on lights.”
“The original line-up was solid for the period from 1986 through 1993. Dave Kerner (ex-Red October) was the first non-original member added in 1990, with the purpose of adding keyboards.”
The band existed through 1996. Personnel changes began in 1993 with the departure of Kozlovski and Hauser. Shipley left in 1994. Other members of the Killing Floor were Dave Kerner (keyboards, guitars 1990-93), Carl Hupp (drums 1993-95 ex-Miles Beyond, Great Train Robbery), Roy Bush (guitar, keyboards 1993-96), John Bennett (bass 1993-95), Doug Shipley (bass 1995-96), Keith Larsen (drums 1995-96 ex-Silver Queen, Lucifer, co-founder of Maryland Drum), and Mike Gigliotti (drums/vocals 1996).
Jason and Carmen later formed Charlie Don’t Surf. Kerner joined the Fabulous Skunkpuppie Band… Hupp worked with a number of bands including XYZ, Poison Whiskey, and his Carl Hupp Project… Bush and Gigliotti were later with Great Train Robbery… Liberto also did sound for Mary Lou & the Untouchables…
