Paul Roidoulis
The band’s leader and chief instigator is Paul Roidoulis. His rich crooning vocal treatment and “grip it and rip it” guitar style have fast become trademarks of the ensemble. While the other kids in his Walpole, Massachusetts neighborhood were drinking Narragansett and listening to Led Zeppelin IV, Paul was at home in the dark listening to Nat Cole records and studying the velvety phrasing of Frank Sinatra. Many a day was spent dreaming of the day he himself would play the Vegas strip. These aspirations have already come to fruition as The Prophets have shared the stage with Bob Weir’s Ratdog and other national acts. A prolific songwriter, his work has matured and flourished since his halcyon days in the Co-Dependants. This craft is at the core of most of The New Prophets original songbook, which showcases a bigamist but healthy marriage of Memphis style grooves, spacey jams, and rock anthems. In addition to band responsibilities, Paul has been involved in many side projects including the ill-fated “I’d rather be crooning” T-shirt fiasco, as well as writing and producing an avant garde one-man rock opera entitled Five Wood or Two Iron; I’m Really Not Sure.
Billy Kramer
He’s seen it all, and remembers very little. Drummer Billy Kramer has been a major force in the East Coast music scene for longer than he’d care to admit. Few will forget his role in Back Bay Brew, a wildly popular but misunderstood band in the early days. As a founding member of The Beagles, he was singer, guitarist, keyboard maven, and sold hot dogs and beer during the breaks. It was in the 1980’s while playing bass for The Probers when he met his musical foil and “soul” mate Jim Beaupre. In the present day, Billy has graciously assumed the role of patriarchal figure in the New Prophets. His propensity for the perfect harmony is a calling card to The New Prophet sound, no to mention his balls to the wall lead vocals which contributes to the band’s uniquely vibrant flavor. His drumming is at times exudes the Cajun swing of Levon Helm, at other times the all out brutality of Keith Moon, and still at other times the sexy subtlety of Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, or Charlie Watts . As a random acquaintance once marveled, “That’s Billy Kramer, isn’t it?”
James Beaupre
Affectionately known as “Boney” by friends and neighbors, enter Jim Beaupre on bass guitar and vocals. Quite simply, he is the band’s anchor and self-proclaimed musical director. Armed with a quick wit and a keen ear, he could forget more musically than most of us could ever hope to know. A native of the Bay State, Boney grew up on corn flakes and Rock n’ Roll. This led to a tumultuous stint as bass player in The Mints. He first gained real fame in Rhode Island in The Probers. For a time in the 1980’s they were the biggest band in the smallest state. More importantly, it established a strong musical union between Messieurs Beaupre and Kramer. Listening to Boney’s bass playing conjures up sonic images of bassmen ranging from Donald “Duck” Dunn, to Graham Maby, to Phil Lesh. A prolific singer-songwriter and guitar player in his own “write”, his haunting melodies have mesmerized hearts and ears for years. As a Prophet, his comedic rapport with the audience is a thing of legend, especially the time-honored “You people are gonna have to move back” routine. Boney’s twisted brand of renegade philosophy is cause for legitimate concern for society in general. As a complete stranger once wondered out loud, “What’s the deal with that guy playing bass anyway?”
Ian Katz
It was back in 2001 when saxophonist Ian Katz bullied his way into the band. Things have never been the same since. His horn playing has left a huge imprint in the hearts and minds of New Prophet Nation, as has his “Get out of my way, I’m from New York” attitude. Hailing from the borough of Queens, Ian went to school on such jazz icons as Cannonball Adderley, Paul Desmond and Branford Marsalis. He’s borrowed from his heroes while at the same time developing a unique mind-altering style of his own. This phenomenon is widely recognized in the industry as “Katzification”. Ian has “Katzified” on many a live endeavor with bands such as Violin Road, The Jim Devlin Band, and GROW. He hypnotizes as he harmonizes, a gift not lost on New Prophet Nation. Blessed with a tremendous mane of hair, fans have been known to cross state lines just to find out “what he’s doing with it these days.” These follicular exploits have led to many hair-care product endorsements and games how appearances.
Rich Sage
Taming the keyboard jungle is the always excitable Richard Sage. Born in Boston and settling in Worcester’s West Side, he grew up (open to debate) admiring the keyboard styling of Leon Russell, Garth Hudson, Dr. John, Stevie Wonder, Steve Nieve, Stevie Winwood, among others. His fascination with Brent Mydland of the Grateful Dead, and Mydland’s subsequent death, eventually led him to the bench. Sage would soon infiltrate the neo-hippie-deadhead scene, cutting his teeth with such bands as Shakedown, Loose Change, Five of a Kind, The Troubleshooters, and Freddy Wilkes and The Millrats. Two original albums, countless gigs, and numerous one-way excursions into Rock n’ Roll madness later, Sage brings his savage approach to the Prophets. His grotesque facial contortions on stage have horrified audiences and bandmates alike, and have provoked serious self analysis. As an estranged colleague once quipped, “He’s easy to get to know, impossible to get rid of.”