Artist Bio

  Major Darst is a guitarist and bassist from Mill Creek, Washington, USA. Major can also be heard on albums by Dana Osborn, "Walk With Me" and Bear Barrus, "The Best Of Bear Barrus". He released his debut album "Songs From Mill Hill" in August 2021. His second album, "Twilight At Tula's" was released in October 2023. Major performs in the Seattle area as the bassist for The VuDudes along with guitarist Dan Newton, keyboardist Pat Gossan and drummer James Busch.
 

Major Darst III was born July 17, 1958 to Dr. Major Darst Jr and Laura Lee Darst in Mt Holly, New Jersey. He moved to Morton, Illinois in 1960 when his parents divorced. Major was raised by his mother Laura Lee and his 3 older sisters; Cindy, Wendy and Lorie.

At the age of 12 he began playing acoustic guitar and quickly changed to bass at the request of his friends Rick and Dyche Martin to fill a vacant spot in a newly forming band. The group learned popular Rolling Stones songs as well as ZZ Top and other well known groups from that time period. The group was completed with the addition of guitarist Jerry Drake, drummer Roger Sutter and vocalist Albert Petersen. This group was named "Highway" and performed throughout central and northern Illinois. In 1975 the group was reformed with the name "The Leroi J Edward Band" with Bobby Gregory on drums. This group began writing its own music as well as recording extensively and performing in central Illinois. In 1979 the group was reformed again under the name of "Fishhouse Punch". This new group featured Mitch Marine on drums. This group was short lived because Mitch Marine moved from Illinois to Texas to attend college. 

Major moved to Renton, Washington in January 1981, since that time he has played in numerous Seattle area bands as is denoted in the list below;

1982-1984 Marcia Nikolich Group (with Terry Halstead)
1984-1987 Risk (with Terry Halstead, Ron McIntyre, John Santiago)
1987-1989 The Tornados (with Terry Halstead and John Chanik)
1989-1990 The Boogie Men (with Terry Halstead and Bob Wallace)
1990-1991 Santo-Gallagher (with Jim Busch, Dennis Maroney, Matt
 Gallagher and Leo Santo)
1991-1992 The Bernoulli Brothers (with Jim Busch, Dennis Maroney,
 Brian Yates and Leo Santo)
1992-1993 Major Major (with Jim Busch, Dennis Maroney, Michael
 Marriott and Leo Santo)
1993-1996 Blue Town (with Bear Barrus, Tim Tennis and John Santiago)
1996-1996 Giant (with Bear Barrus, Joe Hinchy, John Santiago and Kevin
 Peachy)
1996-1997 Black Cat Bone (with Bear Barrus, Hans Ipsen, Pat Gossan,
 Joe Hinchy and John Santiago)
1997-1998 The Dana Osborn Group (with Dana Osborn, Marty Hoyle,
 Hans Ipsen, John Santiago and Robert Nims)
1997-2007 Fat Cat (with Bear Barrus, Hans Ipsen, Pat Gossan, James
 Busch, Terry Nelson, Randy Oxford, Michael Matthews and Hadi Al-Saadoon)
1997-2021 The VuDudes (with Pat Gossan, James Busch, Pat Hewitt,
 Terry Davidson, Jay Johanson and Dan Newton)
Major Darst continues to perform in the Seattle area with the VuDudes.