Eleven years. Holy cow, 11 long years. That's how long the Fastbacks have been the Fastbacks as they are now--Kurt Bloch, Kim Warnick, Lulu Gargiulo, and Mike Musburger. Since 1992, the year I graduated from high school, this has been the band. Seattle's band. Some would say Nirvana, or Pearl Jam, or Mudhoney... maybe even Heart? But they would be wrong. The Fastbacks are Seattle--well, they and Kenny G, but that's where the comparison stops, believe me.

And now it's about to end, kind of. The Fastbacks are sure to survive, but they'll have to do it without Mike, their drummer since '92. And while most everyone knows drummers are usually totally expendable (Neil Peart excluded--Rush rules!!!!), Mike is sure to be missed. Why? Because 11 years is a long, long time. After all, where were you 11 years ago? What were you doing with your life? I thought so.

Of course, this isn't the first time the Fastbacks have been without a drummer. They were, after all, formed in 1979 (quick math: I was six), and their longevity is a definite part of their legend. They are Seattle's Spinal Tap, only good (and minus the spandex since probably '83 or '84). So, for your convenience, here is a (partial) list of their drummers:

Mike Musburger, Duff McKagan (yes, that Duff McKagan), Richard Stuverud, Kurt Bloch, Danny Zakos, Nate Johnson, Rusty Willoughby, John Moen, Jason Finn (of course--what band hasn't he played with?), Dan Peters, Tad Hutchison, Tom Hendrickson.

But it has been Mike who has been with them the longest, and Mike who will be playing his last show with them at the Sit & Spin on Friday, March 9. Afterward, the Fastbacks will undoubtedly carry on, but a little bit of history will have passed us by. Mike will be missed, and as your pediatrician, I advise you to head down to the Sit & Spin to check them out. After all, how often do you get to be a part of history? Again, I thought so.