Meet Crash Effect
Crash Effect was founded in August of 2006 by Michael Miles (right) and Paul Wichterman (left) to create great music that would have a multi-faced impact, making a difference to our fan base and those that we help with our charitable contributions.
Paul is a talented drummer, video editor, and motion graphics animator and has been a driving force behind our success. His contributions extend more than just being our drummer, he's also very motivated about being successful both as a band and as humanitarians.
Beyond being a singer/songwriter and having a solo gig on the side, Michael is also a designer, web developer, and new media developer. But his true passion is knowing that what he creates and does is helping change the lives of other people.
Together, Michael and Paul are driven to create great music and a lasting legacy, where thousands—maybe someday millions—will have been helped by the contributions and the efforts of Crash Effect.
It's said that rhinos can't see much beyond a hundred feet and can run up to forty miles per hour—bad news for anything in its path. When a crash of rhinos have a target—regardless of whatever it may be—they'll barrel toward it full on without fear, hesitation, or reserve. Crash Effect is a gritty, greasy acoustic rock band with an objective to create great rock-n-roll and make the world a better place—and like the rhinos, they aren't holding back.
Formed in August of 2006, they've quickly assembled a large arsenal of quality original songs, completed their first EP and have already achieved substantial recognition with music lovers across the Twin Cities, around the country, and across the pond. After only two months, their myspace friend count surpassed 2,000 friends and received rave reviews of their material. Their fan base grows with each passing month.
But what sets Crash Effect apart from other bands is their core values behind the music. From day one, the band decided that ten percent of all their earnings (i.e., merchandise sales, concert earnings, and royalties) would go straight off the top and into the hands of humanitarian charities—local, national, and around the globe. "There are a lot of people who don't have the means to acquire the basic things we all take for granted," Michael stated, "things like a home, food, and clean drinking water. I figure that we can help bring about change—in part by giving of our own time and money to help other people."
That would explain why Crash Effect is on such an aggressive pace, like a crash of rhinos barreling towards their objective. In this case the objective is reducing poverty, homelessness, hunger, and inhumane living conditions; what millions of people across the globe find inescapable. And the fans of Crash Effect know that when they pack out a club, purchase their latest EP, or ask the radio stations to play their songs, they know that they're helping make a difference. For every ten dollars Crash Effect earns, one dollar is going directly to charity to help feed the hungry, to give shelter to the homeless, and to help free the oppressed.
Mahatma Gandhi was right when he said, "you must be the change you want to see in the world." And Crash Effect is doing just that—taking their gritty, greasy acoustic rock and becoming agents of positive change in their world. Now that's a band worth supporting—music with heart and conscience.
Links and contact information
Michael's email address: michael [at] crasheffect [dot] com
Michael's website: http://www.michaelmiles.org
Paul's email address: paul [at] crasheffect [dot] com
Paul's blog: http://crasheffectpaul.blogspot.com
