Russell Osiecki (vocals/ guitar) and his brother Derek (bass) have been playing in bands together since their middle school days of gigging throughout their native Las Vegas. With the help of their friend Eddie Cleland (drums), the Generics resulted for a number of years before Russell moved to Los Angeles to form Great Rivers of the World with guitarist Steve Refling. Once that band ended, the remaining Generics also relocated to Los Angeles to form Big Umbrella. With a line-up that's basically the Generics with Steve Refling on second guitar, their sound matured to a power-pop hybrid of alternative and '60s rock. While looking up to the likes of the Beatles, the Byrds, Crowded House, and the Replacements, Racer Records released Big Umbrella's debut album, Fruit, in 1993. Their second album, Guru, followed in 1995 while Ever Ever Land came out a year later. Lab Rat (2001) marked the band's first release of the new millennium. ~ Mike DaRonco, Rovi