Exclusive Benefit Artwork

Josh Diesel, the legendary a cappella "trio" known for such classic songs as Grasshead and Mr. Mopo Ding Dong, is planning JD10, a concert to benefit an eclectic array of charities. While details are sketchy, the show is set to take place next spring to coincide with the band’s 10th anniversary.

An official press conference took place during the 5th annual Weekend of Dreams, a Diesel sponsored weekend of water-fun and whisky soaked revelry in New York City. This year’s Weekend of Dreams 5.023 took place over the weekend of October 17th 2003 and included all the traditional events including a Circle Line Cruise, dinner at La Mela Ristorante in Little Italy and Sinatra infused domestic lager at Tony’s, a famous Diesel haunt in lower Manhattan.

Josh Diesel originated at the University of Vermont in 1994 by founding members Josh Baron, Bill Wright and Jack Turner. "The inspiration came from the mind-bending and hypnotizing soundtrack of Face-Off, a Super Nintendo game popular in the early nineties", says Baron. "We’d play that game obsessively and began to put words to the organ music played at certain arenas in the game". That original song was, of course, Grasshead. The band added a few songs to their early repertoire and began to perform for intimate gatherings of enthusiasts. "I first saw them at a friend’s house party in Burlington with 15 or 20 people in attendance. It changed my life", says Sarah Dolan, one of Diesel’s most devout fans. As word spread, the group began to perform in front of larger and larger crowds, including a massive Halloween concert at the mythological 25 Orchard Terrace.

Diesel’s first album, Josh Fu, dropped soon after to hysterical critical acclaim and was followed immediately by Josh Diesel’s Greatest Hits, an album containing all the chart toppers from their debut album but in a different order. With all the success, Diesel struggled to stay together. A combination of Turner’s substance abuse problems, Baron’s short temper and Wright’s complete lack of rhythm stirred up the inner turmoil that led to the inclusion of band member Jamie Gurley, an even keeled musical semi-savant that helped ground the band. Gurley has facilitated Diesel’s enduring prosperity as they battle to stay true to Avidadism, a nebulous religion created by the band and celebrated in their anthem Let’s Go Avidad.

"We’ve received so much love and free beer from our fans that it only seems appropriate to give back to the wonderful people who have made it all possible", said band member Jack Turner. "With so many wonderful charities out there it was hard to pick just one, in fact we briefly considered just keeping the money ourselves." Among the numerous charities ultimately picked by the band are: United Supporters of Arbitrary Animal Testing; Eastern Incontinent Nuns Association; National Association for the Fair Treatment of Acutely Sensitive Men; Americans Against Burberry Animal Garments; Parakeet Annihilation Fund; Members of Diesel; and Howler Monkey Are Our Friends.

The group’s most seasoned fans, as well as a few of Burlington’s homeless, remember Diesel’s first benefit performance in the fall of 1994 that raised awareness of a newly constructed fountain on Burlington’s Church Street. "We felt that people needed to be aware of the fountain’s presence so that they didn’t fall in like I did because I have trouble walking", said Wright. "We were concerned that some small child might drown, or worse, ingest some animal waste. When I fell in I could swear I smelled dog feces".

While it won’t be their first benefit concert, JD10 will certainly be the most extravagant. The band will unveil a bevy of new tunes and plans on rehearsing for the show, something they have not done since their most nascent stages. They will also use sound amplification technology as well as beer kegs powered by hydrogen, a more dangerous and efficient alternative to CO2. Fans can also expect at least one computer-generated banner regaling the band.

For Diesel fans, JD10 will be the pinnacle of their steadfast fanaticism. For the uninitiated, it is an opportunity to expand their minds and change their lives.