The story of Paragraph Eight begins in the doldrums of Calabasas High School when four friends, Mark Pifco, Zach, Jahan, and Joey "Laser" Lazar, started putting tunes together in Mark's garage. The Homemade Originals, as they were called, performed all over the Southern California area at local kophey houses, parties and Earth Day festivals. The Originals broke up in 1995.
In 1996, Jahan, Joe and Zach met drummer MyGostin, saxophonist Eron and trumpet player Howard Seaman and started the ska, hippie rock known as Boulder Music. Boulder was a short lived project which disbanded in the summer of 1996, six months after its conception.
Paragraph Eight came into being in the Fall of 1996 when Jahan, Zach and Mike began writing material in Jahan's garage. The songs were some of the most honest the trio had ever compiled and the format was even stronger. After a string of performances, Paragraph Eight hit the studio in the Summer of 1997 and recorded "Bus Stop", a five song EP which showcased some of the band's strongest tunes. During the "Bus Stop" recording sessions, piano player Dusty joined the group rounding out the sound. Although Paragraph Eight financed all the recording costs, "Bus Stop" sold about 200 copies and the title track found its way onto a number of radio stations.
After Jahan left the group in the Winter of 1997, the band continued writing new material. Rick Zaki joined the group in February of 1998 filling the void left by Jahan. In early June, Dusty left the group to pursue a directing career and was replaced by saxophonist, and Boulder alumni, Eron.
Nearly 1 year after Rick joined the band, Paragraph Eight took a short absence to reconfigure their sound. Rick left and Jahan returned under the lights. The original foursome was back. In the summer of 1999 Paragraph Eight recorded their last "to be" album, "Guardians of the Environment". With help from a large cast of friends joining Paragraph Eight on this album, it proves to be the most intellectual work of the band to date. Currently the band is on hiatus, and is awaiting a summer tour. More information will be available as it evolves.
