MEET THE BAND
What do you get when you take dark Alterna pop and then throw in: psychedelia, prog, gothpunk, tango, gypsy jazz, world beats, eastern European rhythms, soundtrack music, and twisted takes on covers? As the name implies, these seasoned local musicians take a variety of sounds and MELT them together... well no country or death metal (yet).
The initial idea came to bassist Paul Pipitone who had played in several local Boston bands previously. During these years, he noticed some local bands concentrated on developing a sound. He wanted varying styles, tempos and dynamics in the individual songs as well. He started writing tunes to stress the variation, but still wanted something identifiable and energetic, like Queen.
He found a like-minded drummer in John Kokas, who at the time was playing in the very popular local Lizzie Borden Band. They shared several bills together in the past. John also shared Paul’s love of Queen II, in particular, which got them talking.
Lead guitarist Bill Hekking was recently found via networking with other musicians. He was highly recommended as someone who might be “just right”. He did fit right in away personally and musically and he had the style and chops to master everything quickly while bringing in his own voice.
At this writing (Sept ‘26), the band is working with a rotating cast of four well-respected singers who are all part of the local music scene.
VOCALIST
Erin FM
Erin is a trained singer, actress, and performer with a background in musical theater and choir.
Her inspirations are Simone Simons from Epica for power, Sarah Brightman for range and control, and Amy Lee of Evanesence for her haunting vocal quality. Mixing these styles with her sometimes quirky, theatrical personality complements the band in an exciting and fun way.
GUITARIST
Bill Hekking
Bill recently joined the band. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix, he picked up electric guitar for the first time in high school and never looked back.
A Cape Cod native who’s since lived in New York City, Barcelona, Warsaw, and Salzburg, Bill has a background in rock guitar with an affinity for punk, indie, and shoegaze styles. His influences include Dinosaur Jr, Fugazi, and Sonic Youth, among others — bringing a raw, textural energy to MELT’s sound.
BASSIST
Paul Pipitone
Paul started playing woodwinds in grade school but then the rock bug bit. He has been performing professionally on the Boston local scene for 20 years. He creates dynamic lines that are edgy, yet melodic, and most importantly, fun! He doubles on upright bass and alto sax (infrequently).
His influences draw from punk, art rock, global, goth, and funk. Steven Severin, Chris Squire, John Entwistle and Paul Chambers as his favorite bassists.
DRUMMER
John Kokas
From the moment Jim first picked up his drumsticks, he knew he had found his true calling. Known for his versatility and adaptability, Jim navigates through different musical genres, effortlessly blending his drumming style to suit each unique sound. Whether it's progressive rock, blues, or even funk, Jim's skillful drumming elevates every performance he is a part of. Jim is also a dedicated session drummer and studio operator, lending his skills to various recording projects. Some of his influences include Gavin Harrison, Danny Carey, and Neil Peart.