The Specimen was founded in May 2002 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The band was originally a three-piece, made up of Guitarist/Vocalist Aaron Larson, Bassist/Vocalist Jon Crook, and then Drummer Nate Mealhow. The band started by spending a number of months writing and re-writing their original songs and tweaking their live show. They released a first original demo in July 2002. Soon the band had enough original material to completely shed all cover songs from their repertoire for normal show lengths. In October 2002, they played their first show at “The Glory Hole,” a legendary underground show venue in Iowa City, IA. This show was a roaring success and played a major role in establishing the initial fan base for The Specimen. This show was soon followed by shows at establishments such as: Gabe’s Oasis and The Green Room in Iowa City, 3rd Street Live in Cedar Rapids and The Reverb in Cedar Falls to name a few.

The band soon recorded and released another demo, which blatantly showed the improvements since their previous one. They followed up this demo with some live shows, but soon realized the need for something to add a unique, fresh spin to their sound. They advertised for a keyboardist, and had no response. Time went by and the band had all but given up on the new member idea. Some keyboards were played by the band members on recordings, but without much knowledge of the instrument, hence making it impossible to use the instrument to it's full potential. But then out of the blue the band got a call by an incredibly skilled keyboardist named Pat Weeks. Pat had desired to work with a band that was fresh and experimental to add his sound to. Things clicked with Pat almost instantly, as it was exactly what the band was looking for.

The Specimen decided to showcase the impressive sound of the new lineup, and in March of 2004 they recorded a demo CD to be the start of a forthcoming album. This gives a very accurate glimpse of what the band sounds like live. It also showcases the talent of Producer and Engineer Tom Tatman (of Stone Sour fame). Tom instantly understood and worked hard to find the sound the band was looking for – then he made it a reality. Response for this demo has been nothing short of astounding. One of the most common compliments about the band is that they have the ability to flow seamlessly from one style to the next, all without sacrificing quality, accessibility, or originality. The band’s music has always been greeted by strong audience appeal, and the constant positive response has resulted the band shooting for something greater than initially planned.

The band is now on a quest to reach the top. Many major things are planned for the near future including a professionally released CD (currently in the works) and a national tour. Drummer Nate Mealhow was recently replaced by longtime friend and old band mate Charlie Shaw. Charlie has incredible chemistry with the band, and has brought it to an even higher level than before. One thing is certain - the future is clear in sight now for The Specimen. The question that remains is: Are they in your future?