All Rise

Destiny Divided Musician Biography: Michael G. DeVita To me, the band Destiny Divided was created on the premise of serving two masters. It may appeal to those who have been torn by two loves or have had the impetus to achieve more than one goal in life. This certainly may be viewed as a negative in that being divided is not whole or complete, however, with it's twists and turns, life often forbids us from attaining any one solitary perfection, let alone two. Many of us have goals or desires which, for one reason or another, have been unable to bring to fruition. Some may feel negative, bitter, depressed and have nothing but remorse regarding their lost dreams or incomplete aspirations. And so, if my destiny has been divided, I accept and embrace it as much as the waves hit the shore, my sons have red hair, and my daughter sucks her thumb. This destiny divided is a blessing, to be celebrated and passed on. I've played music by ear ever since early childhood, creating my own little tunes on the family piano. I was happy making my own music but took a few piano lessons at age 9, in the hopes that if I studied music well, I could then convince my parents to buy a guitar. At my first piano recital, I scribed the word destiny on the cover of my music note book, the word has stuck with me since that time. The plan didn't work so well as I had to work for my dad a few years before I was allowed the privilege of my first guitar at age twelve. I took to it without hesitation, replicating 60's and 70's rock. Always writing my own songs and musical pieces, not so much because I wanted to, just always did. In 1981 at the age of 13, I formed the hardcore punk band Sacred Denial with friend Anthony Machovsky. This was the rebellious punk movement, and so we did, with the target being those who practiced religion on a fair weather, half hearted basis. Ironically he and I met in a CCD class. We were signed to Forefront Records and later to Nuclear Blast Records in Germany as the band took on a heavy metal influence. We put out four records and toured in the US and Europe before disbanding in 1988. I continued with my premedical studies but kept in touch with my old friend Anthony and our shared dream of a musical life. We later reformed as the alternative rock band Lucy's Trance in 1990. Shortly after the band was signed to Big Beat/Atlantic Records in 1991, I moved to Long Island to start medical school. I could not fulfill the responsibilities of the record deal and seriously pursue my studies. Anthony, later to be known as Anthony Trance, continued on for a short while before moving onto other musical endeavors. He and another friend in Lucy's Trance, Chris Crowley, succumbed to untimely deaths. This was felt to be the end of any musical aspiration to me. I kept a few instruments, but considered this part of my life deceased for quite some time. Now as my long journey to becoming an interventional cardiologist is complete, I have migrated back to music in a serious fashion. Continuing to write songs over the years as a way of coping with stress, my songs were written by circumstance, and not for the purpose of achieving a goal. The desire to share this discipline with the world has been rekindled and further spirited by my fellow musicians, Steve Swanson and Scott Casper. My initial destiny has been encouraged and redirected by these friends, who all have shared similar divisions and losses. We are drawn together by the love of this art form and hav