Comprised of Sharon Middendorf on vocals and guitar, Ronnie Mancuso on bass, and Lez Warner on drums, the NYC trio Motorbaby mixes straight-ahead rock with trippy psychedelia. Middendorf was raised in Cleveland, OH, and started pursuing music at an early age after being encouraged by her mother and grandmother (both music teachers). Later on, she decided to relocate to New York City to make it as a musician. To support herself during these early, lean years, she became an extra in rock videos (on the Beastie Boys' "She's on It" and Cheap Trick's "Tonight It's You"), as well as modeling for High Times magazine and an appearance with ZZ Top as a dancer at the first MTV Video Music Awards. Soon after forming the band Ten Wings (who released the album Wishing Well on Cargo Records), Middendorf also found time to collaborate with other musicians, improving and perfecting her songwriting along the way. After Ten Wings folded, Middendorf formed Motorbaby with fellow musicians/friends Mancuso (ex-Beggars & Thieves) and Warner (ex-Cult and Waterboys). Their melodic yet rocking self-titled debut was released on Mercury in mid-'98. It was four years until they released another album (2002's Rise), and in the meantime Middendorf's first starring role in a film, Terror Firmer, was unveiled by Troma Films. ~ Greg Prato