"This campus is lame in terms of opportunities for playing," Preston says. "Harvard doesn't seem to foster a band community."

The bands on campus must make do with a limited number of practice rooms that have microphones and drum sets. Most are limited to a few hours of practice a week in the basement of Dunster House.

"There is no practice space, no places to play," says Douglas M. Demay '94, guitarist for Fat Day.

But Demay says student bands will not continue to go unrecognized. This fall, Demay founded the Harvard Independent Music Society, whose purpose is "to encourage the Harvard Band scene."

"We needed a campus group to represent the bands," Demay says. "It should establish the rock scene at Harvard as a valid art form."

Demay says the society, which received a $350 Undergraduate Council grant will help bands to record their music in sound studios in the Quad and find places to play on campus.

A dual concert by Fat Day and Betty Please in Adams House last night was the society's first official event.

Demay says the society is even putting together a compilation compact disk of 14 original songs written by seven campus bands.

And according to Tallon at the Black Rose, this disc might be worth buying.

"I didn't realize there was that amount of talented bands in college," he says.

Fame, Fortune and Groupies

With fame comes fortune. Well, almost.

According to many members, a band can earn about $300-$800 per gig.

Still, members insist money is not the real reason they play in a band. "We do it for the thrill of playing," Preston says. "That's all you really need."

Very few expect profits to supplement their college tuition.