Driven To Tears was formed during the Winter of 2008-2009 by three Rochester, NY area musicians who grew up during the heyday of The Police. Feeling the time was right after the recent Police reunion tour, they began working together to form an accurate and respectful tribute to one of their favorite bands.

The members of Driven To Tears believe that the songs released by The Police are, to this day, unique and possess a timeless quality. Since the songs are so iconic, it is important to play them well and to strive to produce as authentic a sound as possible.

James is a man of mystery. We don't know anything about him; where he comes from, what he does when not playing with Driven To Tears, or even where he goes after a show. He just showed up at band practice one night with everything he needed to be our version of Sting.

Some say that he was once arrested in El Paso, Texas for impersonating Sting; and that he once had a liasion with a female member of Sting's road crew until security threw him out.

All we know is that with Driven To Tears, he can deliver Sting's characteristic high pitched and bombastic vocals and his trademark rhythmic style on bass guitar.

Donnie Welch, formerly of The Hopedashers and Grey Cafe, grew up in Rochester, NY listening to classic 80's bands such as The Cars and Cheap Trick. He draws on these early influences to give Driven To Tears a rock riffy and echo tinged feel.

"When I was 16 I was given a copy of Zenyatta Mondatta as a birthday gift .... I wore that Album out in about 3 weeks !"

Donnie Welch uses Fender Telecaster guitars with GFS Pickups, Crate Amps and Boss, MXR and Danelectro effects.

Littlemark grew up in London, England, in the midst of a huge Reggae and Ska scene where the thumping bass and drum beats poured out of every pub and club. He was 16 years old when the first album by The Police (Outlandos d'Amour) was released and this had an immediate impact on how he listened to and played music. Stewart Copeland became a major influence of his style of drumming, an influence he applied through several ska and "indie" style bands while still living in the UK.

Since moving to the US, Littlemark has spent time with area bands playing funk, R&B, blues, and most recently Modern Country/Southern Rock. Now that he has joined forces with James and Donnie to form Driven To Tears, Littlemark is back to his true drumming roots ... "playing a quarter note to the left" as Stewart Copeland calls it!

Littlemark plays Yamaha Recording Custom drums with Ludwig snare drums and Zildjian cymbals.