At an age when most boys' lives are consumed by the likes of puberty and G.I. Joe, the members of Serial Joe were busy building their music careers. Ever since the rock band won the 1998 Much Music Video Award for Best Independent Video ("Skidrow"), their hard work paid off. Awards and nominations began rolling in and attention for the Newmarket, Ontario, Canada-based band has been gaining incredible momentum. After relentlessly playing in their parents' basements since 1997, Serial Joe decided it was time to go public. The ambitious young group independently released their first album, Kicked, in 1998. In 1999, they received a YTV Achievement Award for Best Band and were nominated for the Much Music Video Award for Best Rock Video ("Mistake"). They were honored to play Woodstock '99 as well. In 2000, they won a Much Music Video FACT Award for Best Video ("Deep") (the award was presented by Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss during a tour with the famous glam rock band). 2000 proved to be an even better year for the young band; bassist Jon Davidson was 17, vocalist/guitarist Ryan Dennis was 17, guitarist Ryan Stever was 18, and drummer Dan Stadnicki was 17. Serial Joe has earned a number of prestigious nominations, including a 2000 Much Music Award nomination (People's Choice Award for Best Canadian Band), a Juno nomination for Best New Band, and a Gemini Award nomination for Best Specialty Show (YTV Achievement Awards, 10th Anniversary Show). In the summer of 2000, the band released its second album, Serial Joe (Aquarius Records), on which they got a chance to work with Dave "Rave" Ogilvie, producer of such artists as Marilyn Manson, Jane's Addiction, and Nine Inch Nails. Serial Joe's debut album, 2000's Face Down, with Aquarius/DKD Group, has gone platinum. ~ Kerry L. Smith