Contributed Photo
Seymour’s Rich Demko.
SEYMOUR — While many in town might know Rich Demko as the chairman of the Republican Town Committee, this father of two is a true rock and roller at heart.
Demko, a classically trained pianist, actually started honing his musical chops at age 5. He went on to study drums, guitar, bass and, eventually, music production and engineering.
He honed his production and engineering skills with Vic Steffens at Horizon Music Group, based in West Haven. He also mixed some of the nation’s biggest bands and artists while working as a sound engineer at the legendary Toad’s Place in New Haven. He later worked in the bookings office at Toads, lining up the likes of The Black Crows and Blues Traveler.
After a few years, Demko parted ways with Toad’s and went back to studio engineering. The skills and knowledge he gained at the club and under Steffens’ mentorship came in handy when Demko launched his own full-service indie record label, NeuroTronix Records, in 2019, with his wife, Lauren.
Since then, Demko, a singer/songwriter, too, has been helping launch of the careers of several Connecticut-based bands and artists, such as Electric Mayhem and Passing Strange.
Demko was recently honored by the New England Music Hall of Fame Home. He scored an Ambassador of Good Will Award, which, according to co-founder Christopher Annino, “is given to select candidates who are role models and outstanding musicians that represent the core values of The New England Music Hall of Fame, and who have great passion for music and culture in the New England area.”
Contributed Photo
Blondie Chaplin and Rich Demko.
Annino said he couldn’t think of a more-deserving person than Demko for the award.
“Based on Rich’s long history and experience in the industry, it’s an award well-earned,” Annino said. “He deserves more than just this. He’s a multi-versed individual that helps a lot of people and he does so much for the music community and beyond. Rich is truly a remarkable person.”
Demko said receiving the award was validation that leaving his former day job as a surgical assistant for 15 years to start his own record label was the right move.
“After numerous discussions over the years with Vic about how there is no, one-stop-shop around that promotes, manages, produces, shops albums, and works the business end of the industry for artists on the local scene, a light bulb just went off in my head,” Demko said. “I basically took everything I learned at the studio, in the club, in the bookings office, along with all of the connections I made, and I integrated it into one business — and that’s how Neurotronix Records was born.”
Demko said working in the music industry has lead to some incredible experiences, namely playing organ in the studio with and striking up a friendship with Beach Boy and longtime Brian Wilson band member, Blondie Chaplin, who has also worked with The Rolling Stones, The Band and other greats.
“To be able to work with Blondie, play alongside of him in the studio, and establish a great personal relationship with him to the point where we talk and text weekly,” Demko said. “I’ve been a huge Beach Boys fan ever since I started listening to music as a kid, so add that into the equation, along with the fact that Blondie played in one of the biggest bands on the planet, and also played with some of the greatest names in rock and roll is a very cool and humbling accomplishment.”
More information about NeuroTronix can be found at Neurotronix Records and on Facebook.
