Sledd was formed by New York brothers Dino DeLuke (a third degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do) and Peter DeLuke, Jr., who grew up on the northern east coast where their father chaired the Hastings-on-Hudson School District’s music department from 1960 through 1985. After moving to San Diego in the mid-1980s, the brothers formed Sledd and released their first album, Dopamine (1999), self-produced and indie-distributed.
The band later added Eric Meyer (guitar) and Lance Goode (bass) to the lineup. Their second album Crooked Smiles was recorded and produced by Mark Kendall (Great White), though it went unreleased, as did several remixes recorded with Al Pitrelli (Blue Öyster Cult).
“We were on the verge of finalizing Crooked Smiles when the Great White [nightclub fire] tragedy in Rhode Island occurred,” says Peter. “At that point, Mark was unavailable to continue as our management, and until this day we haven’t resumed the final completion.”
Peter DeLuke told the Reader in late 2013, “We were just recently offered and signed a worldwide recording contract, management deal, and apparel and merchandising agreement with HighVolMusic.” The label announced plans to release Get Rich Quick Scheme in 2014, with a lineup featuring the DeLuke brothers along with singer Cary Rothman, guitarist Kevin Michael, and bassist Ronnie Hough. Earlier unreleased works were also planned to be re-recorded with the new members and slotted for release by the label.
“We’re just a rock band with a very heavy groove,” says guitarist Kevin Michael. “We have a modern sound, but we don’t sound like any of the other contemporary groups because we pull from so many styles in our writing. And we’re not afraid to have fun with the music, to do something a little tongue-in-cheek once in awhile, if it really fits the song. We’re a hard-rocking, in-your-face kind of band that might surprise you with a catchy pop hook when you least expect it.”
Bassist Ronnie Hough describes their music as “Straightforward hard rock,” while singer Cary Rothman says it’s “Hard alternative rock with a bit of ‘80s, ‘90s, and now.
They're among several local bands who played the 2014 SXSW music fest in Austin, TX, with a set on March 14.
Dino DeLuke underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his bladder on Thursday morning, October 9, 2014. “At this point, kind thoughts and strong prayers are what we need,” Peter DeLuke Jr. posted on Facebook. Recovery was quick, and the band was soon gigging again.