For performers, success can be about something more than just financial windfalls. A guitarist and songwriter may simply want the public at large to know who he and his band are, specifically, to be able to say "This is John Mitchell from Siberia" and not get a response along the lines of "Huh?" Before even bothering with the former extremely common name, it should be mentioned that the Siberia in this case is a progressive rock band from New York City, not the frigid part of the former Soviet Union or a dance club that was the in thing for about five days. Mitchell and female cohort Randy Farmer are the creative nucleus behind this group, which by 2004 had put out two discs, the latest entitled Harm's Way.
While probably nobody named John Mitchell caused more harm than the former attorney general under Richard Nixon, Siberia's John Mitchell also should not be mistaken for the banjoist and guitarist of the same name whose career began in the '20s and included a stint in a Nazi prison camp. There are other guitarists named John Mitchell as well, one in a vintage hillbilly band, another playing in art rock outfits such as Arena. Siberia came out of the New York City rock scene circa the early new millennium, but after garnering attention for live performances in typical venues including CBGB's, the group became a subject of interest well beyond the shadow of the Empire State Building. Consolidating the resumés of bandmembers as well as Siberia's two record producers results in a list of music business connections that include John Mayer, Phil Collins, Iggy Pop, and the Band of Susans.
