In this installment of our new documentary blog series – or “blogumentary”
– we tackle the newest member of the Saints, Ryan Cammisa! Ryan hails from the northernmost
U.S. state, Canada. How did he come to the muggy heat of Georgia? Why is he so
passionate about music? Does he actually have a tattoo of the other band
members’ names on his upper thigh? READ ON TO FIND OUT!
Ryan was born in Mississauga, ON, Canada, a sleepy town that
bears very little resemblance to Mississippi, despite its similar name. As is
traditional in Canada, baby Ryan was wrapped in a seal pelt and ceremonially presented to the Wolf Gods. Although he was not premature, he had to spend
his first few days in an incubator, as the main hospital in Mississauga is housed
in an igloo. When it was time to take him home,
Ryan’s mom and dad obsessed over strapping him into his infant seat, as first time parents often do. His mom couldn't stop staring at her little bundle of joy as her husband yelled at the
dogs to pull the sled quickly and safely home.
Ryan’s early years in Mississauga were pleasant and
peaceful, filled with days at school and nights sharpening sticks to defend
against polar bears. Before long, his parents welcomed a baby girl into the
world, and he and his younger sister Ashley became the best of friends. School
was a breeze for him, and kids his own age thought he was just the bee’s knees.
As with all dreams, though, this one had to end. One night, his father called
them all onto the walrus-skin rug in the living room, and told them that he had
taken a job in the southern United States, and they would all be moving soon. Ryan
and his sister were shocked, to say the least. From everything they had heard
in school, the USA was a strange land where children joined gangs at an early
age, and where the people all greeted each other with genital intercourse. Yes,
it was clear the Cammisa kids would have more to adjust to than just a 70-degree
higher annual temperature when they moved to Atlanta, Georgia.
The family’s first few years in Atlanta were spent settling
in to a new life. No longer could they count on finding whale blubber or yak
meat at the local supermarket. They also had to buy all-new jeans not insulated
with down. But once the initial confusion passed, they quickly began to love
their new city. Atlanta at that time was a city preparing for the 1996
Olympics, and the air was filled with the sounds of construction and of
homeless people being shipped off to Alabama. Ryan began to come into his own
as a young teenager, finding ways to stylistically elevate himself from the
crowd. He began to wear skinny jeans, even as the pant legs of his peers grew
as wide as tree trunks. He began to acquire the foundations of his current
impressive cardigan collection. He ate his meals only when no one else was
around, so other kids would think he never needed food and was therefore immortal. And most importantly, he took up playing the guitar.
Ryan’s early attempts at learning the guitar were
frustrating at best, and he had all but given up. Then one day, his mom took
him to a local concert venue to see his favorite band in the whole world, Deep
Blue Something. The way they moved, the confidence they exuded on stage, and
most importantly the way the crowd screamed… all of this had a profound effect
on young Ryan. He resolved to learn everything he could about the guitar until
he could replicate the experience he had just had. Luckily, three weeks later,
he was contacted by the Saints to be one of their guitarists!
It’s easy to see how Ryan’s formative years in different
climate zones contributed to his abilities today. He is a valued member of the band,
and his tattoos make them all look a lot cooler. These guys truly show hope for the future of U.S. - Canadian relations.
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