Ryan Sexton (Guitar/Vocals)
Ryan Sexton grew up in Chanhassen, Minnesota, eventually moving to Minneapolis in the early 1980s where he began his career as an actor. He studied at The Children’s Theatre Company of Minneapolis. After moving to New York City at 17, he appeared in several Off-Broadway productions. In 1995, he found himself in Los Angeles where he resided until 1998.
Around 1993, Sexton also began writing songs, forming a band called The Customers. In 1995 a demo of the band’s songs found its way to the desk of Neil Young’s manager, Elliot Roberts, who was in the process of signing bands to Young’s fledgling label, Vapor Records. The Customers became the first band on the label, recording an album called “Green Bottle Thursday” at Jackson Browne’s Groove Masters Studios in Santa Monica.
The band played festivals in Europe with Soundgarden, Neil Young (and Pearl Jam), Hole, and Foo Fighters, among other acts. In the States, The Customers toured with Ben Folds Five and opened shows for Bad Religion, as well as supporting Iggy Pop on several West Coast dates. Throughout these years Sexton continued to write songs, and in January 2022 began work with Twin Cities record producer Kevin Bowe (Paul Westerberg, Etta James) on a new Customers album.
In May of 2022, and after 30 years in the making, Sexton received his Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communications and Journalism from the University of Minnesota.
Terrance J. Fisher (Lead Guitar)
Since even my toddler years I’ve always been drawn to the sound of guitars. My first guitar was a broom; I then moved up to a tennis racket; then in Jr. high I graduated to a Les Paul copy. The journey has progressed nicely. I’ve been in more than a handful of bands. I’ve had (and have) the pleasure of participating in the joys of music. I find joy in playing guitar.
Kirk Hall (Drums)
I have played in bands my entire life. From Iowa to Nashville to San Diego and now Minneapolis. While I have taken time off, I have always found a way to dive back in. I have two rules for joining a band: I have to like the music and I have to like the people or it’s not worth doing. The Customers check those boxes and more.
Jon Sawyer (Bass Guitar/Vocals)
I decided I needed to be in a band when I started sneaking into bars in high school and seeing all these bands playing cover songs that you wouldn’t normally guess a cover band would play. I’m not talking about the Eagles of Lynyrd Skynyrd, they were playing songs by Bad Brains, the Ramones, Dead Kennedys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Circle Jerks, and the Replacements…All in 1987. Between that and seeing the Who’s “final farewell” performance on MTV (repeatedly) sealed the deal for me to be in a band.
The Customers 