Love Scar is a hard rock band based in Boston, Massachusetts, making waves in the modern rock scene with dynamic original music & electrifying stage presence. Formed at Berklee College of Music, where the genre isn’t the norm, they found each other chasing the same dream to write & perform authentic rock & roll. By forging a sound that’s uniquely their own, whilst still paying homage to the classics, Love Scar is carving their path as a powerful new force in today’s rock scene.
Originally from West Springfield, Massachusetts, Darren has spent most of his life on stage, getting his start at various local open mics at just eight years old. His early passion for music began with writing parody songs, which led to hosting his own comedy radio and TV shows shortly after. By middle school, he formed his first band, and from that moment on, he was hooked. Throughout high school, Darren played in multiple bands, steadily honing in on his craft while growing as an entertainer. Entirely self-taught until 2024, he took his musicianship to the next level with his acceptance to Berklee College of Music, a milestone that marked his full commitment to life as a musician. His influences, such as Steven Tyler, James Hetfield, and Mark McCollum clearly shine through in his performances.
From Ozark, Missouri, Elliott Judy has spent over a decade honing in his skills as a guitarist and musician. He picked up the guitar at age 10 and quickly fell in love with exploring all aspects of the instrument. As a kid, he joined School of Rock, where he learned to play in various bands and discovered his love for rock music. In high school, Elliott dove into jazz, earning 1st chair at the Missouri All-State Jazz Ensemble twice. Over time, he began releasing his own music, which helped him grow not just as a guitarist, but also as a recording and mixing engineer. He has also been a part of multiple touring acts, where he gained firsthand experience of life on the road. With the skill sets that Elliott has acquired over the years, he earned a full tuition scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music, where he joined Love Scar. All these experiences have shaped Elliott into a true Swiss Army knife of a musician.
Oscar was born in Baltimore, Maryland, but moved to London when he was 9 years old. It was here, where he began his musical journey by learning ukulele, taking vocal lessons, and playing in school concerts. He soon grew tired of playing the ukulele, and after seeing his older sister play the bass, he decided to give it a try himself. The first song he learned was “Under Pressure” by Queen and he quickly fell in love with the instrument. He began playing with Rock and Roll Recruits and played bass for another band, One Man Down, for 5 years. Oscar had further training at BIMM (British and Irish Modern Music Institute) and completed the Rockschool/RSL music exams up to Grade 8 Distinction. These exams helped him specialize in a range of genres and playing styles, which greatly assisted him in his audition for Berklee College of Music. His main influences on the bass include Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, and Flea. As for his general influences, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Rush, and Steely Dan have all helped shape who Oscar is as a musician.
Hailing from Natick, Massachusetts, it's Jake Wakstein who holds the drummer's spot in Love Scar. He began his drumming career after watching the movie “School of Rock” when he was just 7 years old, saying he wanted to be just like the drummer in the movie, Freddy Jones. Shortly afterwards, he began taking snare drum lessons at Natick's Music Go Round, and eventually moved his way up to a full drum kit. Throughout his academic career, he participated in various wind ensembles and jazz bands, but nothing fueled his passion for music like good old-fashioned rock & roll. He then joined the Natick School of Rock program in 2018, playing genres such as rock, funk, new wave, metal, and everything in between. He played both drums and guitar at School of Rock for 5 years before committing to Berklee College of Music in 2023. It was always been his dream to perform original rock & roll music with a band he can call his own, so he decided to form a band once he arrived at Berklee. Love Scar was born, and the rest is history. Jake's drumming hero is and will forever be John Bonham, but Alex Van Halen, Tommy Lee, Neil Peart, and Steven Adler have all helped influence who Jake is as a drummer and performer.