Take vocal mannerisms reminiscent of Edith Piaf and John Lee Hooker  and combine them with a stage presence that is equal parts James Brown and Judy Garland, and you have some idea of  Janet's lead-singer style. In search of the perfect vehicle to transport her vision, Janet assembled Sylvia Platypus from some likely, not-so-likely, and purely serendipitous alliances.

In 1971, at the age of 19, Bill Barone left home with a plane ticket, a suitcase and a guitar. Thus began an adventure that included playing all over Europe with the seminal German progressive-symphonic rock band Wallenstein, sharing stages with the likes of Thin Lizzy, Slade, and more.  Wallenstein's first four albums, Blitzkreig, Mother Universe, Cosmic Century, and Stories Songs and Symphonies have recently been reissued on the Japanese boutique label “Belle Antique” for a new generation to discover and enjoy. http://www.haraldgrosskopf.de/wallenstein.html

"Quirky" Tom Theurer began playing drums in 1985. Over the years, he has become a first-call fill-in drummer on the Philly scene and has contributed his talents to many original and cover bands. He has drummed for tribute bands, honoring artists from Prince to Billy Joel, Genesis to Black Sabbath. He  leads his own  bands, SEZHU and QT & The Quirktones, and is an integral part of the funk/fusion band The Big Unkle. He can be seen performing  percussion duties with singer-songwriter Cole Campbell.  He is also a staff drummer and producer for Toil Records and PhillyJAM Studios. His style is built on a wide array of influences, having played everything from punk to funk, jazz to metal, blues to dance music. To Sylvia Platypus he brings power, precision and dedication.  ...And somehow he finds a way to spend time with his wonderful wife and and to do real rock star stuff, like clean 5 bird cages and the bunny litter.

Charlie puts the "plaid" in Platypus! He is an award-winning composer who has piped for presidents and policemen, rock stars and royalty. Dubbed "the Eddie Van Halen of bagpipes" by Gary Van Scyoc (of John Lennon's Elephant's Memory) Charlie has appeared on TV and on the radio and is in high demand for festivals, funerals, weddings, parties, parades, graduations and other special events. He is the founder of BagpipesFAO, the area’s pre-eminent source for pipers for all occasions, and Zampognari di Filadelfia, the region’s only Italian bagpipe group. http://www.bagpipesfao.com/