At a young age, people are often asked where they see themselves in ten years.
While responses vary amongst different individuals, a common conception is that people want to be successful while doing what they have a passion for. This is exactly what has happened for Scott Eastman, an assistant professor in transnational history at Creighton who has been a member of the punk-rock band, Horace Pinker.
As a professor of history and lead singer and guitarist for his band, 40-year-old Eastman has been successful by combining his two greatest passions in life, music and teaching.
Growing up in small-town Connecticut, Eastman expressed interest in both music and history. He attended Loomis Chaffee, a private high school located in Windsor, Conn., where an admirable history teacher can be partly attributed with Eastman’s love of history.
However, his passion for music was not disheartened; he actively took guitar lessons throughout middle school and high school. After high school, he fell into the position of a concert promoter. In the early ’90s, he promoted and played alongside bands like Green Day, Blink 182 and Jimmy Eat World. His band officially took off in 1991 when Horace Pinker released their first seven-inch record.
“We never went into it wanting to become famous,” Eastman said. “So many bands like us today expect to become rock stars.”
The band originally began in Tempe, Ariz., but was relocated to Chicago as Eastman attended DePaul University for his undergraduate education. Eastman heads the stage as the lead singer and guitarist, with a second guitarist, bass guitarist and drummer behind him. His position as lead singer didn’t come as a shock to many students.
“He is really personable with a younger personality than most professors,” said Arts & Sciences sophomore Carli Tritz, a student in his History 101 class. “If I had to guess one professor from Creighton that was in a band, I would guess him.”
Eastman and the members of Horace Pinker toured full-time as they released 11 more seven-inch records between 1993 and 1997. During this time, they launched their first CD, “Power Tools,” in 1994. They have since released seven albums.
Full-time touring had run its course with Eastman and the band, as the lead singer decided to go back to school. With a bachelor’s degree from Depaul University, Eastman was on course to become a professor with a doctorate in history from the University of California, Irivne.
Eastman moved to Omaha with his wife, Kara, and daughter, Sabina, and began his career as a Creighton history professor in the fall of 2005. He currently teaches History 101, a required core class, and various upper division classes.
Even though the members of Horace Pinker have geographically separated, the music plays on. Since his employment at Creighton, Horace Pinker has toured the United States, Brazil, China, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
“Local State Inertia,” the band’s only CD since Eastman’s arrival to Omaha, was released in the United States on November 22 of this year. It was released in Europe just a few weeks prior.
To some, it may seem impossible juggling a teaching career at Creighton and being in an active band, but Eastman seems to have it under control.
“You just have to balance it out,” Eastman said.
As if being a father, professor and musician isn’t difficult enough, Eastman is also an aspiring author. His first book, “Preaching Spanish Nationalism Across the Hispanic Atlantic, 1759-1823,” is set to release on January 16, 2012. In his 264-page work, Eastman tackles the issue of nationalism in the 18th and 19th century Spanish Atlantic Empire.
Eastman considers making music his avocation, as the band tours during Creighton University’s fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring breaks, and only practices on the occasions that their lead singer can make the trip to Chicago. In regards to touring and playing, Eastman is “happy he can still do it,” even with the additional priorities he has.