They may not be George W. Bush or even presidential candidate John Kerry, but another type of Future Leader of the World will appear Friday night at Friends & Co.

Comprised of Phil Taylor on vocals, guitarist Jake Stutevoss, bassist Bill Hershey and drummer Carl Messina, Future Leaders of the World craft an “eclectic” sound drawing from influences like Nirvana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine and a slew of others. The band now resides comfortably on Epic Records label, but Taylor’s and the band’s stories are winding ones.

Taylor has a literal rags-to-riches tale, from being a student in Buffalo to homeless political activist in California to a musician signed to one of the country’s largest record labels. The road from homeless man to hard rocker, however, was not an easy one.

After moving to California to persue a music career and attend college, Taylor found himself drifting, often homeless, after the relative with which he was residing kicked him out. With nowhere to sleep, Taylor spent his days working full time and attending college and his nights sleeping on couches, rooftops or in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury park.

Although those times were tough, Taylor said they ultimately drove him to succeed and crafted the eventual sound of his music.

“California is responsible for everything I experienced,” he said. “It really opened my eyes; it made me more of a lyricist.”

Taylor took a job with the California Public Interest Research Group that would have great effect on the Future Leaders eventual political leanings and Taylor’s own political awakening.

“It opened my eyes to the tyranny of the political system and the political and social machine,” Taylor said of his job walking door-to-door performing surveys on various social issues.

“(It made me see) how the media is used in promoting the consumerism of society.”

After moving back home to Buffalo when his money was spent and he still hadn’t formed a band, Taylor had a chance meeting with future manager Mike Flynn at a Puddle of Mudd concert. After passing a demo to Flynn, the band was given funds to finance Future Leader’s songs, eventually leading to a contract with Epic.

The label granted the band studio time and the chance to work with famed producer GGGarth, whose work includes albums by Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine and Chevelle.

And while GGGarth is famous in recording circles, he was already familiar with Taylor.

“I had met him before the label ever mentioned anything and liked his work, and when the label mentioned him it was like ‘Here we meet again,'” Taylor said.

The band retreated with GGGarth in to rural Vancouver where they were holed-up in the wilderness working on songs and writing lyrics.

“It was a really cool location,” Taylor said of the band’s recording spot. “We were on an island off the coast of Vancouver where it’s beautiful but a little mind numbing because we were all alone.”

The solitude may have been frustrating at times, but Taylor said the experience ultimately made the band’s debut, “LVL IV,” better.

“It was crazy to be away from society out in the middle of nowhere, but it was a painful and learning experience…it improved me,” he said.

With the release of “LVL IV,” Taylor said he is now putting his energy into touring, writing, building and maintaining the reputation of The Future Leaders of the World.

“I am trying my hardest to maintain my integrity and I hope people can identify with that message of just living life,” he said. “(I was) just a kid who didn’t really have much and I got out of the situation by creating my own life for myself (through music).”

Opening the show will be Hot Iron Skillet, a Pana quartet that formed in 1999.

With Eastern early elementary education major John Hicks on vocals, Steve Crosby on guitar, Andy Crosby on bass and Jason “Big Mac” McKenna on percussion, Hicks described the band’s sound as “straight forward rock n’ roll.”

Hot Iron Skillet, who has garnered comparisons to the likes of AC/DC and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, has become known for music Hicks described as “packed with groovy beats and rippin’ solos.”

After releasing two successful EPs, the local hit “Log Sausage” and a self-titled album, the band is currently working on the forthcoming “FEVER,” which is slated for release in summer. The CD is being engineered and producedby Mark Rubel, who is best known for his productionwork with the bands HUMand Poster Children.

Hot Iron Skillet also is planning a North American tour scheduled to run into 2005.

Although the band has played with the likes of The PIMPS, NIL8 and Fragile Porcelain Mice, Hicks said he is excited to be playing with The Future Leaders.

“They are a true success story and an inspiration to all of us,” he said. “One day you could be home practicing your guitar and the next day you’re signed to a major record label with an expense account andloft in Chi-town. How cool is that?”

The free show will commence at 10 p.m.