curious about samples/loops/programming

I am very interested incorporating some samples into our bands set. How do I do it? What software(s) do I need? I am completely clueless as to where to begin. Any one in a band that uses various loops/samples in their music. Maybe not just in their songs, but used to fill dead air in between songs.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Clueless,
Mercy's Craft

This is my main function within my band... I use a multitude of devices.. (I should point out I am also a DJ so some of this might not apply to what your wanting to do)
1. MPC 500/1000 or beyond would be a worth while look

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MPC500/
2. Roland SP-555

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SP555/
In addition to units like that I am also using a laptop and Torq Software and a Trigger Finger to trigger our samples. Built into Torq is a 16 pad sampler and its easy to load up 16 samples and save them and load up the next batch for the next song.
Check out some videos @ http://www.torq-dj.com/videos.php (If your not into the DJing aspect of this you can still use this program as a sound mixing and sound triggering program)
The Trigger Finger would be ideal for use for what you want to do if you went with a computer based system:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TriggerFing/

Thanks for the details!!!

In addition to the hardware mentioned above, Ableton Live is amazing for this type of thing. If you have a computer (laptop would be best), Live and a MIDI controller would give you tremendous options.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Live7/