When I was in 6th grade. My first instrument was actually
Trombone in 5th grade, but that got boring once I figured out how
to do the trombone "slide" and did it a gazillion times.
The drums were so much more exciting and aggressive.
What is a recent influence you have had or found?
Hmmm, that's tough. I listen to a lot of stuff I'm not sure who it
even is. Sometimes I'll just surf stations and leave it on something
weird or something I think sounds cool. ...and that could be anything
from Metal to Country to R&B to Rap to Smooth Jazz to Orchestral
or Talk Radio. However, when I put my own music on it is usually pretty
heavy stuff, but that doesn't mean it is all I like. A couple of heavier
bands I've been listening to lately are Divine
Heresey, Sworn
Enemy, Soilwork, Slayer, Trivium,
Unearth,
Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage. There's a bunch of others, but I can't
think of them right now. I also have been listening to stuff like
Linkin Park, Iron Maiden, System of a Down. I can't say they are a
direct influence, but they probably are somehow...
What influenced you in the beginning
of your career?
Pretty much any drummer that could play fast double bass. The "solo"
double bass part in "Fight Fire With Fire" by Metallica
I remember being a huge influence when I first heard it. I just HAD
to figure out how he played that. I thought it sounded so cool. Slayer
was a big influence early in my drumming career. Lombardo
in particular. Most fast double bass drummers are usually found
in death, speed and thrash metal - so that's what I listened to.
How many hours do you practice a day?
I don't really time it, but somewhere between two to six. But some
days I can only get an hour in, others I'll spend just about the whole
day. If I stumble a bit after a practice I know I've worked my legs
good (and not from drinking alcohol!!! I don't drink alcohol until
after practice or rehearsal, if I'm going to have anything - usually
all I want for a bit afterwards is water anyway). If I've had a half
gallon or so of water I know it's been a good practice. I usually
try to take a day or two off once in a while though - you have to
let your muscles rest and get stronger / recoup once in a while if
possible, especially when training to achieve more endurance or speed.
What has been your best experience
with music?
The natural high it gives me no matter when or where I play.
Any terrible experiences you would
like to share?
Band crap. Trying to find other musicians with the same goals, desire
and passion about music. Canceled practices also drive me mad. Don't
ask me what happens if a show gets canceled. I don't care if someone
is sick, tired or whatever - you better be there unless there is a
damn good excuse. It's like nails on a chalkboard to me.
Do you prefer instrumental or music
with voices?
Instrumentals are OK depending on how they are written and if it makes
sense, but typically I like music with voices. I particularly like
it when there are vocal harmonies and layered vocals from time to
time. I used to (and still do) listen to bands with cookie monster
vocals, but I usually get sick of the vocalist and end up listening
to them for the music. When a heavy band comes around that can do
great singing vocals and harmonies, along with some tasteful screaming,
then I really start to pay attention.
I am told you recently filled in for
the Pakistani band “Call” on a very short notice what was
that show like for you?
They are a popular hard rock band from Pakistan - I didn't even know
that type of music existed out there; I always envisioned sitars and
chanting... ...and FYI it is just "Call"
not "The Call". They have done work for
Bollywood
and have played big shows and have been featured by MTV
Pakistan (again, no idea there was such a thing!). They
flew out to Washington D.C. to do a couple of "test" shows
for a local promoter that is interested in eventually getting them
here for larger scale tours. Well, the drummer had problems with his
Visa at the airport in Pakistan. The rest of the guys got here OK
but the drummer was left stranded. They had a big show to play on
a recent Saturday night here at George Mason University and it was
now Friday. Through the grapevine they found me and waited two hours
for me to finish work and then we talked. I was quite skeptical at
first, but they showed me some videos and we had an impromptu jam
in the drum department at Guitar Center. They were impressed and decided
right there to hire me and burned a CD for me to learn off their laptop.
I started working on it late that Friday night, came to sound check
the next day where we worked out a couple transitions and then were
on stage about 10:00pm in front of several hundred fans and I nailed
a full 60min set. They had VIP seating and so forth. These people
paid $75 a ticket! Regular tickets were $25 each. Crazy stuff. I had
my picture taken a billion times backstage with all the VIP guests.
It was pretty cool. I met a whole bunch of new people and was exposed
to a whole new scene that I had no idea existed. It was a bit stressful
too, but a good experience nonetheless. I was a bit worried about
pulling off so many new songs in a short time, but I knew if I stayed
focused I could do it.
I am told you are into cars - what
is the fastest you have ever driven your car?
Hmmm... The fastest I've been caught is 98mph (in a frikin' rental
car too...ha!), and that's after I hit the brakes... I used to own
a 1971
Chevelle SS with a four speed
manual and a built engine that put out about 450Hp. It would kill
the competition in quarter miles. I burned out the rear end gears
one day (stupid oil seal went bad and ground the axle, probably from
one too many wheel hops) and replaced them with very tall highway
gears out of an Impala (that's all I could find in a pinch). Now put
tall gears with 450Hp and you have a lethal speed machine. It was
downright scary. 90mph in first gear at 8000rpm redline. 120mph in
second. ...and two gears left...do the math for fourth gear - that's
the fastest I've ever driven. The front end started to float. Engine
screaming (or should I say purring...). I burned two clutches in one
summer with those gears (I had to ride the clutch a lot with such
tall gears, the manual tranny wasn't set up for that - but it sure
was a lot of fun!). I miss that car, had to sell it when I moved to
London, UK.
Looking down the line, what impact
would you most want to see emerge from your work?
A drummer should not just have to take the back seat. Drumming that
comes at you and hits you in the face, but is also entertaining to
watch. Keep the fans constantly hungry for more.
Why do people or specifically why
does your wife call you the rebound guy?
Inside joke! I'm the guy she was supposed to only be with for a little
bit and then move on...well that was over 10 years ago and we're still
going strong!
I believe you also teach drums. Any
tips on that for kids who want to learn, or parents whose kids are
interested in learning drums?
Technique. Learn proper stick AND foot technique before anything else.
Learn how to read music. Learn rudiments. Eat your rudiments. These
are all foundations to becoming a good drummer. Practice should go
without saying, but there are still a lot of musicians out there who
think that band practice or a lesson is good enough. You will go nowhere
unless you dedicate a good chunk of time to practice, and practicing
properly. At least every other day you should be playing. You can
actually practice to be bad, so learning from a good teacher is important.
Do you have an essential listening list?
No, I don't believe in putting myself in that kind of rut anymore.
I try to keep an open mind. I actually am willing to listen to a wide
variety of music as long as it is well written and the players are
good.
How did you come up with the drum
parts to "Darkness Arena" and "Land of the Free"?
Well, I did "Darkness Arena" first and I was given freedom
to do whatever I wanted, but John Prassas gave me a few ideas on what
he visioned. I toyed around with it for a bit and decided for a more
tribal and percussive type of sound (reminds me of maybe a darker
middle ages type of sound). I let the music influence my direction
and melded it with my style and I think it turned out pretty good.
I know it was different than what John was expecting, but I also knew
that he wanted a new influence on the song by asking me to do it in
the first place...!
"Land of the Free" was a bit different than "Darkness
Arena" and I gave it more of an aggressive feel. Rather than
have the feet gallop at the beginning I opted to translate that into
the snare and let the feet run. Kind of like being free - your legs
are constantly moving, but your hands are always doing something different.
Again, I let the music speak to me and felt it out several times with
different ideas. I usually come up with several ideas and record them
to see what it sounds like, and then obviously pick what I think sounds
the best. I have been known to play over the top sometimes - part
of that is my style and the high energy that I like to deliver - but
I also know how to listen to the music and play what makes sense for
the part.
