Yes, I Play The Drums
Since I was around nine years old (in the late 70s), my uncle would occasionally let me hop on his drum kit. One day as a gift, he gave me a 45″ record of Fool in The Rain by Led Zeppelin. I was hooked! That’s when I fell in love with drums and particularly when John Bonham became one of my biggest influences.
When I started secondary school in Quebec (i.e., junior high school) back in the early 80s, music became one of my favourite classes. I played for the high-school orchestra and even performed at national competitions. Since then, I’ve been in a number of bands, performed hundreds of shows, and worked with many recording artists, both on stage and in the studio.
In the 90s, my band at the time recorded a few albums with the help of a few famous producers, such as Jay Ruston (who produced for Uriah Heep and Steel Panther) and Leslie Howe (who produced for the early Alanis Morissette). That same band even played on The Tom Green Show when we released our second CD.
Today, I’m mainly a rock, pop, and country drummer. However, my repertoire ranges from old country to pop punk to heavy metal, and everything in between. I’ve played at a variety of venues, from private events to large festivals in front of tens of thousands of people. I’m particularly fond of playing for meaningful causes.
For example, I played at the H.O.P.E. SummerFest, which is a festival raising money for the homeless and several community charities. Another is an all-day rock concert, Music Fest 4 Vets, supporting and raising awareness for military veteran issues, such as PTSD and injury rehabilitation programs.
One of my first bands was when I was 13, playing at the high school auditorium. We played classic rock, like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Van Halen, etc.
Small venues, big drums, no space. Oh, my! I’ve played in myriad local pubs and cover bands. Above, I channelled my inner Keith Moon while playing in a Who cover band.
As I got older, venues became larger while my drum sets became smaller. Above, I was playing with a Blue Rodeo and Eagles cover band, and we played classic rock.
My biggest influences include John Bonham (Led Zeppelin), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Travis Barker (Blink 182), Ian Paice (Deep Purple), and Ronnie Vanucci (The Killers). Some of my new favourites include Cobus Poteiger, Alex Melton, Greyson “The Nuke” Nekrutman, Jeff Randall, and Anup Sastry. My current setup is one or two up and two down. My gear is as follows:
- Mapex Studio Armory kit with green Emerald Burst wrap.
- 10″, 12″ toms, 14″ and 16″ floor toms, and a 22″ bass drum.
- Mapex B800 cymbal stands and DW direct drive pedal.
- Sabian HHX Complex series for all cymbals.
- 18″, 19″, 20″, 22″ crash cymbals, and 19″ O-Zone cymbal.
- 23″ ride, 15″ hi-hats, and 7″ and 10″ splashes.
- Mapex Daisy Cutter 14″ x 6.5″ hand-hammered snare.
- Mapex Tomahawk 14″ x 5.5″ zinc over steel snare.
- PDP Concept Maple wooden snare with wooden hoops.
If you need a professional drummer for a gig or a recording session, I can help. My repertoire is vast and I can play classic rock, rock, pop, pop punk, folk, blues, and country music genres. I’m willing to travel if expenses are also covered. Contact me and let’s chat.