Your musical background....

[land it74]

So, I was wonderin' about our pool of musical interest here. Are you all strictly in rock bands or do you (have you) played in other types of groups...pop, funk, jazz...church choir...street soloist? Band geeks? Garage rockers? Turntablist? Classically trained but have thrown out all that theory to bow to the greatness of Helmet?

Just a hobbyist myself. Played keyboards randomly since grade school but didn't have lessons until college. Picked up guitar about a year an half ago. Envy those who can do this as a profession or at least get a gig on the side.

[eht13]

I started banging on pots, pans, and shoeboxes as a kid, while listening to music. Then started playing real drums early in high school and got my own set later. All "self-taught". I've always listened to a variety of music, but for drumming it's all been rock... but rock includes a wide variety of styles, and I've played a few of those. In high school our band played in a Battle of the Bands, then at some clubs, etc. We were doing covers, from the 60's though the early 90's. Then in college some friends and I had a band, doing covers (including Helmet) and originals, but at that point it was more for fun and we didn't play to audiences the way the band in high school did. Now I just play occasionally for practice... but a couple of those friends from the college-era band have said they want to play again sometime, again just for fun.

[markofcain]

always been into punk rock/rock/metal since i was a kid...didnt start playing drums until i was older (20) mainly because i didnt have the disposeable income to buy a drum kit and my parents were too broke to even pay for half a one...im in a "band" just me and a friend who plays guitar...never been a full time thing though due to our careers in the army, hard to find time...i've got more time now after getting out...but my buddy is in the airforce and over in the middle east now so we are kind on hiatus...we had an 8 track digital recorder with a built in hard drive and recorded stuff to that (mainly rock/metal stuff)...but since i have moved to melbourne and he is in sydney we havent been able to do much...BUT he has just bought 2 pro tools rigs as they are dirt cheap in dubai and when he gets back we are going to get back into it...we just do originals mainly because we get bored playing other peoples stuff...i dont mind playing other peoples stuff for practice and things but when im jamming i dont enjoy playing covers...

[barkmarket]

First instrument I learned to play was the piano, and I got as far as grade 5, only about 2-3 years away from being qualified to teach it. Towards the end of it I started getting into rock/punk/metal (age 12-13) and all of a sudden wanted to play drums instead.
I basically sat in my room for two years, learning by tapping my feet, and air-drumming with pencils. I got my first kit on my 15th birthday, and joined a band about a week after. We did our first gig about a month after that.
When I was 16 I joined another local band, and started to gig with them. We stayed together until I was 21, and in the process built up enough of a following to be able to pull in crowds of 600-700 people.
Our singer/guitar player then left and joined a signed band, and I played with a few different bands (country, pop, etc.).
In 2001 I got a call to go to the US to join a band with some old friends, and spent 3 months touring the southeast of America. On coming home for Christmas I jammed for a while with the singer/guitarist who had originally left the other band, and found that we were coming up with some really good stuff. I decided not to go back to the States.
After a few months I was offered the job with a touring cover-band, and joined up. Basically playing 5-7 nights a week, with 4 weeks off a year, this left me with no other time to play my own stuff. I managed to stick it for just over two years.
The band I had left was going into Grouse Lodge Studios in Ireland, and were down a drummer. I stepped in to help, and ended up back in the band. That was a few years ago. And that's pretty much where I am at the moment.

If I haven't bored you to death, and you'd like to hear some tunes, you can go to www.myspace.com/laminatemusic

[land it74]

Interesting how the drummers dropped their histories first. Amazed by how you guys can keep timing on seperate limbs. It's a wicked, sometimes underrated skill.

How 'bout you ax-men? I also meant to ask if any of you are multi-instrumentalist...which I guess is already implied by the intiial question. Anyway, fascinated by the talent here.

[eht13]

Amazed by how you guys can keep timing on seperate limbs. It's a wicked, sometimes underrated skill.

On a good day, I can also walk and chew gum at the same time.

[markofcain]

Finally some one who appreciates that it is hard fucking work playing the drums...i have so many of my friends who say shit like you just hit stuff...i think i will be forever battling for complete limb independence...i just dont get to play enough anymore...work, family...just built a house...thats why im looking at getting an electronic kit to practice late at night, as that is the only time i have any spare time...playing on a practice pad is starting to get old...

[land it74]

I remember when I first got into Helmet circa Betty. Aside from the all-consuming crunch of the guitars, the drumming was a very noteable element of the tunes. In fact, I used to air-drum to that heavy, funky groove more than I ever dorked out on air-guitar. Stanier's sound was distinctive and I think Helmet wouldn't be what it is without his contributions. I only wish I could have my own kit to practice and really single out/coordinate the legs to move indepently of the hi-hat arm I've tried and it's not easy.

[eht13]

I only wish I could have my own kit to practice and really single out/coordinate the legs to move indepently of the hi-hat arm I've tried and it's not easy.

You know that whole thing about being able to rub your belly and pat your head at the same time? The thing where you're supposed to rub your belly in a circular motion while patting the top of your head straight up and down at the same time? Apparently many if not most people have a pretty hard time with this, where they start also rubbing their head in a circle or just patting their belly... but I would bet most drummers do not have a hard time with it. So if you can do that with no problem then drumming with limb independence may be possible for you. Can you do it? If so, try going faster or slower, reversing the direction of the circular motion on your belly, or patting your head two times for every belly rotation. Then practice tapping your foot too... like tapping it two times on every other belly rotation, with a extra head pat every other time, etc. You will be doing different things with each part, but all in the same tempo.

I'm serious about this... but I also hope that someone reading this is trying it while at work and that your coworkers see you.

[markofcain]

if i cant get an electronic kit (as they are a tad pricey) im thinking of having a crack at the guitar...im a shocker when ive had a few too many beers and i start dorking out and air guitaring...but i would seriously like to learn to play guitar aswell...