…to be a drummer

It all started when my dad brought home the Rock Band Wii game just over seven (maybe eight) years ago. He had been a drummer growing up and still somewhat carried that with him after my brother and I were born. My friends and I would love to watch him play, and when it would finally come to be my turn, I was blown away. I was playing simple beats, but as a 10-year-old, I felt like a real drummer.

Time went on and we sold the Wii. I wasn’t a big music guy for quite a while until my friend had bought “Rock Band 4” way back in freshman year (2016). I went over to play with him and was overwhelmed with nostalgia! He had reintroduced me to drumming and recommended a ton of rock bands for me to check out, most of which I consider my favorites today.

It wasn’t long after when I bought my own “Rock Band 4” kit. I didn’t leave the PlayStation for weeks – I was constantly discovering new bands and tracks to play. This went on for a couple of years until I started using my dad’s old drum kit to cover songs for real. I played for so long and so loud that I’m surprised I didn’t get a noise complaint. We added more pieces to the kit and I made it my own – I had finally found my rig.

Over time, I started to see drumming as an art more than anything; it’s not about the power or the speed of drumming, it’s about the passion you play with. I look up to Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham above all. He was a true great and has been my source of inspiration ever since I first picked up the sticks… and he could rain hell on the drums! Although I also really like Alex van Halen and Tommy Lee, my favorite songs of all time would have to be Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” and Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” Those songs take a lot of energy to play; my arms and my back are usually dead by the end of those songs, but it’s so worth it.

Today, I listen to a variety of different bands and areas of rock. The awesome thing about it is that I never run out of songs to listen/play to. My catalog is always expanding and I have no problem with that. Every time I play something new, I feel a great sense of accomplishment.

I wish more people would give rock a chance – it’s a dying culture, but one you should definitely check out. Records like “Physical Graffiti” and “Abbey Road” spill passion and plain skill… things you can’t really find in “music” today!

Drumming is special and I’m so happy I’m able to do it every day. It’s one of the biggest aspects of my personality and it stands out the most. It’s my passion and my way of giving back to music and all the legends who came before me. I hope to find a band to play with that shares the same love I have for rock. In the meantime, I’m just gonna perfect my skill to the best of my ability and enjoy music, one of life’s greatest gifts.