What are your current projects?
Drill Queen, Monkjack, War Machines of Love (with Adrian Portas of New Model Army and Spear of Destiny), head of Drums at Drumtech, monthly column for Rhythm magazine
What was your first gig?
There were countless school concerts, but my first proper gig was at CBGB’s in NYC with a funk/reggae/pop group. I was 19… I think.
When did you start playing, and who were your biggest influences when you were starting out?
I was ten yrs old when I started playing the drums. I took lessons from the local school music teacher and played along with recordings. My heroes when I got serious about the drums were Stewart Copeland and John Bonham. Billy Cobham, Bill Bruford, Neil Peart, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Carlton Barrett, Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks had a big effect on me.
What is the most important thing you’ve learnt, perhaps something which changed your approach to playing?
Don’t eat fried chicken before you play drums. Actually, that there is more than one way to do anything.
What advice would you give to young or new players wanting to get gigs?
Take lessons from an experienced and knowledgeable teacher, listen to a lot of music and play as much as possible with other musicians. Open your mind to more than one style of music
What is the one thing a student should bring to Rhythmfest?
Drumsticks….a notebook … enthusiasm. Drat, that’s three things.
What are you going to be covering in your classes?
Styles and concepts
What are the essential things a new drummer be spending their limited budget on?
Music! Buy recordings and go to gigs. It’s not really about gear, but a good snare drum, ride, hi-hat, crash cymbal and bass drum pedal are useful things to have.
Anything else you want to say?
See you there.
Erik Stams – interviewette
