What got you started playing drums?

[Kenny Allyn]

My primary roll in music is playing Bass in a Blues/Blues Rock trio. (http://blackkatbone.com)
The drummer in my band, is my real inspiration a great blues/R&B player
on the Memphis scene, who has been at it since 1965 W.C Garrison!
I got into drums (just getting started at 55) from working with so many drummers, always asking about their kits and sound.

[bigdre]

I come form a family of musicians. i have some here in the US. and in Mexico. I have one uncle who has is Mariachi band and another who played in a Banda. I their sons(my cousins) play also. one the sousaphone and another the "vihuela". thats a small like 5 string guitar which is not palyed like a guitar.

With that said, i guess Its in my blood to play music. Why the drums? cuz i like to bang. lol. i really dont know just liked them as long as i can remember. I play Norteno Music. Mexican regional music with accordion and a bajo sexto.

Adrian.

[Sai, When!?]

My 2 older brothers both played drums, i looked up too them and started playing at about 6 years old im 17 now :D.

[Mapexy]

Hey guys and gals new her on the forum, i've been playing drums at school for about 6 years now and playing the drumset for 4 1/2 years.

[Curly]

I was an Electrician in San Diego after getting out of the Navy in 1959. I went to a club one night and there was a talent show. I got up and Sang my little heart out. The Band leader was Kenny Vernon. ( He opens for Haggard now and plays lead Guitar.) He said to me, " Where in the Hell did you come from?" I have been looking for a Tenor singer to back me in my Buck Owens Tunes. You are Don Rich Yes!!. I said no, I am "Curly" from San Diego. He asked me if I played Drums and I said, "No" Would you like to play drums? I said Ok. He showed me how to lay down a Shuffle beat and a 2x4 beat. Dont make any rolls or any fills. Just play and sing. For a month I sat in for a set on Saturday night. Three months later we opened in Las Vegas at the Golden Nuggett backing Carl Perkins. Soon we were singing all over Vegas and on the Road. We must have backed up every star out of Nashville in the coming years. We made it back to San Diego to the Westerner, The 21 Club, Brown Bear, Back to LA to the Palomino Club with Johnny Bush, Buddy Emmons, Marty Robbins etc etc. After a while the Band changed and every one went their own way. I found a job with the Federal Government and retired. But I am still trying to play them rolls he would not let me do. Ha.

[YoungBoyDrummer]

Hi my names Tom and im new here...
just to say that going to see Travis Barker live, and playing a game called Rock Band made me intrested in the hole idea of keeping the band in beat, and how expresive this instrument is. i now have lessons at school and hour a week, and ive been playing for 5 months now and its looking promising !!!

cheers

[Andrewski]

Started a cover band my sophomore year in high school playing bass, and the drummer quit - sold me his drum set and it all went down-hill from there.

[coco.]

Hi :)
I'm Coco and I'm new to the forum - I was looking for advice on the internet on cleaning my cymbals and found this place.
Well I started playing seven years ago, which is quite scary because I don't think I'm that good... Well, I'm very good at keeping a groove and backing other people, but I have a bit of a mental barrier on improvising.
I kind of stumbled into playing, but I absolutely LOVE it now. I gave up playing the violin because I was truly terrible - I played for 5/6 years, did grade 1 and only passed. Anyway, my older brother of 11 months had just given up playing drums, so we had an unplayed kit in our house. To be honest it was quite terrible, but I loved playing it. I didn't really had a proper teacher, and didn't I feel it when I moved up to senior school! I spent a year changing my technique and it was awful. I played nice kits at school, decided I hated mine, and bought a Sonor Force 3007, which I absolutely ADORE. So now I'm so much better at practicing, because I understand how to fix my kit...
I suppose I'm quite unusual in my outlook on drumming - I don't watch bands and copy them. I'm definitely quite musical and I don't want to be in a band. I prefer orchestral stuff and tuned percussion. Kit is what I started with and it's brill, but my sight-reading is good enough for other stuff.
I want to take grade 7 kit this year, but I'm a little unsure on which exam board to take. I felt more comfortable with Trinity Guildhall, because everything's written out (I managed a merit at G4 with barely any practise) and struggle with rockschool because of my improvising-phobia (got pass for G6 after heaps of practice). I'm quite happy with my progress really - did grade four aged 13, grade 6 at 14 and want to do grade 7 at 15...

Anyway, I think that's enough. Just a little introduction xx

[seanlame]

My parents bought me a kit when I was 10 because I was always tapping on things. A year later, I read Virgil Donati's Modern Drummer cover story, and that was it for me. I had to be a drummer, and I had to get good! Still nowhere near as good as I'd like to be, though...

[lmack2]

my dad, when i found out that he was the first DW endorsee of australia ever! it sort of pumped me up i guess.hahaha

[piperdoog]

My Grandfather, he played drums, he was a cool dude.
Then I found out that girls like drummers and well... enough said!!!!!

[vegassuper]

My son Jared.
Growing up I always loved music of all kinds and wanted to play the drums. I bought a pair of sticks about 25 years ago but never did much with them but tap on the furniture a bit. Fast forward to 2007 and Jared gets in the school band as a percussionist. His second year he is in the fifth grade jazz band playing the drums almost exclusively. I go to his first concert not expecting much because we don't have a drum set and he doesn't seem to practice much and I am blown away by how well he does. In my excitement my wife and I go out and buy our first kit making sure it is sturdy enough for me to play too and the rest is, as they say, history. We both play and take lessons and I am loving it!

[stixcom92]

I technically started in 4th grade band when I just chose drums randomly. I originally had barely any desire to play, but I had to do band. I was stuck learning rudiments and snare technique from a trombone player who attempted to teach traditional grip and it was just a whole mess.

2 summers later, I was butchering some bass at my camp, and I figured why not try a drum lesson. Best decision I made. Once I was able to play the basic rock beat, I just felt some sense of accomplishment. It wasn't much, but at the time, it felt amazing. Since then, I was hooked. I started playing in my middle school the next year, my parents bought me a set, and I eventually started a "band" with some friends. Next came lessons, moving from a guy at the music store to a real teacher to now the collective. I also just played along to anything, trying to learn as many styles as I could. I had just as much fun grooving as playing YYZ.

It's been many, many years later, and I still love playing, learning, and just having fun. It all goes back to that one lesson at the camp. Unfortunately, I've been told that my technique really, really needs work because of the guy in 4th grade, but I don't mind.

[RhythmDrums]

The marching band that always played in our town at special occasions, when I was 10 I really wanted to play with them so I started taking lessons. And a few years later I got to play with them which was alot of fun :D

After a few years of doing that I got my first drumkit and started playing along to songs. I started with alot of Rock/Punk Rock which a few years later got me interested in Metal.

Nowadays I get inspired by bands such as Tool, Soilwork and Machine Head.

[maidenfan215]

me seeing Nicko McBrain play from concert videos i saw, that and his awesome kit
im completely self taught, drums came to me quite naturally, been playing for about 5 years and its going well i can say

[Filacterua]

My cousin James. He was my childhood hero - I had to try everything he tried. He had gotten hooked on drums around age 12, so I followed suit. He quickly "outgrew" it - I've continued to love drums for the last 25 years...

[ccsimms]

An old buddy of mine who played guitar (I also did at the time) taught me a simple rock beat and I realized "this is where I belong" and have been playing intensely ever since.

[RAYnoodle]

when i was 7 there was a drumset in my church, i pretty much knew how to do it right when i sat behind them lol

[Tropellor]

My dad offered to pay for drum lessons for the first year if I cut my hair. I cut it, and grew it back!

Sucker!

[Thaard]

Playing on pots and pans, making my parents crazy. They said that I had to start in a marching band to get drums, since they thought I would outgrow. So, when I was 15-16 I bought my first drumkit, and I'm still playing to this day.

[MisterMixelpix]

When I was a wee lad I loved playing on toy drums. Granted, I always broke them, but it was out of use, not just because I was destructive.

My percussive activites stalled for years, until I bought Rock Band 2 in December of 2008 and picked it up pretty quickly. It felt a lot more natural than the guitar, and I finally decided to stop playing games and make the leap to real drums last week.

[wy yung]

When I was a wee lad I loved playing on toy drums. Granted, I always broke them, but it was out of use, not just because I was destructive.

My percussive activites stalled for years, until I bought Rock Band 2 in December of 2008 and picked it up pretty quickly. It felt a lot more natural than the guitar, and I finally decided to stop playing games and make the leap to real drums last week.

That's great. Welcome to the club.

[MisterMixelpix]

Haha, everyone says those games are ruining "real music", but I disagree. They offer a cheap and fun way for people to feel what it's like to play instruments without making the investment. Then, if they like the idea of playing (as opposed to just the challenge of the game), they'll make the hop.

[Drums101]

Music- Zeppelin
Person- My teacher
Style- Jazz, Funk
Inspirations- Bonham, Moore

[Coldhardsteel]

When I was a wee lad I loved playing on toy drums. Granted, I always broke them, but it was out of use, not just because I was destructive.

My percussive activites stalled for years, until I bought Rock Band 2 in December of 2008 and picked it up pretty quickly. It felt a lot more natural than the guitar, and I finally decided to stop playing games and make the leap to real drums last week.

Rockband is what got me started back into music itself, drums was what was left after the other positions were taken by my friends. Then I realized that I was better at it either way.

D*mn, I had fun.

With both of my parents as music teachers, it wasn't hard to find good support for the pursuit.

[spantney]

I think I was always destined to be a drummer from the days of smashing on pots and pans as a toddler!

When I was about 12 I saw a guy absolutely ripping it up on a drum kit at a school and at the end he said anyone interested could get lessons with him. I'd just given up on my Karate which my parents sort of forced me into doing, and said to my parents I'd quite like to play drums. I think they were a bit apprehensive at first but said I could do a few lessons. Absolutely loved it so for my birthday they bought me a basic drum set and I've tried to drum for every possible moment since then (10th year of drums now!), and I can never imagine being without drums now!

I have tried picking up guitar a couple of times (even around the same time I took up drums) but I can never seem to find the same enthusiasm that I did when I took up drums, or that I have for drumming now. I think I found my main passion in life!!!!

[mikeveny]

Sesame Street music interludes.

[Sirwill]

My family bought me a toy snare drum when I was three. When I was five years old I would drag fire wood into my bedroom closet and play them with my hands. Then in 1975 I heard Buddy Rich. After watching him play I know I would be a student for life! Thanks Buddy!

[curiousnomad]

I saw a marching band when I was about 10 and was HYPNOTIZED by the drum section. I HAD to do it.

[Jessica]

When i was like a young girl growing up i idolised Avril Lavigne ahah (may be embarassing to some but whatever i thought she was awesome)
and i wanted to be able to play along to her songs like she did, as at the time she was the only mainstream artist on the tv doing so. So i started teaching myself guitar then i wanted to be able to play drums too. I got lessons in drums and then took off from there.

Music-Skater Boy by Avril was the song i was DETERMINED to be able to play aha
Drummer- Matthew Brann, canadian drummer who toured with av back in the day, i knew nothing about drummers or different styles when i was like 12 so he was who i aspired to be.
Person- my drum tutor derek was an awesome guy/teacher/mentor/friend
Style- anything catchy

[justwannadrum]

when my dad went to the music store to get piano music... when i was a little kid all i wanted to do was go to the drums department at this place called mars music.... i joined the band in 5th to play snare just to get out of reading and drumming became my high

[tigerMike]

New to the board, in fact this is my first post I think. I was glad to read some others, because I felt stupid that Rock Band playing is what inspired me. But it had nothing to do with high scores, impressing people, or that I was really good at it naturally. I enjoyed that glimpse of what it was like to make music.

Thinking back since, I remember waiting for the bus in 5th, 6th grade watching kids getting ready for marching band practice and loving listening to the drum guys warm up and fool around.

I was never exposed to music as a kid, and now am 39. I figured what the hell, I love listening to music, time to try making it. After a little time on practice pads and a $150 electric kit, I just bought a 6-piece OCDP avalon set, hardware comes in next week, and I am going to get this show going.

We'll see...

[Cris]

It was 1968 and I saw Ginger Baker on the T.V. with Cream, and that was it. I started with a 20 quid Olympic kit that I got on H.P. It was crap but it was a start

[die_neckar]

As a child I was always fascinated by marching band drummers. A little older I played the Peter-Criss-solo on KISS Alive II on my airdrums (I positioned books like toms in an armchair in front of me). As a teenager I always stared at the drummer of the dance combo at the annual festival in my village while my parents were dancing to their music. And finally, with 20 years of age, I first time in my life sat behind a drumset of a friend who I met shortly before. I then played for about 5 years, had a teacher, did all the fetish about equipment, gigged here and there and I thought I could make it to a second Simon Phillips. All that was probably too much and too fast at the end, so I gave it up - until last year when I started again in my basement on a newly bought e-drumset (with headsets of course). Very slowly, very disciplined and it all came back pretty quick. Now, 41 years old, I try to avoid all the mistakes I did in the past. I feel things while drumming that I have not felt that time. It's great. I do not want to play in a band yet as I first want to reach a level where I feel confident enough. Let's see how long it will take - I have caught myself already looking at accustic sets...

[ffcryan]

John Densmore and the variety of genres drums offer you to play.

[Kenny Allyn]

What got me interested/started … actually playing bass

I get to play with a lot of different drummers and was always asking them about and learning about the gear … Four years ago I hooked up with Memphis own W.C. Garrison who has been playing professionally in the Memphis area since 1965, we work as a rhythm section know as Blackkat Bone (kinda like SRV and Double Trouble) we have a great interaction. At about the time I started working with W.C. I was dating a lady that ran a bellydance troupe and they worked with a master doumbek drummer … what he could do with just one drum was inspirational (and you got to watch bellydancers).

Then one night I got to watch Big Harry Peel work his magic on his trademark kit … snare, kick, hats, and one cymbal … all I can say is WOW I gotta try this drum stuff before I kick the bucket.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/kennyallyn/misc/BigHarryPeel.jpg

The bare essentials ( my version of the Big Harry Peel kit)

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/kennyallyn/Kennys%20Instruments/KCon100.jpg

Me on bass with WC who is using my kit in this picture ...

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/kennyallyn/misc/BlackkatBonewWCGarrison.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/kennyallyn/Felix%20the%20Cat/Felixyeahthumb.jpg And that is the story so far ...

[Fuo]

I played guitar a lot in high school, and would play my drummer's drums whenever I got the chance. Never got far beyond money beats, and basic variations of them, but it was fun. Then about 10 years ago I started noticing the drums a lot more than I used to in the music that I listened to (mainly because I got obsessed with Tool).

But the straw that broke the camel's back was rockband/guitar hero. When the game finally started getting old, after over a year of obsessively "playing the drums" I decided to try it out for real (about 2 months ago, at the age of 35).

[JAHAN_ELX]

I always liked musical instruments(espically drums) growing up,

My first year of high school I was introduced to "music class" an loved it,
I then got to see one of the metal bands play at school which was the first time I had ever seen live music,
I loved the whole idea of a group of friends all playing instruments to create songs,
My first influence towards choosing drums was lars ulrich after buying my first ever cd(metallica's st anger) and knew that's the type of music I wanted to play

So I bugged my parents for a drumkit for my 13th birthday:)

[Geri Attrique]

I am now 6 months into my drumming journey and I am really loving it...now I have got the ridiculous idea in my head that I want to try and make cymbals...or a single cymbal...from scratch...which may be a challenge...

[D2 Drummer]

As a child i always had a calling for drums. From their size, look and different sounds, i was amazed. I didn't own a set growing up, so i remember always practicing on things around the house hahaha. I also never got any professional lessons, so i learned by really watching other drummers in church and trying to figure out their stance and positioning of their limbs. Now, i have gained some exposure as a drummer for my former church, and purchasing an electric set years ago. Also, i purchased my Ddrum d2 kit about a year ago, which i am slowing upgrading and practicing everyday. For a guy with no professional tutors & lessons, i know i am a pretty good drummer, and i keep an open mind in improving even more.

[Fresh Pots]

Started drumming back when joing grade 8 band. I only got serious about drumming when I first got into the song Hell's Kitchen by Dream Theater. It was pretty inspirational in my mind, still is really. I've just graduated and I'm hoping to find a drum tutor because I'm basically self taught (My music teacher knew nothing much about drumming). Glad to meet you all.

[Stalwart_Pandora-Chris]

Hey guys

I started drumming in 2006 when I was ten years old. When I first started I wasn't really interested but a few months in I was watching videos of Buddy Rich on YouTube and tried to get one handed drum rolls. My best-friend started playing pipe-band snare in a pipe-band when I was in high school. We sat up the back of the classroom and in French we'd sit and do paradiddles and windmill strokes. Really fun (we passed French too haha).

I started playing along with Music in 2008. I started by playing with AC/DC to get my timing and technique strong. Guns 'N' Roses to get fills right and The Fratelli's for fun. 2009 was the year when my drumming changed and I tried to play bands like Slayer with one pedal. I could nearly get the full speed of Raining Blood and a band at school asked me to join. Soon after I left the band as I got fed up with Thrash Metal and started listening to Grunge. Dave Grohl has since then been one of my biggest influences. Meeting Taylor Hawkins at the beggining of the year was also a great day and he told me about the next Foo Fighters CD. Bonzo is also a great influence and I use his techniques with triplets etc.

Thanks guys
Chris

[lachlin]

About 15 years ago I played bass in a band. Our drummer got a girlfriend and started missing practice. I started playing then (2 guitars, drums). After a while we just found another bass player and I stuck with drums full time.

[alparrott]

Really? I never replied to this thread? I've told the story (in bits and pieces) elsewhere, but I guess never here.

I decided when I was about seven or so that I wanted to play music, and since I hadn't really been introduced to much popular music at the time, the only musicians I really knew about were my schoolmates who were learning instruments at the time. The coolest instrument looked to be the trumpet, since it got all the melody lines. So I gave that a crack for a couple of years, but I didn't have the lips for it. My teacher was bluntly honest, said I would have a really tough go as a trumpet player, but I had a really noticeable knack for music in general, and to try another instrument. So I transitioned to saxophone as I entered junior high school, but then my world was turned upside down by rock and roll. My best friend started playing the guitar, and seeing as none of the hard rock or metal bands we emulated had saxophones in them, I picked up the bass. I was decent at it, but there were very few drummers in our school and we sounded pretty weak for just two of us. I grabbed a pair of drumsticks and started teaching myself how to play the drums, and went in halves with my parents for a beat-up old drumset. I enjoyed it more than any of the other instruments, so I kept at it. Twenty-five years later, here I am.

[k-train78]

First tried following in my old mans footsteps in playing guitar....SUCKED. Sucked so bad I hated it and got bored with it. Then was always beatin on the table along to songs and whatnot, and my parents said "Dammit were gettin you a drum set so you stop bangin on the table!" Lol little did they know the bangin on the table would never really go away =P and I was just more of a natural learner of the drums, and have grown immensely these last 6 1/2 years Ive played!

[Numberless]

My love for drums awoke at the same time my musical awakening happened, I was just a normal kid, listening to radio, mainstream type of music, then one day I heard Master of Puppets and everything changed, that music was so different from everything I had ever heard, i fell in love with it and I knew from that moment I wanted to play music and I was just attracted to the drums, it took a couple of years after that but I finally got myself a cheap drumset and I haven't looked back since.

That was almost six years ago, currently I'm beggining my music studies at college, something I am very exited about.

[jamest]

I remeber watching Queen play Radio GaGa live on tv when I was a kid. I was just really mesmerised by the whole band, but especially seeing Roger Taylor on drums. He wasn't playing anything really complex, but he just looked cool! I started lessons shortly after that.
__________________

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going!"

http://www.excellent-offers.com/gravy1.jpg

[Foxxy66]

When I was about 7 or 8 years old, my Mum was part of a street drumming band thing. There was about 20 of them and they would be split into different groups, Snare, Tom1, Tom2, and Bass, and hit 'em all with beaters. It was really cool to hear the stuff they made. So one time I was taken to their practice and I picked up some sticks and started hitting the snare. Apparently I was a natural, So I played snare with them for about 2 years. Basically consisting of rhythms and stuff. But then after we left the city, I gave up drumming for a while, untill I got to secondary school, and someone asked me stuff I had done in the past. And when I told them that, they insisted I join their band!
First (and last!) practice, we played Night Train by Guns 'n' Roses. Suffice to say, it was pretty crap. But that was my first proper time on a full drum kit. And it was alot of fun! So here I am!

[nikole957]

The marching band that always played in our town at special occasions, when I was 10 I really wanted to play with them so I started taking lessons. And a few years later I got to play with them which was alot of fun :D

After a few years of doing that I got my first drumkit and started playing along to songs. I started with alot of Rock/Punk Rock which a few years later got me interested in Metal.

Nowadays I get inspired by bands such as Tool, Soilwork and Machine Head.

I technically started in 4th grade band when I just chose drums randomly. I originally had barely any desire to play, but I had to do band. I was stuck learning rudiments and snare technique from a trombone player who attempted to teach traditional grip and it was just a whole mess.

[militia814]

I got into drumming by mistake actually. I am a guitar player and back a few years ago we had a little Metallica tribute band here in Erie, PA. It was called MILITIA. you can see us on youtube. we have fade to black up and am i evil. we played a battle of the bands and there was this one fan that loved us so the video is us playing at his birthday party..im the guitar player with the white v. but anyways when we got our little band together our drummer was way into grind core and death metal. so i had to tech him all the Metallica tunes...and i realized i was pretty damn good at it. so after we quite the covers we started our own band and fired our drummer due to his person problems...but i became the drummer. so i stumbled into drummer by mistake. Its been great...love drumming!

[MaryO]

As a kid, I was made to take organ lessons for about 4 years. I was never very good at it but learned to read music, did well enough to play in church a couple of times but that's it. It was definitely never something that came natural to me. Not much happened musically after that.

I've always been a HUGE music lover but as a teenager couldn't afford to go to hardly any concerts. But in about 1983, my brother took me to see Rush at the Cleveland Colliseum and seeing Neil Peart and his "drums in the round" is something I'll never forget.

Flash forward to about 2 years ago and I was finally in a place in my life that I could afford to go see some concerts. Every concert we went to, I found myself always being drawn to the drummers and "air-drumming" along with them. We've seen some great concerts in the last couple of years...Jeff Beck, Clapton, Daltrey, the last 2 Ringo's All Starrs to name a few... and it didn't matter who the headliner was, it was the drummer that I would watch the most.

Watching Daltrey's drummer, Scott Devours, probably was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I came out of that concert (Clapton, Daltrey) talking more about Scott then anyone else. I was mesmerized and I knew then that I had to one day learn to play the drums.

Long story short (I know, too late) last Wednesday at the ripe old age of 43, I began my lessons. I've never been so excited about anything in my life. I don't know if I'll be any good as a drummer, but I sure do intend having a blast finding out!

[trepaning]

My older brother brought a kit to the house when I was about 10 or so, which I would play when he wasn't around to beat me up for playing his drums. After a couple years, he abandoned the drums and I took them over, as my friends were starting to play guitar and needed a drummer. Prior to getting the kit, my kit for jams was paint cans and buzz saw blades balanced on broken drumsticks for cymbals and an aluminum tv dinner tray for the snare, sounded great actually. My first guitarist's family was good friends with a blues/jazz trombone player named Clarence "Big" Miller (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Miller), and he gave me lots of great advice when I was a wee laddie.

[AnonymousInventions]

The Beatles got me started on music in general and drums in particular.

[Odd-Arne Oseberg]

Though I'm primarily a guitar player, I've always been interested in the drums. I guess it started when I went to Players' School of Music about 10-11 years ago. I went down to Sam Ash to get me some Aebersold books and for some reason I also left with a practice pad, a pair of Erskine Ride sticks as well as Buddy Rich's "Modern Iterp.." and the Dennis Chambers "Serious Moves" book. Had no plan really. Just picked the sticks up now and then.

When I started looking for a job, I sort of knew I would have to teach drums as well, and knowing how bad a job most multi-instrument teachers do with drummers, I thought I'd do something about that. I started taking lessons, bought just about every book and dvd I heard was good, and got a bit hooked.

I enjoy learning new things in general, in all sorts of fields, and these days I spend as much time with the drums as I used to do with the guitar.

[DrumDemon]

My cousin inspired me to get into drums.
We both starting out marching, he started 1 year before I did.
But I went with him to his rehersal, and I decided I wanted to give it a try.

17 years later, I'm still drumming away

[Nuka]

Listening to too much Joey Jordison (Slipknot, Wednesday 13, Murderdolls, Rob Zombie, etc).

Also, listening to Thin Lizzy's Sha la la la and thinking "yeah I'm gonna play Downey's drum solo one day"

[Drummer Sarah]

Music - Led Zeppelin. I literally went from pop music to this in one day. That same day I wanted to be a drummer! I never ever thought about drumming or drummer until I heard the Physical Grafitti album. Got the Zep dvd and was blown away!
Drummer - John Bonham
Person - John Bonham then later drum teacher
Style - Classic rock
Inspirations- John Bonham

[Drummer Sarah]

My love for drums awoke at the same time my musical awakening happened, I was just a normal kid, listening to radio, mainstream type of music, then one day I heard Master of Puppets and everything changed, that music was so different from everything I had ever heard, i fell in love with it and I knew from that moment I wanted to play music and I was just attracted to the drums, it took a couple of years after that but I finally got myself a cheap drumset and I haven't looked back since.

That was almost six years ago, currently I'm beggining my music studies at college, something I am very exited about.

That's pretty much my story!! It's weird how you happily go along with the pop music crap then BAM everything changes :D

[SergiuM]

Music- The Beatles
Drummer- Ringo Starr
Person- Cousin
Style- Normally rock, but I'm getting into jazz.
Inspirations- I played rock band, actually. I thought it was really fun and that surprisingly gave me a pretty good foundation of the very basics of drumming.

[kimimila]

Music White Stripes
Drummer Meg White (yes, I do know that she is not great or anything, but I'm a no-frills kinda girl, so I love her straight-forward approach).
Person No one, really.
Style Undecided. Whatever you call the style of Steve Jordan and Cindy Blackman. I love that groove.
Inspirations Any time I hear "Icky Thump", I start pounding on my steering wheel. I'm a classical pianist (and I love it), but I've always felt I needed something to beat on.

[eddiehimself]

There weren't any other drummers around.

[Mr.L]

Music-Beatles and The Police
Drummer-Bernard Puride, Ringo, and Stewart Copeland
Person- Ringo, and Stewart Copeland
Style- Rock, and Jazz
Inspirations- Bonzo, Ringo, Bernard Purdie, Stewart Copeland, Meg White

[Garrido]

Music- All music
Drummer- Mitch Mitchell, Dave Weckl, Buddy Rich, John Bonham, Lars Ulrich, Joe Morello, Carlos Bala, Kiko Freitas (Brazilian´s drummers)
Person- John Bonham
Style- Rock, Jazz and Samba

[KirbyM]

What go me started playing drums? Watching Buddy Rich on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and other various TV shows.

[JLoveDrums94]

I remember reading an article on the internet in 2008... A guy wrote about how he went to a Mexican Restaurant in Chico California and while waiting for his burritos, he heard a song made by my favorite band on the restaurant’s radio and he said in this article “The music they play in this restaurant is the type of OOM-PAH, keyboard driven Mexican polka, technically known as Duranguense, that they play in every burrito spot in California. Usually it’s pleasant enough but not really worth paying attention to. But today was different. Behind the usual heartfelt Spanish crooning and laughable synth-lines was some serious Neil Peart style drum fills. Insane snare rolls, fills that crossed the measure line, all sorts of crazy s*** was going on.” I never paid too much attention to the drumming in this music until after I read this article and then I became fascinated with it. I then looked up some videos of pros playing this music and then I began to imitate it on Guitar Hero Drums. Sure, there fake drums but I was being told by people that I play quite well to many sorts of songs of this style of music.

My girlfriend left me in May; I wanted to buy something that makes me happy… Sure, converting from fake Guitar Hero Drums to Acoustic real drums (Squier Drum Set) took a bit but I quickly adapted and then I’m basically where I’m at now. I still continue to practice and improve my sound.

[die_neckar]

As a child I was always fascinated by marching band drummers. A little older I played the Peter-Criss-solo on KISS Alive II on my airdrums (I positioned books like toms in an armchair in front of me). As a teenager I always stared at the drummer of the dance combo at the annual festival in my village while my parents were dancing to their music. And finally, with 20 years of age, I first time in my life sat behind a drumset of a friend who I met shortly before. I then played for about 5 years, had a teacher, did all the fetish about equipment, gigged here and there and I thought I could make it to a second Simon Phillips. All that was probably too much and too fast at the end, so I gave it up - until last year when I started again in my basement on a newly bought e-drumset (with headsets of course). Very slowly, very disciplined and it all came back pretty quick. Now, 41 years old, I try to avoid all the mistakes I did in the past. I feel things while drumming that I have not felt that time. It's great. I do not want to play in a band yet as I first want to reach a level where I feel confident enough. Let's see how long it will take - I have caught myself already looking at accustic sets...

I thought I'd share with this community how my revived ambitions as a drummer have evolved in the meantime: Now, I am a proud owner of a nice Gretsch with Masterwork cymbals and I love its sound. I bought it after I decided to look for a band because I felt the time was ripe for reaching the next step of exposing myself to other musicians in order to see where it takes me to. Shortly after the Gretsch was shipped to me, I joined a band that converts Rock & Pop classics into Jazz. Playing in this band is very pleasant and I can contribute my own ideas and creativity to the repertoire we are working on. I would even say that the decision to join this band was the best one I ever made. Instead of being expected to play originals as original as possible, I can modify and interpret the music and give it all a new spirit. And I even got in touch with brushes which is great fun - far more I could ever think of. I am learning... well, I am actually and thankfully forced to learn new grooves, licks and techniques in order to offer what the music in question needs and at the end there even is a nice new piece of music that the whole band is happy with. It appears that I did well in all that as the founder of this band (he has been playing, breathing and living guitar for more than 23 years in any thinkable genre) recently recommended me to another project he is involved in. I shall see where that takes me to. Being a drummer is sometimes a phantastic journey, isn't it?

[unfunkyfooted]

Music White Stripes
Drummer Meg White (yes, I do know that she is not great or anything, but I'm a no-frills kinda girl, so I love her straight-forward approach).
Person No one, really.
Style Undecided. Whatever you call the style of Steve Jordan and Cindy Blackman. I love that groove.
Inspirations Any time I hear "Icky Thump", I start pounding on my steering wheel. I'm a classical pianist (and I love it), but I've always felt I needed something to beat on.

do you find that playing drums destroys your hands for piano ?

[Err]

Music - 90s rock & alternative
Drummer - Dave Grohl, Chad Sexton, & Dave Abbruzzese to name a few .
Person - My Parents and my Uncle who loaned me his drums to get me started.
Style - Rock/Funk

[WCinLA]

Music- Van Halen, TOTO (or almost anything Jeff played), RUSH.
Drummer- Saw Buddy Rich as a kid and knew if I were to play ANYTHING it had to be the drums!
Person- Eddie (last name?) lived next door was a session guy in NOLA and well, seemed like the time!
Style- I like Phil Collins' style and Alex Van Halen, mostly cymbal play by AVH.
Inspirations- Got together with a few guys in town and had such a good time just jammin that that is very addictive to get together and play some tunes and have a helluva good time.

[UOVDrummer79]

My family bought me a toy drum set that the 'Solid Gold' dancers on the bass head when I was around eight years old. They put a Phil Collins tape in my Walkman (if you're old enough to know what that is lol) and I played along. I pretty much destroyed the toy kit within a couple days. Fast forward to the fifth grade when my father urged me to play trombone. I didn't want to at all since I had already been introduced to percussion and had given up practicing my piano etudes to bang on anything I could. Stuck with rudimental snare drum taking private lessons through elementary and high school leading the other drummers. Graduated h.s. and volunteered as drum instructor for a few years before heading to university where I met some of the greatest drummers in the world. Left school to run the family business but still play whenever I can. Currently in a local cover band with a female lead singer. Good times. Drum On!

[marketgarden]

My Dad used to play Return to Forever's Romantic Warrior album a lot when I was a kid. One day, something kinda clicked while listening to the first track off that album -- "Medieval Overture." There's a drum break at the beginning of that song where Lenny White just goes off! He does this blazingly fast beat followed by several immense roundhouse tom fills. I was hooked.

At that point, I started paying attention to the drums in everything I listened to. Steve Gadd's playing on "Nite Sprite" off Chick' Leprechaun album made quite an impact, as did his snare groove on Paul Simon's "50 Ways." And then a friend of mine gave me Exit Stage Left to listen to and my whole Peart obsession began.

That did it -- I was never in my right mind again. I assumed control of my sister's disused snare drum and started playing. Steve Gadd, Neil Peart, and Lenny White conspired to change my life, whether they knew it or not.

[PhDrummer]

When I was still in diapers, I would beat on the side of the dishwasher with a rubber dogbone toy. My parents said it was in rhythm to whatever music was playing on the stereo at the time. So I guess I've known I had to drum since I was in diapers. I'm fortunate to have had parents who were extremely supportive of my musical endeavors, especially since I chose to play one of the loudest instruments around. (It helps that my mom's an amateur musician: pianist, organist, accordionist...yes, a damn good accordionist. POLKA!)

I was forced to take piano lessons from the spinster who lived next door before I was allowed to begin playing the drums. My mom told me, "You're not going to be one of those drummers who can't read music." Though I hated every minute of those lessons, I'm glad I took them. They gave me a musical foundation from which to build.

[alfthan]

I woke up one very cold morning in darkness (-35 degrees celsius, northern Finland, 1982 or 1983), heating did not work as it should in our house...

For some reason I could not stop thinking about playing drums.

We had very artistic family, my scriptwriter-father asked help from his drummer friend what to do for this son who is going to spoil his life so early... His friend told, that there is no solution for this problem for living persons.

I found some new Export drums from local store... luckily during few years I was able to demolish them. I had even a book of drum playing, but no change to get any lessons... I tried to be out from school and stay home for playing, when other family members where doing their duties...

Then I bought my first new Rockstar -double-bass kit with too many parts... That ruined the whole practise and I tried to play with local bands of same age guys. I sold all drums after 10 years (girls, alcohol, friends, job, school etc). 2006 I got this neurotic disease again... Happily I have been recycling some kits of electronics drums and finally started to play with acoustics again, very happy with this.

I think that it does feel not so bad when not playing, as being adult drummer. I do not know why. :)

[Old Skool]

For me, this was a no-brainer. My Dad was a drummer and singer in the "Big Band" era. He used to take me to the Peabody Hotel in Memphis when he was playing there in a stint with Ray Anthony's big band. Got to hang with the likes of Peggy Lee, the Dorsy brothers, Sinatra and oh so many others. I just got hooked. Later, he became a PR guy with RCA records and actually was the front man when RCA bought Elvis's contract from Sun Records. I got to hang out in the Sun studio for a few days and the seed was sprouted. Too many to list but in the space of a few days I saw Jerry Lee, Little Richard, Cark Perkins and a bunch of others and got to watch a few session tracks layed down. I asked Dad for the use of a second set of drums he had and he set them up in the garage for me and then spent a lot of hours with me. He wasnt a top tier drummer (more known for his singing than drumming) but was good enough to start me out. I was 12 at the time and by 14 I was playing with groups as a fill in for absent drummers. I actually played in a lot of venues that didnt allow anyone under 21 so my Dad would have to take me there and then talk to the owner/manager to make sure he knew it was alright for me to be there. Of course he knew most everyone so it wasnt really a problem. After high school, I went on the road with a couple of top 40 groups and at age 24 just stopped, went to college and then started a career outside of music. This year, well into my late 60's, I started playing again with a bunch from my office and we are having a blast. All over 50's guys that either played as pros when younger or who had taught themselves how to play guitar. They are just as hooked as I am again!

[kissarmyfreak]

I tryed to play guitar but my short stubby fingers didn't make that the easiest for me. So when I was at a friends house it seemed no one ever had a drummer just alot of guitarists playing. So as soon as I was able to get a job I bought my first drum set & have never been happier.

I have way to much energy to just hold a guitar & play! So When I have all 4 limbs going at the same time all doing something differant... It's a wonderful feeling

[Arky]

I started as a guitarist (21 years of playing). Last year in Aug. it became apparent for me that to do some more realistic drum arrangements on an audio editor for my recording project I simply had to get into a drummer's mindset and get a deeper understanding (I had a lousy understanding of drumming until then) for grooves, patterns. So I started drumming (autodidact also) - or rather practicing drumming motions. Still no full kit. Well my drum arrangements improved quickly but then I focused on drum practice more than on playing the electric and acoustic guitar. Just recently I started practicing both worlds more or less balanced, having neglected my guitars for months in favour of practicing on pads (both hands and kick practice pad, double pedal).

As a guitarist (autodidact) I was already interested in technique so it was natural to get into the motions, learning both matched and trad, as many grips as I became aware of etc. I don't have plans to play real drums in a band (at least not for now), it's fun and a challenge to practice the motions. I'm glad that I discovered exactly the stuff/drummers in time to gradually and smoothly get into techniques. I think the very first steps when learning a new instrument are most important. I was fortunate in this regard.

[bigiainw]

I was always "musical" but my parents wanted me to learn something more socially acceptable ( for that read quieter) but it's all I've ever wanted to do. I was a late starter at 13-14 but I've been playing for over 30 years now, 20 as a semi pro in functions and pub gigs. Not giving it up anytime soon!

[CreeplyTuna]

In 4th grade my best friend joined the school band and persuaded me to do it with him. I played the bells for the first year, and bass in 5th grade. Moved to the east coast the summer before 6th grade, and got a cheapie drum set called Rockwood for Christmas. Still using it, though I'm looking for a job (I'm 16) so I can buy a much, much better set. Looking back, probably the best decision ever!

[Midnite Zephyr]

I grew up in a musical environment surrounded by hippies. My dad played several instruments and mom went to work. My uncle was a drummer in a really great blues band in the 70's (actually he's been playing in that band to this year). So I grew up watching him play the drums with his band. In fourth grade I started playing trombone and it was fun, but in 7th grade I decided I was going to play drums. My parents got me a cool Ludwig Ringo set. I never knew the value of that and promptly traded that 4-piece for some 7-piece mixed set. When I went to college I started playing guitar because I couldn't take my drums with me. I've never made any good money, been in some really cool bands, jammed with lots of great musicians, and just kept playing drums never giving them up completely for any extended period of time. Playing the drums is just the number one thing I enjoy doing as a hobby. I would have liked to make a career out of it, but never really had the opportunity to practice as much as I needed. I can hold my own, but there's always plenty of room for improvement. Nowadays it's hard for me to get a jam session together for various reasons, and bands are hard to keep together sometimes. So now I just jump at every chance I get to play the drums these days as long as the other musicians are pretty good too and there's somebody singing.

[Art Hemming]

Actually, a friend of mine in Middle School. He played drums (no idea where he started, though) and let me bang on his kit whenever I went over. It was a used PDP with really nice Zildjian cymbals--I later bought a PDP kit, and then a used DW off of Craigslist--buy used!
My aunt also is an amazing guitarist, and they had a cheapo set that I now have and are trying to get rid of (Pulse). I played a few times with them, and it just felt right to be playing the drums... I dunno, they're just so FUN!

Bands: Hmm...Third Eye Blind, Weezer, Talking Heads...mostly rock bands.
Music: Doesn't matter. Right now I have had no formal lessons, so mostly rather "simple" stuff I guess. I would love to be able to play some nice Jazz, and rock.
People: Thank the tolerant neighbors I have had over the years. And my parents of course, and my sister.

[Vicious Orion]

Music- Less Than Jake, Circa Survive, Emery, The Early November, Finch
Drummer- I don't really look at drummers so much but the band they play in and how they fit in.
Style- Punk, Pop-Punk, Jazz, Rock, Alt Rock
Inspirations- My Family and Friends

[Ram27]

I had taken both guitar and piano lessons when I was younger, and got bored quickly.
When I was 11 or so, we had to chose instruments for band class at school. I picked the trumpet (I have no idea why) and slaved away playing that for three years.
I like rock music, especially anything involving Dave Grohl, so it was really frustrating to me that I couldn't play any songs that I like. So I quit trumpet, and started taking drum lessons.

[wildbil]

I started playing an old firewood cook stove, in a small North Ontario village when I was 10...A lot of neat sounds came off it.

[ZonderZout]

Started a band with my guitar teacher, but after 3 drummers quit the band I figured "how hard can it be? I can count till 4!" and switched to drums myself. I managed pretty well, so I quit guitar lessons and started taking drumming lessons.

[DrSyncopation]

At first I was inspired by Green Day and Tré Cool but now I play Jazz and Funk and R&B.

[The Gedge]

Music: Hard rock
Drummer: Dave Grohl
Person: My brother; he's grade 8 in the U.K
Style: Usually hard rock, but when I do improv it can become a load of different things
Inspirations: Wanting to be more awesome than other drummers

[db_55]

Music: Christian Contemporary and Alternative Rock
Drummer: Buddy Rich
Person: My Youth Pastor.
Style: Usually Christian Contemporary, but sometimes I'll put my iPhone on shuffle, so I'll play whatever comes on.
Inspirations: That moment when you have those Viv Firth 7A's in your hand, That moment when you put your headphones in, That moment when the world is listening to you, Yeah, That's where my inspiration comes from.

I'm mediocre, I've been playing for around a year. I have a Pearl Export, I have a 22" Sabian Ride, two 16" Sabian Crashes, and 14" Hi-Hats.

[iamjohn]

The 27th Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps, 1978.

[mo2vation]

Always had sticks around. Before that it was wooden spoons.

Grade school - mom took me to a house party her boyfriend was throwing. There was a cover band there, "Tundra". This had to be 1970 or so. I was 9 or 10. The drummer saw me standing, watching him play a black oyster 4pc Ludwig (sound familiar?).... he had the hang ten bare feet stenciled to the top of the white coated floor tom head. On their break, he called me over and let me sit behind the kit. Everyone marveled at the cute kid with the long hair who could play the drums. I just mimicked what he did. The band came back, I sat in for half of their return tune.

Jr High School - Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting... knocked me out. Learned that tune on the pillows, then on boxes, then on buckets.

High School. The first time I head Bad Company's "Can't get enough of your love" - the drums just moved me in that tune, and I went out and put a deposit on a used Tama 5pc Imperial Star. Paid on it for months and months. Took it home 10 months after graduation - April 29, 1979 (still have the receipts). Johnny Thompson Music in Monterey Park, CA.

Have played every week, and mostly every day since.


-K

[drumminMark]

Why Drums? Barry Brandt (Angel) & Peter Criss(KISS).

While I was in the 5th grade KISS ALIVE II came out and I used to set up suitcases and beat on those like a drum kit. I could get a decent Bass and tom sound but no snare.

I was 23 before I had my first set of drums. They were a Pearl Export Pro 6 piece kit. I worked as a Law enforcement officer during that time. It wasn't long before i sold them. About 10 years later I had the opportunity to jam with some neighbors. They had a drum set but no drummer. I volunteered to help out until they found someone, but I ended up being a good fit I guess. We gigged out every weekend for 11 months straight. In that 11 months all of my gig money went into equipment. Now I play in a Classic rock cover band that is actually pretty awesome.

[michellecastro]

What got me into drum world? Having a drumkit in my house, without anyone playing.
The drumkit once belongs to a cousin, but he left Portugal and so, abandoning a old and beaten up drumkit.

I love music, so I bought a pair of drum stiks and beggining to try.

Music-Beatles, Kinks, White Stripes, Mojo Nixon, Rolling Stones, BRMC,Velvet Undergound
Drummer-Ringo, Meg White, Moe Tucker, Ringo, Mike Avory...
Person- Ringo and Meg White
Style- Rock n roll, Country, Folk, Cowpunk (yeah!!!)
Inspirations- Beatles (not only their music, but even the history behind the band).

[Jeremy Bender]

Got to thinking about this question last night... The strong interest was in the 70's hearing ELP. The real turning point in my life was when I saw Genesis live in concert in 1983. The musicality of Chester Thompson & Phil Collins cemented it in my mind for good.

[®hythm]

I'd have to say my initial realization took place in my 1st or 2nd grade era when I would listen to Classic Rock in the car with my pops

[alex-likes-drums]

Bonzo and Grohl, obviously picked up other inspiration along the way. But those two made drumming what is it for me. About being at the front of the stage while sitting at the back.

[nirvanadrummer]

i always tapped with my fingers and feet... one day i just decided to try it and it just clicked

[nirvanadrummer]

Bonzo and Grohl, obviously picked up other inspiration along the way. But those two made drumming what is it for me. About being at the front of the stage while sitting at the back.

i second bonham and dave

[PeTeR4171]

Believe it or not, a video game. I started playing Rock Band when I was 9 years old after our family bought it as a birthday present for my brother, and five years later, here I am playing drums for real! Starting at an early age really helped me develop my chops and technique. Drumming on my legs in classes I didnt really like helped as well haha.

[Shild]

I got sick of being a dime a dozen guitarist who has to compete with all these other guitarist trying out for bands. Being a drummer really narrows the field!

[Drumometer]

When I was about 2 weeks old and started to crie my father took me and listened to old DEEP PURPLE vinyls with me. Then I stopped crying and listened to the songs...
He's a big PURPLE fan... After a few years he told me some stories about DEEP PURPLE and what he've seen on their concerts and so on. He always told me about the drummer, Ian Paice. When I was 11 years old I went to my daddy and said "Hey, dad. I wanna do this, too! I want to be a drummer!" and then I started to play in a music school. And the story still rolls on ;)

[Allstar drummer]

When my dad bought his first set since 93', he let me play it, and I did not want to get off I was six at the time. I got my first set at seven, and I have played just about everyday since!

[drummer-russ]

Music- The Beatles, Three Dog Night and Grand Funk were the first bands that I noticed the drummers.
Drummer- It wasn't a drummer that got me interested in drums, it was my kindergarten teacher who told my Mom I was able to keep a solid rythem at age 5.
Person- My first drum teacher who was an old black percusionist from New Orleans. I took drum and marimba lessons from him. He wore a suit and smoked a cigar every day. There were cigar ashes in his snare head, which had actual ruffled edges! He used to have me mimic his riffs and often had me close my eyes and repeat what he played.
Style- I think I naturally play more of a jazz/blues style because of my instructor. Although I really loved Sousa marches and played in drum and bugle corp for a few years tso some of that creeps in on occasion.
Inspirations -Neil Peart mesmorizes me. I am a bit disillusioned by the emphasis on speed and power in today's music. Some of my favorite drummers to listen to are very subtle in how they demonstrate their skills. Lots of session drummers from Steely Dan, Steve Miller, Elton John have always caught my attention. Steve Smith does things that are not over the top but I also have to go back and try to figure out what he is doing.

[bigiainw]

I'm not sure what actually happened to make me want to play, I just always wanted to hit things with lumps of wood! I would sit watching bands on Top of the Pops and drum along on my legs, and then the floor once I got some sticks. My biggest influence in my early years was Phil Collins and Genesis, as well as my diverse tastes in music which have seen me play everything from musicals to punk and all points in between. I think what younger players lack in education and what you can learn from other genres results from the plethora of specialized musical inputs that they can choose from. There is nothing like 2 radio stations and 2 tv stations to limit your choices and that she expose you to things you might otherwise not choose to expose yourself to. The ability to avoid what isn't directly your thing allows younger players to avoid everything but their first choice, meaning that kids grow up on a singular diet of rubbish pop or Rn'B or death metal or whatever. Ultimately this specialization can only be to the detriment of their own musical development.

[Drifter]

Music- Grand Funk - Led Zep - Sabbath
Drummer- Don Brewer
Person- No one in particular. Any good rock drummer has my respect.
Inspirations- $75.00 complete Rockwood drum set

This is my 1st post, so here is a little of my background:
I am 54 and a lifelong air drummer (aka: wannabe), but have been playing the real thing for 6 month's total now. I actually bought the drums 2 years ago, but had a problem with my left hand that kept me from holding onto a stick. Got that out of the way, and have been playing and practicing 3-4 times a week when work allows.

I remember listening to Don Brewer on the 1st GFRR Live Album.. I was amazed at his drum solo.. and kept thinking his solo was incorporating a train running down the tracks, backing up, going forward again (you know how kids think). GR was my 1st live concert, and I was watching him in amazement all night. I'll play that solo 1 day, I have to.. it's in my DNA now.

[opentune]

Yep, Brewer has that great opening to "We're an American Band". Gets your attention.
My initial inspiration was Phil Collins, late 1970's Genesis.

[longgun]

What inspired me was a few things:

1. I watched Kiss and wanted to be like Peter Criss....the Catman was cooool

2. When I was thinking about playing in school, the musical director wanted me to play the french horn......nope. I went to watch the band and everyone was nerdy / uncool. The exceptions were the drummers.....they had long hair, earrings and smoked.......wanted to be like them

3. Chicks

[Drummin'Horn]

My musical career began with the clarinet. I got ribbed quite a bit for it, so I switched to the drums. Learning to read music has always been helpful and I am glad I began with the clarinet, although I rarely looked back until my son began to play a couple years ago. He is very good and decided to switch to the saxophone, where he also excels.

Sorry, forgot these...

Music- ELP without a doubt has had the most influence on my drumming and music preferences
Drummer- Carl Palmer of course. However, Carl Albrecht (Christian drummer for Paul BeLoche) has taught me more about the nuances of drumming where being the quickest and loudest is not best, but playing with discipline, musically and enhancing the music with the tools you have is what matters most.
Person- Mom, she also said if I had to hit something, hit these.
Style- I play rock, soul and ballads most of the time, but also love Funk and Jazz
Inspirations- I began as a teenager, fast, loud, and jamming for hours. A 20 year break found me on stage at a Baptist church. I cannot describe that feeling of drumming while simultaneously worshiping. It is indescribable.

Peace,

[gaz farrimond]

How did I get started?

I was quite a tearaway when I was younger, the area I grew up is not the most salubrious. My father got tired of the police bringing me home so he bought me a kit at 13, with the words "If you're going to hit something; hit these." Along with rugby and boxing, a brilliant way to channel my aggression at the time and the rest is, as they say, history.


As for your questions:

Music- Motorhead, Dead Kennedys, Pistols, Damned, Venom, Tank etc.
Drummer- Has to be Phil Taylor, I so wanted to play for Motorhead. Nowadays, anyone I can steal an idea from!! ;-)
Person- My father and his insight.
Style- Anything now, but when I started; Punk, Thrash, Hardcore etc.
Inspirations- Dave Howarth, my first drum teacher, and being able to sight read 'Love Me Do' by The Beatles without knowing the song first. That was my epiphany.

[SuziSpooks]

I just picked up some drum sticks and started to play, was always tapping my feet and fingers to music and it just kinda clicked :D

Music - Metal/Rock/Punk (Rammstein, Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, AC/DC, 30STM)
Drummer - Christoph "Doom" Schneider / James Owen Sullivan "The Rev"
Person -My sister in law who bought my first drums and my best friend who taught me alot.
Style: Rock/Metal
Inspirations: Rammstein! Avenged Sevenfold and so many more.

[CalebL721]

I played bass in the band I'm in, but we couldn't find a drummer we liked, so me and our singer went and bought a Peavey set from the 90s (Piece of shit, really), and I picked up the drums and our singer played bass. That was about a year ago and I have since upgraded to a Ludwig Club Date set, Blue Oyster Pearl. We have also found a bass player and are doing pretty good.

I like playing blues rock type stuff like The Black Keys, and garage rock type stuff like The Greenhornes, The White Stripes, and The Flat Duo Jets. Even indie stuff like The Strokes, Japanther, etc.

I'd say my inspirations are Mitch Mitchell, John Bonham, Patrick Carney, and Dave Grohl. Those are the main people I can think of.

[stormyrider]

When I was 5 or 6 my parents thought I should play an instrument, so they started me with accordion lessons. Back then, an accordion player could be essentially a 1 man band.
Well, I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, got a copy of Meet the Beatles, and had other ideas. Initially I wanted to play guitar, but my favorite uncle, who was about 16 at the time, played the drums so that's what I wanted to do. My 1st kit was his hand-me -down

Music- Initially the Beatles, then the rock of the 60s and 70s
Drummer- Back then, there wasn't any pro drummer I felt the need to emulate. Now, I get inspiration from every drummer I see / hear
Person- my uncle
Style- jazz, improvisational rock / blues (ie Allman Brothers, Derek and the Dominoes). I was in a 4 piece jazz band for about 6 months in college and learned more about music and drumming with those guys then any other point in my life.
Inspirations- My love of music remains my inspiration and is the reason why I picked up the sticks again. We go to jazz clubs a few times a year. They're small enough so you can see all the musicians well, I'm always mesmerized by the drummer

[Xue]

i alway wanted to play the drums but i never had the money to buy them D:
untill a week ago :)
i've bought the yamaha DTX530K because i wanted a kinda oldschool highhat control and not just a wire that's connected with the highhat

[StickIt]

I was, luckily, born into a musical family, some hobbyists, some pro, some semi-pro(?)...
Mom played piano pretty darn well, and like a few others, I was forced to start taking piano lessons prior to learning any other instrument...but it only took one lesson for Mom to realize that I was going to be too stubborn (man, if I knew then....).

So...I had a plethora of other instrumentalists to idolize. My great-grandfather was a traditional fiddler and stringed instrument guru, as well as a fairly well respected writer. My grandfather was a jazz/big band/blues saxaphonist and clarinet player. My great-uncle played the keys at local and family events. And then there was my Dad...the Drummer!

Well, I started "playing" drums around the age of 6. Joined the school concert band at 10, playing snare mostly, and then marching band at 13. Played in both school bands until I was 18, picking up a little varied percussion knowledge...

My best friend and I decided we were going to start a band (during the late grunge-era, yay) and so, we'd practice at my house and I'd use a set of my Dad's. Well, then we met this guy who'd been taking drum set lessons for a few years, and he blew me out of the water!!! So, I did what no one should ever do, and gave up my drum seat and picked up a bass guitar. Now, I grew to really enjoy playing the bass, but there was always that tinge of regret, and the fact that the drums were my 'first love'. So, when my life settled down about three years ago, I bought myself a set, sought out and found a church band to play in, and found some local 'jammers' to get together with on occasion...now I am actively trying to become a solid drummer, and am really enjoying it.

[longgun]

The ability to avoid what isn't directly your thing allows younger players to avoid everything but their first choice, meaning that kids grow up on a singular diet of rubbish pop or Rn'B or death metal or whatever. Ultimately this specialization can only be to the detriment of their own musical development.

..never thought of it this way, but it makes perfect sense.

[Axe]

For me, it was 2 very distinct songs...I remember being a kid and playing "Love Hurts" by Nazareth on my Radio Shack cassette player (!), and just rewinding the drum fill that leads into the solo, listening to that for hours. Being the 70s, most drum sounds just didnt grab you, at least they didnt to me - I had never heard such a big drum sound before....

The 2nd, and what led me to begging my parents for a kit, was the first time I heard "I Love It Loud" by KISS. Again, big drum sound, and I knew I wanted to do that.

[Goodvalley]

It's really a weird story. It's 1.983, and I am 11. As a kid in a country where Rock was out of the media at the time, I am afraid of Heavy Metal. You know, it's loud and evil. This morning I go to school and see some Heavy Metal fans looking really sad. I am afraid of them, but I know one. I ask him what is going on. He tells me the terrible news: this famous band Iron Maiden were in an airplane that crashed yesterday. Every member of the band is dead except the drummer, but the doctors are going to cut one of his arms off. I am pretty shocked. Even these "evil" people deserve a good life.
Now it's that day's afternoon. I've come home and I am eating a sandwich and watching the TV. In the Spanish public TV of these years (1983) is very rare to see anything close to Rock, so that makes impossible to see anything harder than that. But there has to be some Metalhead working there today, I don't know how he could do that. I am eating my sandwhich and suddenly, before the starting of some boring TV show, there you have it: the videoclip of "The trooper". At first, it is really weird and agressive to me. But since the news from this morning I just think: "Well, let's watch this, just for showing some respect. It's just a song". And 30 seconds later, something makes a "click" inside my brain. "I like this song! It's amazing!"

"The trooper" is less than 4 minutes long. In less than that, two things happened that day: a new Metalhead was born and that boy decided he wanted to be a drummer. "Man, that drumkit is huge! That drummer is really cool with those rolls!" Next morning, that stupid rumour was over. And my hair grew long and remained long for more than twenty years. I always thought I owe something to Nicko McBrain.

[elgobbes]

As far back as I can remember I have had the "drum bug". Every Christmas my parents would get me a toy drum set that would have broken heads by the time my birthday rolled around (which was two days later).

From what I remember, watching Rick Allen rock out in the early 80's is what really got me to want to play. The drum beat in Hello America resonated in my brain and its all I wanted to play. Plus I thought it was so cool in the video that he was positioned up in front of the band. I had never seen that before.

Finally Christmas 1989 my parents got me a "real" junior set. It was a piece. Of course I was ecstatic and started playing it at 6 in the morning.

I played every morning before school, and every day after school. My neighbors hated me.