What got you started playing drums?

[Stevis]

This thread is a thread about the "HOW" that got you into to drums.....I would like to know.....

Music- ( The music and bands who got you into drums)
Drummer- (The drummer who got you into the drums)
Person- ( A specific person you know who got/helped get you into drums)
Style- ( The style you enjoy playing most on drums)
Inspirations- ( Anything that inspired you to play in the first place and keep on playing to the best of your abilities)

Here is mine....

Music- In the beginning such bands as Aerosmith, Sum 41, Metallica, Children of Bodom. Basically the music that got me into it was anything that seemed challenging but not to far out of reach....(and i have come along way since those bands)
Drummer- A specific drummer than inspires me and keeps wanting me to try harder and get better would probobly #1 be John Blackwell. I really like his playing and showmanship. Really a terrific drummer.
Person- My uncle was a direct person that got me into playing drums...He played the drums for 30 some years and had a sweet 16 pc. drumset...whenever I went over there I asked if he could teach me something new and if I would make a good drummer...and he always encouraged me.
Style- Right now I really enjoy playing anything that fits what I'm feeling or enjoy to play... If I could only play three styles though I would pick Funk....Metal....and Jazz....these three styles I really enjoy playing.
Inspirations- My inspirations over the years to drums have been people always telling me what great coordination I have, people recommending I play drums...for several reason a lot of the time teacher because i would bang on the desk and annoy everyone...which i still do to this day.



This is pretty much my "how"...yours can be longer or shorter..doesn't matter...

[Plook]

Music- Everything I listened to made me want to play drums. From my parents "Party Rock" album to my Judas Priest and Van Halen.
Drummer- Probably my friend Curt.
Person- "same"
Style- Rock, Progressive Rock, Funk, metal, pop. Zappa.
Inspirations- Anyone that kicks ass out there made me want to go home and practice more. I remember playing to the Neil Peart Rush transcription book everyday after school. Then in Grade 9 taping the Who's farewell concert and playing to that every single day in the summer. Hearing the Joe's Garage album and trying to play along. Lol. At least half are playable. Stuff like that.

[Zackman]

Music- Music didn't really get me into drums, it came later on. It was just drummers and drumming, seeing them. Playing any style. I was just like "WOW, that's awesome. Someday that'll be me".
Drummer- My drum teacher of course. Out of all of the big ones though, definatly Gadd, Bonham, or Mitch Mitchell.
Person- Both of my parents and my unbelievable drum teacher.
Style- All of them. I don't listen to all styles on a regular basis, but they're fun as hell to play.
Inspirations- My drum teacher Jeff Christmas for one. People like Bonham, Mitch Mitchell, Elvin Jones, Steve Gadd, Buddy, and Cobham really inpired me to dig in and play my best.

[jangus]

Music- I got into drumming from my band band class.
Drummer- Definitely my drum teacher/middle school band director.
Person- Drum teacher, Bonham
Style- Jazz
Inspirations- Bonham

[aahznightsky]

Music- I've been listening to the band Yes literally my whole life and also drumming the same amount of time, the two just seemed to go hand in hand. My dad also is a musician with his own studio and i would play the drumset there (until it got in the way of him working, so he bought me my own sized kit for my first birthday)
Drummer- Bill Bruford and Alan White, the two drummers for Yes. I got the intricacies and out there ideas from Bruford, and the power and eloquence of White.
Person- My father! Bought me my own kit for my first birthday ... there's home video footage of me playing actual beats on the kit way back then!
Style- My style of actual playing is extremely unique, but styles of music would be everything from funk to progressive rock to jazz and pop (if well produced, like Seal or Peter Gabriel, Sting, etc)
Inspirations- The number of virtuosos always surrounding me is always awe inspiring (My father is a master guitar player, and I'm surrounded by others constantly like my drum teacher and Vinnie Moore, etc). Knowing the amount of work they put into getting their playing to the level its at is incredible, and really keeps me pushing my own boundaries...

[rodie]

Music: initially, i paid a lot of attention to ac/dc, simple 4/4 stuff...raised on old rock and outlaw country mostly...got into heavier rock, metal, and progressive as i gained exposure...

Drummer: phil rudd, no one plays 2 and 4 like him...then hair metal showed me showmanship (tommy lee, randy castillo, etc)

Person: an old boss i had...sold him an amp for my granddad, and he said get a drum kit and we'll jam...

Style: my own, mostly straight rock with a developing progressive approach...

Inspiration: definitely mike portnoy, for the range of sounds, the killer chops at any speed, and the down-to-earth guy he was when i met him at a clinic, and he never seems to stop learning...

[BonzoJr48]

We were all influenced by greats of the 60's 70's & 80's, but before you saw or heard them play, what attracted you to the drums?

My dad used to play drums when I was like 6, I used to sit in front of the bass drums and watch it vibrate and listen to how awesome that sound was. I loved that. After I was old enough to start playing I was then influenced by John Bonham, Neil Peart, e.t.c.

[drummerboy]

I don't remember what made me want to play...I was too young...maybe the fact that I could bang on things and not get in trouble for it?...LOL....now I know why I like to drum and that's because it's fun for one thing and for two it's what I do....it's in me and always has been and I hope it always will be.

[Drummer_Boy]

I really just got bored with the Alto Saxophone, and listened to too much Van Halen. Sooo..I wanted to drum.

[Chilli]

I really liked music and thought of playing bass... But I was born a tapper... So...

[Smoky_McPot]

I never really thought of being a drummer - then in Grade 7 at school we were made to learn the basic rock beat. Still never really got into drumming but I was listening to lots of metal bands with wicked drummers - Pantera (Vinnie Paul) and Metallica (Lars). Then my mate got into the drums in Grade 10, started teaching me some basic stuff that he was doing like paradiddles. Then i would copy Lars' songs and ever since ive loved drumming! I am like you Drummerboy - it is part of me and it wont go away!

[Breakbeat Milo]

We were all influenced by greats of the 60's 70's & 80's, but before you saw or heard them play, what attracted you to the drums?

My dad used to play drums when I was like 6, I used to sit in front of the bass drums and watch it vibrate and listen to how awesome that sound was. I loved that. After I was old enough to start playing I was then influenced by John Bonham, Neil Peart, e.t.c.

The Groooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove...

[mlehnertz]

I was a really bad piano player?

[Johnny_Stacks]

Well for me it was more who was playing what. And everyone here was playing guitar and i hated that. Everyone who played guitar here sucked except for a few people. It was like a popularity thing. If one person has it everyone does. Anywas i found that very annoying so i originaly started playing bass. I was pretty good to and i was in a band with my 2 best friends. Played my friends drums and loved them. I was instantly hooked. And from there it was drums for me the whole way.

Peace- John

[fourstringdrums]

Probably because I had so many people telling me I wouldn't be able to play.

[Danny]

My friend showed me the Led Zeppelin DVD and Bonham's Moby Dick drum solo...i was just shocked that something like the drums, that thing that you never ever really listened for (before you started drumming) and thought was just "there" was something that could be so versatile and so purely musical. Then my friend showed me a paradiddle after watching Moby Dick...i just started there. He brought his set over to my house and he played the guitar with me at the drums...which i applaud him for, because i was not such a good sight at the drums (atleast then)...

[Damon Dapper]

Just listening to them as a young child made me feel so drawn too them like bee's to honey. I knew at that point what I wanted to do, and I was here for, even though it took me a second to live up to that.

Dap.

[Jaymasta]

I just wasn't good at the fluite, harmonica or recorder so I played drums. Because I've been tapping on desks at school since grade 2.

[kazzman]

When I was two or three my mother bought me one of those "Best of the Muppet Show" tapes and I would sit in front of the TV for hours watching the Buddy Rich/Animal drum battle. My addiction to drums never quit.

[MECHT4NK]

when I was like 5 years old I was addicted to marching bands. especially because I liked the sound of the snare drums so much. a few years later my brother got me into listening to guns n' roses but still I liked the drums the most. I remember being so impressed by seeing matt sorum doing a solo on the video tapes my brother had. from there it only got worse ;) I still have one of these tapes and watch it occasinally. I just can't remember the time where I didn't got people crazy about me bangin' on stuff.

[THE ANIMAL]

When I was a kid I could never sit still, I would tap and hit everything within reach.
Then one day my Dad said there's a marching band in the village looking to recruit drummers.
I had to go for 3 reasons :-

1. There were lots of girls in the band.

2. My Dad was ready to murder me if I did'nt stop drumming.

3. I just had to drum, like I have to draw breath.

[thinkintriplets]

When I was about 7, I always loved to dance. I could always feel the beat within me and always wanted to express it through dancing.

Then I started listening the early 90's grunge and really wanted to rock out. So when I was 14, I took a music class in school and hit the drums. I remember learning that damned rock beat right away. My teacher looked at me like I was possesed or something. It was HIS look that finally made me get into drumming nearly 3 years ago now.

Now I'll never stop playing.

Marc.

[Ludwig7584]

Well its kinda wierd but my father played drums and when i was around the age of 5 i just started playing naturally. I have never had a lesson to this day and iam 21 years old. I am not the greatest but I consider myself good for never being taught a single thing. I guess it was just passed down from my father....

[RudimentalDrummer]

I remember very very clearly "What makes me play the drum"

I had a band when I was 15 years of age. I am the guitarists....and in our 1st Jamming Session...I told my drummer. I want to be the drummer and you can either be our Singer or take over my place. Everyone ask me why ... I said I love the Drum ... and I think I make a better drummer than being a guitarists. But honestly I had never played a Drum in my life...I just had that PASSION in me.

The next thing, I was laid a challenge by all of my band members...I was the youngest then. If I could be a better drummer than the existing drummer...I shall have the option of replacing him. We both went to his Drum Instructor, where I have to pay to learn and I am only given 2 months to do it better than him (our drummer only took up drumming for 2 months then). Naturally we are playing & learning the same stuffs. My band members accompany me & him in our practice.

The 1st time I play the drum ... I could just do it so smoothly and in less than 6 lesson of 1hrs each ....the instructor had nothing to teach me....I had finished his material (I guess he must be only an Intermediate Drummer too at that time, but I was indeed a fast learner and can read very well..everything seems to be co-ordinating, I was surprise myself. Needless to say, my instructor says I was good & cut for drumming to my band members) It is from here I know ...I will and should do better in drumming than any other instruments....that was good news ... the bad news is....I did not become the drummer of that band ... all band members disolve because of me (I was wrong too...but I was young)...from then on ..... Eric is my name & Drumming is my Game.

I went on to join other bands.

And today, if anyone of you here were to ask me...am I good in my drumming....I would say NO......I'm still not good enough, and I am now putting in countless hours of effort in perfecting my drumming....I won't ever be the best...but I will be one good drummer .... someday, somehow....and hopefully within a couple of years from now...That's my dream !

I strongly believed that - "Drummers Are Not Born" but "Are Made" ..... It takes a lot of hardwork to be good in drumming and hardwork bleed success. This still hold true to me. As such I've learn to respect good drumming - these drummers must have put in countless hours & effort to be where they are today....and they do derserve RESPECT.
Cheers my brothers

[magand]

I cant remember the day i sat down and thought "im gonna play drums". Cous i just have always played drums. It may sound a little stupid, but thats just how it is. I can still remember my first, blue, mickey-mouse set (or at least i remember the pictures), with cymbals and all. And before that, i used to just drum on the couch with those chineese-eating-sticks-things, you know. And it just developed from the couch to be a real kit, that i play now (i dont use the couch anymore). So i cant say for how long i have been playing drums or how i started.

[YAHAHA]

I've never been able to sit still; I'm ALWAYS absent-mindedly tapping my feet, hands, fingers, teeth... to some ryhthm or song either on the radio or in my head.

AND there is always some kind of music playing in my head (right now it is Yes' "Hold On"). Some people might say that I'm possessed... yup: possessed with the spirit of music!

[Fur drummer]

I was 11 when I wanted to play the drums. I thought they were cool and sexy, I still do. Plus it was a good way to get girls. I really got excitied and turned on when I heard a cool drum solo. I thought, man I've got to play the drums because that would be really cool.

[sabian_aax]

i used to play guitar but when im listening to a song i always concentrate on the drums rather than the guitar riffs or chords so 1 day i decided to take drum lessons and after that i got addicted and obsess with drums, maybe its just the rhythms and different grooves that u can play that made me want to play drums, and its also good for your health because drumming is an exercise :)

[sloppyjoe]

I ewanted to play cuase in 7th grade trumpet sucked. So I got into percussion and at the end of 8th I got my first set. 2years later still usein it but sounds a lot better.

If I don't play my drums for over 2 days I get really sad. Any one else?

[sabian_aax]

Music- first band that got me into drums are pearl jam,nirvana,a perfect circle, foo fighters and a lot more rock bands then after that my drum teacher let me listen to some fusion anf funk stuffs like galactic,tower of power,the meters, james brown, chick corea and a lot more :), i enjoyed listening to them.
Drummer- dave grohl,taylor hawkins,chamberlain,chambers,gadd,,freese and a lot more Styles- i like playing funk rock its fun, and rnb, pop, alternative, hip hop, some jazz, different kinds of rock, ballad
Inspirations- the thing that inspires me to be better is all the drummers out there that plays with emotion, plays with finesse, plays consistently, someone that plays for the music, and also have some technical skills whether he is a famous drummer or not :)

[RudimentalDrummer]

I was 11 when I wanted to play the drums. I thought they were cool and sexy, I still do. Plus it was a good way to get girls. I really got excitied and turned on when I heard a cool drum solo. I thought, man I've got to play the drums because that would be really cool.

Kekekekeke ... true..true ...

"Woman believes that Male Drummers's are extremely Good & Versatile At Their STICKS !"

[ak_]

females...i mean, don't get me wrong, i love the music...but c'mon...let's be honest here...it's the females

[Thomas Braas]

My mother... maybe me too, but no, my mother...

[Thomas Braas]

The eeevil women....

[hankster]

my best friends older brother was in a band . he built a room in the cellar to practice in. he had a white pearl ludwig set, and his sticks were painted like a candy cane. at the time the peppermint twist was popular. he started giving lessons for $2 an hour. i dropped playing trumpet like a bad habit and took lessons . i stopped playing around '69-'70 but always kept drumming in the back of my mind. in feb. 2005 i bought my own set of ludwigs and started up again. it is so incredible!!!!!!!!! it's religion!

[davodi74]

Well, I come from a musical family. My grandma was a master violinist and my grampa a master organist. My sister used to sit by the stereo speaker for hours and listen to Beethoven and Bach, and what do ya know? She is an amazing pianist today!

As for me, I would always be banging on things and singing "boom boom pssshhh!" when I was like 6 or 7 I would be asking my mom what that was in the background of a song and she couldn't point out the instrument because it was so quiet! And to this day, I still bang on everything! So it was sort of a given that I would play drums one day.

[timpanigrip23]

Well, when I was a young boy I had to be at least 3 years old I saw my dad play his old pearl set from there on until about the age of 15 and I knew that's what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Not as a hobby, I wanted to perform in churches, concerts, anywhere as long as I played my ass off. It wasn't only my dad it was being big fan of Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham the greatest ambidextrous player in the world. I mean just the groove that I felt when I heard drummers, play I wanted to be a big part of that. I wanted people to hear me play and say damn that kid has skills. Most of all it was my dad though. He's the greatest.

[timpanigrip23]

I ewanted to play cuase in 7th grade trumpet sucked. So I got into percussion and at the end of 8th I got my first set. 2years later still usein it but sounds a lot better.

If I don't play my drums for over 2 days I get really sad. Any one else?

Hey I feel you sloppy joe it gets so bad for me that I just play air drums. see me and my wife just moved to warner robins georgia and my drums are in storage, but I take my sticks everywhere I go. when i'm home i just watch drum dvds or dave matthews concerts and play along with carter. hey man if you're interested in talking about some drum stuff man or lady my email address is mrzeekydpg@yahoo.com. If not no worries I'm just desperate to be around fellow musicians.

[timpanigrip23]

Well its kinda wierd but my father played drums and when i was around the age of 5 i just started playing naturally. I have never had a lesson to this day and iam 21 years old. I am not the greatest but I consider myself good for never being taught a single thing. I guess it was just passed down from my father....


I was 3 when I saw my dad play it was the best sound I'd ever heard before. like you I have never had a lesson either. I guess it was passed down from my dad. I mean that dude could chop'em. I've been playing for about 12 years now I'm 23. we have something in common cuz.

[sloppyjoe]

One thing that keeps me going is that I have the tools to become not good but great and where I come from there is a very distinct difference. I started drums because even though I played trumpet i would always admire the percussion. There like the rebels of the group and could play powerfull things that blow minds away.

[BackInBlack]

Well, big thanks to Stevis for initiating a thread that allows other drummers to communicate their history of percussion/music through a "how/where/why" discussion.
Well to begin with...

<b>Music</b>: ahhhhh, it's difficult to readily cite offhand, because i started jamming at a VERY VERY young age that before i knew it i was breaking sh*t around the house, stealing candlesticks or causing trouble in the kitchen and stuff. Then, i finally got a set, thank god, and much relief my parents felt.

<Drummer</b>: Again, difficult. ehhh, every frank zappa drummer. My dad (r.i.p.) was a HUGE Zappa-fanatic. awesome. Actually, come to remember. Back in the day (like 3 years ago) i was a big Vandals fan and discovered Josh Freese that way. He's (to this day) the only punk-drummer i consider to Have the skills most Un-punkrock drummers have. That's way cool.

<b>Person</b>: My dad, he allowed it. I didn't get yelled at for playing loudly in the basement for a couple of hours. fun stuff.

<b>Style</b>: I listen to music, period. So, style is everything i hear. I grasp anything i think could be played on drums. it usually works.

<b>Inspirations</b>: many many drummers. including those of the jazz-style. Those cats are always up to interesting and fun things. also, Myself. I usually don't care what instructors or drum-clinicians have to say as long as i know i feel great playing and don't let any ego get me barking til i am too tired to bite any longer.

[mlehnertz]

With a name like "Plook" I find that hard to believe.

Style- Zappa.

[Wegadrummer]

Music- I listen to alot of diffrent styles of music.. everything from punk, rock, metall, blues, jazz and some pop..
Drummer- My drumteacher, he is drummer for the norwegian idol tour..
Person- everybody who share the same passion as me on drums
Style- rock, punk, metall and funk..
Inspirations- Everything that has drums in it..

[fourstringdrums]

Music - Jazz bands that we had at school when I was growing up and anything that was on MTV.
Drummer - Don Kirby. My first and only drum teacher.
Person - Mr. Page. My music teacher in elementary school who gave me my first chance to play.
Style - Funk, R&B, Rock
Inspirations - Everyone/thing above inspired me to play. But the guy's who keep me inspired now are Steve Gadd, Uriel Jones, Benny Benjamin, Richard "Pistol" Allen, Andrew Hewitt (a drummer on my site), John Blackwell and the guy who's made the biggest impression on me, Billy Ward.

[drummerstix_au]

Started playing drums at 10 years old.
First band was with friends from school in 1984 or thereabouts.
First pro band was a cover band in 1989.. doing Skid Row, Motley Crue covers.
Biggest inspirations: John Bonham, Ian Paice, Phill Rudd, Carmine Appice, Eric Singer, Eric Carr.
Whats kept me going for so long: Rick Allen... the guy is amazing to bounce back from a car accident like he did and emerge as the drummer as he has.. it has really given me the spirit that anything is possible.

[bigdaddyricc]

Hi Everyone,
I'm Richard and I too had started on the trumpet upon entering the 6th grade.
I soon went to the baritone and then the tuba.
I had friends that played drums in and out of the band, and that has always been my greatest desire to play. I've been playing drums full time now since the early 90's after dibbling with bass and other instruments over the years.
I love the sound of the drums, the emotions that you can make with them and the power that they have that make people move....
Drummers are the foundation of any group or band. The spirited time keepers.....

Plus, is there anything better than drums....? LOL

[drummergurl]

When I was 11 I started playing because of a boy. I never took any lessions but quickly fell in love with the drums more than the boy. Now at 15 I still love to play drums but still get attension from the boys and thats a big plus.

[sloppyjoe]

I think there is a un-avoidable desire to play drums. Horn players in the school band tend to make fun of percussionist but really they know they want "touch" the snare. One can see the desire in their eyes. The fact that an indivuadle can play a powerfull message that moves people inspires one to become a percussionist but after realizing it's hard work to be up to the standards of whom they saw play, one might easily give up and just dream. Then there is us who worked for the dream and made it a reality....

so with that drums are effin sweet I mean common, honestly can a trumpet play dark and evil solo that just flat out rocks and have nearly the loudness of the drums? Percussion has to most range when it comes to dynamics.

[M2Kstyle]

Im 15. Started playing two years ago in Novemeber. But I've been told on more than one occasion I'm the equivalent to someone who has been playing for 10.

I practice about 3 hours daily, and have a band (bebop).We play stuff by Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Duke Ellington, Dexter Gordon, etc etc...

I also play in the school jazz band because I could use some work on my reading/counting (because I'm mostly a feel player). I took lessons from day one, and I switched teachers about 6 months ago.

I started playing becasue of no spacific drummer. But my granpa plays, and he had taught my dad a few simple things when he was younger, and in the 80's he bought a set at a garage sale so I've always played around a bit, but never seriously until I started lessons.

Along with Jazz I play rock, metal, and emo (No I'm NOT an emo, I just like the music).

Inspirations: Dave Weckl is huge with me. He's the first jazz I ever heard and I'm In love with his playing (even though he's fusion, you get what I mean). Max Roach and Buddy Rich are also great too. Although lately I've been picking up some things from Bill Stewart and Peter Erskine. But I have to owe all of my rock playing to Linkin Park and Trapt and the such.

[cjl71178]

For me, it was just hearing drums that got my attention. I've been into music for as long as I can remember...in diapers! My mom bought me my first "kid" drumset when I was seven and I haven't looked back 20 years later! I remember going to school dances and seeing bands, which made me want to drum even more. I still get crazy when I go to a concert and see a drummer play...or even go see a local cover band...it's still an inspiring feeling for me.

I joined my high school marching band when I was only in fourth grade, which at that time wasn't a common thing in my school. Usually you had to be in at least junior high to be in band, but I guess I became the first exception. Two years later, I became the head of our drum section...which was a blast! I stayed in high school band all the way up to my graduating year, and I also started playing in bands when I was 14.

I couldn't see myself doing anything else...drums is like breathing for me. It's like a drug to me: you get such a high off of it, and you can never get enough of it!

[danz]

when i was 10 i told the whole school that i played drums, so one day, out of the blue some older guys asked me 2 play sthg,and i didn't know what to do... i even hit the bass drum with the stick.
when the school year finished, i got a drums and took private lessons with my friend's brother( he was about 18 and now he is the best drummer in the middle east)
so when when i got back 2 school i showed them stuff that made them drool...

[NaturalRaz]

I saw Tommy Lee spin upside down in a cage and play a solo at the same time! I was hooked for life!

[Kevin29035]

Hey everyone, this is my first post here, I'd like to stay longer too.

Ive havent ben drumming for too long, but it started in school, I sat in front of the kit at school, and got basic rock beat right that minute, and everything catapulted from there. This was in, say, September, October, and on Christmas day, after months of nagging parents I finally got one (with many of my uncles, who are very musical, saying stuff along the lines of: "why buy it? you'll sell it soon enough"). My parents never sold the kit (and by the way, its a CB but I'm not bothered, as of now anyway) coming up for 2 years this christmas, and I have a band, jam every weekend and gig. :D

[DoubleBassUrFace]

well, i suck at everything else, drums give me a sense of power in my music, and i wanna be a part of my music. this is the best thing i can do, im stickin to it.

[DTKBigDawg]

For me it was a case of mistaken identity. Growing up, my best friend was already an accomplished drummer. So to play with him I thought guitar was my calling...it wasn't. Then I tried bass..neither was that. As time went on I realized I had always liked the drums themselves and the activity of beating my hands on my thighs, desk or whatever to any song I heard. So I went and bought a cheap set and tried it out. Yep, too bad I didn't do this younger in life. But I am getting all of it now!

[noVIce LegENd]

My Hands are God's gift. The only best thing i can do to the the best of my limit is to please My Lord with his gift.

[cjl71178]

I saw Tommy Lee spin upside down in a cage and play a solo at the same time! I was hooked for life!

That inspired me too dude! I wish I could've seen him do that live.

[TampaDrummer]

My dad had been a drummer his whole life. I don't know why, but when I was a kid I hated drums because I was around them so much.

Because I wanted to be Stevie Ray Vaughn, I wanted a guitar and so my parents bought me one. I didn't know where to start and I came to the conclusion that I hated it. I put down the guitar and had my dad set up his drums for me. Much to my surprise they came VERY naturally to me, almost kind of weird. This was when I was around 8 btw. Well, 10 years later here I am.

[Kitten_Krunchie]

Music- My fave band, Tool
Drummer- My teacher, I forgot her name. lol It was long time ago
Person- My brother and my bf (my bf bought me my kit for my birthday, sweetest thing ever. My bro is an excellent drummer (an absolute freak for a 16 year old, must be all that listening to Yes, haha), and all this time I thought he resented me for wanting to play too, next thing he's like 'why didn't you?I'd have let you.'
Style- Metal, Hard rock
Inspirations- My friends and wonderful bf for constantly encouraging me and making me feel like I'm cool xD My dad for saying I could probably play better than him (whirrrd).

[Terraform]

Hey everyone.
I was inspired to play drums from a good friend of mine who played drums in a local cover-band in San Diego, CA (my hometown). I was around 8 at the time (1993) but I never was able to buy a drumkit until age 14. I stopped playing after a couple years (because of noise restrictions, among other reasons) and started playing guitar and bass. I'm just now able to start playing drums again. It's very fun and exciting to be playing again, and I wish I had kept practicing through the years.

[DTKBigDawg]

Music - Rush, country rock, Zep got my ears perked that way.

Drummer - I'm in awe of Neil Peart and his abilities. But moreover I like the countryrock beats of Bruce Crump and Artimus Pyle. There's just something there....

Person - A dear friend who I fell out of touch with. He was a very good drummer and I didn't play drums when I knew him so we could play together. I played guitar at that time.

Style - When it comes to playing, I like a good bit of harder rock and then some of the countryrock stuff. I know, a little strange....

Inspirations - My main inspiration is myself. I realized when I decided to get back into music and specifically go after percussion that I COULD do it. There was a lingering doubt back then, but I've proven to myself that I can keep getting better.

[mediocrefunkybeat]

This thread is a thread about the "HOW" that got you into to drums.....I would like to know.....

Music- Initially Metallica and Zeppelin... Now, Rush, Hendrix, Camel, Cream, Frank Zappa, Dave Brubeck, Dream Theater... it goes on.
Drummer- Lars Ulrich (hey, points for honesty) at least at first.
Person- My parents actually, but my friend who persuaded me.
Style- Funk, Jazz and 60's Classics
Inspirations- Steve Gadd, Mike Portnoy, Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, Joe Morello...

[DrumGod]

Music- G n R, megedeth, Metallica, thin lizzy aerosmith
Drummer- Lars Ulrich at first then i relised he a disgrace lol
Person- Me! i always wanted to play drums and then i decided to save up and pull out of a school trip to spain to get more money
Style- Hard Rock, Metal
Inspirations- Matt Sorum (slashes Snakepit album the greatest album for drums i herard in years), vinne paul, Brian Downey and everyone else i hear cos they all make me wanna play and get better better

[Geoff Tipps]

Music- The Beatles.The first band I really loved (I'm sure I'm not alone).Led Zeppelin, natch
Drummer- Ringo got me into drums , Bonham and Buddy miles made me love the drums.
Person- My dad. He played drums in his youth , doing the Shadows covers.He also taught
me how to play the basics.
Styles- anything with a groovy fat beat.I love playing in the pocket.Mostly tho I play rock ,
funk , and folk.
Inspirations- Seeing and hearing great drummers present and past , especially the ones with
fat pockets and buckets of soul. This means that drummers that inspire me
don't necessarily need to have technical chops.Technical drummers are
everywhere , drummers with soul are a rarity.

[ccsmith]

I joined the city pipe band in the early sixties. Drum Major let me take home an old metal snare that had rope & leather tension for the head and if I remember correctly it had thick cord for the snares. That old drum was beautiful and to my ears sounded great.

[PearlDrumz3]

Hi Everyone im new here!

My friend showed me in 4th grade that you could play percussion in the school band. I tried it and i hated it. I was horrible and didnt practice much till about the end of 5th grade i got a private drum teacher and i dramatically got better which inspired me to practice more.

[Bastardo]

The sound, the passion, the controll, the beat, ... It just takez me away, man! I know I'll never quit this!

[foursticks]

A man named John Henry Bonham and of course the whole 'feel' of drums

[kicksock]

Music - What got me interested in drums was listening to Sousa marches, a recording from the '50s of fife and drum marches from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, and Dixieland style jazz. I was about 3 or 4 years old. Hearing the Stan Getz hit recording of "The Girl from Ipanema" in the early '60s also had a huge musical impact on me as a kid. ;-)

Person - My parents. As a young kid I was constantly keeping time to music by finger tapping, toe tapping, and marching around the house, and they suggested I take up the drums.

Drummer(s) - The anonymous drummers on the above listed recordings got me started, I guess. I started lessons at age 12 in 1968.

Styles - Mostly Jazz, Funk and World (basically groove-oriented stuff). Also formal rudiments (back when there where only 26 of them!)

Inspirations - Gadd, Bill Cobham, David Garibaldi, Harvey Mason and Stewart Copeland. Also my high school drum teacher - he had the prettiest sounding open, double stroke rolls I've ever heard.

[Darmikalus]

interesting... i sorta always wanted too...i come from a very musical family.. rythem is natural for me...

my dad used to take me with him wherever he went (when i was young and needed supervision) hed always have black sabbath, or zepplin playing, the family woudl alway have music in general playing...the drum parts always seemed to make sense to me...

then almost 5 years ago, i got my first kit...

sorry about the bad spelling i got shot down pretty hard today, so bear with me...

[rendezvous_drummer]

watching my brother play the drums in the basement and waiting for my turn to try them, it took me 3 years before i did get to try them and when i did, my mom and other brother thought i was daniel playing them, and hes been playing for 10 years and that was my first time.

[CanadianBonzo]

When i was in 7th grade, i was just making that transition from juvinile musical tastes ("pop") into the good stuff. I really wanted to play an instrument. So one day i was at my friends house (who is now the guitarist in my band) and his mom's boyfriend had this really spiffy premier jazz setup. He was already playing guitar so i figured i'd give the drums a shot. Ever since i hit that first snare, i was hooked, haven't looked back since, been playing for 5 years now and probably for the rest of my life.

[Servbot]

I had a pair of those circus things called devil sticks, but the one that you toss inbetween the two sticks broke and I started using the other two sticks as drum sticks, and eventually led to me taking lessons and getting a kit years later. I also used to go to Crospy Stills and Nash concerts and loved meeting and seeing all those drummers.

[pearl_floyd]

thats simple. cuz drums kick @?*%. plus chicks always go for the drummer.

[Magic Maple]

Well i started playing drums when i was about 14, i just felt learning an instrument would be an awesome idea and chose the drums (Thankfully). After a while of drumming i just got into it more and more, as i started playing for bands the fun just increased. BUT i really became attached the moment my band won battle of the bands and i felt so great i knew i woudnt stop performing!!!

Thats my story

[davodi74]

pots and pans all the way.

[gr82bagn]

I’ve always liked rock music and back in the day (pre MTV) you had to go to a concert to see any bands. I had no money so I hardly went to any concerts. One night the concert came to me, Led Zeppelin “Song Remains the Same”, Hudson Mall Cinema, Bonzo, that was it, I went out the next day and got a job at Arthur Treachers, I kid you not. I cooked some fish, saved some money, and bought my first kit. The following week I was playing in front of a group of WWII vets at a private party bashing out mostly Rolling Stones songs with a Bonham feel or at least what I though was a Bonham feel. I’m 43 years old now and after a small 12 year hiatus I’m back playing wicked hard and redeveloping my chops. Feels good to be back.

[sleepyhead]

I cant remember the day i sat down and thought "im gonna play drums". Cous i just have always played drums. It may sound a little stupid, but thats just how it is. I can still remember my first, blue, mickey-mouse set (or at least i remember the pictures), with cymbals and all. And before that, i used to just drum on the couch with those chineese-eating-sticks-things, you know. And it just developed from the couch to be a real kit, that i play now (i dont use the couch anymore). So i cant say for how long i have been playing drums or how i started.
That is scary cos i did the EXACT same thing with the "chineese-eating-sticks-things", and I also get in trouble for randomly tapping on everything. So after the 14th phone call from my teachers, my dad finally decided to get me a kit.

[THIEB]

I plaid violin when I was very joung.

I was disgusted of music because of that.

When I was 14, I war forced by my parents to play an instrument. so, I started to play the drum because it was the instrument wich looks for me the less ridiculous.

Strange, hu ?

but since this time, I ve never stop, because drum is really my passion even if I didn't really choose it at the beginning.

[CanadianBonzo]

I had a pair of those circus things called devil sticks, but the one that you toss inbetween the two sticks broke and I started using the other two sticks as drum sticks, and eventually led to me taking lessons and getting a kit years later. I also used to go to Crospy Stills and Nash concerts and loved meeting and seeing all those drummers.


CROSPY Stills and Nash eh....lol

[Rosco]

What made you want to play drums more than anything?

The devil............

[Lovethydrum]

Wow yah this question caught my eye pretty fast.

What got me playing? Gosh, when i was younger i would bang on stuff like no other.

I'd just go around hitting quaker oats boxes, hitting tables, hitting books with my pencils, pots, pans, whatever... I am not from a rich family or even remotely financially stable family so i wasn't about to ask for drums... but after years of this behavior, i finally just kinda mentioned how much i'd want drums. And i went on and on about it. One christmas, it finally came true. I guess they really hated my stealing the oatmeal container and the mash potato pot.

... the joke was on them though, our house is small and when i started, i obviously just sounded annoying behind the kit. They were always telling me to stop drumming. Then i did drumline, drum corps, years of kit experience from jazz band and whatnot... now they like it when i play.

We're all happy again.... well... i am anyway, it's probably still banging to them -_-;;

SUCKERS!! muwahaha


but yah to answer the thread question, i guess i just had this thing inside of me that made me want to be destructive and hit stuff... but yet i wanted to destroy things in perfect time... i'm like the crazed super villain with OCD.

[Nunner]

this question is one i am always willing to answer, i guess it all started for me when i was two, my dad was in a band and the drummer would keep his kit at our house in the basement, i can remember geting up on the stool( dont know how i did it, it was bigger thatn i was) then i would grab the sticks and just start banging. i could fall asleep in the same room while the band was practicing.

then my drumming went into hideing untill about grade 5 when i was inspired once more, my uncle was the greatest drummer i knew( well the only drummer i knew) and i wanted to be just like him. so i bought an old kit from the local school, i think it was an old "Torq" set that i got for like $200.00 all the money i had saved for like 2 years. then i formed my first band with my two best friends. since then i have been in many different bands but my one best friend (the bass player) was in them all. Now i am in one called Rosemary's Baby you can check out the low budget recording on www.purevolume.com/rosemarysbaby

Nunner

[lord_blurg]

I use to play guitar but I lost one of my fingers due to an accident and I couldn't play it anymore... I loved music but I couldn't play it on the guitar anymore so I thought I would start playing the drums... I still have four fingers on my left hand... more than enough fingers to keep a nice grasp of a drumstick...

[glynes]

]Music- No particular music ... altho I suppose I could give the Beatles credit ... they got me into music in the first place, even tho' that was 40 years before I got the notion to play drums; and it was at a concert by Ringo Starr and his All-Star Band that I got bit by the drum bug.

Drummer- Seeing Sheila E drumming at the above-mentioned concert gave me the idea. But it was seeing Kenny Aronoff in action that made up my mind. Watched him thru my little binoculars and said, "I want to do what that guy does"!

Person- I give my husband credit, for not laughing at me, for buying me my drum kit, and for continuing to encourage me.

Style- I'm first and foremost a rock-n-roll baby ... and classic rock is my first true love. I'm enjoying later rock, and even Blues, but I want to play the true classics.

Inspirations- Kenny Aronoff, without a doubt. Seeing him, made we want to start drumming; 6 months later, when I was discouraged and ready to quit, a private lesson with him kicked the door open and made me want to work harder than I knew I could. He knocks my socks off ... I've put him on warning that one day I intend to return the favor!!
8-)
I also have a great network of friends ... both on- and off-line ... who encourage me and believe in me, and make me want to really accomplish something.

[david_chitty]

didn't enjoy school really so i ended up playing the drums in the music rooms... i got quite good and did a few gigs in school and now im hooked... i got my 7 C's but if i hadn’t cut class so much to go play drums, i probably would have done better

[Fgxf]

I wasn't influenced by the music that I used to listen...to be serious...what good music at the age of 10 we expect to hear?
When I started percussion,after two weeks I wanned to play drums...I started percussion in the 5th grade(after 4 years of piano)...and there was a student in the 12 grade(the last year of high school) and I liked so much the stile that boy was plaing...the moves,the sound..everything(but of course he was a little bit crazy :)) )so...one day he camed to me and (by force) set me for the first time in my life on a drum set...and in 2 days I was plain' my first rithm(wich even today there are very well known bands with drummers that can't play that rithm :D )

[Will-Myster]

I was never really into Drums. I never thought of being a drummer. I really wanted to learn Gitaur, but I quit that. I thought it was too tricky. So anyhow, one day I went to my friends house and was banging on his drums. My dad came down later and did a big drum beat,
and I was impressed. I liked drums ever since that day I suppose.

Anyhow, at our chruch we needed a drummer so my dad went searching for a kit. I didn't come with him once while he searched until one night. We went and looked at this niceley used Yamaha Stage custome kite. I LOVED it. So we bought it. That was almost 2 Years ago and I love play. The reason I love to play is because music is life and Drums are addictive.

Will

[hateplow]

My first CD, Frizzle Fry.

[burnthehero]

My passion for drums has grown gradually over the past 7 years. Like many people, I started out on guitar and then somehow ended up in the drum chair. I guess I just naturally came to the realization that that's where I belong. Now, I can't imagine myself being happy playing any other instrument.

[Fgxf]

hm...maibe bass sometimes? Like I do? :D

[The Note]

When i was 10 i was having music in school, and then i thougt that the looked cool, so i wanted to play drums. And their went 10 minuttes and i could play 4/4, so i keept on going with drums....

[drummercraig]

played trumpet aswell, was good enough to get to grade 6 on the trumpet, i am still going, but i used to watch my sisters bf and he has been grade 8 at rock school since 13, he is now 18! so i was amazed, i was amzed by his drum solos whilst playing with platinum jar (www.platinumjar.co.uk download the new EP 4 free off here and find amzing drumming!) and he inspired me, i have only been playing a yr the drummer of platinum jar has taught me and i rlly love them now!!

[Rickenbacker]

Well - I don't actually know "why drums?" Perhapse energy that u are sharing while you play... between kit & people around, other musicians of the band.
The second beloved instrument - piano. Third - guitar. I was learning playing them, but not satisfied just by one of these sounds.

[icklegobbo]

I only started drums 3 months ago and picked it up no prob. I've always loved drums, the main reason I started playing was because all of my other instruments were getting really boring - sax, trumpet and piano plus eveyone in school seems to think they are amazing on drums, but I showed them...hehe

[brittc89]

The chicks. Apparently there are no groupies into acid and free jazz, so its not worked out to nicely. Just kidding. I really started because I was really terrible at the trumpet. After I had started though, I absolutely fell in love.

[cdawg_2010]

One time i went to my uncles and he had a drum set and i thought it was the best thing in the world and at the time i was 6 so for christmas my dad got me this little drum set lol

[t-bone]

i dug the drums because they are so powerful.........you can control the whole band by your playing.....you can be as quiet and meek as you wish, or thunder like cannons.....and no one can stop you......that's what hooked me on the drums.............


oh yeah..........and girls dug it too.......................

[zildjian_dude101]

Music- I'd say the bands that made me want to play drums were Dave Weckl Band, Dreamtheater, and Slipknot.

Drummer- Mike Portnoy and my friend Ryan Simpson. Ryan is actually one of my favorite drummers. He's only 19 and has met all the members of Dreamtheater, which is a lifetime goal for me. He plays with 30 and 40 year old band members that would rather have him than more experienced drummers.

Styles- Punk, Metal, Prog, and Jazz are my main ones, but I'll play anything the situation calls for.

Inspirations- Mike Portnoy, John Blackwell, Dave Weckl, Chris Alder, and the Rev

[rendezvous_drummer]

Music- Rock and Funk. Bands include U2, The Smiths, The Chameleons, RHCP,Tea Party
Drummer- Larry Mullen Jr.
Person- My Brother and Mother
Style- Rock, Funk, Punk, Metal, Jazz......anything but mainly is rock and funk
Inspirations- Larry Mullen Jr., Jeff Burrows, Aaron Solowniuk, Chad Smith, Carter Beauford

[SleightOfHand]

In 4th grade we had to choose an instrument to play, and I chose drums.
I dont really know why, but Im glad I did :-p

[SleightOfHand]

Music- Metallica

Drummer- Lars Ulrich, and very recently Ive taken a huge liking to Neil Peart, now that I can play well enough to play some of his parts.

Person- My 8th grade band teacher and a kid named mark go me into playing on the set. From 4th to 7th grade was strictly symphonic band type playing =P

Style- Heavy Metal / Hard Rock. But mainly, my own style.

Inspirations- Neil Pearts O Baterista. Everytime I see it I go DAMN ive got a long ways to go!!

[RamboKnife]

Music- Femme Fatale, Black Cat #13, Standing 8, Death From Above, Rush, Billy Talent, Alexisonfire, and so on.

Drummer- Sebastien Grainger, Niel Peart, Max Weinberg.

Person- Parents for buying me my first set.

Style- Rock, HardRock, Drum and Bass, Anything really fun (nothing too slow).

Inspirations- Cousin and I wanted to start a band for a while, so I asked for drums for Christmas, got then, and 2 years later I'm still playing. When we started our band, the guitarist (my cousin) was already amazing, and my bassist (best friend) was one of the best bass players in my town. I decided to bring myself up to their level, and now I think I surpass them.

[TitanSound]

Music- Genesis. I saw them live in '92 at Knebworth. Chester Thompson and Phil Collins do a drum duet. You can find it on either of thier pages on DW. I have a diverse rangle of musical tastes...anything from Pantera to The Police. I used to DJ also and done a lot of house, techno, drum 'n' bass and hip hop sets at partys/small clubs.

Drummer- Phil Collins & Chester Thompson as mentioned above. After seeing them and the roar it got from the crowd I started drum lessons 3 weeks later at school.

Person- I would say my mum and dad as they supported me, bought me my first kit (which I still own) and dad helped me transport my gear around during my early gigging days.

Style- Anything with a groove. my first teacher was more geared towards latin/jazz/funk so his emphasis on the groove was paramount in shaping me. I also like playing rock and drum 'n' bass type stuff. I have been told that I have a solid groove and play like a natural. In some ways I think that hinders my technical ability but i'm getting to grips with playing faster and more complicated stuff with practice. I also play the bass and keyboard and have been writing a lot of my own material using them as it allows me to write rhythmicly.

Inspirations- All of the great drummers. I try and keep an open mind as somethings that certain types of drummers do cross over into other styles. But I would say the people I draw the most from are Jo Jo Mayer, Stewart Copeland, Jeff Pocaro, Steve Gadd, Brad Wilk, Matt Cameron and Neil Peart

[King Crimson]

The bands that I listened to as a child all had good drummers:

The Who
YES
King Crimson
Little Feat
ELP

Discovering RUSH in 1978 closed the deal for me.

Seeing their 30th tour sent me to the drum store.

[Stu_Strib]

For me, because it is really really fun, and never gets old. I'm constantly the ONLY guy in my bands/projects that wants to play another set, or add another gig.

Yeah, I hate setting up tearing down, but it still is worth the hassle.

[da cheese walks]

The Brian Downey drum solo on "Sha-La-La-La",from Thin Lizzys "Live and Dangerous" album.....Brilliant!!!its just made it for me....

and i wanted to play as a kid...but i could only get a kit when we moved to a bigger house....so i had to start at 15.....i wish i had have started younger....but then again i wonder if i had started as a kid would i still have this much enthusiasm?

[Ashbash]

i quit the piano after playing it for about 4 years. mum MADE me take up another instrument, and i figured the world had enough guitarists. my drum teacher (also my pastor's son) made me realise how cool the drums were, and i got passionate and dedicated, to the extent i still continued to play drums without being allowed a drum kit for myself. that was four years ago. now i got a kit for b'day/xmas! am proud to be a drummer

[Slayer_metal_head]

Listening to my fav music

[Builder]

Listening to Deep Purple for the first time. Ian Paice blew me away (still does). Then Neil Pearts solo on All the Worlds a Stage and then Don Brewer on We're an American Band (whole album). It just took from there. Ciao Rich The Builder

[RudimentalDrummer]

Listening to Deep Purple for the first time. Ian Paice blew me away (still does). Don Brewer on We're an American Band (whole album).

Yeah...I remember during my younger days...it's was 70s. Whenever me & my friends(all bikers) listens to "Smoke On The Water" .... we were indeed getting high Smoking On The Water ....It's a Rocker's World those days...I had mine.

[Builder]

Smoke on the Water, One of my favorites. Ian is so smoothe. Don Brewer was just...whoa. His triples were almost inhuman. Carl Palmer, the rudiment king. And then there is Neil (bows before the all mighty). Ciao Builder

[AcoS]

Back in 1986, i think my very first reason to become a drummer at the age of 8, is a guy here in Canada name: Paul Brochu (drum: Gino Vanelli, Alain Caron, Uzeb and many more...) He also endorse Yamaha drums, Paiste Cymbals, Shure mics.
he become a couples of years later my drum teacher in college.

[Bad Drummer]

Blue Man Group. Saw their vegas show, and knew that's what I wanted to do.

[Jalmar]

I think it was the speed that different drummers can achieve behind the kit and also the fact that my grandfather used to say to me that: "It's acceptable to do a certain activity for how long as you please, as long as you don't get worse at doing that specific activity".

And that was the first two moments that drove me to seek and destroy the drumkit.

[foursticks]

For me it was a man named John Henry Bonham...

[qukk]

My dad made me listen to all the classic rock bands, then when i was about 10 he started makin me listen to jazz. I always loved music, but i just adored live drum solos, mainly because it was really proof of talent, and I really wanted to be able to do that. So then i got a drum set, and started to teach myself everything from metal to jazz, and i still love it.

[richyokes]

Always loved music and started on guitar at 8. Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by Stewart Copeland changed me forever. It's off the album Ghost In The Machine which is still a favourite album of mine and got me into reggae.
I couldn't get over the sound of the Copeland snare and all his crisp brilliant playing, HH's etc. After a few weeks of his sound going 'round my brain I gave in and began the awful reality of learning to hold my sticks properly.

A bit older now and happy just to groove and study Gadd the Godfather, Sly Dunbar, Jeff Porcaro, Andy Newmark. All a bit less rushed these days, feels good.

Luv yis, thanks for all the info in this forum, you're a grand bunch.

[kzdruma]

I was always hitting pots and pans when I was growing up. My uncle was a drummer and always tried to get me to start. When I first went to band the director asked me “so……what instrument do you want to play?”. I told him that I want to play the drums! When he asked why I told “because I like to hit things”! I have been playing ever sence!
Kzdruma

[Anchein Vouivra]

Music- The very first one was a song from the New Life Choire that was recorded at TEMA mission in Lausanne back in 1983 that had an outstanding but simple intro with the drum. I use to listen it when I was 4 years old. Then the first bands that got me wanting to finally start it was The Offspring, Eels and Massive Attack.

Drummer- Well the first ones had to be then Ron Welty, Butch and Andy Gangadeen.
Currently it have to be Tim Alexander, Danny Carey, Jimmy Chamberlin, Michael Giles, Ian Paice and so many others...

Person- My Sister for showing me for the first time when I was 4 what was a drumkit. Then my parents to pay lessons and rent my drum kit. Finally my drum teacher.

Style- Please let me know what you think about it ! (http://www.drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6230)

Inspirations- My band called "Mahogany" with who I share the same passion for music and creating some since 2001.

[Ony]

Hello, I'm new to DW. So uh, hi there! :P I actually originally started out wanting to play guitar and I took lessons for them for a while before I decided to stop taking them. I just wasn't feeling it with guitar. (which is ironic because my guitar player now wanted to play drums originally.) It wasn't until I was 15 years old and my friend spontaneously wanted to start a band. So we set up my dad's old kit in my basement and decided I'd play drums. I fell in love with them after my dad taught me the basic 4/4 beat and I've been playing since. That simple. :P

[Isaacs]

For me it began after failing in an astounding way at various wind instruments. I just didn't have the "it" that a person must have to be able. I think in some ways it was probably a lack of patience. I started banging around on upside down garbage cans when I was in the sixth grade and then re-joined the school band as a drummer. Snare drum parts seemed so easy. I had learned how to read music (somewhat) but then snare drum parts seemed so very easy. Of course that was a long time ago, with music that was simple but it just seemed like it worked.

Then I started getting more serious about my playing. I started to learn that drums were in fact an instrument and not just a beat.

From there it just became something I could not really live without. I mean, I was unhappy if I could not play. I was always looking for something to play and always looking to learn something new. I can remember learning rolls, learning how to let the sticks do the work, all of it was so much fun.

After a while I started playing a set and loved it even more. I can remember the days of garage bands (playing stuff from Sabbath, Zep, and then newer stuff like Ozzy (solo), Great White, Eagles, Scorpions, and Kiss. Anything rock, anything that felt good.

Today I have learned to love the fast drummers, the slow drummers, jazz drummers and latin drummers. I respect anyone who is in to what they do and works hard to grow. I know the question is what made you want to play drums, which I answered above, but I also know why I keep playing them.

I keep on playing because everything else goes away when I am playing. Work, girlfriend issues, life stresses. It all goes away and I find a place where it is just music. Just music and nothing else and as all of you know, there are just times when you find that place and it is absolutely perfect. Every song, every hit, all your chops and fills and grooves, they all just work. It's when you stop trying to drum and just play.....and as sentimental as all of that sounds, it is so very true.

It is like nothing else, and I have been changed for the better for picking up those sticks.

Best,
Isaacs

[thrashed]

to answer the question: What made you want to play drums more than anything?

would have to link back to the my influences of the powerful beats of John Bonham, The funk beats of Brain Mantia, The rocking beats of Dave Ghrol

and most importantly the feel you get when you hit the drums!

[Class A Drummer]

Music- I dont know what music got me into drums... i guess i just liked hitting things with sticks
Drummer- Same as before.
Person- My drum teacher- Fred Ray. He is better then a large percentage of pro drummers on drummerworld.
Style- Rock followed by jazz then fusion.
Inspirations- Same as first question. But recently i found a pic of myself at an age around 1 or 2 with a pair of small crash cymbals. not finger cymbals crash cymbals.

[Roo]

We were all influenced by greats of the 60's 70's & 80's, but before you saw or heard them play, what attracted you to the drums?

My dad used to play drums when I was like 6, I used to sit in front of the bass drums and watch it vibrate and listen to how awesome that sound was. I loved that. After I was old enough to start playing I was then influenced by John Bonham, Neil Peart, e.t.c.

I started because during a sporting trip with my school to another country, I stayed at a guy's house who had and played a drumset. He goes on and plays the basic rock beat with some simple fills. Me having absolutely no experience whatsoever got on and played exactly what he did, and it just clicked in my mind that this was something I could do for the rest of my life. I was 12 back then, now I'm 15 gigging all over my city with classical, blues, jazz, psychedelia, punk, rock, and metal bands. Over these past 3 years I've started learning more and more from my favourite drummers, and my family and friends are all extremely supportive.

What always pushed me back when I was 12 to keep on truckin was watching other kids the same age as me completely rip on their sets, and I have many friends who I still look to for inspiration to practice.

[NYdrummerdude]

Music- any music that was playing when i was little , first time i heard old metallica.
Drummer- Lars Ulrich , Neil Pert < first two good drummer i heard play , also seeing Mike Portnoy at Gigantour really made me know this is what i want to do.
Person- my mom , and my drums teachers.
Style- a thrashy type of metal thats what my band plays , fooling around with jazz is fun too.
Inspirations- al the great drummers out there , all genres of music that involve talent.

[Bright Antics]

Stewart Copeland. and my teenage years of loving music.

[GNR92]

I really wanted to play drums in my school band in 5th grade but there was too much drummers. Instead, I went and got drum lessons and my teacher taught me everything. He taught me double bass, pad stuff, and everything else. Since being taught by him, I love drums.

[Roo]

The chicks

Well duhhh, hahahaha. The ladies tend to have a soft spot for us drummers. Girl drummers look pretty attractive when they're drumming most of the time :p

[Royman27]

This is actually kind of an odd story, so here it is:

When I was about 11, I found out that we were moving to a new house to be closer to my dad's 7-11 franchise that he bought. I had been a ghetto/gangsta kid who wore clothes that came up almost to my knees, and I never really listened to rock, or any music very much for that matter. When we moved, I found that this town was the TOTAL opposite of where I used to live. So, I liked to go with the flow, and for about a year, I started to grow my hair out, to about my back. Then my older bro, who is 5 years and 20 days older than me(and my sister was born on the exact same day as my bro, were all born in July, and my b-day is 20 days away from both of them, so I'm the middle/trouble child ^L^), started listening to music like System Of A Down. He picked up the guitar, and soon was interested. Then I think that sparked something in me, my brother was like a really close friend to me, and he still sort of is but he's gone at college and comes home every weekend :), and one day, he wanted to get an amp for his new Ibanez Starter guitar, idk what it's actually name was, but he wanted to be just like the guitarist in S.O.A.D. I guess, and I think that's why I always love reading all these posts about you guys and your gear and what you think about other drums and gear, because I always saw my bro looking at guitars and researching on them. Anyway, I was talking to him in the car on the way to Guitar Center (oh ya, and I played Alto Sax for about 3 years, and I was really really good at it too, the best in my band classes at school, but I was never really motivated enough to go to band class in 5th grade cuz I really loved hanging out instead of playing music) and he said "Warren, this girl in band plays drums, and I think you should try them, cuz she says they're really fun", I almost always listened to what my older bro said cuz he was pretty much my second dad, unless I got into those big bro little bro fights with him, so I saw this 200$ Sound Percussion Piano Black set, and I had the money to buy it, I think the guy at GC tried all he could to make this thing sound better than it was in words, and I took his word for it. So I ended up buy a drumset that fits in 1 box, knowing ABSOLUTLEY nothing about drums, I went home, and set it up, with my bro to help me of course. It was funny, cuz I put the drum head OVER the hoop, instead of under the hoop on the bass drum, and I put the hi-hat clamp on wrong, and didn't figure to how to really put it on until 2 years later. But I played it every time I could, I even faked sick a couple of times to get out of school and play the kit. My grandma actually liked me playing the kit, but it kind of made me mad that she would mock me and laugh while saying "go play your boom bang, or what do you call it", then I would hit stuff as hard as I could and she would try to calm me down. I think that's how it all started, knowing absolutley NOTHING about drums, and just following the crowd sort of, and today, I have a Gretsch Catalina Birch Vintage Burst 5 piece shell fusion pack, I think I got ripped sort of, for about 600$, and you could get it off Musicians Friend for 550$ :/, but I'm still happy. I have my old cymbals that came with my Sound Percussion set that sound okay, they're a 16" Ride/crash (at least I think?) and a pair of 12-13" hi's, and a squeeky as hell hi-hat pedal and a really bad no cam bass drum pedal. I'm happy with what I have, and I've merged my floor tom from my Sound Percussion kit with my Gretsch Catalina Birch, and it actually sounds really good. This is my story of how I got into drums, and now I play a lot, but sometimes I don't, cuz sometimes I think that my neighbors think that I suck, but now my mom's getting me a private teacher, and I think I have fulfilled my dream of getting a great set, and now to work on getting a DB pedal, new cymbals, new stands, and working on drumming. Thanks to all of you that took the time to read this.

-Warren

[averypoordrummer]

hearing the flair of mark brzezicki and the speed of tre cool, and the chance to do something different. iv been involved in music since i was 6 and drums made a nice change

[Tony Rockyhorror]

A basic need to be in a band and the knowledge that everyone is always looking for a drummer.

[ElvinBaRkerDennis13]

inever really got into drums, i was a jazz trombonist...which is kinda....not as cool as drums! but in about 10th grade i decided that i would do percussion, and i decided i wanted one...i joined drumline...was bottom bass, got most of the crucial parts, and now im gigging like two years later...it turns out im actually pretty good, but i still play the trombone too

[Lingenfelter Twin Turbo]

Nothing really ever made me want to play. I was playing when I was 5 years old, because my entire extended family played the drums. Some were professionals, and some, like my father were semi-pro. I never NOT remember being able to play the drums or being around the drums. We had drums in my house since the day I was born. My dad said he put my older brother on the drum stool and he cried. He put me on the stool and I started playing! Sometimes it is learned and sometimes it comes naturual.

[LostRythym]

Music - Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith
Drummers - John Blackwell, Steve Smith,Steve Gadd, Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart,Sheila E., My Drum Teacher.
Person - Parents
Style - Anything under the sun. Mainly Rock and Metal.
Inspiration - Drumming Videos and the praise i get from my senior in the school band.

[stick platinum]

going to church, Rev. Clark played a white marine oyster pearl kit don,t remember the make but I used to sit behind the mothers board (second pew that side) just to watch

[sLarkin20]

Shannon Larkin

I saw a video of Godsmack performing "I Stand Alone" live for some Military gig, and he rocked the hell out on the drums. He looked like he was having so much fun and loved what he was doin so I decided I wanted to join him : D!

[playplayplay]

I've never been able to sit still; I'm ALWAYS absent-mindedly tapping my feet, hands, fingers, teeth... to some ryhthm or song either on the radio or in my head.

AND there is always some kind of music playing in my head (right now it is Yes' "Hold On"). Some people might say that I'm possessed... yup: possessed with the spirit of music!


Me too, me too! always bin that way, awsome Im not the only one driving people nuts by tapping... ever notice if you are on a bus, and you start tapping something and soon you have a few others start to tap as well? this works! they just start to tap cause they see you tapping...

[Class A Drummer]

Chicks. Sure i might have been 5 or 6 but really... CHICKS.


SEX, DRUGS ROCK AND ROLE,
PARTY HARD BIRTH CONTROL!!!


http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7204

[daniel ocean]

For me it was a man named John Henry Bonham...

same reason as yours, i feel whole lotta passion

[drummerern]

I've never been able to sit still; I'm ALWAYS absent-mindedly tapping my feet, hands, fingers, teeth... to some ryhthm or song either on the radio or in my head.

AND there is always some kind of music playing in my head (right now it is Yes' "Hold On"). Some people might say that I'm possessed... yup: possessed with the spirit of music!



you do that too? or a*re you joking about tapping your teeth?

[The Laker]

I grew up with a father who played Jazz on Saturday mornings and Classical on Sundays. I was also 9 when the Beatles came out in 1962.
Listening and growing up with music was the norm for me. I started practicing drums when the British Invasion hit North America first on furniture and finally on a Stewart snare my dad bought me. Between 1962 and 1975 I played. Once I got married I stopped until a month ago when I bought my Pearls.
For me playing drums just made sense. Don't ask me why but dispite what we have to do just to be able to play everything made sense. I ate, slept, did the air drumming, played on the real thing, the whole nine yards. Even after a 30 year absence it still has been a life long love affair that only a few of us can't explain.

[ElvinBaRkerDennis13]

I really liked music and thought of playing bass... But I was born a tapper... So...
ditto, but i played jazz trombone, but i mean really, just the passion that i would see people putting into the drums and the way that it seemed to be a WAY OF LIFE as opposed to something to do....i was hooked, sophmore year in high school i got a kit and started playing

tj

[Laura :]]

I realised i wanted to learn the drums a while back when my mate Aaron started playing Greenday, i thought hey i wanna do that. We're both side-drummers, and ive been playing for a year so ive got more interested in the drums since i started. It took me AGES to find a tutor now i have one, first lesson was last week, hahaha!

[Blastbeatz]

Listening to Queens' Roger Taylor on "The Game". My father used to listen to this record
when I was only three or four years old - since that time I' ve been dreaming of buying my
own kit and start rockin' . The dream came true - what else can I say...

[countaferfer]

well, I suffer from depression and I've always been into music.
everything else just isn't physical enough.
[physical activity helps produce endorphines, which in turn produce Saratonin, and that's what I'm lacking.]

[Womble]

well, I suffer from depression and I've always been into music.
everything else just isn't physical enough.
[physical activity helps produce endorphines, which in turn produce Saratonin, and that's what I'm lacking.]

I highly recommend you increase your levels of serotonin instead, and your problems may vanish!!

Sorry, I hope a fellow sufferer is allowed to poke fun :)

[lilblakdak]

Chicks.
BTW it worked!

[pimp_my_RIDE]

When I was about 10, my brother was an air cadet. I would attend dome of his parades but never really thought it was all cool. But then i heard the band play. It WAS GREAT. I loved the melody of the trumpets. And then I heard this continueis(?)beat in the back ground. Then the drummers broke into an amazing drum cadence. I instantly fell in love with drums, and learnd to play snare drum. Only a year later i started at middle school and everyone had to pick an instruement. BAM! Drums were sitting there all alone so I sat down while everyone was talking about how good thell be at trumpet or clarinet, I just broke into a roll and then put everything i could lay down out(which wasnt much i might add)I played for what felt like hours and then stopped. That is when i fell in love with drum sets.(and a girl in my class who kissed me for being so cool) It was the rythm. So hear i am 3 and a half later, drumming like a maniac everyday.

[pdp 9091]

When I was about 5 years old, my dad's friend played drums in our church. I showed interest in the drums, my parents bought me his old CB700 set and I never stopped since. Now I have a Yamaha Stage Custom. But what I regret is what I sold a couple years back. I bought a Zildjian K Heavy Ride for 30 bucks off some guy who wanted to get rid of it. I loved it but sold it to fund my new set!!!!! Stupid Me!!!

[XNIRVANAX]

Music-Classic Rock, Metal, Grunge, Rock Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Alice in Chains, Hendrix, GNR, Black Sabbath, The Misfits, The Melvins, The Doors, The Beatles, Megadeth goes on.. heh
Drummer- John Bonham
Person- my friend Bassist in my band Nick Lacovara
Style- Rock Metal
Inspirations-John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Vinnie Paul and every other drummer just doing their own thing.

[Stu_Strib]

Music- The Police, Journey, Steely Dan, Toto, Van Halen, Billy Joel, *cough* Loverboy, ZZ Top, Elton John, Iron Maiden, Alan Parsons Project, Chick Corea Electrik Band

Drummer- Dom Famularo, Steve Smith and Billy Cobham..the first clinics I remember

Person- My high-school private instructor and college drumline coach, Alan Keown

Style- Funky rock, bluesy rock, accoustic 'adult oriented/album rock'

Inspirations- Learning music on violin for 6 years before touching a drumstick. Having a high level of musicianship already as a beginning drummer. Placing in State competitions in orchestral snare and mallet percussion, earning a scholarship to play in College, making the tenor line as a freshman, and again, my old instructor Alan Keown.

The real reason I play drums is because my Freshman year I wanted to play Bass guitar (keeping the strings thing going). I was pretty good, but the band director didn't have anyone with enough coordination to play drums. I tried it and was kind of naturally good, so drums it was! To this date, I suck at bass.

[joey]

ermmm.... because i like hitting things and i couldnt play any other instrument n i get to say that drummers have the biggest instrument which is sad but true

[~tamadrummer~]

Music-Classic Rock, Metal, Grunge, Rock Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Alice in Chains, Hendrix, GNR, Black Sabbath, The Misfits, The Melvins, The Doors, The Beatles, Megadeth goes on.. heh
Drummer- John Bonham
Person- my friend Bassist in my band Nick Lacovara
Style- Rock Metal
Inspirations-John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Vinnie Paul and every other drummer just doing their own thing.

NO WAY you like NIRVANA?

[~tamadrummer~]

Music- NIRVANA, alice in chains, metallica, other bands that i dont feel like naming
Drummer- well dave grohl had a big impact
Person- myself maybe? i bought my first kid with my onw money so....yeah
Style- rock, punk, metal, and i sneak a little jazz in there
Inspirations- uhh band mates and drum teacher

[tomtom]

When I was 12 my older brother was playing King Crimson´s "Red" & "Starless and bible black" with Bill Bruford on drums. BANG!!! No turning back ever since....now I´m 42 and still at it

[kengl504]

I remember being 5 yrs old and always getting in trouble for drumming on the dash board or the back seat of the car while my mom was listening to the radio. At that point I don't even think I knew what drums were. Fast forward to 5th grade, a music teacher from the local high school visited the class and thought I had some aptitude toward drumming. I remember begging my parents for a snare drum, as we didn't have a lot of money. They said OK, and I was hooked for life. That was 34 years ago and I'm still goin'...still tappin' on dash boards and stuff too.

[Blue]

My brother got a kit for christmas, and I used to go upstairs and bang on it to scare away the monsters I was afraid of when I was alone. I was a wierd one.

Oddly enough, early rap like Run DMC was a big influence on my first beat, which I played between the floor tom and snare, because I couldn't reach the pedals yet. Then I got into Gun's 'N Roses, and it was all over.

[jbomber]

inever really got into drums, i was a jazz trombonist...which is kinda....not as cool as drums! but in about 10th grade i decided that i would do percussion, and i decided i wanted one...i joined drumline...was bottom bass, got most of the crucial parts, and now im gigging like two years later...it turns out im actually pretty good, but i still play the trombone too
I feel for you on this one times two. I was a jazz trombonist too, but my best friends were our alternating drummers in our outfit. One was kind of a hack, but the other was brilliant, to the point where he still intimidates me with his playing today. And my dad, who was like first chair trombone at BYU in all bands when he attended in the late 50s never approved (though I was and still am an incessant tapper). As such my desire was supressed for a long time (though I practiced in the car, air, everywhere) until I finally made a decision to get a set after college... Well the Navy really dominates your time, so eight years later I finally got around to it and bought my first set. Lo' and behold, in no time I was gear head, a cymbal-holic, AND had my own band. I adore it to death.

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?!!!

BTW, I have pulled the trombone a couple of times to play the Mariachi beginning of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" before I settle back behind the set and kick out the song Social-D style. My chops aren't what the used to be, but my beats are getting better and better.

J

[Davidb59]

When I was at school there were lots of bands but hardly any drummers. One guy used to get roped in to play drums for all of them. I thought then that he was a pretty good drummer and he might have gone far if he hadn't accidentally drowned aged 17. I once sat behind his kit and had a chance to play something. I might as well have been sitting at the controls of a 747 jet. Couldn't do a thing. I decided to wait almost 30 more years before getting lessons so that I can actually do something apart from sitting there looking at the drums. It'll be a long time before I can do anything like he used to but I'm making a start.

[photon]

Music- ( The music and bands who got you into drums)

Well being 44 the band that got me into drumming (no surprises here) was the Beatles...

Drummer- (The drummer who got you into the drums)

That would be Richard Starkey...

Person- ( A specific person you know who got/helped get you into drums)

My Mom/my Dad and my late Grandfather who worked his whole life at a music store and could play a little bit of every instrument.

Style- ( The style you enjoy playing most on drums)

Pop/Rock

Inspirations- ( Anything that inspired you to play in the first place and keep on playing to the best of your abilities)

After Ringo I would say Neil Peart, Bill Bruford, Ian Paice and countless others...

[Ksquared]

I hated piano so I chose the drums and once I got a Metallica CD I wanted nothing more then play no no I mean BEAT the S***T out of those drums!
Thank you!

[Ashton Drum's]

Music - Deftones Pearl Jam Blink182 Nirvana Korn

Drummer - Matt Cameron David Silveria Abe Cunningham

Person - My mates got me in to drumming one of my friends had A cd with A whole bunch of songs pretty much all the bands above on it and they used to air guitar to and told me to be the air drummer so I did and then after that I just coulden't stop air drumming when ever I put on A cd I had to air drum to it even though I didn't no how to play at the time

Style - Metel rock punk would say Jazz but to be honest I can't play Jazz

Inspirations - Pete Sandoval he attacks his bass drums like A punching bag. In fact, he spends so much time blasting quadruplets and sextuplets with his feet that heretic could probably win an award for most bass strokes ever on A long playing album. Dave Grohl the whole nirvana to foo fighters thing

[jollymosher]

Music- blink182, sum41, evergrey,The failures, the ramones,the doors, aerosmith,nirvana.
Drummer- no one really i kinda jumped into it blind.
Person- there was this guy who worked at my school his name was mr ryan. he showed me the basics ever once a a while after school.
Style- punk and metal
Inspirations- seeing people that are better than me. it helps alot, if instead of giving up you bring ur self up to their level.

[deadbirdsoup]

Music- U2 was a big insperation from a young age. My dad has many tapes (yes TAPES!) from the many times he had seen them, i used to sit and watch them and consentrate on the drummer, even when i had no idea about me drumming at the ages of about 5-8.
Drummer- Well...larry mullen was one of the first drummers names i knew, so il stick with him.
Person- It was always my personal choice but for the love of music, it would be my dad that helped me into it.
Style- Anything from metal to funk-jazz.
Inspirations- Again, larry was the only one i knew from a certain age, but now I am very much influenced by many others, like thomas lang, mike portnoy, ian paice, travis barker, etc, etc could go on forever so i will stop now.

[wnameth]

i played guitar for four-five years, was never amazing, but was solid, but practicing became a chore and then we needed a drummer in my church band and i sad ill do it, in three months i have progressed more on the drums then i did on guitar in five years i feel as thought it is inside me also having a amazing piano player for a dad helps, also my sister played drums in a band through highschool so i have her pearl exports now. she never was that good tho at all, oh and i always liked drummers how they are mysterious and sometimes very subtle its sooo good.....

thats it!

[Meggys_Drummer_Man_Mike]

i kinda stumbled upon it lol.. i took up percussion in band class in 6th grade cuz that's what my friends was doin.. then i fell iin love wit it lol.. i used it to like.. get stuff off my mind and hit the drums instead of ppl lol.. and now i love it

[Powers]

I come from a musical family. My dad plays the electric and bass guitars, his brothers play the accordion, harmonica, drums and guitar. When I was three, Dad bought a miniature guitar and set of drums. I never touched the guitar. In 5th grade, I took up band and began to play the drums. From then on, the drums have been my instrument of choice. I've wanted to buy a set since about 8th grade but I never got around to it. I'm now a senior in college and haven't played since I was a senior in high school, but Mom and Dad are pitching in for a set as a gift for my graduation gift. I'm pumped!

[Ninja]

I was obssesed with drums ever since I was a kid. I think it had a lot to do with Animal from the Muppets. Kept hassling my parents to let me take lessons.

Everyone kept saying 'why do you want to be a drummer????'

I didnt understand why everyone else wanted to play guitar. How boring I thought to myself..

Still remember seeing Tommy Lee spinning upside down, doing a mental solo at a Motley concert when I was 9 or 10. I was hooked from then on

[MOONCHILD]

I think it was Nicko Mcbrain who had influence on me.He was like an animal you know ? I used to think that he is the best player of the world.Today i think he is atractive drum player isnt he.Anyway,heres a fact for you:I played for ten (10)years and i didnt have a drum kit

[MOONCHILD]

MUSIC- Iron Maiden,Deep Purple,SMAK(you must listen this band played as pregroup for deep purple and guitarist siad that he was so nervous after listening this guys guitar solo)
DRUMERS- Nicko Mcbrain,Ian Pace,Igor Cavalera,Boris Leiner,Alham Zilic
PERSON-Quess a close friend of mine and my teacher Alham Zilic
INSPIRATION-MAIDEN MAIDEN MAIDEN
STYLE-I would play anything but I wouldnt dare to play jazz im not dedicated that much to my babys,dont have time

[Justin_F]

music::: Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Rush, Cream
drummers::: My father, john bonham, keith moon, ginger baker
person::: my dad, my friends joe and scott, even though i've passed them now, god bless'em
style::: classic rock/funk, simple blues
inspiration::: keith moon, john bonham, huub janssen, buddy rich, chad smith, neil peart, ginger baker, vinnie colaiuta

[Bonzo91]

To tell you the truth i really have no idea ever since i could understand how to speak or do anything at about age 1 i've always craved drums, it looked so good to bang on something that made such a fascinating noise. I could still remember when i was about 3 or 4 beating on my mother's pots and pans, lol to think i used to be satisfied juest by looking at a drum set. Im not shure what music got me into to drums ever since i was able to understand music i have always wanted to play, but the bands that were truly an ispiration to me, and still are, were Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and all thoes oldies bands. That was when i was about 5 years old, and ever since then and earlier i've always loved to play drums.

[treMAC]

I started playing when I was 10 years old in the school band. I wanted to play the saxaphone like everyone else because it was 'cool' - go figure. I was actually pretty pissed off when I was told I would be playing the drums but decided to give it a go anyway. I was a pretty quick learner and was one of the best musicians in the band. After 3 years I got tired of playing boring concert band songs and gave it away.

When I moved to uni I decided to take it up again so I could jam with my mates and stuff and I've been playing for a year now. Nowadays, the thing that makes me want to play the drums more than anything is The Mars Volta - their drummer Jon Theodore is awesome, I just love the way he plays, and hopefully one day soon I'll play like that.

[deadbirdsoup]

I recently found and looked in a book where you fill in stuff about what you want to be when your older and fill in other stuff like best friends, birthdays, etc, which i completed when i was very young (about 5 - 6 or something). And in it, it says "What do you really want to do or learn," or something to that effect and in my crappy young primary 1 writing it says "eat pies". Nah "drumming", so that was pretty cool to see.

I actually started keyboard when i was about 7-8, influenced by parents and music school because they said it would get me to know about the music first, plus my wrists may not be strong enough. I started, and hated it! I used to play along to the demos on the keyboard but note with notes from the keyboard! by hitting it keeping the drum beat!!!

I'm now 15, and started drums at 10, but as you can see, i wanted to a long time before that! i went to a snare drum class thing when i was about 7 and used to always take anything i could find to hit my plastic fake play snare drum i had (and broke) lol.

So i'm not completly sure about what made me start, old videos of larry mullen with u2 that my dad had definetly helped, and influenced me!!

[funtoknow1234]

the thing that made we want to play drums was i was watching TV and i saw the band blink 182 What's my age again and i was like that is awsome then 1 of my friends knew hhow to play drums and that made me want 2 play so i did and i been playin for about 2 years now

[SpikeY]

the thing that made me was start playing was, you know when your young and you get random obessions with anything you think is 'cool'. well i was obessed with drums for a short time and at this time its was coming up to my birthday so of course i asked for a drum kit. at first when the obession wore off i was concidering quiting. but stuck to it. as i got older i realised what drums were about and now i wouldnt stop now if u paid me!!

SpikeY

[Pedey]

Music- Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, children of bodom, darket hour, the mars volta
Drummer- John Bonham, Jonh Theodore, both amazing drummers!
Person- My friend who played guitar and a guy i know who plays durms
Style- funk/rock/metal
Inspirations- Listening to Led Zeppelin!

[Stu_Strib]

you do that too? or a*re you joking about tapping your teeth?


Not only do I tap my teeth, I play snare rudiments with them. Probably not very good for them.

I have a pretty mean 5 stroke single by the way.

[chris--byrne]

Music- Led Zepplin, Cream, The Police, Chilli peppers, basically a bit of everything.

Drummer- Bonham, Ginger Baker and Dom Famularo

Person- My drum tutor.

Style- Various styles of rock, indie and a sprinkle of jazz.

Inspirations- Playing guitar and then when a band set up, it needed a drummer......

[treMAC]

Not only do I tap my teeth, I play snare rudiments with them. Probably not very good for them.

I have a pretty mean 5 stroke single by the way.

I do the exact same thing! Snare rudiments.. funny, isn't it?

I'm always tapping my feet to whatever's playing.. playing 'hand' parts with my feet has improve my double bass a lot!

MUSIC

I started drums by accident.. wanted to play sax at school but got roped into drums. needless to say i was hooked on drums, and early on my inspriation came from blink and limp bizkit, but i was never really into that much......

DRUMMER

drummers who have really inspired me these days would be the guy from muse (as well as a lot of good, solid drummers in bands i like) ... but most of all JON THEODORE from the mars volta.. his music is on another level for me - its exactly want i want to be, im sure everyone has there own band/drummer that does it for them..

PERSON

to be honest, my first teacher was just one of those schol music multi-purpose teachers and wasnt that influencial.. ive been 'teaching' myself for a year or so, so yeah ME!

STYLE

basically anything from most pop/mainstream rock bands i can handle, but im trying to get into prog rock ie mars volta and want to try bluesy n latin stuff.. its just a matter of time really!

INSPIRATIONS

as said, JON THEODORE / MARS VOLTA just love their style.. at the moment though, im really liking the whole technical side of drumming and would love/ aiming to become a lot more involved in it.. like really become a student and go for it all

main inspiration though is just screwing around with mates and playing covers / trying to impress chicks!

cheers!

[Bonzo91]

Not only do I tap my teeth, I play snare rudiments with them. Probably not very good for them.

I have a pretty mean 5 stroke single by the way.

I do that too it seems like a bad habit, when sombodys looking at you lol they see you tapping your to teeth i wonder what they think.

[Wormsrock]

I guess my brother just told my dad he wanted to play guitar, and I said that I wanted to play drums, I started that week!

[Carter.it]

Well...classical music is great piano is great....but the feeling playing around the drumset is marvellus....that's why i choose to play it!!

[bonham990]

Music- The music that got me into drums i would have to say was Rock 'n' Roll and the band was the ever classic AC-DC

Drummer- JOHN BONHAM!!

Person- One of my friends from school who had been playing drums for 4 years ( We're 14) and know is the guitarist in our band :S

Style- The style i like to play is deffinitly Rock 'n' Roll and maybe some blues.

Inspirations-I would have to go with John Bonham i dont think i would as passionate about drums if it wasnt for him.

[paris72]

Music- ( Rush and most 80's hair bands. In the late 80's it was Zeppelin, Floyd, The Doors,Kansas, Eagles-I wasn't exposed to a lot of this music until I was about 14 or 15. In the early 90's it was still Floyd-Division Bell, but mostly Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, STP...etc. Mid 90's it was Tool, Rage, DMB-who I started admiring again)

Drummer- (I started playing pots and pans, tupperware, boxes-you name it- along with my dad's band at a young age. But mainly my buddy Monty. He was pulling off Peart at age 10..flawlessly. He now does studio work in Nashville.)

Person(s)- ( Monty Bradford and Brad Hutchins, two schoolmates and still two of the best drummers I know. I was always jealous because they were superior to me. Made me practice that much harder...and they still kick my ass!! )

Style- ( Rock, Funk,Blues)

Inspirations- ( I guess one thing that inspired me at a young age was I wanted to fit in with my father and his band. I wanted to know what it felt like up on that stage. My father was a Luthier and he built his own guitars and repaired vintage and other instruments. Music was a huge part of his life and I truly believe it kept him alive for several years after he got sick. God rest his soul.)

[danielheier]

Music- Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, eventually Miles Davis, who led me to a whole new world of music, too much I can't list all of them.
Drummer- 1. My first drum teachers, Ross Johnson and Garrett Heinz
Person- My Parents!
Style- Jazz is what keeps me workin in town! And it is my favorite, but I also love Praise and Worship Music and I want to play more of the jazz/rock for gigs instead of just in my basement.
Inspirations- Steve Smith, what a mastefull drummer, his DVD totally changed my drumming life. THANK YOU! Also all of the old records with Tony Williams, Blakey, Jo Jones, Elvin Jones, etc..... Of course my current instructor on drum set, Chuck Case. Another inspiration is getting gigs in town, that keeps me going pretty hard!

[wnameth]

I've never been able to sit still; I'm ALWAYS absent-mindedly tapping my feet, hands, fingers, teeth... to some ryhthm or song either on the radio or in my head.

AND there is always some kind of music playing in my head (right now it is Yes' "Hold On"). Some people might say that I'm possessed... yup: possessed with the spirit of music!
I am exactly the same.. constantly tapping something... lol. and music comes natural.

[SLEEPY BRiGHT EYEZ]

I was in a two piece band. My bandmate got an electric guitar. We needed a drummer, and all the ones we knew were in bands. There was an unused 12+ pc kit sitting in a garage down the street. Yes, yes. Once I started, I couldn't stop. I think it's metaphysically impossible. lol

[yoadbarok]

i always dreamt about playing the drums...
my mom told me that i used to hit pans and cooking pots with spoons when i was like 3 years old...
i started only 2 years ago and i cant stop playing since then...
its my therapy and it helps me to escape from the boredome of my daily routine...

[p-mack]

from the tender age of 5 i started listening to some beatles tapes my dad had around. then i discovered rock through the "cherry pie" video of the band warrant. and though that steven sweet made it look fun as heck.

that's what made me really decide i wanted to play the drums.

though the way i play NOW is largely influenced by David Grohl.

[petgeh]

I started when i was 6, after 4 years i stopped. About 1 year ago, i bought the blink-182 self titled album, and after hearing Travis Barker plaing Feeling This, i started again.

Music- My favourite kind of music is punk, because that got me into drumming.
Bands: NOFX, Rancid, Ramones, blink-182, Pennywise, Descendents,
Bad Religion, The Cure, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones

Drummer- Travis Barker

Person- My parents
Style- Punk and Led Zeppelin stuff.

[Theo]

I got a toy drum kit from my parents on my 4th or 5th xmas i think thats when drums got indented in my head...i was then fascinating until i was 7 by marching bands and how amazing the snare drums sounded. i then got my first snare drum when i was 7 years old, then a better one when i was 11, then a drumkit at 13, then my sonor force 2005 recently....i haven't played consistently through all these years however the past three years i have been completely dedicated...DRUMS RULE!!!!

[drumey]

I remember when i was 6-7yrs old and i whent to see this "music on ice" show and at the end a drummer came out on this big box and was driven all around the arena. He did the most catching beats i had heard at that age, and bugged my parents for years about druming!

I finaly got lessons and a set when i was 10yrs old, and have been drumming ever since.

[maniac-drummer]

We were all influenced by greats of the 60's 70's & 80's, but before you saw or heard them play, what attracted you to the drums?

My dad used to play drums when I was like 6, I used to sit in front of the bass drums and watch it vibrate and listen to how awesome that sound was. I loved that. After I was old enough to start playing I was then influenced by John Bonham, Neil Peart, e.t.c.


i started playing a year ago but wut really started it was my cousin will glaser, username=animalwills [i think] and when i visit him on easter hols and stuff, his playing sounded really good and i wanted to be a part of sounding good and the other thing that started me was that i wanted to play a instrument, i thought about a saxafone but i'd had to learn the clarinet first which i didn't want to do, then i started playing the guitar and i went on with that till a couple of weeks after the first 5 lessons which i had a my primary school 2yearz ago. the teacher was boring and we stayed on the same thing to learn for at least 4 weeks and it really was boring.
and then i went onto the drums where will my cousin came in. he is so cool at it cos hes been playing for 5 years now so hes got really good.
i'm going in for my first exam in june/july somewhere around those months and i'm doing grade 2 out of the guildhall music book so hopefully i'll pass because i've been practicing it alot!
i'm aged 12 now and i wanted to play the guitar when i was 10 and now drumming has taken over me and at my high school (earls high school in halesowen birmingham that used to be the grammar school) i can't stop talking bout it and i MIGHT be joining the earls orchestra and i'm the dudley junior wind and brass band's percussionist
g2g
pinkyxxxx

[westicle]

For me it was listening to Jimmy Bower on the first Down album and then Crowbar - Odd Fellows Rest. He plays some pretty simple stuff but with such groove and feeling.

I had played guitar for 12 or 13 years when I started on drums. This sounds really cheesey but I knew I could feel how to play the drums before I did - I knew the feeling of laying down a beat before I even could. 10 years of writing beats with my trusty old Boss DR-5 helped as well.

I knew I would get a better connection with the music through playing the beats rather than the the guitar parts and I do now.

[2d-chris]

Simply Steve Gadd ;)

Even to this day i can't belive how much drive he gives me to get better.

[RalGash]

I would sit under the table and 'ping' all the metal legs on the table and chairs as soon as I was able to crawl.

Like other children I pulled pots and pans out from cupboards etc. Any sort of sound would fascinate me for hours and annoy adults outside of my family quite quickly.

Thankfully I come from a family that has for several generations encouraged an interest in music.

[Fishonabike]

I'm not sure. I knew I wanted to play music early on and couldn't wait to get into 4th grade which is when we were allowed to join orchestra. They didn't offer any percussion in 4th grade orchestra however so I played violin for a year and when we were allowed to join band in 5th I wanted to play drums but felt compelled to play trumpet since my older brothers had... kind of a tradition thing I suppose, but the urge to drum was always there. I've played guitar and bass off and on for several years and just recently (within the past 2 years) purchased a used drum set. It's cheap but it works, and I'm as happy as a clam. Now I just need to figure out more practice time.

[Big_Philly]

My story is a bit weird... My parents (especially my mother) always noticed I had a sense of rhythm... When I was 4 years old, I had this crush on a girl when I was on vacation in france, and I grabbed a bucket and two wooden spoons and gave her a show.
It never worked out.
Anyway, when I was 10 years old, my brother (who played the trumpet) brought to my parents attention that the orchestra in which he played was searching for drummers. And I decided I'd help them out. Pretty weird, huh? you'd expect someone to be totally wild about playing drums, but I just wanted to help out. Fortunately I got along very well with both the teacher and the practise pad and snare drum that I used for more than a year, until I got my first kit (a Thunder Fusion kit).

[oaks]

It's something i can explain to this day...one day i went into my garage and decided to set-up my dad's old kit, we'll i tryed to set it up! lol (it's not easy when you haven't got a clue)
At first i was disintrested, but something keept drawing me to them, it wasn't until i went to a local drumming festival till i was truley inspired but after that i knew what i wanted to do in life more than anything, no matter if i was a bum playing for change or a
pro drummer touring the world - i just wanted to play.
Thats my story
but
As for the question 'what made you want to play drums more than anything' i would reply.

.....drums....!

Oaks, Out.

[JIM_fear]

Music- Led Zepellin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, Journey, Incubus, Meshuggah
Drummer- I'd say Steve Gadd more than anyone
Person- My uncles and my grandfather are all great musicians and they were the ones who really motivated me to keep with it.
Style- Funk, Rock, Jazz, Progressive, Metal, Blues
Inspirations- Drummers who aren't very well known who should be i.e. Chris Pennie (Dillinger Escape Plan) and Zach Hill (Hella, Team Sleep)

[JIM_fear]

I've been around musicians my entire life so i had plenty to choose from. I was just drawn to the drums. I don't have an explanation for it. It's just what i felt was right for me. After that, drummers such as Bonham, Gadd, and Carter Beauford just drove me to keep progressing with it.

[ellenvannin105]

1.Music: I was insanely inspired by mid-1960s hard-rock and British Invasion material. Groups like the Beatles,Yardbirds,Cream,Jimi Hendrix Experience,Rolling Stones,early Deep Purple with Rod Evans as vocalist were then and still are big influences on me.
2.Drummer:When I first heard Ginger Baker play Toad and Mitch Mitchell play the entire first Jimi Hendrix LP,I figured that the drums was the instrument for me. Also,I'd like to mention being inspired by seeing Dino Danelli with the Rascals on TV,twirling his sticks and looking like he was having the time of his life along with appearances of Carmine Appice with Vanilla Fudge,also playing his heart out...awe inspiring still...
3.Person: No particular person.
4.Style: Progressive Rock because it covers just about everything.
5.Inspirations:Ringo,Ringo,Ringo...

[Buddha]

Music-Rush. I allways wanted to play drums my whole life, but Rush is the band that really made me pursue.
Drummer- Neil Peart. I also gotta give credit to lordmarco, one of the members on this board for inspiring me to get back on my kit.
Style- Just about everything

PS- I don't listen to Rush anymore and Peart is no longer at the top of my favorite drummers list.

[drummer914]

i stared on the piano when i was little, but after watching the high school jazz band and drumline when i was in elementary school, i knew it was what i had to do. Now that im in high school and im livin that dream i now have much bigger dreams of being a professional drummer, and i got a ways to go with that one.

[rhythmicpunisher]

Guns and roses hahaahaha!!! I saw the you could be mine vid and it changed my life.....

[franklinj]

I had always tapped things out in my head. I also had the idea that drums were going to be easy until I sat down behind a kit. Man, thats what I loved. So many ideas were going through my head.

What can I say, I like a challenge?

[CASP3Rdrummer]

Music-The band that i recall that got me into drumming was oddly Red Hot Chilly Peppers and Limp Bizkit . maybe there were some other bands but i dont remember them now
Drummer-I think it was John Otto !
Person-My dad was working in a live music club so he was micking drums and while he was doing that he would put me on the drums .
Style-I play metal - Rock stuff although i would like to be able to play everything.
Inspirations-Although I listen to really specific bands like Children of bodom , Metallica , Iron Maiden only John Otto (Limp Bizkit) has influenced me , even though just a bit .

[DannyMeazell]

I was born into the first family of music, the Carter Family. I guess what made me decide on drums first was my Dad's Sister's Husband on the Meazell side, Uncle Robert (Bob) Taylor was a big band drummer. He was with Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller and that crowd. On the other hand there was Lucky Larue Hendley, and Maw And Paw Carter and their children and grandchildren, my cousins, who were into country music. Then at 3 years old, about the time I started playing drums, a traveling music show forever changed my life. Back then it was not a concert it was a Show. A young kid and his band came to town to put on a show and everyone wanted to go see him. My Dad, Mom and Aunt Billie took me. I was so impressed that after the show I wanted to meet him. They took me to the dressing room door and the security let me in, after all I was only 3. He was very cordial and set me on his knee and visited and talked to me for over an hour. That night I came to call this kid friend. We parted and went separate ways. We wouldn't see each other again for almost 30 years. Yes that night I called this nice young man friend, the world would come to call him Elvis. So there were several elements that came into play that made me become a drummer. It was exposure to all types of music from all directions that would make my musical taste diverse. I did not choose to become a drummer, it choose me! I would go on to play guitar and write over 300 songs to date and run up and down the hiways with Alabama, and call Willie Nelson, Jan Michel Vincent and many other Stars and playmates friend. But I eventually went back to my roots and became a Hard Rock/ Southern Rock,/ Country and Blues drummer again. My Parents and Uncle Bob and Aunt Joy hung out togather every weekend for my entire childhood. I used to spend every weekend at thier house praticing on uncle Bob's drums. He was my first teacher, along with Gene Kupa, and Sandy Nelson. I learned a lot from those guys. They were all showmen and Gene Kupa was the worlds first real Super Star Drummer as well as a showman.
Danny Meazell

[Tutin]

Nothing really, I picked up the sticks one day when my Dad bought his kit (he hadn't played in years and finally decided to get one again) and one day I realised "Hey, I'm a drummer!!!"

[M.I.T.H.]

what made me want to play drums is when i realized that i had the power to change someones life for the better--i was playing in the band in elementary and people would flip off of these little quarter note/sixteenth note solos--but what made it more real was when was at church and a lady approached me after the service= she said "u know austin u really played those drums right, keep doing that." the place was bannanas and i know i had a hand in the outbursts--after that day which was like 6 months ago i knew i wanted to become the most emotional drummer period...... skills come with that which io am workig on right now--

[Cephalic]

I was never really inspired any way to play drums. I just sort of decided one day I'd start and take a few lessons (drum set that is, I had been playing percussion in band before this, but was never really into it).

Music- Before I started drumming, I wasn't huge on music. I listened to Godsmack, Disturbed, and Everclear. When I started drumming, music began to seem different to me. I started playing jazz stuff with the school, and began listening to a lot of prog.

Drummer- There's no drummer that inspired me to play drums, but for the first year or two of drumming I always saw Mike Portnoy as some god of drumming...

Person- I believe it was my band director that asked if I ever thought of playing set (since the previous jazz band drummers were moving up to high school). I figured why not, I'll give it a try. So I guess him, and of course my drum teacher. My parents weren't against it either.

Style- I started out playing some jazz, lattin, and rock. Then I moved to some prog style playing, and eventually lead to metal and death metal. I love to play pretty much everything though. Lately, I've been really into playing a somewhat funk style.

Inspirations- My middle school band director always pushed me, and my teacher taught me well and has a great personality and outlook on life.

[pcmckay]

I would say for me it was Bonham. When I was a kid way back in the 70's I remember listening to my brother's Led Zeppelin records and I was drawn to the big boomy sound of his drums. The tracks that did it for me were "When The Levee Breaks" and "Rock'n Roll". When I heard the intro to "Levee" and the solo at the end of "Rock'n Roll" I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a drummer. Not long after that I got my first kit, and tried to play along with those Led Zep records. After a short period of time I was playing along with a few songs and I took off from there. Thirty one years later I am still going strong and most importantly still learning and progressing. To this day I still play along with Led Zep and other music that has inspired me over the years. But the big event in my drumming years was seeing Buddy Rich in person when I was about 13 years old. That night changed my life. I have never seen anything like that before and probably never will.

[LexHitReset]

jimmy chamberlin back during the siamese dream days.

plus bryan st. pere from hum, just totally inspired me to drive me to rock like that.

heath from mock orange
drummer from shiner

those are the kind of guys that inspire me.

[hatemail]

well, i come from a really musical family, my father plays the piano/organ, as well as guitar and back in the day he used to mess around on his fathers drums. his father played drums, piano, trumpet and some guitar as well, while my moms dad was exactly the same, but with the sax. was a pity they never really got to meet, as my paternal grandfather died a year before the wedding, two years after i was born.

anyways, i've always been around music, my dad was the president of a football club and most nights when i was little i would fall asleep literally right next to the speakers in the bar. when i was just about to enter high school, i decided i wanted to get in to music, and it was when my dad said that "any drunk in a bar thinks he's a lead guitarist" coupled with the fact that i was constantly tapping out beats on my lunch box when they played during break or whenever, that i decided that i was going to be a drummer. not for fame, but purely so i could ligitimaly sit in with my friends and play an instrument. i knew from the first instant that i sat down behind a kit in my teachers studio that this was for me. now, after the relatively short time of three years behind a kit, i can honestly say that i still feel that same rush i got from when i first sat on a throne. drumming has become who i am almost, and i want to become good enough to play professionally so that people will hear my passion for music, and hopefully become passionate about it too.

[benice]

Music- When I have heard Metallica for the first time I was shocked - cooool! I want to do the same things! So, I was a rock musician at the begining.
Drummer- Of course, my first idol was Lars Ulrich. Then I was very impressed of Vinnie Paul playing, then I was a fan of David Silveria, Joey Jordisson... But I also love Billy Cobham's playing, he got me into jazz.
Person- My drums tacher, Alex Sevriukov (Thank you for everything)
Style- I still loving rock, but I also love to play slow blues, light jazz. Not long time ago I discovered to myself a new styles - drum&bass, industrial, acid jazz
Inspirations- I dont know, but I cant imagine myself without playing drums

[Lady Boy]

Music- Mostly Rock...I started playing because of Linkin Park, after hearing Faint i thought...wow
Drummer- Rob Bourdon (Though I lost my interest in him, my favorite drummers now are Thomas Lang, Steve Gadd, Tre Cool)
Person- No one
Style- Mostly Rock...used to play alot of Punk- Pop Rock, now I'm more into Alternative Rock and Jazz
Inspirations- Tony Royster Junior...after watching that video when he was twelve I thought...well I'm twelve why shouldnt I be able to do that? Oh yeah Thomas Lang too

[Bttl]

Music:
Drawn On Empty Faces, Dream Theater, Incubus, Iron Maiden, Queen, Metallica, Megadeth,Slipknot...Yeah i could go on forever.

Drummer:
Mike Portnoy

Person:
My Friend Jake, My Brother.

Style:
Mainly Rock stuff. but will gice anything an attempt.

Inspirations:
All Drummers that i meet or listen to really.

[Stormi]

Well, I've always picked out the drums when listening to songs, rather than listening to the song as a whole. When I was about 14, my school friends and I decided we would start a band, because that way we'd get to meet all the famous band members we had crushes on lol. One friend could sing pretty good, so she was nominated as singer, another friend played keyboard so she was keyboardist (this was the 80's, EVERY band had a keyboardist lol), so my other friend and I were left and I said I'd be the drummer. The band never eventuated (except in our heads lol, and we did write a couple of songs ha ha). I was never allowed to play drums back then, though. So as time went by I gave up on that dream somewhat, but knew in my heart one day I'd learn. Well, 20 years down the track, and I'm finally doing that. I guess the 20 year wait made me even more determined to learn, and to do it well.

[Lee Mangano]

http://www.drumschool.net

Truly the fear of ending up in prison, I was a bad kid & needed to take my aggresions out on something & drums was the key to my future existance today

[Jason Strange]

I was always into drums when I was real young. My father was a bass player in a band. I remember watching the drummer play. My father played in a well known band. When I was in school I played in the perc section. I was very hyperactive and would tap on everything. I joined the army and never have been able to play the drums but I would always tap my feet like I was playing a set. I chose to get out the army and start a band. John Dollyman " system of a down" was what made me want to start a band and play drums. I got some formal training by a really well known metal drummer and I was set free. I have been playing a set for about 2 years. I have worked hard to get where I am and I still have lots to learn. But I have a lot to teach also.

[Alphonse]

I really just got bored with the Alto Saxophone, and listened to too much Van Halen. Sooo..I wanted to drum.


Lol same here! I played the alto sax in 5th and 6th grade, then switched to drums after hearing "Hot For Teacher"

[Alphonse]

Music- Most of the old classic rock bands- Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Boston, etc.
Drummer- John Bonham
Person- No one
Style- Rock, Classic Rock, some Metal
Inspirations- John Bonham, Peter Criss, Steve Gadd, Neil Peart, ...

[rumpuhelvetti]

i didn't choise my instrument, it choised me

[Salicete]

That's an easy one for me to answer. I started playing bass when I was 12, and always looked over at the drummer and thought, "man that's cool, I want to be able to do that;" unfortunately, though my parents put up with the bass droning on in the basement for years, drums were right out.

I was always fascinated with the speed and the fluidity drummers exhibited, which is in direct contrast to the percussive nature of the instrument. I also liked the huge range of sounds one could get from a drum kit.

I think drums, more than any other musical instrument, have the ability to make people want to move rhythmically, and get their heads bobbing; drums really can be hypnotic. Those are the things that drew me to drumming.

A soon as I had my own place and enough time and money, I bought drums, and though I still play the bass regularly, my main instrument is the one I always wanted to play, drums.

[beatsMcGee]

i didn't choise my instrument, it choised me


ha good answer... i cant really remember why i choose drums.. my uncle played drums in a band so that started me thinkin, and i liked bangin on things, and its the coolest instrument by far..

[Tryitagain]

I played trumpet in Jr. High and a little in high school. I quit playing in my sophomore year due to the redundancy of the "rehearsals": Tune up, practice a few scales, get yelled at by the band director... repeat the following day. About this time is when MTV first came on the air, and I was intrigued by watching Phil Collins in the old Genesis videos (that's right, kiddies, MTV used to play videos of real musicians playing real instruments!) I loved the punchy sound of his kit and his unique style, although it was hard to figure out what he was doing since he plays as a lefty. Bought the ABACAB album, wore it out... bought some old Genesis albums, wore them out as well ( "3 Sides Live" belongs in EVERY drummer's library). Bought my first kit, got lessons; got a better kit, got lessons from a better teacher, made a meager living playing for a country/rock band for a few years... Kinda drifted away from drumming for several reasons, and just got back into it again about 8 months ago and loving every second of it!

[MagnZ]

My dad . He's been playing drums for ever and I became a roady in his band early on and loved to see him play and play myself. And we where always listening to music with awsome drummers like: Toto, Steely dan, yellow jackets and so on. But the weird thing is that I didnt really start to play drums for real until I was 15... But once I got the basics I could play almost every Toto groove by heart. So I guess it was ment to be:P

[Drum Monkey]

One memory I have of just before I started drumming is driving to hockey at 6:00 am with my father and listening to How You Remind Me by Nickelback, trying to nail the snare fill every time. That's probably the biggest memory I have of just before I got into drumming...

-DM

[apocalypse]

Probably just hearing the way they sounded when I beat them to hell lol. I lived near the church I used to go to and would go there all the time and just play them..terribly I might add but played them none the less. Fun stuff man...fun stuff.

[adorno]

That drum fill in "Alone" by Heart.

Sad but true.

[rageagainstyou]

well.....nothing, in the 7th grade, they had jazz, i was is jazz two, i never knew how to play drum set, and i already had to play at a compettioin (is that how you spell it?)...well, any who, i had to play, sucked but eh...i don't know what inspired me... i guess me....i love to drum, and i will never stop until the day i die...yesh...^_^

[LumberjackIvan]

My father played drums and I always liked sitting on the kit banging. In fourth grade I joined the school band and since then I've been a drummer. Going on 12 years now. I love drumming.

[LumberjackIvan]

Music- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Lamb of God, Opeth, Los Lobos
Drummer- Chad Smith, Terry Bozzio, Chris Adler, Mike Portnoy, Jeff Queen
Person- My father, Mr. Pepe (grade school music teacher), Dan (highschool drumline instructor), Kenny (highschool snare tech), any professional drummer I meet
Style- Rock/Funk, Funk, Rock, Punk, Metal
Inspirations- All the people, bands, and drummers I mentioned

[DrummerMom]

Music- I got into drumming from my mother she is a percussionist.
Drummer- Definitely my mother, Buddy Rich.
Person- Definitely my mother, Buddy Rich.
Style- Rock,Jazz,blues,swing
Inspirations- Mom, Buddy Rich, Bonham, Porcaro, Mike portnoy, Neil Peart and many others

[Mapex589]

I saw Stewart Copeland with The Police on the Ghost In The Machine tour and that was it...I wanted to be a drummer. I could not stop watching him.

[thebeginning]

my friends in 5th-6th grade started up and got pretty good, and i felt out of the boat. so i 'tried it' off and on until i was about 17....then i got serious about it. it wasn't just that though, i've always been into a good rythmn and once i started listening to metal and punk, it opened an entire new world to me.

[shreveman]

My name is Josh and i'm raised in Louisiana (born in Kentucky).

Music- I have to say that I basically love all kinds of music, but i love to rock out most of the time.
Drummer- Can't say that i had a particular person that got me started. But if I could pick a role model, it would have to be Johnny Aldrich.
Person- (My parents have always supported my needs. Especially my Father (thanks dad)
Style- Like i said before, i like most styles, but i mainly play alternative or rock and such.
Inspirations- I can remember my very first "drumset". a row of paint buckets lined up i my old garage. The best days of my life (until my neighbors found out).

By the way, check out the band i'm with... http://www.myspace.com/nakedshannon

[komodo]

Music-Dream Theatre,All that Remains,Decapitated,Story of the year,lamb of god
Drummers-My friend + now drum teacher(drummer for revenance),Thomas Lang,Flo Mounier, Mike Portnoy,Chris adler
Persons-Above,Parents,friends who wanted to make band and needed drummer
Style-LOUD.Like to learn new things,so anything. Enjoy metal most,but vary playing for improvement
Inspiration-Thomas Lang/Flo Mounier/drummers,friends,the desire to be the best i can at anything i do

Great thread

[cheryl]

MUSIC Kiss,The Beatles,David Bowie,Poison,Oasis,SFA,GnR,R.H.C.P,Foo Fighters..
DRUMMER Eric Singer for the last few years
PERSON My Drum teacher i have at the minute..I only started playing again recently after taking time off with my babies..He's so funny,proffesional and cool,and very very patient!!
STYLE Rock,i prefer old school...
INSPIRATION Anyone who ever said to me"keep on at it,you'll get there in the end"

[jiltednut]

MUSIC - Slayer, Machine Head, Nirvana, Slipknot
DRUMMER - Dave Lombardo, Joey Jordison
PERSON - Same as above, just hearing these guys put so much energy and passion, and deriving such power, I was awestruck
STYLE - Metal, Anything thats fast and gets my head bouncing
INSPIRATION - Anyone that gives 100%, doesn't hold back, and MAKES you feel the music and get up and dance ( yes moshing is dancing )

[Captain Cowbell]

2 reasons really.
1) Everyone at school played guitar so I thought some of them might need a drummer eventually.
2) Jimmy Chamberlin- this man is my God.

[Pinner]

One of my brothers played the violin and one the accordion and then guitar.My other 2 brothers could not even pluck "Smoke On The Water" on a guitar.I pushed and pulled the accordion with my feet and played bits of songs.I tried guitar but was only able to play bits of songs.My parents never offered me lessons but did buy me a keyboard when I was 16.I needed something that would feel like part of me and that was not it.
I hung out with Mike and Robert Sweet(Stryper) and loved watching Robert play his drums.
I was busy working and hanging out with my friends in bands(Spoiled Rotten,Diamond Claw)going to shows in Hollywood and did not have time for myself.
(1988)I bought a drum set off a friends room mate for $100(4 piece Gracie gold metal flake jazz set).I got to make some noise but needed to bond with a set.I drove to some slime hole music store in L.A.,CA. and picked up a black Pearl EX and set it up at home.Drove to Guitar Center and got my throne and symbols and all that and met my sales person, who I loved.
My 15 year old friend who I was mentoring during his drug rehab had a set and I drove mine over to his house and he helped me learn how to jam.I just felt so much energy through my body and I was on such a natural high.It was like riding a Harley down the street and everyone can hear you.I had no clue what I was doing but met some musicians down at the beach one day and they invited me to jam with them.I packed my kit in my truck and we met in a garage for almost a year and they all had to help me learn fills and beats for the songs.I pretty much sucked but I put myself out there and had a band called Organized Confusion that never left that garage (good thing)lol.
I had a chance to be with ACDC on the (Money Talks ?)tour and stay in their guest room for the Forum show and the Irvine Meadows.We had a blast(I had a whore girlfriend who slept with band guys, so all you guys reading this "protect yourself you never know what you are getting into").Chris the drummer(was in the Firm)was real cool and Cliff(bass player) was great. I just wished I would have taken pictures,left my camera in my truck.
I have been to many drum clinics and met many drummers.I think all drummers should go to clinics and see these great musicians and by all means ask them questions they are all so helpful and modest.Saw Dave Lombardo and Eric Singer.John Tabares is a great drummer(Hirax)and a nice guy(heard he went Christian).
I have had a few good instructors but the good ones always seem to leave and go on tour or something.I found out that I need to be able to read tab in order for me to get it and feel the music.My last teacher forgot to tell me about the repeat sign and I just about lost it when the song I was jamming to and the notes stopped matching.I am not a play by ear person so I have to make notes to see what I am doing.A mind is a terrible thing to waist so work with it.
Monday I get my new Pearl ELX and I can't wait.My hubby wants to take up Bass again and we can jam together.He was a singer in bands years ago and knew many people on the rock circuit in the 80's.He rehearsed in the same studio as Wasp and many other bands.Metallica opened for his band back before they got Lars to shower.Boy the stories we could tell but we respect the privacy of the well known.
Need to brush up on my tab reading.

[imperfect gentleman]

i was writing and recording music but did not have anyone who could play drums, let alone anyone who could play what i wanted...

it started as a small hobby for about 5 years playing on other people's kits...

two years ago i was given a drum kit by a good friend and i have devoted serious time and energy to it.

i still consider myself a novice, but i now drum for a post-punk band and still continue to drum on my own compositions

[cheryl]

I think the drummers in carnivals used to fascinate me when i was a kid...
Later on i heard 'Free Four' by Pink Floyde..I knew then,coz it was simple but effective.
Still is.

[max77]

1. Because one of my friends said me when I was 15 years old : "Man ! You have beat! Why you don't try to play drums."
2. I realized that I was talented.
3. Because it's the most beautiful instrument in the world.

[onur_kusadasi]

I stress out by playing drums. It also helps me to loose weight (better than ab-shaper :) )
I started to interest metal music after playing.
80's is the best for me. ( Glam Rock Yeah! )
Skid Row is countable for 80's bests...

[cheryl]

I stress out by playing drums. It also helps me to loose weight (better than ab-shaper :) )
I started to interest metal music after playing.
80's is the best for me. ( Glam Rock Yeah! )
Skid Row is countable for 80's bests...
Hiya Onur,i agree!!!80's rock IS the best for me also...I was a huge Kiss and Poison fan..(still am)..

[onur_kusadasi]

I'm playing Knight Online and our clan's name is PoisoN :D
I wish I could be about 17 years old at 80's... (I was 3 :D)