there was a guy in marching band, that for a band geek was really cool

I got a drumset, played all summer and joined band that fall- I was terrible

The thing that compells me to keep on playing drums is the hope that I can play one more good track or good gig

This is it. The man who made me want to play drums.








Of course, at the time, I had no idea I was actually listening to Hal Blaine!  

Well, there were a few factors:

1.  Started banging on stuff before I could crawl.

2.  Profoundly influenced by the skills and creativity of people like:  Peart, Rich, Chambers, Beauford, Bonham, Gadd, and many, many others.

3.  Just can't imagine my life without the "Feeling".  You know, the one when you hit that drums and it just sounds SO right.  Or the feeling when you figure out a tough meter or fill.

There's something very spiritual... meditative.. captivating... rewarding about playing the drums.  And the best part, it doesn't even matter that I'm only a fraction as talented as I aspire to become.  

MTV (1981).


Love.

Guilt. I have all this expensive drum equipment, and it'd be totally lame if I didn't use it.

I saw this high school stage band drummer when I was a kid, and he seemed so cool, and could really play well.  I had to play the drums; gave up on clarinet.  Benny Goodman was cool, but Greg Palmer was the coolest!

As for why I still play, it's a love affair with the drums.  Everything about them.  The feel of the sticks in my hand, the way it feels when you nail a difficult fill, making contact with the heads, the subtle nuances of a ghost note, the shine of the cymbals, the thump of a good bass drum....

Sorry to blabber on, but it really is in my blood.  When I see drums, I want to play them.  But I never ask to play another man's (or woman's) drums.  That's another thread, though!

Doug

after i'm done thumpin i just plain feel GREAT!!

like my line says "bliss lies in my Ayotte"

peace.

Hi Tessalin!

It was high school band drummers (I wasn't in my teens yet but dug what I heard so much!), and pretty much simultaneously this crazy TV show called the "Banana Splits". A bunch of guys dressed up like Apes (sort of Ape versions of Big Bird on "Sesame Street") - and the drummer was the crazy one! Somehow identified with that one and liked his energy. It came on right before "Puff & Stuff" and "Lancelot Link" on Saturday mornings.
The "Monkeys" were also an early influence. Looks like I'm not alone there!

I attempted to play kit, starting on snare when I was 7 or 8 and even took some lessons at the local music store. But, I was too hard on myself and just couldn't get the hands to do what I wanted.
Revisited the whole thing via the path of the didjeridu since '95 through hand drumming a year ago with Eric.

What about you? Du tell!  

Oh I watched the Banana Splits too, but they were so juvenile compared to the Monkees .
They did drive those cool ATVs around though. I don't remember the purple grape guys though!
I think that was H.R. Puf'nstuff, of some weird spelling like that.

OH YEA!!! I got my picture taken with them at King's Island. Or was it Coney Island... I was too young. Anyway, they RAWK!

Let's see, what got me into drumming....Oh, yeah--all the money, loose women, drugs and alcohol...but please remember I was 11 years old when that drew me into drumming.

Now I drum for my own pleasure, entertain my kids, and keep my neighbors in line.
 

I can't really remember what specifically got me interested in drums. All I can remember is pulling the pots and pans out of the cabinets when I was very young (3 or 4) and banging away. I'd even set up a "kit" with multiple pots! LOL I also "played drums" on the back of the car seat when I heard one of my favorite songs on the radio (Little Red Riding Hood by Sam the Sham and the Pharos was a particular favorite). In elementary school I wanted be in the band (my older sister played clarinet in the high school band) so I too took up clarinet. There wasn't a drum or percussion section in the elementary school band. I HATED clarinet. So as soon as I made it to Junior High, I hit the drum line! Dad bought me a blue glitter Ludwig marching snare from Mississippi Music in Gulfport and I wore that bad boy out! I loved that band! My Dad also bought my first drum kit (for $100! He paid $75 just for the marching snare!) when I was 14 and I played it until I was 19. Babies happened, so the kit had to go bye-bye! I played other people's kits when I could cuz I missed it so much. In 1990 I bought another kit and I've been at it pretty regular since then! I stay at it because I just love it. I love to play live gigs. I just love music! It's my creative outlet! Well one of them and my favorite for sure!  

I am so tickled by this Forum!  The responses to my  very first posting have me laughing, contemplating and fantasizing about all you cool, dedicated drummers at the same time I am increasing my knowledge of drumming and .... spelling!....  compels, compels, compels- I think Ive got it, but it looks and feels better with 2 ls- compells- kinda like playing with 2 sticks rather than one.

As for my story, I received my first intoxicating hit of rhythm while playing tambourine on the beach in California at age 19.  Having already been thoroughly introduced to classical music by my musical family, I noticed I could hold down a rock-steady beat with the beach drummers and thought I ought to study percussion some day.  It has taken quite a while to get here, but the time has been well spent exploring keyboards, vocals and songwriting along with a few years on electric bass.  Several years ago I found myself playing in a world fusion group in Boulder that featured hand drumming.  My fascination led me to study djembe for a while until I encountered Haitian and Cuban rhythms.  Now I am totally hooked, spending most of my free time in a rhythm study group that has evolved into a really tight group of friends/ soulmates.  Now every part of me says "YES" to this!  I feel this bliss is my soul connecting to archetypal/ ancestral realms through the rhythms.  This has been a major turning point in my musical life and I am very grateful.

In joyful celebration of life....  Tessalin

I first got into drumming because my parents wanted me and my siblings to play an intrument in the band. If for no other reason than to broaden our horizons... My old sister picked clarinette, I picked drums, and my two younger brothers followed me into drumming. My sister & I were the only ones that played all the way through high school though.

Micky Dolenz was probably the biggest influence on me as I always  ejoyed watching the monkies on TV back in the 60's. Remember the funny series they had back then? I never knew it wasn't him playing back then either! Ringo is the only other name I recall from back then, but I really never cared much for their music back then. It's only been in my later years I've come to appreciate a lot of the stuff they did.

What keeps me playing now is the enjoyment of playing with my friends/band and making music together. Even if it is just playing oldies covers, it's a lot of fun. We play out in public for our first gig tomorrow night, and I can't wait to get up on stage and do some drummin'!  

Ahahaha!
 
I still remember their green album that I played over and over.
Then, got the red "close-and-play" plastic phonograph with the iron nail for a needle. Proceeded to scratch up the monkeys greatest hits while stomping all around the room and jumping on the bed!

The things we do for rhythm..