Drum Related

• So Chris, how long have you been playing the drums and how long have you been teaching now?
Well, as far as I can remember I’ve been playing the drums for twelve years and been teaching for seven of those!

• How long had you been playing before you decided that you wanted to get into teaching and how long before you decided that drums was something you wanted to pursue for a living?
I decided when I was at school doing my G.C.S.E’s that I wanted to pursue drums as a career path and teaching seemed like a good place to start as I do feel I have great understanding and am able to explain and break things down well. Plus it’d mean I got to sit around for a living!

• As far as memory serves, what do you think has been your best gig to date?
Best gig…. Well, probably a gig with my most recent covers band, The Catch. We did loads of gigs last year, and I think the one we played at an R.A.F base was pretty cool.

• Why that gig in particular?
That gig basically we just had such a laugh up on stage that night. We all fed off of each other and the energy up there was fantastic. Plus we all just played real well with very few mistakes.

• Do you think you are as good a player as you set out to be when you 1st started playing the drums??
Erm, now I have to answer that question it’s quite a tough one! I’d say, yes, I’m better than I thought I’d be when I started.

• Why do you think this is? (If better, why? E.G. I had no expectations. If not why? E.G. I don’t have the practice time I’d want)
I think it’s because when I first started playing I had no aspirations of being “as good as”…… or “I want to be able to play……” I’ve just taken small steps and kept on going with it.

• What kit/set up do you use and why that in particular?
Well I have many kits, but in my recording studio I use a Yamaha Beech Custom shell pack, a D.W.9000 double pedal with titanium beaters (really light!), a selection of mainly Paiste cymbals and a big fat 14” x 8” brass snare.

• What has been your greatest learning experience to date?
Going to Drumtech…. Simply some of the best months of my life. I Didn’t progress much in the way of playing, but my knowledge came on in leaps and bounds.

• Where do you see yourself in a year’s time? In the band? Touring? Still Teaching? On the dole?
In a year I see my teaching business expanding rapidly, me doing sessions with some famous artists while still teaching a few hours a week. If all that fails I’ll sign on!

• Who has been the biggest inspiration to you as a drummer?
My biggest inspirations as a drummer and a teacher have been Tony Royster Jr, Steve Hamper (my teacher in high school) and Haiden Callow (my sight reading teacher ay Drumtech). I am influenced by a few other drummers but they have been my big inspirations as a player and teacher.

Lee Giles from the band UNUSUAL SUNDAY

• So Lee, how long have you been playing the drums and how long have you been in this band Unusual Sunday?

I’ve been playing drums for almost 14 years and been playing in Unusual Sunday now for about 4 years.

• How long had you been playing before you decided that you wanted to get into a band and how long before you decided that drums was something you wanted to pursue for a living?

Well I’ve been playing in bands for most of my drumming life but it wasn’t until after I had been to drumtech that I wanted to pursue music in general as a career.
   
• As far as memory serves, what do you think has been your best gig to date?
Very hard to answer this question because I’ve played lots of gigs, some I remember and some I can’t but I would have to say “The Cave” in Chelmsford.

• Why that gig in particular?

Well because we’re more based in that area and a lot of people used to come down and see us there but one gig in particular where we headlined and we were fresh from just finishing the 1st album and we were up for it and ready to blow them away! Boy did we give them a performance and in return we got great feed back. I truly felt like I was in a signed band at that time, it was priceless.

• Do you think you as good a player as you set out to be when you 1st started playing the drums??

Again a hard question because even though you feel yourself getting better with time and practice you don’t really take the time to stop and say “I’ve got a lot better since lets say 2 years ago”, because it’s ever so gradual in my experience and no matter how fast or slow your practicing it always seems to feel that way. In all honesty though there’s always room for improvement and I think I’ll be one of those people who’s never satisfied with their abilities and could always bettering myself.

Sorry mate. I DO so love my “hard questions”!

• Why do you think this is? (If better, why? E.G. I had no expectations. If not why? E.G. I don’t have the practice time I’d want)

Thankfully you will always have something new to learn when playing any musical instrument so for that reason alone I will always be wanting to better my abilities and learn more. That’s what makes playing any musical instrument fun for me personally.

• What kit/set up do you use and why that in particular?

I play “Tama Starclassic” drums, “Sabian” cymbals and “Evans” drumheads. The reason I play this set up in particular has more to with the type of music I grew up listening to and the artists and musicians playing those instruments in the music. Bands like “Metallica”, the drummer, Lars, with his huge Tama set up and with the likes of Slayer and Korn, to name a few, it was with no question that the drums these guys were playing were the ones I wanted too. And because I wanted to play the same music as these guys it made sense to play the same instruments. I’m still very, very happy with the make of drums I play I don’t want to play anything else!

• What has been your greatest learning experience to date?

Hand in hand with Drumtech I would have to say the music industry. I’d also have to say life and its experiences is the best teacher I’ve ever had. Some people would have said this already but until you experience it first hand those words can never be more true.

• Where do you see yourself in a year’s time? Still in the band? Touring? Teaching? On the dole?

I plan to start teaching drums professionally very soon to spread my passion and joy of playing drums on to others. I will still be playing in bands but to be honest no one knows what the future holds.

• And Finally….Who has been the biggest inspiration to you as a drummer?

This is a hard one as well. To be honest there hasn’t been just one single drummer that’s inspired me, there’s been many, so I’ll reel off some names of players who have, as you said, inspired me. I’ll start with drummers who have inspired me from my young days as a drummer up until now. Here we go….
Dave Grohl, Lars Ulrich, Ken Owen (carcass), Kriss Kontoss (machine head), Igor Cavalera (sepultura), Nick (cradle of filth), David Silveria (korn), Abe Cunningham (deftones), Vinnie Paul (pantera), Raymond Herrera (fear factory), Morgan Rose (sevendust), Jimmy Chamblin (smashing pumpkins), Dave Weckl, Dennis (THE MARN) Chambers and Lenny White to name but a few!

I’m also guessing you wanted to put “Chris Senior, my best mate at Drumtech and all round fantastic player.” But didn’t wanna make me blush yeh?!? Well cheers anyway Lee, you’ve been a pal. We’ll touch base with you again in a few months to see how you’re getting on!