Dan - After all these great bio's and introductions, posting sound or video files of the guys playing is the next logical step! We might have to post it to the Video Forum though and I'm not quite sure how to do that. I'll ask TommyP about it. (Tommy - if you're reading this; can the video forum be opened for posting clips by the members? Maybe better to use You Tube and link here? Your call.)

The poll only reflects statistics related to individuals who actively participate/post here at VDF. No way to poll the lurkers because by definition, they do not post! With over a hundred responses, we can get a read on the age breakdown of the 'active' members. That said, the poll shows that; the middle-aged guys, *OFIT's, as they will be referred to, (*Old Fahrts In Training) make up the bulk of the active posters to VDF. Followed by our crack Senior Citizen Corp. the COF's (Certified Old Fahrts.) Coming in third population-wise is the YF's (Younger Fahrts,) with YWS's (Young Whipper Snappers,) polling a distant fourth in the numbers.

I would like to see more members in the under 25 group myself. I want to know that the information I take the time to post here is reaching the next generation of drummers. The main reason I take the time to do all this writing at VDF is precisely to pass on what I have learned to the YWS's.

The poll also serves to explain and illustrate quite nicely, why VDF is such a great hang-out - lots of older guys with plenty of life-experience under their belts. Makes for a mellow, welcoming place to socialize with kindred spirits. Just as a personal note... I lived all my life in N.Y.C., the first 57 years of my life in fact. After my divorce seven years ago, I was uprooted and relocated to Reading, PA where I currently reside. I left proximity to friends and family behind and because I'm not into bars or into any kind of 'social scene' I haven't met very many people locally. It got real lonely out here for a time. Then, I found you monkeys! This place, is where I come to 'socialize!' You guys are the 'new friends' I hang out with daily. I just want you all to know how much it means to me to be able to come here whenever I need a little human contact, and find a really great bunch of guys who share my life experiences and passions (drums, drums, drums...) and just to be connected to a great community of fellow drummers like all of you.

Thanks for 'being there!'

Hope you all enjoyed the survey/poll. Please keep the bio's coming. Much to Rogersling's chagrin, I click back here regularly to see if anybody else posted something about themselves. You guys have made this a great thread with your photos and stories... thank you!

John

John the 25 and under are too busy playing with their I-Phones, ha,ha.

Oh boy, now Ive done it.

Jeff C

In my day, the only thing I had to play with was my i-bone! LOL

John

Ha Ha HA ! good one. But hey I thought if someone would like to learn a little more about me I have history page on my web site.

www.jeffscabinets.com

Jeff C

John, I still say you and Bobby Columby are long lost twin brothers. :)

I was wondering what the 40-55er's were called. OFIT's it is!!!! I'm 54 next week so I'm getting closer to COF status. I'm looking for a few old pics of me and my first Rogers kit from the 70's and some others. Anyway we need to get together one of these days we'd have a blast. I could use some lessons too!

I've been trying to get a few younger guys to join up here. I know they read and lurk but really need to join up and learn from everyone!!

Here's a old pic of Bobby C off the New Blood album. Note the Rogers hardware!!

Just turned 56, which means I started playing drums 46 years ago. Before that, I played coffee cans, ice cream containers, boxes...anything to prove to my parents I really wanted to play. When I was 10, I got a cheap set of MIJ Crown’s, which came standard with an 8-inch cheesy cymbal and no hi-hat. In 1971, I got a Ludwig 402 Supra and slowly began to add good cymbals but played that Crown 3-piece for years. Started playing in bands when I was around 12 with my older brother (guitarist) and continued that through high school and college. I never stopped playing and in the 80’s and 90’s I could afford to upgrade my equipment. A few years back, I was getting constant comments on my ’71 Supra from guys who were into vintage and began to get interested myself. Since then, I’ve collected and play a variety of vintage drums including a 60’s Gretsch Round Badge 22/13/16, ’71 Ludwig 20/13/16, a ’72 Ludwig Jazzette, a 1940 Leedy Broadway Standard snare, a 40’s Slingerland RK snare and a few others. I also play a non-vintage ’02 DW 22/12/14. Strangely, I’ve still got every drum I ever owned (with the exception of gifting one to my nephew – but I know where to find it). Someday I’ll probably need to sell something but for now, I guess I’m a hoarder. Currently I play in two bands – one reggae, one blues – and have a blast. I think I’ve found the fountain of youth by doing the same two things I did when I was 10...surf and play drums.

"chagrin"??? Seriously??? No. Not "chagrin". More like ... satisfaction of another cute little joke.

I had about 20 of my students sit and click this thread as "guests" for about twenty minutes yesterday and today in order to drive the heck out of these numbers. It was all just a bit of fun and a way to make a few giggle. Hope that you eventually figure out most of what I post is either informative or a goofy joke. Very rarely do I snap and slam. Maybe one day you will also figure out that I had nothing to do with whatever was said about your son. I'm a practical joker and a drummer. The more you know ...

Glenn - That 'twin brother' thing is no joke! Me and Bobby are both from Uptown Manhattan. We played the same music circuit; clubs, bars etc. Several times, I got asked for an autograph because the person thought I was Bobby. I doesn't help me that I play/sound just like him. Because not only did I pick up his musical 'sensibility/approach' on the drums, but the licks and grooves that I practiced and played came directly from him.

When you learn another drummers licks, it forces you to move around the kit just like he does. You physically reproduce what the cat did as he plays. Bobby had an amazing facility on the drums and serious grip on dynamics. I was forced to learn how to 'do what it takes', with my body and my hands, to make/reproduce those sounds. That stuff becomes a part of you. Guys that study/practice Buddy licks and grooves, or John Bonham, know what it 'felt like' to Buddy or John as they played. I played 'my way' in my own style because I am an individual and I have many influences, people I copped licks from. But if you ever heard me play and you are familiar with Bobby... you'd see and hear the powerful influence he's had on me as a musician and as a player. When I praise my teachers, even though I got it second-hand, Bobby is always front and center in my mind. The man is a gifted, talented player and worthy of study. Highly recommended drummer to study for anybody, at any playing level.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VXGekIQ974[/ame]

Thanks for posting the picture! Looks -just like me- circa 1970's/80's.

John

PS - ""chagrin"??? Seriously???" Dude, relax... no, not "seriously". It was a jibe. Don't be so defensive. John

John I know it's uncanny how you both look like brothers. I saw a old pic of you somewhere (probably here) and had to do a doubletake. :)

And LOL I was just watching that same vid on you tube!!! I needed a BS&T fix. So YT mix it was.....great stuff. Bobby is one of my all time favs too.

anybody else notice the worn batter heads moved to the reso side on bobby's drums. yeah,love it!!Mind Blowi

mike