Started drumming in 1967 in my Elementary School Drum & Bugle Corps, then bought my first set, a 1946 4-pc WMP Gretsch set in 1970 for $100 (with Zildjian ride, crash, and HHs!). Played continuously in school marching bands, concert bands, jazz bands, and orchestras right through college (UConn... Go Huskies), and in between all that school playing, I played in several rock, folk, and jazz bands, and have never had a break from drumming since '67.

Played music festivals in front of 10,000 people and played backrooms in bars in front of 6 people. I received a standing ovation once for a drum solo, and have been boo'd off a stage more than once (picture that scene in the Blue Brothers where the music just wasn't appropriate for the venue). Played dances just to meet girls, played bars just for free beer, played weddings just for a free meal, and once in a while got paid enough to buy more drums and cymbals.

Between all the band break-ups, I'd like to think I made more friends than enemies. What a long, strange trip it's been, and I'm a better drummer (and person) because of it.

Mike

Wait a sec. I'm doing the math based on the above and you should be 53 years of age this June if you were age 8 in the above photo from 1969. Lol.. am I right? Or are you trying to pull a fast one. Ha!

Nice stratas btw.

p.s. Been playing only 5 years but was waiting for the right opportunity to jump in the water since hearing that drum solo in "Frankenstein" back in '73. I took only 36 years.

I remember going to an Edgar Winter concert in Vancouver BC Canada back then....and I too was impressed by the duet solo between the drummer and Edgar Winter. Winter was playing Timbales/concert toms(?) I think...and he did a very good job of it. Talented guy - great band.

I found myself in 7th grade Band in '73. Johnny Sandles was in the same boat as me. we struck up a friendship and he says to me, "Let's play drums, it looks like the easiest." I played in marching band and orchestra until I dropped out of school in 77. Started playing Drumset when I turned 50 in '07.

10 years total with a 30 year break in between

BTW - drums are not easy!

James

Larry,

Got confused by that one also until I realized the "going on 45 years" meant 45 years of playing, not 45 years old! And nice reference to E. Winter's Frankenstein. I remember playing that one in '74 in a cover band. Great way to fill a big block of time in a 30 minute set and give the lead vocalist a rest. It was naturally accompanied by Deep Purple's Smoke on the Water, Foghat's Slow Ride, and Grand Funk's American Band.

Mike

LOL - I used to feel that way about, 'Freebird!' I had to play it so many times, I really grew to hate it! I used to go to gigs thinking, 'If some A-hole requests Freebird, I'm going to bury my sticks in a place that will require a proctologist to remove them!'

Funny stuff, Mike. 'Jam tunes' a phenomenon from days gone by. Bands like the Allman Bros. were known for it. Those cats would jam on-stage for 20 minutes or longer on one tune! You don't want to hear the 10 minute version of Sweet Mellisa!

John

Hi Larry,

your math is correct, sorry bout the confusion.

1.started at age 8 in 1969

2. first kit was ruby strata bought around 1971

3. picture was taken about age 14

4. had kit for 5 years , traded in 1976

5. been playing for 45 years come June.

thanks for the therapy session.

been waiting along time to get that off my shoulders.D' Drummer

Wayne

We are born the same year and started drumming the same year as well! Brothers in drums!

Born 1971. Uncle taught me "mama dada" etc with a pair of sticks from about age of 2. First real lessons at 4, first paid gig at 7 and kept getting paid from then on. First kit was a Premier Olympic with Ajax and Zyn cymbals. So 38 years really but 35 live! Bloody Hell!!!!

Yikes! I'm almost 57 yrs old and still the babe in the woods here! I got tired of trying to ignore that gnawing feeling to get some drums a few yrs ago.(played guitar and other stringed things on and off for 40+ yrs)

Checked out some forums and wound up lurking here and wound up meeting Purdie Shuffle when I answered an ad for a snare he had for sale. Drove an hour, bought the snare, got a 1 1/2 hour lesson and made a friend all at once. Plus he gave me a stand and case too!

'bout a week later I took the 10 minute ride to Dale's Drums since it's the only real drum shop in the area and I know some of the crew there. Plopped down a deposit on a 1 up, 1 down Ludwig shell pack, some Zildjian A's and some heavier than I need hardware. Picked 'em up a couple days later which was November 18, 2011. (I remember it like it was a holiday) It probably took me about 3 hours to set everything up. You don't get a manual explaining the workings of a hi hat clutch but I got it done.

Since then I may have missed 6/7 days of playing or practicing and am very vigilant about it. Lucky for me I'm still welcome at P.Shuffle home and John has been very generous sharing his time and knowledge with me.(some guys can play their ass off and some can teach. John's on of the few who can do both) I think I've made pretty good progress for the amount of time I've been at it which is mostly due to having a good coach/instructor and I know how it goes when you take on a new instrument totally on your own. It can be done but unless you're a natural it's a long tedious process.

Thanks to all you guys for sharing your knowledge, new guys like me need it. :) As a side note: these old drums are addictive. Since joining the forum I've bought a late 50's/early 60's Slingy kit and a rough Gretsch RB playable project. I guess that's the way it goes!