I think I'll share a bit more of myself with you
nice people. Things that affect me and that have made
me who I am today.
I grew up with my parents. My mom would always
sing these sad old 50's and 60's country tunes to me
when I was young and then my dad would blast AC-DC and
billy squire and Zep. on the stereo no and then. At
that age I was scared shitless of "Whole Lotta Love".
I was never really into the metal/hard rock scene cuz
all I knew of was glam crap that turned me away. So my
friend Jeff and I would listen to whatever was on MTV
and not really care about music cuz we were busy with
bikes and skateboarding.
I once ran into this guy who had a Metallica
sticker on his board and I started ranting on about
how I heard "they were Satanic!" and just totally
putting down Metal, not knowing that Metallica would
be the very band to change my life.
Jeff and I were riding to the Ramona skating rink
(the one we sometimes play at) with my mom's band's
guitarplayer, who's an old school metalhead now
playing Country. He popped in "Master Of Puppets" and
started blasting "Disposable Heros" and Jeff and I
were like "Holy Shit!!! this rocks!" and we were
hooked! From then on, I was a metal head, and I had to
be Lars Ulrich.
I was never really a trouble maker and far from
rich or popular in Jr.High, or liked by hardly anyone
cuz I could'nt afford the new "Nike Air Jordans" and
trendy gear that everyone else wore. It was quite
depressing and thankfully Nirvana was there to hold my
hand through most of it. They seemed to me like a
whole other side to music. An elixer to stop the pain
that I felt for not being good enough for my peers. My
first band I started with Nick Clark And Chuk O. Bass
was in Jr. High and was mostly covering Nirvana songs
and that lasted until we were good enough to write our
own decent songs. Then we got Dave Alm to sing for us.
Up untill the last shows of the P.O.E., we would break
out a Nirvana tune. I really cant put into words the
pain I felt when Kurt died. I just wish I could have
told him thank you.
Highschool started and for some reason I was
popular cuz I was in a band and had flannel shirts up
the ass. the same people that teased me to death about
my long hair so bad that I cut it all off to get away
from them. The same cocksuckers that took off my boots
in the middle of winter in grade school and left me
barefoot in the freezing snow thought that they'd be
my friend now. And after I had all these friends I
realized that I did'nt want them for friends cuz
they're still cocks to all the others and I dont want
any ties with them. I didn'nt start a band to gain
exceptance or popularity! I want nothing to do with
them. I dont even use them as victems in song lyrics!
They're not worth it. the only person tied into my
music I've made with anyone else was lyrically written
by Nick Clark in the P.O.E. A nice little ditty called
"P.C." It's about this cocky Jock wanna-be who thinks
he's the shit that got something stolen from him that
was quite valuable to him for partial revenge for the
torment over the years. The meaning of "P.C." "the
person. the stolen article." and thats the only clue
I'll give you. So no inspirations have come from any
assholes yet, but maybe someday....
As Metallica started getting mellower, I turned
to the likes of Pantera, Primus, Def Tones, Faith No
More, Sepultura, Soulfly, Morbid Angel, and even some
Garbage, Dave Mathews Band, and other odd mellow shit
that was out there. I also dig the local Punk stuff
around here, cuz the shows are fun and they have alot
of fun jamming out live. So anyway, those are my
favorite bands right now.
Up until I was about 17, I didn't have my own
drum kit. The kit I have now was a gift from my dad,
but befor that I would jam out on boxes and
skateboards and desks. Sad. When I started a band with
Nick I just used his from 7th grade until about 10th.
I cant really decide if I should continue to play my
kit the way I currently have it set up or if I should
chop it down to a 4pc kit. I feel that as a drummer, I
play alot better on a small kit cuz I'm not
overwhelmed with options and I can stay focused for
better performance, BUT yet I also feel limited
without as many colors and sounds and my technique
will fall behind. So if you see mr with a small drum
kit then you know how I'm feeling. I've been taught
by everyone I've heard. Lars Ulrich, Danny Carey, Neil
Pert, Carter Beauford, Igor Cavalara, Pete Sandoval,
Dave Grohl, Tim "Herb" Alexander,and Vinnie Paul to
name a few. Many different kits and styles/Techniques
listed there. I'd like to tip my hat to them and say
thanx for the help and inspiration throughout the
years. Also I'd like to say "Fuck Yeah!" to Les
Claypool, Max Cavalara, and Alex Newport. Their souls
can never be filled with too much passion for music.
Also I'd like to thank God for finally blessing
me with a car that runs!!! And thanks to My Girl,
Heather, of 5 yrs and 5 months for lending her car to
us to get our gear to shows when I was immoble and
taking me to rehearsal. Thanx and I love you.
Oh yeah! Fuck Brain up the ass, and if Axl's in
the way, then move him!
Thats about it. Sorry!
Bob "33" Keys