MichaelPlaysDrums
CONTACT

ABOUT

I am a Drummer who is -> Rarely <- available for on call or casual gigs.,.

Communicate with me via: michael9190 sbcglobal net

Screen name:
MichaelPlaysDrums
Member since:
Jan 10 2010
Active over 1 month ago
Level of commitment:
Very Committed
Years playing music:
25
Gigs played:
Over 100
Tend to practice:
1 time per week
Most available:
Nights

Influences

I enjoy playing drums. It doesn’t matter to me whether the music ranged from Abba to ZZ Top, or from Zebra to Acoustic Alchemy; or if the crowd was intimate or arena sized.

I simply love music. Whether the song is styled for an acoustic setting; or a more formal classical hall; a brightly lit large country honky-tonk complete with mechanical bull; dimly lit jazz super club; or a larger than life - laser fueled - filled to capacity arena for plain old fashioned good time rock-n-roll.

Some of my many favorite musicians include 10cc, .38 Special, Abba, AC/DC, Acoustic Alchemy, Brian Adams, Trace Adkins, Aerosmith, A Flock Of Seagulls, After The Fall, Air Supply, Alabama, Jadon Aldean, Herb Alpert, Air Supply, Allman Brothers, Ambrosia, America, Arc Angels, Tommy Alverson, Asia, Average White Band, Babys, Burt Bacharach, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Badfinger, Bad Company, David Ball, Bangles, Beach Boys, The Beatles, Bee-Gee's, Pat Benatar, Dierks Bentley, George Benson, Berlin, Clint Black, Blondie, Blood Sweat & Tears, Blue Oyster Cult, Jason Boland, Boston, Wade Bowen, David Bowie, Brazil 66, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Tracy Byrd, Byrds, Charlie and the Nighthawks, Chris Cagle, Carpenters, Cars, Cheap Trick, Kenny Chesney, Chicago, Petula Clark, Roy Clark, Terrie Clark, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea, Climax Blues Band, Phil Collins, The Corr's, Billy Currington, Cream, Creedance Clearwater Revial, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Rodney Crowell, Billy Currington, Deep Purple, Def Leppard, Martin Denny, Bob Denver, Depeche Mode, Rick Derringer, Neil Diamond, Dire Straits, Deryl Dodd, Doobie Brothers, Duran Duran, Eagles, Earth Wind & Fire, Bleu Edmondson, ELO, Sara Evans, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Enya, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Fall Out Boys, Firefall, Fleetwood Mac, Flim & The B.B.'s, Flying Burrito Brothers, Foghat, Maynard Ferguson, Firefall, Dan Fogleberg, Foster & Lloyd, Foo Fighters, Peter Frampton, Genesis, Vince Gill, Go-Go's, Govi, Amy Grant, Grass Roots, Pat Green, Guess Who, Sammy Hagar, Merle Haggard, Heart, Head East, Jimi Hendrix, Don Henley, Hiroshima, Buddy Holly, Whitney Houston, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Billy Idol, Indigo Girls, Jack Ingram, Inxs, Alan Jackson, Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings, Joan Jett, Billy Joel, Elton John, George Jones, Spike Jones, Journey, Greg Khin, KC & The Sunshine Band, Toby Keith, Kinks, Kiss, Kitaro, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Led Zeppelin, Huey Lewis & The News, Little Feat, Little River Band, Ray Lynch, Lynyrd Skynrd, Los Lonely Boys, Loverboy, Mama's & The Papa's, Chuck Mangione, Marshall Tucker, Matrix, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Mark McKinney, Men At Work, Jo Dee Messina, Metro Station, Steve Miller, Molly Hatchet, Eddie Money, Montgomery Gentry, Richard "The Scatman" Martinez, Ronnie Montrose, Moody Blues, Nazareth, Willie Nelson, Oliva Newton-John, Joe Nichols, Stevie Nicks, Night Ranger, Ted Nugent, Gary P. Nunn, O.M.D., The Outfield, Buck Owens, Ozark Mountain Blue Devils, Pablo Cruise, Brad Paisley, Robert Palmer, Alan Parsons, Carl Perkins, Tom Petty, Pink Floyd, Police, Jean-Luc Ponty, Pretenders, Elvis Presley, Ray Price, Tito Puente, Rascal Flatts, R.E.M., Rebel Rouser, Brandon Rhyder, Charlie Rich, Linda Ronstadt, Rush, Santana, Boz Scaggs, Tom Scott, Scorpions, Bob Seger, Brian Setzer, Billy Joe Shaver, Blake Shelton, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, T. G. Sheppard, Tim Sheppard, Silver, Carly Simon, Simon & Garfunkle, Simple Minds, Six Shooter, Rick Springfield, Bruce Springsteen, Spyrogyra, Sugarland, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Squier, Starship, Sting, George Strait, Steely Dan, Steppenwolf, Gary Stewart, Rod Stewart, Struttin', Styx, Donna Summer, Supertramp, Tangerine Dream, James Taylor, Tears For Fears, John Tesh, Thin Lizzie, B.J. Thomas, Tin Drum, Toto, Tower Of Power, Trick Pony, Robin Trower, Tubes, Joe Tutt, Shania Twain, U2, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Utopia, Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Walsh, War, Dionne Warwick, Who, Hank Williams Sr. & Jr., Gary Wison, Gretchen Wilson, Edgar & Johnnie Winter, Stevie Wonder, Yanni, Yardbirds, Yellowjackets, Yes, Dwight Yoakam, Chris Young, Faron Young, Zebra, ZZ Top, and many more!

Instrument experience:

Drums:
Advanced

EQUIPMENT

My professional vintage gear consists of:

1970's Ludwig classic set covered in blue sparkle featuring 3 ply maple/ poplar/ maple shells, with clear interiors and maple re-enforcement rings top and bottom. Concert toms: 6x6, 6x8, 6.5x10; Double headed toms: 8x12, 9x13, 10x14, 12x15; Double headed floor toms: 16x16, 16x18, 18x20; Bass drum: 18x22.

1980's Ludwig chrome-o-wood set featuring 6 ply maple clear interior shells covered in chrome over steel wrap. Concert toms: 6x6, 6x8, 7x8, 6.5x10, 7x10, 9x10, 11x12, 12x13, 13x14; Concert floor toms: 16x16, 16x18; Double headed bass drum: 14x24.

1970's Ludwig stainless steel shell concert (single headed) set 6x6, 6x8, 7x10, 8x12, 9x13, 10x14, 10x14, 12x15, 12x15 and 14x16. Features two 14's and 15's, as I use one of each as a ride tom, and another as a floor tom. Also additional 10x12, 10x14, 10x16 and a 10x18 cranked up like super timbales. With 14x24 bass.

Peavey/Volpp Radial Bridge System Drums:

RadialPro 500 series in Blue Tiger wrap - 8/10/10/12/14/16 standard depth toms - all on RIMS.

RadialPro 500 series in Blue Tiger wrap - 10/12/14/16 FAST sized toms - all on RIMS & 14x16 bass,

RadialPro 500 series in Black stain - 8/10/12/14/16 standard depth toms - all on RIMS & 10x22 bass.

RadialPro 751 series in Black Onyx Lacquer - 8/10/12/12/14 FAST toms all on RIMS; 14 & 16 FAST floor toms; 4x22 gong drum; with twin custom 12x22 FAST basses.

RadialPro 750/751 series in Ruby Red Gloss - 8/10/12/12/14/16 FAST toms all on RIMS; 751 12x14, 14x16 & 750 14x16 16x18 floor toms; 751 12x22 FAST bass and 18x22 standard bass.

RadialPro 1000 series in Blue Gloss - 6/8/10/10/12/14 standard depth toms - all on RIMS, 14x16 floor tom; 18x22 bass.

Peavey RBS-1 Maple - 10/12/14/16 all on RIMS; 16x16 & 18x22 basses.

Traps Drums set: 8/10/10/12/12/14/14/16 single head toms, all rack mounted, with clear Pinstripe heads. Twin Traps 20” double headed pancake bass drums, along with one DW 20” single head pancake bass drum.


Snare drums:

Slingerland 8 x 15 Radio King one piece steam bent maple shell in blue sparkle wrap

Ludwig 10x14 1970's challenger Super-sensitive model 3 ply maple / poplar / maple shell in blue sparkle wrap

Trick 6x12 cast aluminum snare in green

Trick 6x14 cast aluminum vented snare in Black Galaxy sparkle lacquer

Gretsch 6x10 free floating snare with 3 ply maple shell in natural finish

Gretsch 6x12 free floating snare with 3 ply maple shell in natural finish

Gretsch 6x13 free floating snare with 3 ply maple shell in natural finish

Pearl 3.5x14 free floating piccolo copper shell

Stave 8 x 14 Black Walnut natural finish in Pearl free floating snare frame

Stave 7 x 14 Purpleheart natural finish in a Pearl free floating snare frame

Montineri 9x14 Jasper snare natural finish between Peavey composite Radial Bridges

Peavey RadialPro 500 6x10 maple with dual Gibraltar strainers

Peavey RadialPro 500 6x12 maple with dual Gibraltar strainers

Peavey RadialPro 500 5x12 & 5x14 maple

Peavey RadialPro 750 9x14 maple Blue Sapphire with Pearl Philharmonic triple strainer

Peavey RadialPro 750 5x12 maple Violet lacquer with dual Gibraltar strainers

Peavey RadialPro 750 7x16 maple Violet lacquer with dual Gibraltar strainers

Peavey RadialPro 751 6x10 maple Black Onyx with DW Mag strainer

Peavey RadialPro 751 6x12 maple Black Onyx with DW Mag strainer

Peavey RadialPro 751 9x14 maple Black Onyx with Pearl Philharmonic triple strainer

Peavey RadialPro 751 custom 5x10 red wine lacquer with dual Gibraltar strainers

Peavey RadialPro 751 custom 5x12 red wine lacquer with dual Gibraltar strainers

Peavey RadialPro 751 4x14 maple wine red lacquer

Peavey RadialPro 751 7x14 maple wine red lacquer with Pearl Philharmonic triple strainer

Peavey RadialPro 1000 6x12 Blue Gloss

Peavey RadialPro 1000 6x14 Blue Gloss

Peavey Radial Bridge System 6x12 Maple


The different shell designs and materials lend to different sound landscapes.

The different finishes add to 'on stage' color.


Cymbals, sounds, & effects:

Hi-hats (8)
Paiste Signature Sound-Edge 13"
Paiste Signature Dark Energy 14"
Paiste Sound Creation Dark Sound-Edge 14"
Paiste Prototype 16”
Paiste Colorsound Red Sound-Edge Hi-Hats 14”
Paiste Colorsound Red Heavy Hi-Hats 15”
Meinl Trash-hats 8"/10" & 10"/12"

China Type (4):
Paiste Signature Thin 14", 16"
Paiste Colorsound Red 14", 16"

Splash/Crash (19):
Paiste Colorsound Splash Red 10", 12"
Paiste Signature Splash 8", 10" & 12"
Paiste Signature Fast Crash 14", 16", & 18"
Paiste Colorsound Heavy Crash Purple 16", 17", 18”, 19", & 20"
Paiste Sound Creation Short Crash 16” & 18”
Paiste Symphonic Light 19" A & B
Paiste Symphonic Light 20" A & B

Ride (11):
Paiste 3000 Flat Ride 20”
Paiste Colorsound Medium Ride Blue 20”
Paiste Colorsound Mega Ride Blue 24”
Paiste Signature Dry Crisp Ride 20"
Paiste Signature Full Ride 21”
Paiste Signature Mellow Ride 22"
Paiste Signature Silver Mellow Ride 21”
Paiste Sound Creation Bell Ride 20”
Paiste Sound Creation Bright Ride 20"
Paiste Sound Creation Bright Medium Ride 20”
Paiste Sound Creation Mellow Ride 20”


And I have a few others just for good measure. As Joe Walsh once said, "You can tune a piano but you can't tuna fish..." (or a cymbal, for that matter...).

Percussion and sound effects are mostly DW & Latin Percussion, with some Toca - for variety in sound/effect.

Four LP Ago-go bells, several LP cow bells, Toca tri-bells, UFIP ice bell

DW steel piccolo toms: 8, 10, 10, 12

LP chrome plated brass timbalito
LP chrome plated brass timbales
LP brass Thunder Timbs (which are extra large and deep) Timbales

LP compact bongos
LP compact congas

Three sets of double row LP wind chimes

Assorted wood blocks, as well as various other effects

Roland electronic drums

Pedals are either Axis A series single longboard pedals or Off-Set double pedals

All other hardware is Drum Workshop DW 9000 series or Gibraltar / Pearl Icon rack systems

Heads are usually Aquarian Studio-X clears with dot on top with texture coated medium heads on bottoms

On a few sets I also make use of Remo White Suede or Aquarian Performance 2 with power dots on tops; with clear or coated, thin or medium bottoms; just for a variety in sound


I really like different sounds. If the song requires me to bring Grandma's antique bath tub on stage, then she better take a shower that night!

MUSIC