I define my early years as middle school and high school. That’s when I first started becoming interested in drumming. My interest was sparked by two huge things. The first was seeing the John Overton High School Drumline every Friday night when I went to high school football games to watch my brother play trombone in marching band. From fifth grade through eighth grade I went to games and studied everything the drumline did. My biggest dream was to play snare in the Overton Drumline. I had pictures of them on my wall and I used to pray that I would be in it some day. I ended up playing snare at Overton all four years I was in high school.
The other key was getting hooked on Led Zeppelin in seventh grade. John Bonham’s drumming was more powerful and emotive than anything I had heard. He hit the drums so hard, and hearing him made me want to play. I made a “drum set” that consisted of cardboard boxes for two years before I had enough money to buy a real kit. I played along to Led Zeppelin every day until I knew every song. That was the beginning for me. I’ll tell you a few other drummers that were big for me in those days. I bet you can’t wait.
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