Musical background: I grew up listening to Rap Music mostly. I didn’t start getting into bands until about 8th grade. I sang all my life however in the car with my parents primarily. Picked up the drums when I was 17 b/c of being sick with mono and stuck in the house the entire summer. I saw an interview with Steven Tyler saying every singer should learn how to play the drums so I did. I reached for the guitar around 19 and have most recently been studying the harmonica and piano. Where did you grow up? Frankenmuth/Saginaw MI What were some non-musical jobs you had? Go Cart Operator, Pizza Delivery, Postal Service Mailman When did you pick up the instrument? Drums 17, Guitar 19, Piano & Harmonica…a year and a half ago. Who are your musical heroes? Bob Dylan, Aggressive Rappers from the 90′s, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Tom Waits, Mick Jagger, Steven Tyler, Neil Young, Terry Reid, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Bob Seger, Iggy Pop, Cactus, The Doors, Elton John, Elvis…..and keeps going & GOING. Why? Like Billy Idol said. ”When the rebel yell, they cry more more more” Danger & Passion is what I gathered from them. Top 5 recording artists: The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, Tom Waits Top 5 records: The Rolling Stones -Goats Head Soup Bob Dylan -Blood On The Tracks The Beatles -The White Album John Mellencamp -American Fool Tom Waits -Mule Variations Top 5 songs: This is nearly impossible but the ones that I fire up in my headphones before I crash are… Bon Iver -Skinny Love Leonard Cohen -Tower Of Song Patty Griffin -You Never Get What You Want John Lennon -Instant Karma Led Zeppelin -Going To California What made you want to become a musician? True Story here. When I was about 5 or 6 my cousin Kyle & I were playing under the table of my parents house. My Mom and Aunt had rented a live Doors Performance VHS tape. Within that tape was a moment where Jim Morrison was tied to a tree and spit up blood. It forever has been locked in my mind as my first true look at how music could make you feel. I was hooked by both the danger and beauty you can find in music. I can’t think of anything else that holds both of those in the palm of their hand so gracefully. What would you do if you weren’t a musician? Manage bands Was there a record/movie/concert that changed your life? I’d say the doors story I wrote about above. My first concert was The Smashing Pumpkins in East Lansing Michigan. I turned around and stared at the crowd as if they were all their to see us (I was with my high school band at the time). Great feeling. What’s your favorite and least favorite things about live performance? When people sing the words to your songs back. Least favorite…..playing sick. What’s your favorite and least favorite things about studio recordings? Favorite- Hearing a song you wrote at the foot of your bed on an acoustic come screaming through the speakers full band raw energy. Least- Not having a Grammy yet to put next to Skidds. What’s your worst nightmare? Not being able to write songs. What’s your greatest fantasy? Driving down the autobahn on a Moped while drinking an extra dirty martini….with 3 olives.