it was there that i helped start my first band - wild diamond. i played keys ,because i had yet to buy another drum-kit. the mere fact that i now owned a couple decent keyboards (yamaha DX7 and akai AX60) also got me stuck playing keys for another band called concrete jungle. i soon saved up enough money and finally bought a tama camco drum-kit. i was once again complete.
around 1989 i bought my first 4-track cassette recorder (fostex 280), and began recording under the name the chump fool suckas with a high school friend. we wrote funny songs about bananas, flying dogs, and pastries that attacked people. good clean fun. having already decided a couple years earlier that lynnwood was not the place for me, i graduated high school in 1992 and moved to san francisco, california.
i began attending san francisco state university, and moved into the on-campus dorms which meant: no drums. i bought an acoustic guitar, studied audio production, worked two or three part-time jobs, and still managed to work as an audio engineer for bands that would play on campus and around the city... rock, jazz, rap, death-metal, klezmer, and once a even a guy that played tibetan bowls. it was while at SFSU that i discovered the world of hand-drumming.
i began playing percussion with an african congolese dance class for malonga casquelourd, a master drummer and dancer from the congo in africa. my years of playing for that class opened up a whole new approach to drumming, and i began to incorporate those new ideas into my playing on the drum-kit. click here to listen to me drumming with malonga. update: malonga casquelourd was killed by a drunk driver on june 15th of 2003. he was 55. click here to learn more about malonga.
in 1997 i started playing drums in the band soul of i, a latin soul jazz funk band with flute, horns, keys, and percussion, along with the bass, guitar, drums, and vocals. we gigged around the bay area for a year or so, then parted ways. soon after i started playing percussion with space rock instrumental band andiamo. i recorded one cd with them before we eventually dissolved in late 1998. this also happens to be the year in which i finally decide to graduate college. hey... it was only 6 years!
in 1999 i started playing drums in a loud heavy band called downfall, and later changed the name to peg. we played like crazy all around SF for about two years, and recorded one demo at radical house studio in SF. after breaking up, the guitar player and i started a project called pipsqueak. we've recorded a handful of songs with just the two of us (and sometimes jay roe), but have since put the project on the back-burner.
on october 28th, 2000 i played my first show with the rocket queens, an appetite for destruction ONLY guns n' roses tribute band. the rocket queens are alive and well as can be expected, what with the binges and all, and currently available for shows if we can all get a hold of each other and can remember the songs.
in november of 2002, i started playing drums for stereo grande - an alternative rock cover band. playing everything from green day, white stripes, nirvana, queens of the stone age, to michael jackson, prince, and men at work - stereo grande played hundreds of shows all over the bay area until putting the band on hold in early 2006. check back for updates.
in early 2003 i joined the band enda, and played with them until breaking up in early 2004. this was a really great band with a lot of potential and energy. we were sort of a cross between the smashing pumpkins and the foo-fighters, but with female vocals.
in february of 2003 i landed a job as a drum-tech for the dead (formerly the grateful dead). i know... weird, huh? working with bill kreutzmann and mickey hart - i've now toured the country with the dead for a few years, and have worked at more shows than i choose to remember.
in june of 2004 i finally moved into my own place in the russian hill district of san francisco. click here for a picture. that's alcatraz in the background.
in september of 2004 i was hired as a drum-tech for abe cunningham, drummer for the deftones. we did a small club tour around the U.S. for a little over a month... starting off with in london for a taping of MTV icon: the cure, which featured the deftones, AFI, and blink 182 playing cure songs. the taping ended with the cure playing a set. the last show was in mexico city with korn, ministry and others.
in december of 2004 i began working for phil lesh (bass player for the grateful dead) and his other band - phil lesh & friends. i was hired as a drum-tech for drummers john molo (john fogerty, bruce hornsby) and jeff sipe (leftover salmon, project Z), and still continue to work with them when they play with phil. in 2005 i also took on the job of programming musicpad pro's for members of the band including phil lesh, chris robinson, joan osborne, ryan adams, larry campbell, and rob barraco. a musicpad pro is a hardware/software product designed by freehand that enables convenient usage and storage of sheet music in digital format... basically a digital music stand.
in 2005 i also worked as a drum-tech for tim alexander from primus. i spent a few days in chicago while they rehearsed and played a lollapalooza show. tim's playing has always been a major inspiration to me, so you can imagine my joy in sitting next to him while he played.
in late 2005 i was hired by a songwriter named emily hickey to record her upcoming cd. we spent a couple days in the studio laying down drum and percussion tracks. it was a lot of fun, and unlike anything i've ever done - very mellow mostly acoustic songs. you can listen to some of the tracks by clicking here.
i spent the majority of 2006 on the road. first with phil lesh & friends as a drum-tech for john molo for the 2006 summer tour. after that was the rhythm devils tour - working as a drum-tech for bill kreutzmann. then with ryan adams & the cardinals working with brad pemberton as a drum-tech for their tour which included california, england, europe and ireland. the end of 2006 brought me out on tour with primus working as a drum-tech for tim alexander.
i took some time off in 2007 to gather my thoughts, and heal a bad back. if you haven't tried accupuncture, i highly recommend it.
2008 brough me out on tour with les claypool and his band working as a drum tech for drummer paulo baldi and percussionist mike dillon. i also helped out with skerik's saxophone set-up as well. add a little bonnaroo in tennessee, and throw in a few PRIMUS festivals in michican, canada and golden-gate park in san francisco - and that about brings it up to date.
i'm currently the drummer for DISASTROID and The Goldenhearts, and The Rocket Queens, but i'm always looking for new musicians to make music with, because that's what we do... musicians i mean.
nevermind,
chad
9/19/09
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi &
mike dillon
Symbiosis Gathering
Yosemite, CA
5/23/09 - 7/17/09
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi &
mike dillon
US & Canada Tour
4/12/09 - 5/16/09
the "grateful" dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann
US Tour
3/4/09 - 3/28/09
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi &
mike dillon
US & Canada Tour
2/13/09
bill kreutzmann 3
drum tech for bill kreutzmann
the independant
san francisco, CA
2/12/09
bill kreutzmann 3
drum tech for bill kreutzmann
moe's alley
santa cruz, CA
1/20/09
grateful dead
2009 Inaugural Ball
drum tech for bill kreutzmann &
mickey hart
walter e. washington convention ctr
washigton DC
12/31/08
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi
SF war memorial opera house
san francisco, CA
12/12/08
Into The Presence
drum tech for tim alexander
bottom of the hill
san francisco, CA
10/18/08
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi &
mike dillon
bacchanalia music festival
columbia, MO
10/13/08
barack obama rally '08 with the grateful dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann
bryce jordan center - Penn State
state college, PA
9/27/08
les claypool
drum tech for brian "brain" mantia
"we the people" music festival
los angeles, CA
8/30/08
the narada band
drum tech for narada michael walden
throckmorton theater
mill valley, CA
8/23/08
PRIMUS
drum tech for tim alexander
outside lands festival
golden-gate park
san francisco, CA
7/8/08
PRIMUS
drum tech for tim alexander
quebec city summer festival
quebec city, QC - Canada
7/6/08
PRIMUS
drum tech for tim alexander
ottawa bluefest
ottawa, ON - Canada
7/4/08
PRIMUS
drum tech for tim alexander
rothbury music festival
rothbury, MI
6/13/08
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi &
mike dillon
bonnaroo music festival
manchester, TN
5/31/08
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi &
mike dillon
salmon aid benefit
oakland, CA
5/29/08
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi &
mike dillon
mystic theater
petaluma, CA
2/29/08 - 4/5/08
les claypool
drum tech for paulo baldi & mike dillon. sax-tech for skerik
2008 US tour
2/4/08
obama rally '08 with members of the grateful dead
drum tech for john molo
warfield theater
san francisco, CA
11/28/06 - 12/9/06
primus
drum tech for tim alexander
2006 US winter tour: leg 2
11/1/06 - 11/21/06
primus
drum tech for tim alexander
2006 US winter tour: leg 1
9/17/06 - 10/24/06
ryan adams & the cardinals
drum tech for brad pemberton 2006 uk/europe/ireland tour
9/11/06
ryan adams & the cardinals
drum tech for brad pemberton
henry rollins show
los angeles, CA
9/10/06
ryan adams & the cardinals drum tech for brad pemberton
hollywood bowl
hollywood, CA
9/9/06
ryan adams & the cardinals
drum tech for brad pemberton
house of blues
san diego, CA
9/8/06
ryan adams & the cardinals
drum tech for brad pemberton
house of blues
anaheim, CA
8/15/06 - 8/19/06
rhythym devils
drum tech for bill kreutzmann
august tour
VT, VA and NY
7/29/06
primus
drum tech for tim alexander
hedgepeth festival
twin lakes, WI
6/20/06 - 7/21/06
phil lesh & friends
(with joan osbourne)
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell, rob barraco, greg osby and trey anastasio
2006 US summer tour
6/18/06
phil lesh & friends
(with joan osbourne)
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell, rob barraco, greg osby and trey anastasio
bonnaroo 2006
manchester, TN
6/16/06
oysterhead
drum tech for stewart copeland
bonnaroo 2006
manchester, TN
5/20/06
mickey hart with kitaro & the rhythm village
drum tech for mickey hart
wavy gravy 70th birthday party
berkeley community theater
berkeley, CA
5/18/06 - 5/19/06
phil lesh & friends
(with joan osbourne)
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell, rob barraco, greg osby and trey anastasio
the warfield
san francisco, CA
4/27/06
phil lesh, ryan adams, harry, and chad tasky
drum tech for: i played, and tech'd for myself
stealth show
12 galaxies
san francisco, CA
5/13/06
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for john molo
benefit show
2/24/06 - 2/26/06
phil lesh & friends
(with joan osbourne)
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell & rob barraco
tower theater
upper darby, PA
2/21/06 - 2/22/06
phil lesh & friends
(with joan osbourne)
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell & rob barraco
lupo's @ the strand
providence, RI
2/18/06 - 2/19/06
phil lesh & friends
(with joan osbourne)
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell & rob barraco
hammerstein ballroom
new york, NY
2/10/06 - 2/15/06
phil lesh & friends
(with joan osbourne)
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell & rob barraco
beacon theater
new york, NY
12/31/05
phil lesh & friends
(with ryan adams)
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh, ryan adams, larry cambell & rob barraco
bill graham civic auditorium
san francisco, CA
12/30/05
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh, larry cambell & rob barraco
the warfield
san francisco, CA
12/29/05
phil lesh & friends
(with ryan adams)
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh, ryan adams, joan osbourne, larry cambell & rob barraco
the fillmore auditorium
san francisco, CA
11/21/05 - 12/13/05
phil lesh & friends
(with chris robinson)
freehand tech for phil lesh, chris robinson &, larry cambell
drum tech for john molo
2005 winter tour
10/30/05
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell & rob barraco
the joint @ the hard rock cafe
las vegas, NV
10/29/05
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh, joan osbourne, larry cambell & rob barraco
vegoose festival
las vegas, NV
10/27/05
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh & rob barraco
bimbo's 265 club
san francisco, CA
9/24/05
ratdog / jerry garcia tribute-band
drum tech for jay lane &
bill kreutzmann
rex foundation benefit
jerry garcia tribute
greek theater
berkeley, CA
7/23/05
primus
drum tech for tim alexander
lollapalooza
chicago, IL
7/16/05
phil lesh & friends
(with ryan adams)
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh & ryan adams
red rocks
morrison, CO
7/15/05
phil lesh & friends
(with ryan adams)
drum tech for jeff sipe
freehand tech for phil lesh & ryan adams
the fillmore
denver, CO
5/15/05
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for john molo
seva benefit
berkeley community theater
berkely, ca
5/14/05
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for john molo
branson school benefit
ross, CA
5/13/05
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh
the warfield
san francisco, CA
2/12/05
phil lesh & friends
(with chris robinson)
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh & chris robinson
mardi gras spectacular
gill graham civic auditorium
san francisco, CA
12/31/04
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
new years eve
oakland arena
oakland, CA
12/17/04 - 12/19/04
phil lesh & friends
(with chris robinson)
drum tech for john molo
freehand tech for phil lesh & chris robinson
the warfield
san francisco, ca
12/12/04
deftones
drum tech for abe cunningham
w/korn, ministry, others...
foro sol
mexico city, mexico
9/27/04 - 11/2/04
deftones
drum tech for abe cunningham
2004 US winter tour
9/11/04
deftones
drum tech for abe cunningham
Mtv icons taping: the cure
old billingsgate market
london, UK
7/23/04 - 8/19/04
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
2004 US summer tour: leg 2
6/15/04 - 7/3/04
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
2004 US summer tour: leg 1
6/12/04
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
bonnaroo 2004
manchester, TN
4/24/04
phil lesh & friends
drum tech for john molo
private benefit show
rec center
corte madera, CA
2/9/04
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
the warfield
san francisco, CA
12/30/03 - 12/31/03
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
oakland arena
oakland, CA
9/28/03
phil lesh & friends
(with bob weir)
drum tech for john molo & mickey hart
benefit concert @ private home
ross, CA
9/18/03 - 9/21/03
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
2003 US summer tour: leg 3
7/29/03 - 8/10/03
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
2003 US summer tour: leg 2
6/17/03 - 7/11/03
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
2003 US summer tour: leg 1
6/15/03
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
bonnaroo 2005
manchester, TN
2/14/03
the dead
drum tech for bill kreutzmann & mickey hart
warfield theater
san francisco, ca
