Birthplace: Chicago, IL

First memory of wanting to play the drums: As a child at my grandparent’s home, where my uncle had a drum kit with the Muppet, Animal perched on top of the bass drum.

I was about twelve years old when I owned my first set of drums. My neighbors had a drum kit they were trying to sell at garage sale. It was a four-piece, Del Rey drum set (probably one of those kits you get out of a Sears catalog). Some neighborhood kid bought the set, but his parents made him give it back. At the end of the day they gave the set to my brother, however, over then next several months, I ended up playing it more than my brother. Later that summer, my mother had bought me Carmine Appice’s book Realistic Rock Drumming (a must have for any budding drummer), and I began my journey to learn the “art” of rock drumming. Throughout, high school I took lessons at the local music store and eventually graduated to a new Yamaha Stage Custom drum set. Influences at that time included Phil Collins (Genesis), Alex Van Halen (duh), Neil Peart (Rush), Stewart Copeland (The Police) and Jeff Porcaro (Toto).

I attended Eastern Illinois University, studying percussion under the guidance of Professor Johnny L. Lane. While I was only there for a year and a half, it was a great experience. I was immersed in playing/studying the different percussion instruments, building chops and theoretical knowledge of music through private instruction, marching band, ensembles and recitals.

Shortly after returning home, I hooked up with a band called Risky, playing “original” music. The sound was much like that of the big-hair/eighties arena rock bands of that era. It was your typical garage band, playing the occasional gig at local venues. However, it was time to get serious again and I departed for Northern Illinois University.

After a brief hiatus and accounting degree in hand (it’s a steady gig), I rekindled my relationship with this former band which had since changed its name to Accomplice. The band was now doing covers of those big-hair bands it was once trying to emulate. By now my influences had moved in the direction of Tico Torres (Bon Jovi), Tommy Lee (Motley Crue) and Ricky Rockett (Poison), sans the big hair.

However, this was short-lived, thanks to Eddie Vedder , Kurt Cobain and others. The band had to change its image, style, sound and name. Over several years, along with changes in personnel, the band Core evolved as an alternative-rock mainstay within the Chicago music scene. At this time I had traded in the Yahama kit for a Premier drum set with a tobacco sunburst finish. By now my playing influences included the likes of Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Matt Cameron (Soundgarden/Pearl Jam), Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Scott Phillips (Creed), Carter Beauford (Dave Matthews), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) and others.

While Core gained a steady following, I also had the opportunity to re-live the “decade of decadence” as a member of the 80’s/glam-rock tribute band Hairbanger’s Ball, this time with the leather pants and big hair. Playing in the two bands kept me extremely busy, to the point where I eventually had to scale back to one.