As I succeeded, I also continued to fail, and so I continued to learn. I got gigs with bigger artists and started recording for people. Eventually, people started telling me I had my own thing going on. I brought these qualities into my own playing. I studied the great drummers of the world and figured out what made them great. I failed, and I got better, failed, then got better again. But each time I failed, I learned something, and this has been my greatest strength throughout my entire journey. I wasn’t the kid who got everything right first time. I had many other difficult performance experiences between then and now. But I got back on track and made it through the tune. Then I played something that sounded like a wardrobe falling down the stairs! I totally messed up my big moment. The tune was ‘How You Remind Me’ by Nickelback. I think I visited the bathroom 7 or 8 times before we went on! With sweaty palms I took up my sticks.

I remember my first performance like it was yesterday: me and some other kids my age on stage in the massive school hall with around 200 kids, parents & teachers attending. I just wanted to play music– being told that this wasn't okay led to a lot of doubt and confusion. I was so frustrated! 5 years of conflict followed– teacher wanting me to take exams, me just wanting to rock out. He’d watch politely and then just put the grade book on the music stand. I’d go into my lesson, excited to show my teacher what I’d been working on over the week.

By this time I was heavily into rock & metal– I wanted to rock out like Lars Ulrich of Metallica, but my drum teacher wouldn’t have it. I settled for dance classes instead but these were never quite right for me.Īt age 11 I finally got drum lessons at school. I begged for the blue Mickey Mouse kit but my parents wouldn’t give in.

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