It all started back in 1975. My sister was a baton twirler with a live drum corp. Weekend after weekend I sat and watched these masterful players create sounds that made you want to dance. I started taking lessons from one of the drummers until he finished school and moved off. With only a pair of sticks, I went to a local music store and saw my first kit. That year for Christmas, Santa delivered as promised. Many days went by with nothing but noise coming from my room. Then one day in 1977, I was at a friends house. I stopped with awe as I heard this beat of awesome style. His older brother was spinning a KISS record, ALIVE, and the song was 100,000 years. How could one person be doing all this? For days upon end I sat in my room trying to figure out this great player. In 1979 I saw my first concert, that’s right KISS, at the Anaheim Convention Center. I did not know what I was about to see would change my life. Not only did this guy play drums, he plays piano and sings. I told myself I would be just like this drummer and become famous one day. I have played everything from blues to metal over the years. The players I have been blessed with playing with have taught me more about music and myself then I ever thought possible. After many tries at the local bar and club scene, I gave up and started playing at Church and setup a studio in my house. The passion had returned and I felt I was doing what I needed to be doing. Then it hit, a guy on the Internet ( Allen ) was in the Ft Smith area and we started talking. One email to another, we swapped links and talked about projects and recordings. I sent him a few clips of some of my work. After about a week, I get a phone call for another person, ( Matt ) and asked if I wanted to get together for a little jam and party. I told him I would see and I made a phone call to John. My life long friend and Sound Man in every project I have worked in. He said sure lets go see what they got. After a few times playing together, it just didn’t seem like it was working. Matt and Allen were also playing with a few other drummers and really were not sure about my playing or me. I didn’t talk to them for about 6 weeks, when Allen called me and asked me to come over and “talk”. After about an hour, Matt showed up. It was decided, either we do this right and make it or lets forget it. We needed a name, Smiley Died was it and you know the rest of the story!
Equipment
Yamaha Beech Custom Absolutes
Zildjian Cymbals
DW Hardware
All Rights Reserved Smiley Died © 2001
