Ringo started it.
I remember my mothers amused looks as I drummed on the table and sang “She Loves You Yeah, Yeah, Yeah.”
It wasn’t so much the catchy chorus that resonated with me.
It was the beat.
It was New Zealand, 1963. I was 8 and all the music in our house came from the radio.
In 1969 I had a record player and a paper round. I spent all my money on records.
Cream had just disbanded and Jimi Hendrix ruled.
Ginger Baker and Mitch Mitchell were now the inspiration.
A lot of my friends played guitar and one of them had an old drum kit.
Most weekends were spent jamming at the house of the guy with the coolest mum. 
What a joyous noise we made!
A lot of the neighborhood kids would hang out and I discovered that a good beat could make girls dance.
I was hooked.
I spent a lot of time sitting on my bed playing along to records or whatever came out of the radio, using a couple of pieces of dowel as sticks.
In 1973 I finished school and with my first pay packet, went into the local music shop and put a deposit on a drum kit of my own.
Not long after, unschooled, self taught and nervous, I was hired for my first paid gig.
That’s how I started.
40 years and a lot of music later, I live in Byron Bay, Australia, playing and teaching drums for a living.
I’m still making a joyous noise and people dance.
I feel blessed.
Thanks for visiting my website. I hope you enjoy it.
If you would like a lesson, need a drummer for a gig or recording, if you’re looking for live music for your venue or event or if you’d just like to say hi, please contact me.