Interview With Derek Roddy

7/18/2019 Interview With Derek Roddy

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/interview-with-derek-roddy 1/11

INTERVIEW WITH

Words : Sina Najaflou - Lisa LaFountaine



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Is an American drummer and snake breeder,originally from South Carolina. His ability to recordentire drum tracks in one or two takes earned himthe nickname “One Take”.Derek is most known as an Extreme Metal drummer playing with many influential Extreme bands

including Hate Eternal, Nile, Malevolent Creation,Divine Empire, Council of the Fallen (where he alsoplayed guitar), Today Is the Day, Traumedy, andAurora Borealis.In early 2007, Roddy started an instrumental bandcalled Serpents Rise, which almost immediatelygrabbed the attention of drummers/musiciansaround the world.

Serpents Rise is often referred to by fans ashaving an obscure sound for their bizarre guitaparts and Incorporation of various percussioninstruments, atmosphere and dynamics.

In 2010 Roddy was one out of seven drummerswho was asked to auditioned to replace MikePortnoy as the drummer for Dream Theater.Since his departure from Hate Eternal in 2006,

he has become a featured drum clinician for several companies, including Meinl Cymbals,Axis Percussion, and DW Drums.Derek was the first Extreme Metal Drummer toauthor instructional material on extreme metaldrumming.

D

www.DerekRoddy.comwww.DerekRoddyLessons.com

EREK RODDY

http://www.derekroddy.com/

http://www.derekroddylessons.com/







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ET’S TALK ABOUT "SERPENT'S RISE”. IS THIS MORELIKE A PROJECT OR A HOME BAND? WHAT IS THE IDEABEHIND THE BAND ?

DEREK:WELL, SERPENTS RISE IS MY MAIN BAND NOW.AT FIRST IT WAS JUST ME WRITING AND RECORDINGEVERYTHING. IN FACT, ON THE FIRST 2 IT WAS ONLYME DOING EVERYTHING.I HAD A FEW CONTRIBUTORS ON THE FIRST ONE BUT,THEY NEVER ENDED UP STAYING AROUND.SO, I ENDED UP RECORDING EVERYTHING MYSELF.FOR THE 2ND ONE, I DIDN'T EVEN WASTE MY TIMELOOKING. THE SONGS FOR THE 2ND ONE CAMEREALLY FAST AND I SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TOLOOK FOR REAL MEMBERS. FOR THE 3RD ONE THAT'SGOING TO BE COMING OUT THIS FALL, I ACTUALLYHAVE MEMBERS. MIKE MORANO IS ONE OF THE

GUITARIST. HE'S PLAYED WITH SEVERAL LOCALFLORIDA BANDS BUT, HAS A GREAT JOB, ETC SOHE NEVER GOT INVOLVED IN PLAYING FULL TIME.THE OTHER GUITARIST IS A FRIEND FROM HIGHSCHOOL (ROBERT PETERSON). WE PLAYED TOGETHERIN THE LATE 80S AND, HE WAS IN "THE DEBONINGMETHOD" WITH ME. WE LOST TOUCH FOR ABOUT 20

YEARS BUT, RECONNECTED LAST YEAR AND HE SAIDHE'D LIKE TO PLAY AGAIN. IT WAS A PERFECTOPPORTUNITY TO START WRITING SONGS.WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WE WANTED TO START ACOMPLETELY NEW BAND FROM SCOTCH BUT,BEING THAT FINDING MEMBERS IS SO HARD.WE JUSTDECIDED TO MAKE THE RECORDING A 3RD SERPENTS.

WE'RE STILL ON THE HUNT FOR A BASSIST BUT, WE'RE INNO HURRY. JUST NICE TO ABLE TO CREATE MUSIC WITHOTHER PEOPLE AS OPPOSED TO DOING IT ALL MYSELF.

YOU RELEASED TWO SELF TITLED ALBUMS WITH"SERPENT'S RISE", (SERPENT'S RISE - 2010 & SERPENT'SRISE 2 - 2012),HOW WAS THE FEEDBACK SO FAR FROM FANS,BEFRIENDED MUSICIANS AND PRESS?

DEREK:IT'S BEEN GREAT. THE AMOUNT OF NON METALLISTENERS THAT HAVE REALLY DUG IT HAS BEENAWESOME. IT'S NICE TO HEAR A PEER WHO ISN'T INTOTHIS SORT OF STUFF SAY "THEY ENJOY LISTENING TO IT".I THINK THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO VOCALS HELPSWITH THIS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE EXTREME METAL

CIRCLE HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME DIGESTING THEVOCALS SO, THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSEOUTSIDE THE CIRCLE TO ACTUALLY "LISTEN" TO THEMUSIC. THUS FAR, LISTENERS HAVE REALLY DUG ON ITSO, HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE MOVINGFORWARD WITH IT AND EXPOSE THIS STYLE OF MUSICTO MUCH MORE PEOPLE THAN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY.

WHICH SONGS GOT THE MOST INTENSE LIVE REACTIONSO FAR?

DEREK:ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN GOOD BUT, THE FASTER TUNESALWAYS MAKES HEADS TURN. (LAUGHING)

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INTERVIEW WITH DEREK RODDYSINA NAJAFLOU - LISA LAFOUNTAINE



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WHAT'S THE LATEST FROM THE NEW SERPENT'S RISEALBUM?

DEREK:I'M MIXING IT AS WE SPEAK. ANOTHER 2 MONTHSAND IT WILL BE READY AND AVAILABLE THROUGH MYWEBSITE (JUST LIKE THE OTHERS) ATWWW.DEREKRODDY.COM. WE ARE ALSO IN THEPROCESS OF INKING A DISTRO DEAL SO HARDCOPIES WILL BE AVAILABLE VERY SOON.

YOU RECENTLY RELEASED THE PLAY WITH YOURDRUMS DVD. WHAT IS NEW ON THIS DVD? WHAT DO

YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN ON IT?

DEREK:"PLAYING WITH YOUR DRUMS" IS ABOUT SETTING UP

YOUR DRUM-KIT TO BE THE MOST COMFORTABLE YOUCAN MAKE IT BASED ON YOUR BODY TYPE.AS DRUMMERS, WE LOOK AT PICTURES OF THE WAYTHE INDUSTRY TELLS US THAT OUR DRUMS SHOULD BESET UP AND DON'T PUT MUCH THOUGHT INTO HOWOUR BODIES WANT THE DRUMS TO BE SET UP. THISDVD SIMPLY GIVES VIEWERS NEW IDEAS ON WHICHTO SET UP OUR KITS AROUND OUR BODY TYPE TOMAKE OURSELVES AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE ATOUR DRUMS. NOBODY HAS EVER DONE A VIDEO ONTHIS SUBJECT AND IT WAS SOMETHING I FELT THATCOULD BE USEFUL TO ALL TYPES OF DRUMMERS.

WHICH EXERCISES DO YOU PRACTICE TO IMPROVE YOUR SKILL IN DRUMMING?

DEREK:I PRACTICE LISTENING. NO AMOUNT OF CHOPS INTHE WORLD WILL HELP YOU KEEP A GIG IF YOU CAN'TLISTEN. THERE IS AN ART TO LISTENING, NOT JUSTHEARING BUT, LISTENING. IN FACT, THE NEXT DVD IMAKE WILL BE ON HOW TO LISTEN, A EAR TRAININGDVD SO TO SPEAK. I WILL START WORKING ON THATVIDEO THIS FALL. OTHER THAN THAT, I PLAY A LOT BUT,I'VE NEVER BEEN A BIG "PRACTICER". THE EXERCISESTHAT I DO ARE THE TRADING SINGLE STROKESBETWEEN A HAND AND FOOT. I'M SURE MANY OF

YOU HAVE SEEN THAT ONLINE. THE FACT THAT I STILLPLAY THIS STYLE OF MUSIC WEEKLY IS ALL IT TAKES TOSTAY IN SHAPE BUT, DRUMMING IS SO MUCH MORETHAN A BUNCH OF NOTES AT THE HIGHEST POSSIBLEBPM. THE THINGS I ACTUALLY PRACTICE, HAVENOTHING TO DO WITH PLAYING FAST OR HAVINGCHOPS. IN FACT, THE ONLY REASON I CAN PLAY FASTAND HAVE A BUNCH OF CHOPS IS BECAUSE I PLAYTHIS STYLE OF MUSIC.IT WASN'T BECAUSE I PRACTICED. IT WAS BECAUSE ITHREW MYSELF RIGHT INTO THE SHARK INFESTEDWATERS AND STARTED SWIMMING. SURE IT WASMESSY AND SLOPPY AT FIRST BUT, AS TIME WENT ONAND THE BAND PLAYED SO MUCH THAT IT HAPPENEDALL BY ITSELF. AND, THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TOHAPPEN WITH THIS TYPE OF PLAYING.SITTING IN A ROOM TRYING TO GET TO THE NEXT BPMLEVEL WON'T GET YOU THERE LIKE ACTUALLY TRYINGTO DO IT. PRACTICE DOING IT.

THEY CALL YOU ONE TAKE, BUT THE QUESTION IS,WHAT EXERCISES CAN HELP DRUMMERS RECORDTHEIR DRUM PARTS IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TAKES?

DEREK:THERE ARE NONE, AT LEAST THAT I KNOW OF.BUT, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS DON'T TRY TOPLAY SOMETHING YOU CAN'T.KNOW YOUR PLAYING, AND OWN IT.WHEN YOU'RE CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN NAIL APART, IT HAPPENS VERY QUICKLY BUT, IF YOU'RESETTING ALL THESE PARTS UP THAT REQUIRE MORE

WORK THAN YOU'VE PUT IN, YOU'LL NEVER GET TOTHAT POINT AND IT WILL BECOME FRUSTRATING.KNOWING YOUR DRUMMING AND WHAT YOU ARECAPABLE OF IS THE BIGGEST KEY. DON'T TRY TORECORD A SONG AT 240 IF YOU CAN ONLY GET OUT235. THE THINGS THAT TAKE THE MOST TIME IN THESTUDIO ARE GUYS FINDING OUT THEY CAN'T PLAYWHAT THEY THOUGHT SO, THE QUICKEST WAY TOGET A RECORDING DONE IS TO PLAY ONLY WHAT

YOU KNOW YOU CAN. SIMPLE REALLY.


IS ABOUT SETTING UP YOUR

DRUM-KIT TO BE THE MOST

COMFORTABLE YOU CAN MAKE IT

BASED ON YOUR BODY TYPE.







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WATER, WATER, WATER !

CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH, WATER !!! YOUR MUSCLES NEED THE HYDRATIONTO STAY LOOSE AND OXYGEN,

YOU HAVE TO BREATHE.

WHAT'S THE MOST COMMONLY FOUND PROBLEMFOR RECORDING WHILE PLAYING AT HIGH TEMPOS,AND HOW WE CAN FIX IT?DO YOU QUANTIZE?

DEREK:THE TEMPO THEMSELVES IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE,NO QUESTION. IF THE TEMPO IS AN ISSUE, SLOW IT

DOWN. THERE IS NO SHAME IN PLAYING A SONG AT220 BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PLAY IT AT 230.BUT, THERE IS SHAME IF YOU CAN'T PLAY THE 230AND TRY TO. YES, YOU CAN FIX STUFF AND PUNCH IN,ETC BUT TO ME, WHY ARE YOU SETTING SUCH HIGHSTANDARDS ON YOURSELF IF YOU'RE ONLY GOINGTO FIX OR FAKE IT ENTIRELY? WHY EVEN WORRY IF

YOU CAN EVEN PLAY THE DAMN DRUMS IF YOU'REGOING TO FIX STUFF OR PUNCH IN ANY CHANCE

YOU CAN GET? WORRY ABOUT IF THE SONG ISWORTH A CRAP BEFORE YOU WORRY ABOUT THE BPMOF THE SONG. A GOOD SONG IS MORE APPLICABLETHAN A BAD FAST SONG.

ARE THERE CERTAIN DETAILS WE SHOULD KNOW

AS DRUMMERS TO BETTER ADJUST THE THRONEDURING HIGHER SPEEDS AND TEMPOS WITH CERTAINAMOUNTS OF CONTROL?

DEREK:NOT REALLY. EVERYONE IS A DIFFERENT HEIGHT ANDTHEREFOR YOU WILL SEE DIFFERENT DRUMMERSDOING DIFFERENT THINGS AS FAR AS SEAT HEIGHT.

IT'S ALL INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCES AND NOTEVERYONE IS THE SAME.PERSONALLY, I NOTICE THAT PLAYING FAST FEELSBETTER WHEN I'M ON TOP OF MY KIT, SITTINGSLIGHTLY ABOVE MY KNEES. WHEN I'M PLAYINGMORE CONTROLLED TEMPOS I LIKE TO BE DOWN ALITTLE BIT LEVEL WITH MY KNEES. BUT, I ALSO CHANGEMY SEAT HEIGHT A GOOD BIT, EVEN IN-BETWEENSONGS. THERE'S NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY.

WHAT'S YOUR ADVICE FOR OUR SUSTENANCE INORDER TO IMPROVE OUR STAMINA?

DEREK:WATER, WATER, WATER !CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH, WATER !!!

YOUR MUSCLES NEED THE HYDRATION TO STAYLOOSE AND OXYGEN, YOU HAVE TO BREATHEI KNOW THAT SOUNDS CRAZY BUT, MOST DRUMMERSI WATCH WILL HOLD THEIR BREATH BEFORE GOINGINTO A DOUBLE BASS RUN OR BLAST BEAT.WRITE YOURSELF A NOTE ON THE SNARE DRUM THATSAYS BREATHE AND DRINK AS MUCH WATER AS YOUCAN STAND WHILE PLAYING. STAY AWAY FROMSODAS, BEER, ETC AS THEY ALL DEHYDRATE.HAVE A BEER AFTER THE GIG IF YOU WANT YOURPLAYING IN TOP ORDER.



5INTERVIEW WITH DEREK RODDYSINA NAJAFLOU - LISA LAFOUNTAINE

HOW DO YOU TUNE YOUR DRUM KIT, DO YOU HAVE ASPECIAL WAY THAT CAN HELP US FIND WHAT WEWANT SOONER?

DEREK:I TUNE VERY LOOSE. ALL OF MY TENSION RODS AREBARELY FINGER TIGHT, EVEN THE KICKS. I LIKE A LOWTUNED DRUM. NOW, YOU WON'T GET A MUCHREBOUND FROM A LOOSE HEAD BUT, THE WAY I PLAYHAS NEVER RELIED ON REBOUND.MY DRUMS FEEL LIKE YOU'RE PLAYING ON PILLOWS,WHICH IS WHY I PLAY WITH MOSTLY WRIST MOTIONS.FINGER MOTION DOESN'T WORK WELL ON LOOSEDRUM HEADS. BUT AGAIN, TUNING IS SOMETHINGTHAT'S VERY "PERSONAL" WITH DRUMMING ANDAGAIN, NO WRONG WAY.IF IT SOUNDS GOOD TO YOU, THEN YOU HAVE THERIGHT SOUND.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON PRACTICING(RUDIMENTS ESPECIALLY) IN A DAY?

DEREK:NONE! (LAUGHING).SERIOUSLY. AT ONE TIME I DID BUT, I HAVEN'TPRACTICED LIKE THAT IN OVER 15 YEARS.I PLAY EVERYDAY BUT, PRACTICE, JUST NOTSOMETHING I DO A LOT. I SHOULD AND I NEED TO.I'VE EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT TAKING LESSONS ONHOW TO PRACTICE BUT, AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE,I'M TOO BUSY TO PRACTICE. I WANT TO PLAY ANYCHANCE I GET TO SIT DOWN AT THE KIT. THERE ARETONS OF THINGS THAT I NEED TO IMPROVE ON AND IDO THAT BY MULTI TASKING. WHAT I MEAN IS, FORINSTANCE, IF I NEED TO WORK ON MY WEAK FOOTCONTROL, I SIMPLY PLAY WITH MY WEAK FOOT MOREWHILE I'M AT THE KIT. IF I'M ON A GIG AROUNDTOWN, SAY A BLUES GIG, I'LL USE MY WEAK FOOT ALLNIGHT. IN FACT, IF I KNOW I CAN EXECUTE ALL THEPARTS.I MIGHT EVEN SET UP LEFT HANDED.THIS IS HOW I PRACTICE THESE DAYS.

I LEARNED FROM YOU, AND MY DRUM TEACHER,THAT IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER HOW FAST YOU CANPLAY, THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS CONTROL.BUT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR CONTROL ?

DEREK:BY PLAYING FAST !!!I GET IN ARGUMENTS ALL THE TIME FROM TEACHERSWHO HAVE GIVEN THE "START SLOW" ADVISE FORLEARNING TO PLAY EXTREME METAL.SORRY, BUT THAT JUST DOESN'T WORK FOR THISPARTICULAR APPLICATION.IF IT DID WORK, IF PLAYING SLOW WAS THE MEANS TOPLAY FAST THEN WHY ARE THERE SO MANYDRUMMERS ASKING HOW TO IMPROVE SPEED?OR IF PLAYING SLOW IS THE GATEWAY TO PLAYINGFAST, WHY DO MOST GUYS THAT CAN PLAY OVER 200HAVE A HARD TIME WITH 140-170?

JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.ONE GREAT WAY TO LEARN CONTROL IS TO PLAY VERYQUITE. TRY TO PLAY YOUR FASTEST SONGS AT THELOWEST POSSIBLE VOLUME.THAT WILL GIVE YOU TONS OF CONTROL AND WILLHELP YOUR "LOUD" PLAYING AS WELL.

IN MY CASE, I HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH MYMUSCLES. I CAN'T REALLY PLAY COMFORTABLYWITHOUT A LONG WARM-UP (ABOUT 30 MINUTES).AFTER A WHILE I FOUND OUT, THAT WHEN I PLAYPIANO (JUST TRYING FINGER TECHNIQUE IN THEBEGINNING) BEFORE I PRACTICE OR PLAY ON THEDRUMS, I DON'T NEED TO WARM UP AND I HAVEGREAT CONTROL ON DRUMSTICKS.I AM USING JOJO MAYER’S WARM-UP TECHNIQUESTHESE DAYS BESIDE IT, AND IT'S AWESOME!WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR WARMING UP?HOW DO YOU WARM-UP?

DEREK:STRETCHING IS KEY FOR ME. AND WATER, WATER,WATER, WATER.THAT'S ALL I'VE EVER DONE TO WARMUP.AND, JUST HAVING A PAIR OF STICKS IN YOUR HANDSHELPS A LOT. I WOULD JUST WALK AROUND WITH EM,HITTING ON EVERYTHING I COULD. (LAUGHING)



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ONE GREAT WAY TO LEARN CONTROL IS TOPLAY VERY QUITE.TRY TO PLAY YOUR FASTEST SONGS AT THELOWEST POSSIBLE VOLUME.THAT WILL GIVE YOU TONS OF CONTROL ANDWILL HELP YOUR "LOUD" PLAYING AS WELL.



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Highly recommended to watch Derek’seducational DVD , “Blast Beats Evolved”; You can buy it from Hudson Music store :http://store.hudsonmusiceurope.co.uk/p/

derek-roddy-blast-beats-evolved


SOMETHING THAT INTRIGUES ME DURING PRACTICE ISWANTING TO KNOW WHICH MUSCLE IS THE WEAKESTAND WHICH MUSCLE CAN HELP ME THE MOST FORDRUMMING. I WANT TO KNOW HOW IT CAN HELP MEA LOT AND HOW I SHOULD MAKE IT STRONGER.HAVE YOU HAD AN EXPERIENCE SIMILAR TO THIS INTHE PAST?IF SO, HOW DID YOU FIND THE MUSCLE, AND HOWDID YOU WORK TO IMPROVE IT?

DEREK:I'VE HONESTLY NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.TO ME, IF I HIT A WALL I JUST WORKED ON IT UNTILI GOT OVER IT. I NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION TOHOW STUFF GOT DONE ON THE DRUMS.IT WAS ONLY IMPORTANT THAT IT GOT DONE.THE ONE THING I CAN SAY IS THAT NO ONETECHNIQUE IS GOING TO HELP.

YOU HAVE TO LEARN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENTMOVEMENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL PLAYING THIS WAY.I'VE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION MANY TIMES WHERE ICOUNTED A SONG OFF AND STARTED GOING FOR ITONLY TO REALIZE HALFWAY THROUGH THE VERSE THATI WASN'T GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE SONG.AT THAT POINT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CHANGE

YOUR MOTION (OR TECHNIQUE) AT A MOMENTSNOTICE TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TUNE.NO ONE MOTION IS THE ANSWER. LEARN TO PLAYWITH AS MANY DIFFERENT MOTION TYPES YOU CAN,

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED IT.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PROFESSIONALPLAYERS?HOW WOULD THOSE WHO REALLY WANTED TO GETINTO THE WORLD OF DRUMMING BUSINESS CONNECTWITH OTHER BIG BANDS IN THE US OR EUROPE?ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WHO WOULD WANT TO BE ASESSION PLAYER NOT ONLY IN THEIR LOCAL BAND ORTHEIR COUNTRY, BUT IN THE WORLD.

DEREK:THE BEST ADVISE WOULD BE TO OFFER SOMETHINGNOBODY ELSE DOES.THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT IN THEMUSIC BUSINESS. THERE ARE SO MANY PLAYERS OUTTHERE DOING THE SAME THING. ALMOST OVERKILL.AND THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT PLAYERS THAT IT'SALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BE A GREAT PLAYER THATSTANDS OUT. BRING YOUR PERSONALITY TO THEDRUMS (IF YOU HAVE ONE.LAUGHING)NOT SOMEONE ELSE'S. IT'S ONLY SO LONG THAT YOUCAN COPY WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE BEFORE YOUBEFORE LISTENERS BURN OUT.DO IT DIFFERENT THAN EVERYONE ELSE.THAT'S HOW I WAS ABLE TO GET WHERE I AM.WHEN EVERYBODY TURNED RIGHT, I WENT LEFT.STAND OUT AWAY FROM THE HERD.

YOU'LL BE NOTICED MUCH QUICKER THAT WAY.AND JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE STEP OUT OF THATHERD AND GOT NOTICED DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEHERD SHOULD GO THAT WAY.PICK A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.

IF YOU COULD SUGGEST ONE DRUM METHOD FORBEGINNERS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

DEREK:PLAY WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THAT'S THE ONLY WAYWE TRULY GET BETTER AS MUSICIANS.

YOU'LL LEARN MORE THAT WAY THAN YOU EVER WILLIN YOUR BEDROOM BY YOURSELF.

WHAT STEPS SHOULD THEY TAKE TO BECOME A PRODRUMMER THROUGH THE YEARS?WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR THEM?

DEREK:EDUCATE YOURSELF ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOINGON IN THE MUSIC WORLD.TO MANY MUSICIANS ARE IN DENIAL ABOUT THESTATE OF THE INDUSTRY. LEARN WHAT IS NEEDED,NOT WHAT IS ALREADY THERE. BE A NEW VOICE,NOTTHE VOICE THAT'S ALREADY HEARD.

http://store.hudsonmusiceurope.co.uk/p/derek-roddy-blast-beats-evolved














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WHAT DOES YOUTUBE MEAN TO YOU,IN THE EYES OF SUCH A SUCCESSFUL MUSICIAN?

DEREK:LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, IT'S A MEANS TO AN END.IT CAN BE A GREAT WAY TO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO ALARGE AUDIENCE BUT, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE DOINGWHAT OTHERS HAVE ALREADY DONE THEN WHATGOOD WILL IT DO FOR YOU?

MIGHT GET YOU SOME VIEWS ON YOUTUBE BUT,THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY TRANSLATE INTO MONEYOR SUCCESS, OR LONGEVITY IN THE INDUSTRY.

DO YOU SEE IT AS BEING SUCCESSFUL FOR A MUSICCAREER?

DEREK: YOUTUBE NOT SO MUCH BUT, THE INTERNET; YES.THE INTERNET IS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS FAR AS I'MCONCERNED. IT'S THE WAY OF THE FUTURE ANDIF MUSICIANS AND THE INDUSTRY DOESN'T ACCEPTTHIS REALITY THEN THEY WILL GO EXTINCT AS FAST ASWE CAME. (PEOPLE HAVE ONLY BEEN PAYING FOR

MUSIC A LITTLE OVER 100 YEARS.THE PREVIOUS 90,000 YEARS (GIVE OR TAKE)WE'VE BEEN HERE IN OUR PRESENT FORM.IT WAS FREE, JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.) FULL CIRCLE.

AT THIS TIME IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT DO YOU ENJOYLISTENING TO THE MOST?

DEREK:SILENCE! MORE MUSICAL THAN ANYTHING RELEASEDIN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

WHO WERE/ARE YOUR HEROES AND INFLUENCES ONDRUMMING?

DEREK:OF COURSE, ALL THE REGULARS.BUDDY RICH, VINNIE COLAIUTA, DAVE WECKL,BILLY COBHAM, TONY WILLIAMS ; (THESE WERE ALLINFLUENCES BEFORE I EVEN KNEW WHAT METAL WAS!)AFTER I DISCOVERED METAL IT WAS NICKO MCBRAIN,

ERIC CARR, ROBERT SWEET, INTO HOGLAN, BOSTAPHTHEN ONTO MICK HARRIS, SANDOVAL, ASHIEM.MOST OF THE EXTREME METAL DRUMMERS.ALL DRUMMERS ARE MY HEROES, STILL TO THIS DAY.

WHO WAS THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOURPERSONAL LIFE?

DEREK:MY PARENTS, MY WIFE AND THE OUTDOORS. THEY'VETAUGHT ME MOST EVERYTHING I'VE LEARNED IN LIFE.

WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BESIDE SNAKES ANDDRUMS? WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT

BEHIND THE KIT? DO YOU THINK ABOUT NEW THINGSIN DRUMMING OR TRYING TO COME UP WITHSOMETHING DIFFERENT?

DEREK:I HAVE ALL TYPES OF INTEREST. I LOVE THE DRUMS,MY SNAKES AND THE BUSINESS I'VE BEEN ABLE TOMAKE OUT OF EACH BUT, I ALSO LOVE PLAYING GOLF,BOATING, FISHING, ANYTHING THAT PUTS MEOUTSIDE. I LOVE BEING OUTDOORS. I FREQUENT THEBEACH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, SWIMMING. MAN, IENJOY SO MUCH IN LIFE. OF COURSE, I'M ALWAYSTHINKING OF NEW THINGS TO PLAY OR WRITE, ETCBUT A LOT OF MY MENTAL TIME IS SPENT ON MY LIFEAND ENJOYING IT.


LEARN WHAT IS NEEDED,NOT WHAT IS ALREADY THERE.BE A NEW VOICE,NOT THE VOICE THAT'SALREADY HEARD.



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I THINK YOU'RE THE MOST TRUTHFUL PERSON IN THEDRUMMING SOCIETY.I ALWAYS PUT 100% OF MY MIND AND SOUL INTO

YOUR WORDS, BECAUSE I REALLY FEEL THAT YOUWANT TO MAKE ME, AND ALL OTHER DRUMMERS,A BETTER PLAYER. I THINK IT IS FANTASTIC THAT ITDOESN'T MATTER TO YOU THAT YOU LOSE YOUR FANSBECAUSE OF THE WAY YOU THINK YOU ARE WHO YOUARE. WHAT HAS MADE DEREK RODDY THE PERSONWE KNOW TODAY? WHAT IS YOUR IDEOLOGY IN LIFE?

DEREK:IT'S MORE THAN ME WANTING TO MAKE BETTERDRUMMERS BUT, I WANT TO MAKE BETTER PEOPLE,NOT JUST DRUMMERS. IT'S SOMETHING I SEE SOMUCH. ESP BEING INVOLVED WITH THE EXTREMEMETAL SCENE. SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE USED"I'M METAL FOR LIFE" AS AN EXCUSE NOT TO HAVE ALIFE OR ANY GOALS FOR THEMSELVES ANDI THINK THAT'S REALLY SAD. SURE THEY'LL SAY METAL ISTHEIR LIFE BUT, LETS BE REAL, IF METAL WAS TO GOAWAY TOMORROW, YOU'RE STILL HERE. METAL IS SUCHA SMALL WORLD AND, I'VE OFTEN WONDERED WHYPEOPLE WANT TO STAY SO SMALL AND NOT GROW.BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL NOT FIND A BIGGER "METALHEAD" THAN ME, BUT, THAT'S MUSIC RELATED. TO ME,METAL IS NOT A LIFE CHOICE. IT'S ONLY A STYLE OFMUSIC THAT I ENJOY, AS I DO MANY OTHER STYLES OFMUSIC. IF ANY OF MY "FANS" WERE TO HOLD THATASPECT OF MY PERSONALITY AGAINST ME,THEN I DON'T WANT OR NEED THAT SMALL MINDEDATTITUDE AS A FAN. BEING A METAL HEAD IS ONETHING BUT, BEING A HUMAN BEING THAT FUNCTIONSIN THE REAL WORLD SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT,AND, NEEDED IF YOU WANT TO BE ANYTHING MOREIN LIFE I DO.



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PHOTOS : CREDITS TO OWNERS

Words : Sina Najaflou -Lisa LaFountaine

Edit : Lisa LaFountaineGraphic & Design : Sina Najaflou

Special Thanks to :

Derek Roddy

_____________________________for sharing and publishing please contact to me.

[email protected]

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Interview With Derek Roddy