Keep up with Chase here:

www.myspace.com/crushingskulls

www.myspace.com/sublevare

www.myspace.com/chasebrickenden

 

 

 

 

I was born in Sacramento, California but I was raised in Oregon so I just say Im from Oregon. My father is a drummer so I was always around it but I didn't really start pursuring the kit until I was 15. I had been in marching band for years before I started playing the set. I went to Musicians Institute for a summer in between my junior and senior year of High School. Shortly before that, I had created Sublevare and we played many shows throughout Oregon over the next year.  I had learned a lot and decided to go back to get my degree. I formed Crushing Skulls with guitarist alex cressioni and that has turned into quite a brutal project. I recently recorded our 8 song CD and it will be completed shortly. I have earned my AA in Percussion Performance from Musicians Institute now and I am currently playing shows in the Los Angeles area with a few different bands.

 

 

Chase Brickenden Interview:

 

 

SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?

Chase: I started playing whe I was 15




SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Chase: Yea, I was in band untill my junior year of High School. We had a bad ass drum instructor in High School, he was a center snare player fo the Blue Devils. My High School marching band was hard core, DCI style. It was kinda lame, but a really great experience none the less.





SD.com: Ever take any lessons?

Chase: Yes. almost the whole time I've been playing. My old man is a drummer so I was always around it, he taught me my first rudiments and grooves. Since I had been in marching band, I had a teacher getting my hands going before I even seriously played the kit. I studied with Chuck Silverman <---(AMAZING) for my last 6 months of MI and I currently study with him now. All the teachers at Musicians Institute have had quite an impact on my playing.





SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

Chase: Wow... um... I would have to say the top five players that have influenced my playing are Flo Mounier, Marco Minnemann, Chuck Silverman, Danny Carey and Vinnie Colaiuta.




SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?

Chase: That's even harder for me... They would be Flo Mounier, Marco Minnemann, Daphnis Prieto, Vinnie Colaiuta and toss up between Dennis
Chambers/George Kollias/Thomas lang

 

 

SD.com: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation

Chase: Daphnis Prieto - About the Monks, All Pantera, Tool - 10,000 days, Nile - Anhiliation of the Wicked, Decapitated - Organic Hallucinosis




SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?

Chase: It was recently actually. It was at a crushing skulls show at the Blvd Cafe. Not many people there to see it, but, good playing.






SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?

Chase: Oh yea! I'm picky. I love Sabian aax and hhx cymbals but I can't go with out my 20" zildjian K Custom dry ride  (that thing is sick!)




SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Chase: I stretch a lot and play on a pad or my legs. I try to use big movements to get the blood going. I like to hype myself up too. Kinda for my own enjoyment, ya know.

 

 

SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be...

Chase: PRACTICE A LOT!!! and get proper instruction. It will hinder your learning a lot if you learn something wrong and you hurt yourself or have to go back and re-learn something. yeah, I think that's it.





SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?

Chase: Oh man! I don't know. I was completely stunned by Marco Minnemann when I saw him at a clinic and at a performance at the baked potato later that evening. Flo and George amazed me but as far as an overall live performance. Meshugga followed by Tool at the Long Beach arena was the best show I've seen. It at least moved me the most.






SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?

Chase: Porn... Just kidding. I would do Architecture and Design. I'm actually going to be pursuing that, whether I stop drumming or not.