Keep up with Doug here:
My name's Doug Anderson, I'm from Hampshire, England. Been playing drums for around 10 years now. I've been in a few bands, most notably the death/thrash act "Bloodshot Dawn", for the past 5 years. I Have had the pleasure of gigging all over the UK with them and it really pushed my playing forward. 'First Blood' our latest E.P. is out now, and we're looking to record a full length later this year. I've also recently been involved in the creation of a brutal death metal band, entitled Unfathomable Ruination, and we've just released our debut self-titled CD through Sevared Records. Those guys have really pushed my drumming to it's limits and beyond haha!
I love to drum, and I love brutal music. Being on stage/on tour/in the studio is the best thing in the world to me, and although it's gotten me nowhere fast so far, I wouldn't give it up for anything.
Doug Anderson Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Doug: I was 12 or 13 years old I believe. Got my first double kick pedal around 15, and first touched on extreme drumming at around 16 or 17.
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Doug: No, my first band was formed during my time in school though. I had lessons all through my education as well.
SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?
Doug: Dave Lombardo, first drummer that really blew my head off. John Longstreth for his unmatched ambidextrosity and untouchable state of calm whilst playing. Richard Christy's playing on Death's 'Sound of Perseverance' always impressed me, so creative. Kevin Talley, his stuff in Fetus, I've never sat down and attempted any, but I can air drum the whole of 'Destroy the Opposition' haha! And Lord Marco, the first guy I really saw using thier fingers to blast like that, he's the reason I use fingers now.
SDM: Who are some other of your favorites?
Doug: I like alot of guys, Jojo Mayer, for crazy creativity, Tony Royster Jr for just sheer ripping. Dennis Chambers, Aaron Spears, Gavin Harrison, a ton more I can't think of right now.
SDM: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation
Doug:
Krisiun – AssissiNation
Sodom – 'Till Death do us Unite
Mors Principium Est – Liberation = Termination
Human Parasite – Proud to Build the Insidious Catastrophe
Vader – Impressions in Blood
SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Doug: Nothing special, stretch, single strokes on a pad/bar stool/table. Slowly introduce fingers into it, build on speed till I'm going basically full pelt. Same with feet. Throw in some paradiddles and basic rudiments. Good solid 15, 20 minutes of that usually has me warmed up pretty good. And a can of monster helps of course haha!
SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have effected your playing?
Doug: I can but I never use it anymore, not since college. I would find it a waste of time in the stuff that I'm playing, as I'm always writing my own parts. I have them memorised pretty quick and can always recite them, with the track or without. As for learning someone elses parts, I would probably learn faster by ear personally. Not that I don't value the skill, It's just not of great use to me.
SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?
Doug: I play a Pearl Export ELX. 8", 10", 12" and a 14" floor. 22" kick drum. It's a great sounding kit, with the right heads and tuning. There really dosen't seem much point in me upgrading anytime soon, my kit's allready battered to hell from being in tour vans etc. I'd be crying right now if I had a Masterworks or something. Where the bass drum cost as much as my whole kit haha! I only use one bass drum too. Never liked the feel of two kick drums. I'm currenty using a 14" Black Panther snare, a steel one. Has a really great crack to it, and with tight tuning, can give that really sick grindy 'ping'. That's exactly the sound we wanted for the recent Unfathomable Ruination recordings, and we were very happy with the results. I also have a birdseye maple Black Panther. Sick snares.
As for cymbals, I use all Sabian, AAX, AA and HHX. Pedals are Pearl Eliminators, blue cam. Ddrum kick trigger running through an Alesis DM5 module. And a Pearl Icon rack to hold it all in place and keep it tidy!
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Doug: Don't jump straight into playing blasts and fast double kick. It tends to make one dimensional drummers, and I've seen it a lot. Speed isn't everything, there are a million fast drummers out there, but no one remembers their names. People remember the ones who were 'the first' to do something, or 'the best at doing it that way'! Be creative, never stop taking influence. But overall, you're trying to make music! Heavy, brutal music, but music regardless! Don't drum to show off, if that riff calls for something simple, then play it simple! Sit back and let the guitars/bass/vocals do the talking. But if that riff calls for gravity blasts and mental fills… we'll get on it! Haha!
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?
Doug: Hard question. Best band/gig I think would have to go to Vital Remains, mental show in the London Underworld. Non stop stage diving, sweat and beer. Never felt an atmosphere like it, they were flawless. Best drummer, hard to say. But Adam Jarvis melted my face recently at a Misery Index show. Tightest playing I think I've ever heard, but all blasted out with that skatty crust/grind sound. Sounds so out of control but so precise at the same time. Hard to explain, but turned me into a fan instantly.
SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?
Doug: Get drunk and puke on kids!
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