Keep up with Rob here:
Well it all started when I was about five yrs old when I first got introduced to the drums. My uncle played for alot of cover bands and my parents used to bring me around the shows and really introduced me to what it was like to see a live band. Ever since then I wanted to be on that stage. I dabbled with other instruments like the piano, bass guitar and even guitar growing up but none of those instruments satisfied my needs. I played bass for a band when I was 15 yrs old. Me and the drummer were good friends growing up, so he would let me play the drums if I asked. He showed me basic rock beats and how to keep a beat inside of a beat. One day me and him had our differences and he left the band. I wrote all the songs and said fuck it im going to buy a drumset. So I bought my first drumset for like $300. It was such a piece a shit but it didnt matter because it was mine and it was a good starter kit for me. So I played drums for this band I started. One thing led to anouther and everybody went there seperate ways.
I was always involved with the scene. Always going to shows. I would go to the local tattoo shop NEEDLE WURKS and pretty much buy him out of all his death metal and hardcore cds. A local band called TRAUMACIDE was very popular in the local area and said to myself I want to fuckin play shows so bad. Finally one day I was hanging out at the shop just bull shiting with the boys and the owner paul was like ” dude TRAUMACIDE is looking for a new drummer” so I said fuck it i’ll do it. So I gave the lead singer a call. He came to my house watched me play the drums and said were going to start a whole new band. After that the rest is history. I keep on playing everyday trying to better myself. It’s so awsome to be in a band because having people motivate you and push you really makes you a better drummer. I love the drums because it’s a none stop learning experience.
Rob Nudo Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Rob: I started playing drums when I was 16, but I’ve always been around the drums as a kid because of my uncle. He played drums for cover bands and I’d go watch him play all the time as a kid.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Rob: I actually played the stand up bass in my school orchestra and went to Italy to tour because of it.
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
Rob: I took drum lessons after I had been playing for about 3 years. I was trying expand my horizons and learn swing jazz. I took lessons from Sean Mckenzy, whos father re-wrote the Buddie Ritch book. That lasted about 2 months because I found it hard to balance playing death metal and swing jazz. Oh yeah, and swing jazz is hard as fuck.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Rob:
1. Thomas Haake of MESHUGGAH (my favorite band)
2. Flo Mournier of CRYPTOPSY
3. John of CEPHALIC CARNAGE
4. John Longstreth of ORIGIN (Good friend)
5. John Glassbrenner of Held Under (Good friend)
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Rob: There is only one and that is Thomas Haake of MESHUGGAH! hahaha Morgen Agren of Sol Niger Within is a bad muther fucker to.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Rob: Destroy Erase Improve by MESHUGGAH, Chaos Sphere by MESHUGGAH, Sounds of Perseverance by DEATH, Trading Pieces by DEEDS OF FLESH, Pierced from Within by SUFFOCATION and Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia by Dimmu Borgir.
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?
Rob: Well I usually just try to practice linear beats (single strokes) around the kit with my hands, then with my feet and then hands and feet back and forth. I also love to practice triplets going from left right right and then switching it to right right left. A lot of times I play up beat funk to get a good sense of timing, because that is key. But mostly I just jam out, and try to keep steady beats to branch off of.
SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?
Rob: I love the Sonor Force series. I just purchased anouther drumset it’s a Sonor Force 3005 full maple kit with 18 inch kick drums. I love Sonor drums, they have been good to me. As far as cymbals go, for the most part I like Paiste Dimensions series and Sabians HHX series. But it doesn’t hurt to have a wide variety of different series for different sounds. And if you can get a good deal on a high end cymbal, get it.
SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Rob: My pre-show rituals are basic. I do arm and leg stretches and warm up on the pad for about 30 minutes.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Rob: To just be a sponge and soak up as much as you can. It doesnt matter what kind of music it is you will learn from it and hopefully use the knowledge to help develop your style.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Rob: MESHUGGAH by far because they were so tight and I thought the building was going to crumble from there monsterous sound. And DEEDS OF FLESH were so fucking tight it was ridiculous. See but it’s hard because there are so many bands out there who are so tight and so good at what they do, you got to give them all props.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Rob: I would probably kill myself… just kidding! I would definetly be a music teacher because music is my passion and I could never stop doing that.
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