Jeremy Robinson

Our own Craig Sternberg had the chance to interview Jeremy Robinson, the new drummer for The Jimmie Van Zant Band, as part of our Off Beat Interview Series…

 

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

Jeremy:  I was 13 years old with A.D.H.D and needed something to do with my energy, LOL!! 

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

Jeremy:  No, I tried out for school band in seventh grade, but when I got into the room in front of the teacher, he gave me a sheet of paper with bars and bard of notes on it.  I stood in front of the xylophone and was told to play all of the third line, which I did.  I can read music but when I finished and proud, the teacher told me I made a mistake and that I would never be able to be a drummer.  That pushed me to get a drum set and get private lessons, and my very first show was opening for the band Foghat, I sent him front row tickets and when we were done I walked by the front of the stage with all 5000 people watching and gave him the bird with a smile!! 

 

 

 

SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

Jeremy:  Of course my top being John Bonham, Shannon Larkin, Neil Peart, Kieth Moon, and Simon Phillips. (who else is there) 

SD.com: Who are some other of your favorites?

Jeremy: As far as drummers I really find myself listening to drummers who have the knack for speed, and tastefulness. I mean with practice anyone can play with speed, but can you sit back play the speed and have it make sense.  Shannon Larkin is one of my now favorites, his ability to do real fast speed licks and keep it together is awesome.  The things he dose in Godsmack are good, but if you want to see his real talent check out his new band out of Miami called A New Larkin Animal, WOW!!! 

 

 

 

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

Jeremy: Pantera , Sixx Am, Motley Crue, Suicidal Tendancies, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

SD.com: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Jeremy: Two shot of Southern Comfort or a couple shots of Jaggar Bomb stretch to loosen up spin some rudiments on the wall and ROCK THE HELL OUT!!!

SD.com: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have effected your playing?

Jeremy:  Yes I do read a little music, as far as my playing I am sure that reading music and starting in school would have made me an incredible drummer.  I also believe that even though you can't read music, or you were not the best drummer in school, you can do and become anything you want you just have to work a little harder at it.  I had one year of lessons and went right into rockin out in clubs, bars, and ballrooms at fourteen.

 

 

 

SD.com: Can you tell us about the gear you use?

Jeremy:  Yes, I am endorsed by some of the greatest companies I have ever been associated with.  Spaun Custom Drums out of California, have been awesome to deal with, if you have an idea Brian Spaun will make it a reality.  It was so hard coming up with ideas for my kit, but Brian pulled it out of me and is right now creating it for 2009 tour, check them out www.spaundrums.com .  My second endorsement is B-stick of Denmark, WOW finally a company that makes sticks just for me.  I can play four or five shows with these without breaking, my other ones I used I would go through two or three pair a night.  Mark Penner of B-stick has treated me incredible, he is now opening his first store in the United States which is awesome, anyone who plays hard or just wants a great stick www.b-stickofdenmark.com . I am proud to announce that I am the first United States endorsement for B-stick and damn proud of it.  My other endorsement is from Remo.  Remo makes a great head and have treated me great with all the free heads and clothing.

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

Jeremy: Keep your ears open, your mouth shut, learn everything, and play so hard they hear you over seas.  Stay the hell in school, have you heard the one about what do you call a musician with no car, now apartment, no bed, and no place to live at all?  SINGLE!!!  Think about it!!

 

 

 

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

Jeremy:  Wow that's atough one, I have seen over 200 concerts in my life and so many of them blew my mind.  I would have to say for tightness and sound would be Boston, and Iron Butterfly.  For show and appearance it would be KISS and Pantera.

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

Jeremy:  DIE, I could not imagine what the hell I would do, once you become part of its life there is no turning back, we drummers are a group of our own and no one else on earth is like us.  I FN love it!!

SD.com: Tell us about your time playing in metal bands. What did it sound like?

Jeremy:  I started out playing in many metal bands in Minnesota doing cover tunes, getting drunk, parting hard as hell, getting sick, sleep and repeat.  I have covered some of the greatest metal ever written such as Motorhead, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Anthrax, Megadeath, Seplatura, and many many more.  My love for metal runs so deep in my blood it's like my veins are on fire constantly, but for now I do what I can to make that almighty buck to survive.

 

 

 

SD.com: What kind of music do you like to play more, the southern rock stuff or metal?

Jeremy:  I am metal so any variation of this is something new and exciting.  I am playing southern rock right now with Jimmie Van Zant, and my style I have is putting a certain flair into the music I am playing.  Jimmie loves the metal sound in southern rock, he say's it wakes the people up and makes them move a little more.  I have played metal, rock, southern rock, blues, funk, and country and all of these styles will broaden your outlook on the things you do and who you really are as a musician.

SD.com: Tell us about your experiences of living in Florida during 2004 when all the hurricanes hit and how it changed you as a person and possibly as a musician?

Jeremy:  I lost so much of my past as far as video's, pictures, and personal things I felt like I had no identity at all.  Thank god a lot of my friends and family kept some things from the past, but it will never replace what's lost.  It was such a devistation, there was no music any where for along time.  All of the bands I would love to go watch when I was not touring could not play because buildings destroyed, no power nothing.  We did a huge fundraiser with my band at the time K.A.O.S. and 10 other bands, we all rocked out for free and turned all the proceeds over to The Red Cross to help out.  It feels like S**T when you can't help out!

 

 

 

SD.com: You’re a pretty versatile drummer, what other styles of music would you recommend to drummers for practice?

Jeremy:  I would tell everyone to practice all styles, from Metal to Jazz you can never go wrong with knowledge, trust me it pays.

SD.com: How rewarding is it playing in the Jimmie Van Zant band? Tell us about any new music or tours coming up.

Jeremy:  Playing with Jimmie is awesome, the Van Zant's have their own unique style, and sound and could never be mistaken for anyone else.  We just finished a new album and will have a spring release called My Name Is Jimmie.  We have done over 150 shows this year, and have been told our 2009 year will be insane, I can't wait!!

 

 

 

SD.com: How did you land the gig with Jimmie?

Jeremy:  Funny story!!  I was in five tribute bands at the time all metal, and we played Sturgis opening for some great bands including one night with Jimmie Van Zant.  Jimmie and his wife Zohra had came over and said hi to us after we had finished and he was asking some questions about how long I have been a traveling musician, and so on and so forth.  Little did I know, Jimmie's drummer of ten years Mark Jones was leaving the band to build up his drumming schools in Baltimore.  Jimmie asked Mark who the hell was he going to get to replace him, I guess he just pointed at me and said him.  After Sturgis I was planning to go home back to Florida, but instead gt a phone call and was asked to audition in Jersey for the Jimmie Van Zant Band, so I went.  My audition was sitting at a kit I had never used, Jimmie in a chair three feet in front of me, and playing to a Lynyrd Skynyrd, as well as a Jimmie Van Zant cd.  He just wanted to hear what I could do on the fly after listening to each song once.  Two day's later was my first show with them, and it has been an experience ever since.