Keep up with Alex here:
I started playing drums when I was about 4 years old, after, allegedly, beating a whole in the wall with my fists at my parents house. Even at a young age, I was pretty fascinated with rock and heavy metal, primarily Van Halen, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne. I heard Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” when I was 5 years old, and it hooked me into metal right away. I started taking lessons from age 7 to age 11. My older brother started to play bass when he was about 15, and we, along with some of his friends from highschool, started a punk band called the Rejected. Although I was only 11 or 12 at the time, playing those shows was an amazing experience for me. I did several band programs in high school, as well as gigged out doing jazz gigs and playing in local pit orchestras for musicals. After I graduated high school and doing a year of community college I moved from my hometown of Lynchburg, VA to Richmond, VA.
Up until this point I never tried playing metal seriously but was only absorbing it more. I was doing primarily jazz, rock, punk, and anything weird. After my freshman/sophomore year in college, I started jamming with some friends from the dorm that would eventually become Battlemaster in October 2003. In the past three years, we progressed from a melodic death metal outfit in the likes of At the Gates, In Flames, and The Haunted, to a technical death/black metal band, citing influences as Emperor, Immortal, Death, and Necrophagist. Some of the bands we have played include GWAR, Darkest Hour, Weedeater, Withered, Arsis, Misery Index, Municipal Waste, Baroness, Valkyrie, Accursed Dawn, and several others. We hope to release our full-length debut in early 2007 and play/tour as much as possible.
On the side, I have also toured with Accursed Dawn, and toured with Withered(Lifeforce Records) in the UK supporting Mastodon and High on Fire. I also did a MTV2 “Sharts” playing with Arsis(Willowtip Records) . All in all, I’m excited to see whats around the bend in my career, and strive to be the best player I can possibly be!
Alex Tomlin Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Alex: I got my first drums when I was four, didn’t actually get a kit until I was five. I didn’t get really serious about it until I was about 15.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Alex: I did two years of marching band, drumset in the pit the first year, and marching snare the second. I also did three years of jazz band in high school. I’m also in the jazz department at Virginia Commonwealth University, but haven’t done jazz ensemble for a few years.
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
Alex: I took lessons from Mr. Larry Scott back in Lynchburg from age 7 to age 11. I didn’t have any lessons until I started going to college, where I studied under Mr. Howard Curtis. Now I’m currently taking lessons with Tony Martucci – http://www.dcjazz.com/
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Alex: Dave Lombardo, Flo Mounier, Nicko McBrain, Derek Roddy, Billy Cobham
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Alex: I could on and on about this but I’ll keep it short and sweet. All of the above, Thomas Lang, Dennis Chambers, Jack DeJohnette, Trym, Dave Weckl, Nicholas Barker, Frost, Horgh, etc.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Alex:
Immortal-At the Heart of Winter
Deicide- Stench of Redemption
Arsis-United in Regret
Mahavishnu Orchestra- Birds of Fire
Anthrax-Among the Living
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?
Alex: Off the kit, I primarily practice singles, doubles, paradiddles, flams, and swiss triplets on a practice pad. When I get on the kit, I just try to apply the aforementioned rudiments to my playing. As far as feet are concerned, I do mainly singles, but I practice doubles and paradiddles as well , just not as often.
SD.com: What is your favorite part of your drum kit?
Alex: I’d definitely have to say my toms. They are small and punchy, but w/ the Evans EC2s on them now, I’m able to get a really full and deep sound.
SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Alex: I start slow at first with singles between hands and feet. Then I usually improvise with rudiments. I stretch my arms and hands, as well as the legs. I do calf lifts as well to work the ankles. I try to avoid beer beforehand, but sometimes having one before you go on stage helps take the edge off.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Alex: Besides to practice your ass off and perservere even when the going gets rough, the most important thing I feel is to get your hands on as much music as possible, and have an open mind. You might learn something really cool from a band/genre that you might have had reservations with before. Listen to everything!
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Alex: Iron Maiden, Motorhead, and Dio in Columbia, MD. Hands down the tightest musicianship I’ve ever witnessed live. Nicko McBrain is the shit!!
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Alex: I’ll never stop playing regardless of what happens, but I wouldn’t mind being a chef or owning/managing a brothel.
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