Keep up with David here:
www.myspace.com/channelingdarkness
David Ross started playing the drums at age 13. Initially he took lessons from former hair band roadie/tattoo artist “Basement” Bob Fisher. Bob was full of crazy stories about getting hammered with Axl Rose and tattooing Tommy Lee but more importantly he introduced David to the world of metal drumming. After about his first or second drum lesson Bob gave David a list of CD’s he needed to buy, among them was Slayer’s Reign in Blood, Pantera’s Cowboys From Hell and Dream Theater’s Awake. These CD’s made him without a doubt want to become a true metal drummer. Soon after Bob decided to bow out of teaching and after a recommendation from a local Guitar Center salesmen David began taking lessons From John Contreras. John schooled David on proper technique, rudiments, reading and writing and most importantly introduced him to the metronome. Within a matter of a few months David was playing on click at 250 beats per minute and began developing unique writing styles after countless freestyle Jazz fours and eights. John shaped David into a drummer ahead of his years not just in technique and poise but in musical intelligence and awareness.
At the age of 16 David started up the trash metal band Satus. This project displayed David’s ability to play thrashy Slayer-esque rhythms combined with technicality of more progressive rock influence. The band however broke up after about a year due to personal differences and within only a week of being out of a job he joined up with Channeling Darkness, the self-proclaimed Space Metal band out of La Verne, California. Instantly David knew this project was a great fit for him. The new group allows David to showcase his impressive hard hitting death metal style as well as catering to strong progressive drumming influences. At age 18 David is hoping to become one of the most original and recognizable drummers in the metal scene. Dave credits his abilities to his amazing instructors, especially Johnny C. To his parents for funding his expensive hobby and to all the musicians that continue to inspire him throughout his budding musical career.
David Ross Interview:
SD.com: When did you start playing drums?
Dave: 5 years ago at age 13. I played guitar for about a week and quickly realized I should try drums instead. Strings are for girls.
SD.com: Do you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Dave: I would have, but it wasn’t offered at my piece of shit Christian high school.
Apparently Jesus isn’t down with musical education.
SD.com: Have you ever taken any lessons?
Dave: I have taken lessons since I ever wanted to be a drummer, but ironically none of them taught double bass or blasts, so I guess I learned fairly independently .
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Dave: Dave Lombardo, Pete Sandoval, Vinnie Paul, Mike Portnoy and Mike Smith. Also I need to include the Ewoks from Return of the JedI who play on the storm troopers helmets, space age blast beat.
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Dave: Neil Peart, Marco P. from Braindrill, The Inferno from Behemoth and Animal from The Muppets.
SD.com: Let us know 3 CD’s that are in your current personal rotation
Dave: Organic Hallucinosis by Decapitated, incredible fucking drumming. Demigod by Behemoth and a Disney mixtape I made last week.
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?
Dave: Paradiddle burns, double bass burns and drum fill exercises.
SD.com: What is your favorite part of your drum kit?
Dave: My beautiful Yamaha Absolute Birch bass drums, best acoustic metal kit I’ve heard.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be…
Dave: Lessons and practice are important but the one thing that is absolutely detrimental to your success as a drummer is to begin writing with a band as soon as possible, developing the ability to write interesting, and original drum parts. Pick a group a kids with similar interests as you and start jamming in a ballpark that interests you. There are thousand drummer’s who can play fast as hell but what will make you stand out in this industry is originality, never stop writing.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Dave:T oss up between Suffocation and Dragonforce, I mean come on they have fucking trampolines on stage.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what else do you want to do with your life?
Dave: I would definitely be in college right now studying Psychology. FBI profiling has fascinated me since I was a kid and I’d probably be on my way to doing that… or I’d be in porn.
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