Joe Bondra

 

Joe is currently 19 and has only been playing for 3 years! If this doesn’t make you sick, nothing will…

Keep up with Joe here:

www.myspace.com/fuckaroundandgetdealtwith

www.myspace.com/thetenthcircle

www.thetenthcircle.com

www.myspace.com/remainsofthemurdered

 

 

My name is Joe Bondra. I got into the drums when I was young. I never got to play I just always thought that they were cool. Maybe hit on a coffee can or something but it was always so loud that no one wanted to hear it. I might have got to sit down at a music store or behind a kit once before I actually started playing. I was into just metal, like Metallica and so forth and thats what inspired me to play. But I never got to and never had drums to play on. SO….on my 16th birthday I got a 5-Piece Black Tama Rockstar Kit from like 88′,89′ and it was in decent condition. It sounded nice and it was free so you know I was hype!!! From that day on I started to play drums. As much as I could too. Always thinking about it just as much as I got to actually play them. I then started a band with a bass player and a guitarist and later on got a lead guitarist and had a band going. That was the first real band I had and I’m still in it. I sold that kit when I was 18 and got this other kit that I’m currently using. It is a really nice 6-Piece Purple Tama Grandstar Custom (2 Kicks finally), and 17 cymbals. I’m all self taught and just used the method of observation to get to where I am now. I’m 19 now so i got 3 years under my belt. I love the drums and it is a passion I will never lose. Or a musical passion I guess. I’m in the bands The Tenth Circle, Lethean and Remains Of The Murdered. Excluding all side and solo projects. Well I must be doing something right if I’m on sickdrummer.com!

 

• Other video clips from Joe

 

 

Joe Bondra Interview:

 

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

Joe:  I hit a coffee can when I was younger cause it made noise. Stepped behind a kit maybe once or twice in my life but nothing serious. So when I turned 16 I got a Tama Rockstar kit for my birthday and finally started to play. From then on I play as much as possible. Started when I was 16. I’m 19 now. So….3 years of playing.

 

 

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

Joe:  I played the upright bass for the school orchestra in the 8th grade for like a year and a half. I was pretty good but wanted to play drums so that couldn’t happen. But never any drum lessons or drum corps.

 

 

SD.com:  Ever take any lessons?

Joe:  Nah. It would be nice. But I couldn’t afford it anyway. Not now at least. Jazz lessons would be nice to learn different technique, or keep my technique in check at least. Also, to have a different perspective on music. Know the music language. Be able to play ALL types of music. Shit like that would be fun.

 

 

SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

Joe:

1. John Longstreth – Origin

2. Marco Pitruzzella – Braindrill

3. Hannes Grossman – Necrophagist

4. Kevin Talley – Who Knows?

5. Andy Taylor – Diskreet

* That’s it for right now…

 

 

 

 

SD.com:  Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?

Joe:  John Longstreth, Marco Pitruzzella, Zach Gibson, Jean Francois Richard, Justin Rouselle, Alex Pelltier, Kevin Talley, James King, Brad Fickeison, Johnny Lang, Steve Smith, Akira Jimbo, Josh from old Suicide Silence, Andy Taylor, Blake Richardson, Hans Grossman, Oldskool Chris Adler, All the new Death/Tech/Grind New skool sickos coming out, and sooooooo many more…

 

 

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

Joe:

1. BRAIN DRILL: The Parasites.(so sick!!!)

2. Sleep Terror: Probing Tranquility

3. Karl Sanders: Saurian Meditation

4. Dim Mak: Knifes Of Ice

5. Army Of Anyone: Army Of Anyone

*only for this week, probably…

 

 

SD.com:  Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?

Joe:  I always have a great time when I play shows because it is the most natural “high on life” thing there is for me. I do remember the 2nd show I ever played was at a church for these 2 kids that got hit and killed by drunk drivers. (r.i.p.) It was a benefit/charity show but it was fuckin’ badass! We had a killer pit we kicked ass. Some chick broke her ankle or something in our pit! It was very memorable. The scene was warm and welcoming and I would do it again if the chance ever arose.

 

 

SD.com:  Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?

Joe:  I have always liked Pearl Drums. I’m using Tamas now. Although…I read the John Longstreth interview and he talks about carbon fiber shells because of durabilty values. And that sounds like a good idea to consider some day. Gibralter Hardware all the way. Cymbals: Anything that sounds cool. Each cymbal has their “own individual sound”. So whatever. But Sabian and Zildjian have never let me down. pAiStE is heavy. Alchemy. Wuhan for trash effects. Bells and Splashes is the way though. Cool Noises. I am using Sabian, Zildjian, pAiStE, and Wuhans. Sticks? I don’t know. Vic Firh, Ahead, I might have to check out those new Grindstix…

 

 

 

 

SD.com:  Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Joe:  I like to stay sober because I figure if someone is paying their hard earned money to come see me/the band be at your full potential. Unless you can play trashed then go ahead. But I can’t. Maybe something to take the edge off. Or a Red Bull to put the edge on. I like to do stretches if I have the time. I’m usually rushing in the place and the set up is huge so I have no time to stretch. Relax, stay calm and go out and have fun. Do what I do. Maybe listen to some death metal to get me pumped. Tap Around a little bit on a pad.

 

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

Joe:  If you ain’t having fun then it ain’t worth it. (plus…..never tense up when you play. you are just gonna hurt yourself. Relax and have good posture and play as much as possible. Let the stick do the work. Learn proper technique(s)

 

 

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

Joe:  I haven’t really seen that many bands, but Glass Casket is numero uno in my book. The Red Chord is always badass. Gwar theatrics are awesome. Lamb Of God is Nasty. I saw Suicide Silence online and that video looked sick as hell. It looked like all out war.

 

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

Joe:  I honestly don’t know. I would probably do something with music like guitar. Or studio engineering. Producing. Or draw animations. I actually skinned my thumb off in July 06′ Landscaping. A big ass faulty dumptruck tailgate fell off, swung down and skinned the top half of my thumb off. So the skin was just hanging down and the bone was sticking out. It was fucking horrible. Worst day in my life. No Doubt. Luckily the sewed it on to see if it would live and it did. I’m lucky as hell. So I almost had to deal with that. I don’t know. I would probably just die if i couldn’t play. Or be really violent.