Keep up with Justin here:
Drummer for New Jersey based Death Metal band, Abacinate. (www.abacinate.net) Justin has been a part of the NJ metal and hardcore scene for years and had played for several different bands. Justin is currently working on writing new material with ABACINATE for their upcoming full length record. ABACINATE is set to release a full length in late 2007 with death metal label: EPITOMITE PRODUCTIONS (www.epitomite.com), as well as a split CD with GODROT, which came out by May 2007. Justin uses Mapex drums, Gibraltar Hardware (drum rack, stands, kick pedals), Tama piccolo, Aquarian drum heads, Zildjian, Sabian, Paiste and Wuhan cymbals, DDRUM kick trigger and Roland sampler.
Justin Spaeth Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Justin: I think I was about 10 years old when I started playing drums.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Justin: Yeah. I was actually in the elementary school band when I started playing. I was a drummer in the high school band and all throughout high school I played in the Marching, Jazz, Rock, and Orchestra bands.
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
Justin: Eh, not really. When I first started playing, my music director showed me how to hold the sticks and taught me how to read music.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Justin: Igor Cavalera, Charlie Benante, Dave Lombardo, Vinnie Paul, Steve Asheim
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Justin: Of course the guys I mentioned above are some of my favorites. Some others off the top of my head would have to be Kevin Talley, Bob Bolak, Chris Adler, Mike Justian, Flo Mounier, Dave Witte, Pete Sandoval, Paul Bostaph, John Merryman, .there’s actually way too many to list right now, so I’ll stop here.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Justin:
Macabre – Sinister Slaughter
Dying Fetus – War of Attrition
Suffocation – Suffocation
Deicide – The Stench of Redemption
Centinex – Bloodhunt
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?
Justin: Whenever I’m behind the kit, I’m usually jamming on songs with a guitarist or full band. When I play alone, I mix it up a lot and I do practice paradiddles often.
SD.com: What is your favorite part of your drum kit?
Justin: That’s a tough question. I love Bells and China cymbals.
SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Justin: I’ll usually stretch my arms and legs before a show.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Justin: Practice. You can’t ever get enough practice. You should practice your parts any way possible, even if you’re just tapping on a table top or tapping your feet while you’re takin a shit. It will help you come up with good ideas.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Justin: I’ve seen soooo many awesome bands. If you’re an old Slayer fan, they’re obviously the greatest band to see live. I think that the one band that sticks out as the tightest and best mixed death metal performance would be Dying Fetus, back when they had Kevin Talley on drums. Every time I’ve seen them. loud and clear, and tight as fuck.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what else would you want to do with your life?
Justin: Probably play guitar and record music, but to pay the bills, I’ll most likely have to work a shitty day job for the rest of my life.
Leave a Reply