Keep up with Mark here:
www.myspace.com/thedarklowerskullcollector
In my early years I wanted to play the drums. My parents tried to convince me to play an other instrument but they had to accept that playing the drum was my ultimate decision. So I got me a drum and started to follow lessons for about 7 years. I learned to play rock, disco, wals, swing, mars and other styles and how to read drumpartitures. When I was 12 I played the first time on stage. At the age of 15 I took part of a talenthunt and won the contest. ( I played covers from Europe, Sting Won ton ton and other eighties music ) I came in touch with metal when I were 14 (with bands like Metallica, AC/DC, Helloween,.. ) and from that moment on I wanted to play fast and agressive.
My first metalband was Demonolatry, we had a great time back them! At 16 I played my first real metalgig with this group at our local youth pub. We played gigs with Deadhead, Cannel Zero and Conspiracy of silence. Later a friend and I started the Darkening. We played some gigs but it didn’t stick. In 1996 I started the band Omega, the desire to play deathmetal was very strong, but the group didn’t last. The guitarist stayed and together we started Skull Collector. Really sick, brutal, in your face death metal. We were and still are very underground.In 2001 we did our first gig. With Skull Collector we recorded 1 demo cd (and then there was), and 1 full lenght cd (depravity indulged through fresh coroporal parts). Between these 2 cd’s I took some lessons with Jan C. ( a professional studio drummer ) to polish my techniques. in 2003 I also joined Celebrant, a death/black metalband that was looking for a good drummer. I played with them for a few years(’till 2007) and recorded teir latest cd with them. Resuscitation was also looking for a new drummer and I became their session drummer. ( they play really great, underground stuff )cd will follow. At the present skull collector is recording a new cd (2009)
Mark Van De Velde Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Mark: When my parents were tired of hearing me whine they bought me a drum set when I was 10 years old
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Mark: Yep.I played with a schoolband when I was 15, and took part in a talent hunt
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Mark: In the beginning there was Dire Straits who were and still are the greatest. Then came Donald Tardy and Lars Ulrich when I started to play metal. There are a lot of drummers I listen to, on how they play, but in the deathmetal they are: Pete Sandoval, Paul Mazurkiewicz, Joey Heaslet, Max Kolesne and Jim Cocker
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Mark: Paul Mazurkiewicz & Joey Heaslet
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Mark: I change a lot of cd’s for listening not alone metal but also rock, new wave, electric, etc… but Cannibal Corpse, Deeds of flesh and Suhrim are the bands I keep within my reach
SD.com: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Mark: A few hours before the show I play the set at home and when we arrive on the scene I drink a lot of coffee and walk nervously around (anoying the bandmembers)
SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?
Mark: Yes,that was not so long ago at the Swarmfestival I played my best gig ever (10/05/08 in ham)with Skull Collector With the schoolband we got a standing ovation,that’s something you never forget
SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?
Mark: My favorite drums are staccato. I have two of them that I turned into one drumkit, a real monster! For the cymbals I prefer Paiste and Zildzjian
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Mark: Never give up,keep on trying, make it difficult for yourself. Listen to a variety of music. Everything is practice, practice, practice. Techniques, slow or fast playing, control over the kit if you know someone who can write down drumpartitures, ask him or her to teach you. It also helps a lot to understand what you’re playing
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Mark: Anne Clarke & Cannibal Corpse. Just mentioning 2 different styles of music, and Suhrim always kick ass when they perform!
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Mark: Still playing music! I play the guitar and do some vocals, so I would be a frontman or a guitarist.
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