Markus Strehlau

 

Keep up with Markus here:

www.myspace.com/sabiendas

www.myspace.com/chiefdrummer

www.halfmanhalfmachine.net

www.myspace.com/rumpelgrumpel

 

 

 

 

In the early 80’s a little boy smashed old, and sometimes new, pots & pans. The parents did the only right thing… They decided the kid had to play piano! After some boring lessons, the boy quit and asked for a drumkit to play on. (of course the parents say no) They thought this was only a fad but, the boy does not stop asking his parents for the drumset. After many months and many drumset pictures from catalogs, the parents give up and on Chrstmas 1987, the lucky boy gets his first Pearl Export Drumset! This was a traditional 5pc set, of course, in black. Now the party starts and the boy listens to all kinds of death metal, grindcore, crust-hardcore etc.. After 3 months, the boy has a birthday and yes, the 2nd bass drum was in the house! Now the terror starts!

Inspired by drummers like: Pete Sandoval, Macabre’s Dennis and of course , the legendary Mick Harris, the boy gets crazy on his drums. That means no technique, never tight and too loud! On a sunny day in April 1998 the Father comes in the boys’ room. He was upset and shouted, “You’ve got one week to find a drum teacher or I’ll smash your drums into a thousand pieces! Ok” The next day there was a teacher found. (old, boring music school owner) Two days later, he was fired because the boy wanted to blast, not do painting with brushes or other boring stuff! After a couple phone calls, the man was found. Smart, cool, very relaxed and open minded to all styles of music. The torture began! Lots of muscle burning, devils rhythm and lots of independant practicing. The guy developed into a better drummer and built up speed, stamina, power and of course, dynamics. (thanks to Mr. Rolfe Buers)

Now there was a lot of practice and jamming with buddies and the first band was born. Measly Corpse, one of the first death metal bands in Germany (deep deep underground). They recorded some demo albums then broke up because, our boy went into the German Army. He didn’t have much time to play his drums, but didn’t care because he liked his job. After six years with the German Airbourne, he quit to return to normal life. Still a fan of brutal music, he reanimated his drums from a long sleep and searched for a new band. He didn’t know anyone in this new town but managed to join a psycho-billy band called Hellmonkeys. He liked the fast ride work and enjoyed how crazy the audience went on gigs, but it wasn’t the same. After a couple months of the guy playing alone in a rehearsal room, a long haired 2 meter tall guy, with a deep voice, asked me to join the death metal band Gorezone. The old drummer had drank too much and was seriously injured falling out of a window. The next day, the whole band saw the guy play and asked him to join. They than explained that the next gig was in 6 days! That gig was a total disaster… They played more and more gigs then recorded a demo CD. The band got a record deal and a second record deal, but both fell through because the labels went under. Today, after lots of gigs with bands like: Macabre, obscenity, despondency and many other national/international deat metal acts, the band is still underground and remains one of the German underground pillars!

 

 

 

Markus Strehlau Interview:

 

 

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

Markus: I started at an age of 15 years

 

 

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

Markus: Yes I played in a school band. The band have no name and we got only one concert, we cover really hard to play songs like TNT from AC/DC or Songs from the RAMONES and of course MISFITS…( I hope nobody can remember…)

 

 

SD.com: Ever take any lessons?

Markus: Yes of course I take lessons for 3 years by my drum teacher Mr.ROLF BUERS to find at www.kaiserbluesband.de hes the greatest inspiration for my playing, he told me to accept all styles of music…

 

 

 

 

SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

Markus: Mr Rolf Buers, Phil Collins, Pete Sandoval, Nicko McBrain and Mick Harris

 

 

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

Markus: Today my faves are Jonny Rabb, Thomas Lang, John Longstreth, JOJO MAYER!!! and the DRUMBASSADORS

 

 

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

Markus: DR. and the crippens – fired from the circus ; NAPALM DEATH- scum; ORIGIN – echos of decimation ; D.R.I. – voilent pacification; V.A. the north atlantic noise attack (manic ear records)

 

 

SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?

Markus: In the warm up session I try to work out the two-strokes over the whole set including the bassdrums, than the same with paradiddles, of course singles, shuffles with hands and feet left and right, than a lot of free stuff

 

 

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

Markus: Yes I have GRETSCH DRUMS, PAISTE CYMBALS, AXIS PEDALS, ALESIS AND DDRUM ELECTRONICS, PRO MARK STICK and BECKS BEER

 

 

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

Markus: Not really sometimes I play a little warm up but nothing special

 

 

 

 

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

Markus: That’s hard, I think the most important thing is to get away from the BPM-hype, faster is not even better, so keep cool and play relaxed, Its great when somebody can blast at a speed of 300 BPM but thats not all. The music must live so really important the groove, …yes you can groove in BM/DM/Grindcore.

 

 

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

Markus: DM/BM/Grindcore : I think its SEAN REINERT with DEATH and FLO from CRYPTOPSY. ROCK : GODSMACK- DRUM DUETT (Singer and drummer) THE DRUMBASSADORS at MODERN DRUMMING FESTIVAL 2003

 

 

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

Markus: I gave everything to get back on the drums….no idea