Keep up with Stefano here:
I began playing the drums at age 16, after some years spent with piano lessons. After a short experience in a punk rock band as singer (yeah, it’s true!!), I got in touch with the guys in Stigma, a local old school hardcore band which was looking for drums and bass players after they first line up change. My best friend told them about me and I got the chance to rehearse a couple of times with the guys, we became friends and let the things go. We recorded a first ep in 2003, after only 8 months we were playing as a real band, “Metamorphosis” sold out in a couple of months and with that we got some very good feedbacks in our country. In 2004 we released a second EP called “Epitaph Of Pain” and things went even better cause we played as support act for Entombed and share the stage with the biggest acts around at Wacken Open Air and Metal Camp Fest. In the end of 2005 we started to write down the songs for our first album we’re recording right now, and played as support act for Napalm Death and many other international acts. “When Midnight Strikes!” will be out in 2007, which will be a very important year for Stigma
Stefano Ghigliano Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Stefano: I was 15, when I started playing the drum. I trained for a couple of years alone then I came into the band at the end of 2002.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Stefano: I’ve played in the band of my music school for one year but nothing else. I’ve played drum above all with Stigma, except some occasions when I did some session drumming for local bands.
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
Stefano: Yes I’ve taken drum lessons for six years in the music school in the town were I live. I’ve studied rudements first, then many technical exercises and patterns, not only rock and metal styles but also some latin stuff. I’ve been for two years in the ear-training class and I’ve studied piano for six years.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Stefano: Probably my biggest influence in drum is Chris Pennie from The Dillinger Escape Plan. He is very technical, precise in the live show and he is sick in his drum parts! Other great drummers and big influences for me are Gene Hoglan from Strapping Young Lad and Daniel Svensson from In Flames, because his drums parts are not so difficult but very effective with the other instruments and perfectly suitable for live shows.
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Stefano: My favourite bands are above all The Dillinger Escape Plan, In Flames, Mastodon, Children of Bodom, Opeth and Tool.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Stefano: Now I’m listening to “Sacrament” by Lamb of God, “Blood Montain” by Mastodon, “Come Clarity” by In Flames. In my stereo there’s always “Miss Machine” by The Dillinger Escape Plan and “10000 Days” by Tool.
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?
Stefano: I play always binary and ternary stick control and many double pedal patterns first, then other technical exercises alternate.
SD.com: What is your favorite part of your drum kit?
Stefano: Probably the hi-hat. I like very much give to my patterns many accents using the hi-hat’s pedal, also alternate to the left pedal of double.
SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Stefano: No, I don’t have any specific ritual before the concert, but I have to be very relaxed and concentrated.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Stefano: For me it’s very impotant to have lessons and study for playing the drum, since the beginning, because we can’t discover and learn everything by ourselves, so in my opinion everyone who wants to start playing this instrument may do this.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Stefano: Definetly The Dillinger Escape Plan and In Flames! Two different kinds of live sets, but both incredible and with great drummers.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what else would you want to do with your life?
Stefano: I would be a sound-tracks’ composer, because I think it’s a very satisfying job and you can listen to your music while seeing a movie, that’s great! I would like it also because it would be great to have all the necessary theorical and musical knowledge to be a great composer.
In the end I would like to thanks everyone at Sickdrummer.com and especially John for giving me the chance to tell you something about me and my love with drums! Hope to see you soon on the road!
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