Keep up with George here:
Playing drums has been everything to me… I started in 91 and haven’t stopped since. My first set of drums was a crappy starter kit with the paper heads and I just wrecked it! The coolest thing about those drums was the animal bass drum head. I actually now have animal as part of the sleeve on my leg. Anyhow, after I busted through those drums my dad got me a real kit. I saw the You Could be Mine vid on MTV and that was it, bam, drummer forever. I started jamming METAL with the kids from my neighborhood. Those were the days…playing Metallica songs and just thinking it was the heaviest shit ever!!!!
I’ve always been metal first and foremost, but around 95 I really started to get into fusion and industrial. I think that learning all those programmed parts and playing with a click track really started to shape who I was as a player. I started to think, wow, there is a whole other world out there other than grinding and blasting. So I started to learn different parts then most metal drummers were going for at the time.
So here I am 24, just came off and awesome tour and really hope that some of you out there enjoy my vids and I can meet some wicked new drummers. Thank you sickdrummer.com for letting me be part of the family!
George Parfitt 07′
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George Parfitt Interview:
SD.com: What do you do to prepare for tour? Please talk of personal and drum kit prep…
George: Hahah not much dude I love touring so… I just kinda roll out of bed and go! I try to do as much business as I can before I leave contracts,e-mails,interviews because I know it could be hard to stay in contact when on tour. The thing is that part is almost as important as your playing. As far as drum kit prep…I like to beat the shit out of my drums:) so I normally need to call up sabain and Vic Firth and have them stock me up. I normally have to replace a stand or two as well but I have to pay for those so I let them get a little more wrecked first hahaha.
SD.com: When did you start playing drums?
George: I remember the Black Album just came out…I had three cds at the time Metallica-Metallica, Guns and Roses- Use Your Illusion and Aerosmith-Get a grip. So probally like 91
SD.com: Do you play in a school band or any drum corps?
George:Hell yes! It’s somthing I recomend every drummer do. Its great for you chops and you learn some cool stickings. Check out my drumsolo and you will see that drum corps is still with me today.
SD.com: Have you ever taken any lessons?
George: A few I’ve actually given more than I have taken….I got to open for Strapping Young Lad a few times and just watching GENE THE MACHINE from behind is a lesson!!!
SD.com : Who are your top 5 influences?
George:Virgil Donati,Gene Hoglan,Danny Cary,Vinnie “fuckin” Paul,Dave Weckle, Marco Mennimen,Thomas Haake
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
George:Dude too many to list!
SD.com: Let us know 3 CD’s that are in your current rotation
George:White Zombie astro creep 2000, an Origin mix, Pantera the Great Southern Trendkill..that last one never really left hahaha
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?
George:Totally I try to keep on all my rudiments because they are so good for you and your independce. I like stacking them on the kit so i get an endurence workout and indepence workout at the same time. I’ll take a pardiddle with my hands and put it on top of a flam tap with my feet etc….
SD.com: What is your favorite part of your drum kit?
George:I love it all and make shure i use it all. Im not really a fan of those guys with the huge kit and all they play is the hi hat, bass and snare. Probally my hi hats overall are my favorite. I don’t think alot of metal guys do enouf hi hat work.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to younger drummers, it would be…
George:Work your butt off and try to be the best most well rounded player you can be. Also learn about the business end of it because if you don’t it could be the end of your career.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
George:Humm Gene on the STL tour and probally Danny Cary on the 2001 tour..
SD.com: Aside from drumming, what else do you do with your life?
George: Write,Play industral and drum and bass music, hang with the woman and drink
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