Keep up with JR here:
I started playing drums at 4 in Paris. I always imagine this instrument to be played live. I worked a few years alone in studios practicing during my brother’s first band time out.
I grew up and created my own first project INHATRED, been playing live, recording albums and stuff for 7 years now with them. I did some live sessions for artists like K’s choice and Sarah bettens on tour. I shared the stage with bands like Converge, Mastodon, Daughters, Cephalic carnage, Brutal Truth, Napalm death and so much more to list it all. I joined up SUBLIME CADAVERIC DECOMPOSITION one year ago, and now touring the whole year with these 2 bands.
I also recorded an album with guys from Pro-Pain (USA) and Grave (Se) one year ago, this project is called BULLWORTH and will come out soon. Now I am working on the next S.C.D and INHATRED albums and starting tours all over the world for more than a year… I am 23 now and this is just the beginning.
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JR Rodriguez Interview:
SD.Com: How old were you when you started playing?
Jr: I was 4 or 5 years old, don’t really remember the exactly day, year. But I remember myself visiting some friends of my parents for a dinner.. Then I went down to their cave an discovered that monstruous instrument, junped on it, and started beating the drums as hell ! I felt in love with this instrument direcly. but finely didn’t got my dinner.. It was fucking cold when I got back up. I also remember my brother (Duff Rodriguez) playing Atari in the living room instead of playing bass yet!
SD.Com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Jr: Unfortunely not. I always dreamed about it. But I come from a poor family. So never had this chance.
SD.Com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Jr:
1- Abe Cunningham (Deftones)
2- Vinnie Paul (Pantera)
3- Jon Theodore ( The mars volta )
4- Gene Hoglan (Death)
5- Ben Koller (Converge)
SD.Com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Jr: My favorites are Abe cunningham, Jon Theodore & Ben koller. I fucking love these 3 drummers, they play like i feel the drums, like i want to make it sound. Fucking powerful, intense and so much original ! They got the groove, they got the power and all in a metal context. This is what i love. My friend Pete Sandoval for what he created and the perceverance given into Morbid Angel though the years. But for sure the one i can’t pass by is Vinnie Paul, Forever the most creative drummer in the 90’s for me. The great southern trendkill & Vulgar display of power as been such a mistery for years for me. Now i understand and play easily those crazy patterns, but it’s been one of my motivations when i started playing drums. And he got the style duuuude !
SD.Com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Jr: I must say,
– Deftones – Saturday night wrist, this a fucking proof of how you can be violent, intense but fucking groovy and easy listenable.
– Underoath – define the great line, i want the same sound ! Awesome.
– Watain – sworn to the dark, it’s been a while i’ve never heard such a fucking good and authentic black metal band like that. We played with them at the SWR festival in Portugal and they blowed my face off.
– Interpol – Our love to admire, this is another feeling on drums, i love it so much. Binary & Power
– Devourement – 138 what a fucking drummer ! This is the best Death & Grind stuff never done for me. How to groove while you blast. They go it ! This is the band that gave to me the motivation of blasting my drums ! And now. i’m still listening to it. Rip Wayne Knupp, we love you !
SD.Com: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Jr: Hum, i think this is not a good question for me ahaha. For all beginners reading and starting drums please don’t give a fuck about what i’m gonna say cause i know it is not the best solution. But.. i don’t really warm up physically. I rather concentrate myself and relaxe thinking about the set and the show and the athmosphere. If you are totally relaxed and feel ok about what you’re gonna play in a few minutes you can hanle it easily. The only thing i do is when we arrive at the venue after something like 6 or 8 hours of road, i take my drumsticks, my throne and just practice some 2l-25 tips during around 20 minutes then go out visiting before the show. The best i’ve never done for a warm up was going to a sauna and Jaccuzi during the afternoon. Man ! i can ensure you i’ve never done a show like this so easily.
SD.Com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?
Jr: I twas playing with SUBLIME CADAVERIC DECOMPOSITION at the Obscene extreme festival (CZ-europe)in july. We was sharing the stage with our brothers from Mucopus and Inhumate i twas completly crazy. Everybody talked to me about this festival for a year and i never expected that a « only grindcore » festival could be so fantastic. We was like childs discovering it for the first time. Just before getting on stage the stage manager came to me and said : Man, do you know that you are the band the most awaited of the day with Inhumate ? So i was like, oh my god. Then jumped on my kit ! It was fantastic, unbelievable. So now i am waiting for the upcoming Maryland deathfest were we will play for the second time 5 years after !
SD.Com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?
Jr: Hum not really, if it sounds i love it. But i admit that i have some feeling with Pearl drums and Zildjian A custom Cymbals
SD.Com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Jr: Listen yourself and the sounds you create while you play. This is not a sport, this is a sonor art before all. Don’t forget it.
SD.Com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Jr: I’ve seen a lot of awesome shows. But the 2 best was Pantera in paris for the Great southern trandkill tour and Morbid Angel in 98.
SD.Com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Jr: Travel all around the world
More Video from JR:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kYnjT0qGCs4 ( SCD live at SWR Festival)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IEu6H9k5O9E ( SCD live at Vienna )
http://youtube.com/watch?v=thvb1s6D18g ( First show of SCD with Junior )
http://video.google.fr/videoplay?docid=-378440388277985273 ( INHATRED-Recording sessions of OLENA )
http://youtube.com/watch?v=4lXRjVh7-8s ( INHATRED Footage video + live )
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