Keep up with Mike Rosswog on SoundCloud here:
Other Links:
https://todayistheday.bandcamp.com/
https://circleofdeadchildren.bandcamp.com/
I grew up playing guitar and intently studying Modern Drummer magazine, always envious of the camaraderie held between drummers. The history and seemingly limitless possibilities of percussion drew me to switch from guitar to drums at age 19. The main catalyst for this switch was an opportunity to play for the groundbreaking death/grind band Circle of Dead Children, from my home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With CODC, I recorded the “Human Harvest” album and played a couple of big shows including Hellfest and Maryland Death Fest. After my split with CODC, I immediately started jamming with Steve Austin and Chris Debari of Today is the Day. They needed help with their upcoming record “Kiss the Pig”, and I was called in to learn the material and do all of the drum tracking which took place over the course of one very long and hard week. Around the same time, I accepted a high-profile job with a local Technology Services firm, and could no longer commit to a full-time band. The next three years were spent working 40-60 hours a week and practicing drums in my spare time. Around March 2005, I saw a band called Shipwreck I Promised at a local bar. Their singer (Joe Mack) blew my mind and we immediately started talking about working together. About a year and a half later, we formed Complete Failure with two childhood friends of mine (Erik Wynn and Elliot Leslie). Our original intent was to get drunk, party at my house, and play some local shows. One thing led to another and a rebuilding of friendship between Steve Austin and myself led to a deal with SuperNova Records. For 2008 I’m going to be touring with Complete Failure and Today is the Day, pulling double duty and drumming in both bands throughout North America and Europe.
Mike Rosswog Interview:
SDM: How old were you when you started playing?
Mike: Growing up as a guitar player and loving drums, I would mess around behind the kit owned by my best friend and drummer at the time (George Parfitt, ex: Threat Signal). That started around age 13. I didn’t start truly playing drums or practicing until I was 19 years old when I joined Circle of Dead Children. At the time I had given up on music because I couldn’t find a drummer that suited my guitar playing style. What ended up happening is that through chatting with Jason Andrews online, I found out that they needed someone to help out and fill in on some shows while their drummer at the time was living in Philadelphia. I sold an ESP Mirage guitar and a Marshall JCM900 half stack to finance the purchase of my first kit, cymbals, and hardware. One week later I was with my brother Erik Rosswog in Joe Horvath’s basement trying out for my favorite band at the time. It was all very surreal.
SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Mike: No, and now that I’ve got some experience as a drummer I really wish that I had. Every drummer that I know who played in a marching band has insane chops with their hands. I have no formal training, and I’m completely self -taught. I’m very envious of drummers have extensive knowledge of rudiments… obviously I could learn and practice them now, but my style has evolved as a completely creative and emotional expression which I’m happy with.
SDM: Who are your top 5 influences?
Mike: Pete Sandoval (Terrorizer / Morbid Angel), Danny Carey (Tool) and Thomas Haake (Meshuggah) have had the most impact on my approach to playing. Secondary to those guys would be Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Charlie Benante (S.O.D. specifically)… both for the pure speed and aggression of their playing. I’m not so much influenced by other drummers as I am influenced by life or daily struggles with mental and physical pain and suffering which drive me to try as hard as I possibly can to achieve something with the time I have here on earth. Playing fast and powerful music is definitely a therapeutic release for me. On top of all that, playing in Today is the Day means that Brann Dailor, Mike Hyde, and Brad Elrod have had a big impact on my playing, since I try to emulate them when jamming with Steve Austin.
SDM: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Mike: As far as metal drummers, I really love Martin Lopez (ex: Opeth) for his ability to get down with a nice, solid 8th note hi-hat groove in addition to the super-tight technical playing he does. Joe Fazzio (Superjoint Ritual) has the most impenetrable right hand 8th note that I think I’ve ever heard… just awesome timekeeping. I’m really proud of Joey Jordison (Slipknot) and John Dolmayan (System of a Down) for being able to bring a blast beat into more mainstream music. From a rock perspective, I’m really inspired by drummers like Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle), Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins), Matt Chamberlain (Tori Amos)… guys who lay down jazzy rock grooves from another planet (and make loads of cash for doing it). Finally, I have to mention Buddy Rich. I love listening to jazz music, and although I’m not into “big band” type stuff, I think Buddy Rich is where all of this fast and crazy drumming started.
SDM: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Mike: Most people are surprised by my musical tastes… I hardly listen to any heavy music anymore. Right now I’m listening to a Tori Amos collection called “A Piano”. It came in an extravagant package adorned with full size piano keys and everything. The box is essentially a 24 key piano. Inside are 5 CDs and a fully bound book outlining her entire career. I also just got the U2 – Joshua Tree reissue which also comes with a fully bound booklet. By the way, you can tell that I love design and packaging. I always have a Today is the Day record handy (lately I’ve been jamming Self-Titled and Supernova which are being reissued through SuperNova Records). A couple of months ago I finally got around to assembling the Lateralus album by Tool into “The Holy Gift”, where you re-arrange the songs, cut out some silence, overlay some tracks and you come up with a single one hour and 15 minute track. Just mind blowing. I listen to it at least once a week.
SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Mike: I try to get away from everyone to get focused and “in the zone”. I’ll warm up with my RealFeel practice pad and stretch a lot. I make sure to stretch my forearms and calves the most. Playing drums in a metal band is like playing a sport, even down to the competitive nature that a site like Sick Drummer can promote. You really have to make sure you are in good physical condition because playing fast double bass and blast beats put a high level of stress on your body. With that stress comes the risk of an injury, like pulling a muscle. You also always run the risk of developing a Repetitive Stress Injury such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Tendonitis if your technique isn’t dialed in. So I always try to take every precaution to avoid playing a set without being physically prepared. My situation is a little more complicated because I already have a Repetitive Stress Injury from working on a computer 8-12 hours a day.
SDM: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?
Mike: Ironically, it was at a Complete Failure practice and my band members yelled at me for pushing the tempos too far. Hahaha. Also, I remember after a few takes when recording our album, the energy and excitement in the studio was completely off the charts.
SDM: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?
Mike: I would really love to have an X-Ray acrylic kit from Sonor. I think they look utterly amazing under stage lighting. The German style engineering that goes into those drums is phenomenal. It’s like the BMW of drums. Which can also be a bad thing because I think the Germans tend to go overboard with proprietary technologies and parts (Sonor’s tension rods and BMW electronics for example). In that case I always default to a Japanese manufacturer. Tama makes an acrylic kit that Mike Portnoy is using. I have a Yamaha Brass Neauvou 7×14 Snare that I love. For cymbals, I like Zildjian because of the company history. I think they developed the original formula and do it better than anyone else.
SDM: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Mike: Focus on developing a solid foundation of timekeeping, feel / groove, and performance instead of speed or technicality. I think it’s sad that a lot of kids are out there trying to break 200 BPMs with their feet, yet would fall on their face trying to perfectly play a Coldplay song. And from being “on the other side” as a guitar player, I know that without a doubt, most musicians are looking for a drummer that can keep the beat over anything else.
SDM: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Mike: Metal band: definitely Krisiun… they were touring for the “Conquerers of Armageddon” record, and I was literally bowing down to the ultimate destruction they brought upon my eyes and ears. In general, the best concert I’ve ever seen was the band Muse at Madison Square Garden. Just the whole experience of seeing a band completely rock a 15,000 capacity venue was unreal. They had perfect sound… the most huge and unbelievable guitar tone I’ve ever heard. And watching their frontman Matthew Bellamy switch from guitar and do a classical piano performance… incredible. He can also actually sing all of their songs which I’m sorry to say is a rarity in rock music these days.
SDM: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Mike: I would continue building up my business and working as an independent consultant. I do web site design & development, manage digital media for clients and help establish marketing strategies that bridge the gap between traditional “brick and mortar” and technology based business models. I love photography and graphic design. Advertising. Someday soon I want to get into recording and producing digital audio. I would spend as much time as possible traveling the world with my woman. Get married, have kids. All of that good stuff.
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