Keep up with Eliot here:
www.myspace.com/invocationofnehek
My name is Eliot Geller. I’m 21 years old, born on April 4th, 1985. When I was a little kid, my father used to take out a bunch of his music equiptment that he had from back in the day when he played guitar in a band. I always used to fiddle with everything, without any knowledge of anything. When I was a feshman in high school, I asked him to leave the drum set out, so I could learn to play. Around the same time, my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. It got really bad, to the point where he could barely even talk, but he still loved watching me play drums, because there was enough stimulation for him to pay attention. When he ended up passing away, he left me a lot of money, and I of course wanted to spend it on something meaningful. I ended up spending that money on my first drumset of my own. It was a Pearl Export Select 5 piece, in Cobalt Mist.
I joined my first band about 2 weeks after getting that drumset. We went through the whole beginning local band stuff, from shows, to demos, and so on. I continued to play in local bands for the next 5 years, throughout highschool, and into college, which I went to for music technology. I ended up dropping out of college on medical leave, and around the same time, went on tour with My Bitter End as a merch guy. I stayed in that position until I got the offer to fill in on drums for a 2 month tour for Invocation Of Nehek. Upon completing this tour, The full time position was offered to me. I stayed with them until we decided to end the band altogether around June 2006. Since then, Steve (lead guitars), Evan (bass), and I, decided to form a new band called Deadly. That’s where I am at right now.
Eliot Geller Interview:
SD.com: You have been on the road hanging with My Bitter End.What have you learned form Mike Ranne and the whole experience?
Eliot: I’ve know Mike for years. Even before ION toured with them, I toured with them as a merch guy, and played tons of local shows before
that. I’ve learned tons of tips and tricks from Mike.. but he is very, very modest. He always asks me what I think about fills, or what I think of this or that. I don’t think he acknowledges how much better than me he is.. but I do, haha.
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Eliot: I was between 14 and 15. It was my freshman year of high school.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Eliot: I played trumpet in middle school band. It helped, because it gave me a foundation in reading music, and just playing with other people. I never played drums in school band, nor have I been in any drum corps.
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
Eliot: I took a few very early on. It didn’t last long, and I didn’t learn a lot. I’ve tryed to keep myself focused on practicing rudiments, and knowing how to read music. But learning drums should also be at your own pace, not what somebody else determines will do you good.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Eliot: Mike Ranne (My Bitter End), Tom O’Hare (the original drummer of Invocation Of Nehek), Tyler Solnosky (The Classic Struggle), Josh Kulick (Through The Eyes Of The Dead), and Mike Rio (Dr. Hourai). My real influences are people that I am friends with, who I have learned from in real life.
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Eliot: Akira Jimbo, John Longstreth, Johnny Rabb, Daney Carey, Mike Portnoy
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Eliot: The Facless – Akledama, ISIS – In The Absence Of Truth, Anata – The Conductor’s Departure, Misery Signals – Mirrors, Necrophagist – Epitaph
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo’s regularly?
Eliot: I’ve been trying to practice rudiments a decent amount lately. I do singles, doubles, and paradiddles the most.
SD.com: What is your favorite part of your drum kit?
Eliot: I don’t know if I could really pick. I like to experiment with positionings a lot, to see if I can find something I like better.
SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Eliot: Stretching is really important. I practice singles, doubles and paradiddles on a pad when i get a chance. Staying relaxed is really the most important though. Water is pretty crucial as well though.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Eliot: Practice, practice, practice. Learn everything you can from what you see, and hear, but make it your own.. don’t just mimic.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Eliot: Mike Ranne is amazing every time I see him. John Longstreth blew my mind both times I saw Origin.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what else would you want to do with your life?
Eliot: I guess work in a studio. I have my own studio, and went to school for Music Technology. If it had to be completely un-music related.. I’d probably just waste away watching TV, and being miserable.
Leave a Reply