Keep up with Greg here:
I actually started off playing guitar in death and grind bands in 1993. Inertia and Kalibas were the bands that I played in. I also did a project playing guitar called Valpurga that was more a recorded project that never played out. (www.valpurga.com). My first experience playing drums was a solo project called Shield Your Eyes where I played all of the instruments. It was more of a metal project with blasts and some simple double bass stuff. That was in 1999 and was locally released by Spoth Records as was the 1st Valpurga release. I wasn't really focused on drums then but knew that I liked it better than guitar and that it came alot easier to me than guitar.
I started getting a little more serious about drumming when my roommate and I started a local rock band called Low Ton in 2001. We wanted to play new instruments and experiment with some simple rock material, Me talking on drums again and him playing guitar, which he had not done too much of either. He went on to bass and we recruited another friend, to play guitar. Subsequently our friend had never played guitar before or was never in a band, so it made for an interesting time jamming as we were all new or semi new to the instruments. We made 2 demos and I left Low Ton at the end of '01 to travel to Northern China and study Shaolin Martial Arts. We all agreed that the band should go on and we talked about finding my replacement. It was a happy departure as all bases were covered. My travel plans to China were unfortunately foiled by the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11, which forced me to stay in Rochester. I was very upset about having to stay and now having no band.
I took some time off from drums for about 9 months to ponder the events. On my hiatus, I decided to spend the money I had saved for my trip to purchase a new DW kit and all new cymbals and try to channel my Martial Arts training needs into drumming. This was the first time I had my own drums and also when I coined the phrased "Shaolin Double Bass and Blast training." I began a ridiculous practice regimen and did it everyday and eventually started to play with guitarist Chris Arp. Chris had 3 songs already written that he was calling "StrangleFuck." I quickly learned those and we eventually went on to evolve those initial songs and write new ones together creating the 1st Psyopus album together. After recruiting the rest of the members we continued on with Psyopus in the most serious of manners. We went on to sign with Black Market Activities and then Metal Blade Records while touring across the United States and playing tons of shows. I left Psyopus in early 2004 to finish my studies of New Media Design at RIT and started playing in an improvisational Jazz 3 piece called Inventia.
Greg Herman Interview:
SD.com: As a drummer, what was the transition from Psyopus to Inventia like? Which style do you enjoy playing more?
Greg: The transition was like a rebirth for me into a new way of drumming. Kind of like the next step in my evolution of thinking when it comes to playing. It also gave me a chance to start working more on different techniques that I was unable to focus on while touring with Psyopus. As much as I loved writing with Chris for Psyopus material, I find the style of Inventia more pleasing. The nature of Inventia is all about feel. Where Psyopus was about feel in some respects, Inventia is total improvisation and more about being in the moment itself. Stream of Conscious thinking, to me, is the ultimate form of creativity. Its what you create right in the moment itself. It can sometimes be is difficult to replay or remember and often impossible to write something that is its equal. It helps to record the improving as well for learning or re-duplicating. It could also totally suck and be a bunch of crap, but in a way that's the beauty of it, because it is so pure. It really comes down to your emotions and energy in that particular moment.
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Greg: I officially started playing when I was 22 so about 7 years ago. I had a late start into the drumming world, but it was always inside me. It just took awhile to manifest.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Greg: Actually I did play in the school band but not drums. I played guitar in the school jazz band and guitar in the marching band. It was sweet because I had my own little guy push a dolly with an amp on it. I didn't ever really learn the songs either, I would just try to solo over shit. It was fun, no one really noticed.
SD.com: Ever take any lessons?
Greg: No, Im totally self taught, But I have jammed with some great drummers in my day playing guitar, and I would always watch them. That was kind of a tool for learning in a way. When I was Inertia, I played with Cory Olcott who was one of the sickest drummers I had ever seen. When I was in Kalibas, I played with Erik Burke, who I studied as well. Valpurga was with both Cory and Chris Golding so that was great needless to say. I used to write songs alot with Tim Yeung too, but we never really had a band. Watching and studying those guys were all the lessons that I needed.
SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?
Greg:
I have drummer influences but I also have people that don't play drums that have forever influenced my playing. My martial arts teachers are probably my biggest influence because of there attitude about practice and training. Sifu Shi Yan Ming and Sifu Lama David Moore. They have instilled in me the characteristic's for practice and an understanding of training regimen that really help me progress. Drummer wise I look and listen to:
Dave Witte
Tony Williams
Elvin Jones
Cory Olcott
Dave Weckl
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Greg: Most of my playing through the years has been in Rochester so I tend to favor my friends here at home. Ozzy from PigMaster and Erik Burke from the Kalibas day's and his work in BCT & now in Lasers. I really enjoy watching Ron Lickers from BML play. His style is so unique and I like Brann Dailor's style, especially in Lethargy where he was so unbridled. He's a definate fav.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation
Greg:
Sulaco- Tearing Through The Roots
Suffocation – S/T
Johnny Cash- Live at Folsom Prison
Air- Moon Safari
Botch- We Are The Romans
SD.com: Do you practice any specific rudiments or combo's regularly?
Greg: Lately I have been trying to evolve my interdependence and I have been working on refining my one handed rolls for gravity blasts and other weird beats for Inventia.
SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?
Greg: I play DW drums and I love the tone of the drums. They sound so sexy. I like the Paiste Rude series for rides. I play a lot of ride cymbals for crashes. I picked that up from Dave Witte. I like the open washyness of it. Other wise Z customs/A customs usually from Zildjan.
SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Greg: I always usually warmed up with the practice pad for about ten to fifteen minutes to get my fingers and wrists warm but in Psyopus, because it was like a full body workout, the practice pad 1st, then a few sets of handstand push-ups against a wall to get the blood flowing through my body and to try to break a small sweat. It helps a lot.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Greg: Practice is the key. Its is the question, the answer, the riddle, the power, the mystery, the inspiration, and the underlying energy that pushes all drummers forward. Get yourself on a regimen that fits your goals and never look back. More Chi! Train Harder!
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?
Greg: Probably a tie between Terry Bozzio when he was with Jeff Beck on the Santana tour and Dave Witte with Melt Banana 5 years ago. They were both completely amazing.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Greg: I will probably never stop drumming but If I had to, I always want to be creating in one way or another. As long as I can make art and music my life is complete.
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