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There was always music being played around the house. My mom was a keyboard and recorder teacher during my primary school education and played guitar and sung at church, so she always encouraged me and my two sisters to play music and took us to musicals at the theatre. She currently teaches early years music education. A link to her website can be found on the Links page for further information.

 

I started on the keyboard; I would learn by ear and play popular t.v. and film themes on a basic Casio keyboard. From a very young age we had a family band of sorts lead by my mom on guitar and lead singing, with me on keyboard, my older sister playing recorder and my younger sister Kerry, who was singing very beautifully from a very young age. We would often perform at a folk club my mother, and her partner ran for a few years. We would also provide the musical accompanyment at the school church on Sundays along with some of my mothers students.

 

In secondary school, I discovered rock music when my friend recommended Nirvana. We started a keyboard and vocal duo with a couple of Nirvana tracks, and I started listening to Muse and advancing my keyboard skills a little more. As influences grew with bands like Linkin Park and Red Hot Chilli Peppers it was time to learn a new instrument. I had asked for my own electric guitar for Christmas, as originally I had started learning on an old nylon acoustic that my older sister had from primary school. I began to learn the basics of power chords and rock riffs. But I had a few friends playing guitar as well, and after I found out my dad had an old drum kit, he had played drums himself years ago, I decided to pursue the drums. It was a random mangle of different old drumkits from my dad's teenage years and was largely falling apart but did the job. A friend had a garage and laid-back parents so we began to try and form a band.

 

As the influences grew, and opportunities came from school, I found myself more and more in love with the drums. In my last year, playing alongside a professional band for the school performance of 'Jesus Christ Superstar', was a defining moment for me and I returned the year after to play for the shool performance of 'Bugsy Malone'.

 

I left school and went to college. By this point my dad had bought me my own brand new Ludwig drum kit, although guitar and keyboard were still major parts of my life as I was heavily influenced by Matt Bellamy from Muse. I eventually settled on a BTEC Na.tional Diploma music course and started to jam with new friends. I had the chance to learn about other aspects of music including live sound and recording, and began to compose my own music on my p.c. It was in college that drums became my main passion and I made many lasting connections, forming more experimental bands with influences like The Mars Volta, Mr. Bungle and Incubus.

 

After a few years of gigging and working a day job, I decided it was time to apply for university and continue my music education at the next level. In my first year, myself and a friend started a regular live music event at a city centre venue. We went in with the intention of creating a friendly and welcoming vibe for new and experienced performers and it was reasonably successful. It was another chance to enhance my live sound knowledge and was great fun, the four of us that eventually ran the night were all student musicians ready to fill a slot if needs be. We always had a great night and gained some popularity with audiences and artistes. I'm still in touch with many of the artisets who performed for us on those nights. Unfortunately, the volatile nature of student life meant we eventually had to go our separate ways but the spirit of the night lives on and may one day be ressurected.

 

I'm currently playing drums for an original progressive rock band called Xilla. Information can be found about us on the Projects page.

 

 

BIO

Name: Pete Smyth

Age: 27

Birthday: January 10th

Favourite Colour: Green

A Favourite Quote: ‘A common mistake when designing something to be completely fool proof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.’ - Douglas Adams

T10 Top Influential Bands

 

The Mars Volta

Mr. Bungle

Primus

Muse

Incubus

Rage Against The Machine

System of a Down

Pantera

Porcupine Tree

Guthrie Govan

 

 

5 Top Influenial Drummers

 

Dave Grohl

Jose Pasillas

Jon Theodore

Thomas Pridgen

Gavin Harrison

 

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