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From as early as I can remember music has been a big part of my life. I grew up
in a church that had a full band for the worship service. My mom has told me stories
of when I was 5 years old, after church was over, we'd go back to my grandparent's
house. Once there, I would drag some pots and pans out from underneath the kitchen
sink, grab a pair of spoons, then I would proceed to beat the crap out of the pots
and pans like I was Animal from the Muppet Show.
I had wanted to play drums in the 6th grade band but there were too many people
that had signed up before me so I got stuck playing the baritone. I did this for
two years and then gave it up. It took awhile but a couple of years later I finally
got started playing the drums. When I was 14 years old I would stay after church
for awhile and play on the kit while everyone else was outside talking. Eventually,
I would get the chance to play during the service.
 A few years later on
August 8, 1991, I got my first kit at the age of 17. A few months after I got my
kit, I auditioned for my first band in 1992. It was a Contemporary Christian band
named Proclaim. They played cover songs of artists like Steven Curtis Chapman, Truth,
etc... Not only was I auditioning, but there was a guitarist who was auditioning
as well. As we were sitting around talking afterwards, the bassist and the guitarist
discovered that they were 2nd cousins! Both of us ended up getting the gig with
the band. From the Spring of 1992 until the Fall of 1993, we played dozens of shows
all over the Southeastern US, playing at County Fairs, 4th of July Festivals, and
even once playing at a boys juvenile detention center.
After that band split up, I ended up joining a Christian metal band named Sacred
Heart in 1993. We played cover songs by artists like Holy Soldier and Bride as well
as doing some of our own songs. A few months into the band we changed our name to
Structure and added a 2nd guitarist. The guitarist had actually been in the band
with the other members before I joined them. We played a few shows here and there
in the southeastern parts of KY. Then we decided to change directions and become
a country cover band to earn some $. That didn't last long. Eventually we went our
seperate ways.
Then in my senior year of college I was given the opportunity to form a Praise Band
for our campus. Toward the end of that year, two of the guitarists and myself did
a cover of a Metallica song for a talent night. After we graduated we all kept in
touch and eventually formed the Christian metal band, Dying Man, in 1997. We did all original songs. Our
first show was opening up for the band Bride, one of my all-time favorite bands.
We also had a chance to play a show with the band Disciple, another favorite of
mine. We recorded an 8 song album, "Dark Night of the Soul" in January of 1998.
We played a few more shows after that then my wife and I moved to Nashville in July
of 1998. Being that far away made it difficult to continue with the band. I eventually
left the band a couple of months later.
Then in September of 1998 I joined up with a Christian alternative rock band named
Psalt (prounounced like salt). They were an all originals band as well. Within a
couple of days of practicing we were playing our first shows. It was quite a departure
from my last band. We eventually changed the name of the band to Wide Eyed Wonder.
But that didn't last long. After getting home from playing a show one night, I got
an e-mail from another Christian band named Wide Eyed Wonder in Georgia. They threatened
to sue us if we didn't cease and desist from using that name. So to avoid a lawsuit
we decided to change our name (I wonder what ever happend to that other band???).
We came up with the name 100 Watt Magnet.
A few months after that, our bassist left and the guitarist and myself decided to
take some time to decide if we wanted to continue. We eventually began looking for
another bassist. A few weeks later we found our guy. He was still in high school
but the kid had some major talent. This was in the Summer of 1999. So with the new
bassist, came a new sound. I also got more involved in the song writing process.
We recorded a CD with Jade Hanson (Believable Picnic). We played dozens of shows
in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi, and Texas.
We took on a much harder and heavier sound than before. Then right after we released
our 2nd album as 100 Watt Magnet entitled "And Now... For Your Entertainment" in
August 2001, I left the band.
I had reached a point in my life where music had became my god and because of that,
I nearly lost everything. Fortunately for me, the only thing I lost was my desire
for music. After 3 years of not really doing anything with music, I began to play
my guitar again and started writing some songs. Then in March 2005 I lost my grandfather
to cancer. It was on the way home from the funeral that I began to re-evaluate my
life. I knew that God had blessed me with the gift to play and I felt like I was
letting it go to waste.
After a conversation with a dear friend, I decided to start my own hard rock/metal
band, Dying Man (my wife came up with the name with the original Dying Man so we
kept the name), though this time I was going to be a guitarist. So I put out some
ads on some internet sites and within a few weeks I had a guitarist and a vocalist.
A month or so after that I found a drummer. We practiced for a few months but something
was missing for me. That something was simple - I was trying to be a guitarist instead
of being the drummer. So in January 2006 I made the switch back to drums. A few weeks
later we parted ways with the vocalist. We eventually found a vocalist that also
played bass and the band was now complete as a 3-piece.
We recorded a song "No Time For Long Goodbyes" that was featured on two different compilation CD's. A couple of months later we played our first and last two shows
on back-to-back nights. You may have noticed that in the description of this band
that I did not describe it as a Christian band. When I started it, the intent was
to have Christians in the band but not necessarily cater to the Christian audience.
After playing those two shows, I knew that I would not be able to keep that up.
So about a month after our first two shows, I pulled the plug on the band. It was
not an easy decision but I knew in my heart it was the right one. Trying to start
my own band was one of the most difficult things I've ever tried to do. I learned
a lot during that time.
After Dying Man, the 2nd edition, ended in August 2006, I began looking around for
Christian, ministry-oriented bands that needed a drummer. I felt like my strengths
were in being more of a supporting role and not having to be the guy in charge.
I found a couple of bands that fit that description and I auditioned for them. One
of them I felt like went really well and the other one went really bad. For the
one that went well, they said that they would be in touch the next time that they
practiced but I never heard from them again. I figured that since the other one
went so bad (in my opinion) that I wouldn't have a shot with them so I didn't expect
to hear from them.
I eventually did heard back from the second band, Judah First. They offered me an opportunity
to be a "go-to" drummer, kind of like a back-up drummer. Whenever their current
drummer is unavailable to make a show, then I would have a chance to play for them.
It looks like I may have several shows with them starting in March 2007, with the
first one being in Virginia. This could turn out be a long-term situation, but for
the short-term, I'm going to make the most of it and enjoy it for what it is - an
opportunity to play drums and minister to the youth of this country. Either way,
I'm very excited for the chance to play out again with the chance for ministry.
Last Updated: February 4, 2007
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