A few questions for one of the most talented and stunning ladies of the drumming industry...ENJOY! :-)
When and why did you start playing drums?
I started playing drums when I was 11 years old. when I was little, my parents made my take piano lessons. like an idiot, i hated it. (they always told me I'd thank them later. I hate it when parents are right). so, when I entered 7th grade, my mom told me if I took band, I wouldn't have to take piano lessons any more. we were sitting in the guidance counselors office when she told me this. Immediately, I agreed. but then I had to decide which instrument. I had always thought about either drums or saxophone. those were boys instruments and I was a bit of a tomboy. then I remembered, we used to have this neighbor who would practice saxophone all the time and drive my mom crazy. I remember her telling me one day, in a fit of frustration, that
I was never to play the sax. she denies it to this day, claiming she would
never discourage me from any musical instrument.
nonetheless, I thought of
it that day in the guidance counselor's office, and so I quickly announced
"drums". and so was born a drummer. after 3 years in band, not learning much
more than how to count rest measures, I moved to a school that didn't have
band as an elective. there was a drumset in my house that belonged to my
mom's boyfriend. I started playing it all the time, so eventually, my
parents bought it for me. I still play that very same set.
Have you got any drummer heroes?
kicked ass, and she got to hang out with Prince. but not long after starting
the drums, I was tempted by the evils of punk rock. and with that came a
lust for kick ass beats. I dug the drummer from the Buzzcocks, and the Clash
for sure. but I got really excited in 1990 when I heard the Jesus Lizard.
Mac McNeilly and then also Rey Washam of Scratch Acid and Rapeman. now, my
heroes change daily. I love anyone who kicks ass in a creative way. Jaki
Leibezeit (Can), Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo), Jason Funk (Hochenkeit),
Simone Pace (Blonde Redhead), John Bonham, Keith Moon, Charlie Watts, Max
Roach, oh geez, tons of folks.
What song(s) do you enjoy playing live most?
mkultra, dissapoint, usual dosage, next exit, side effects, lifetime achievement award, and then we have some new songs that don't have titles
yet that I love playing. maybe thats just 'cause they're new, though.
What have you been listening to lately?
the new Blackalicious, Anti-Pop Consortium, Led Zepplin (always and
forever), Ethiopiques vol. 4, Stevie Wonder, Liquid Liquid, Gillian Welch,
Max Roach's M'Boom, the Groundhogs, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Trojan Dub
boxset. shit. I work in a record store. I listen to everything all day long.
What has been your most embarrassing moment on stage so far?
probably my 22nd birthday in Cleveland, Ohio, when the bastards got me the
world's worst stripper who came up on stage in the middle of our set to
humiliate me. Captain America. I shiver just thinking about it.
(March 2000)
Do not use this interview without authorization of this website's owner: