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Posted by Claudette Cooling on 17th January 2018
As you know we like to bring you guys as much behind the scenes info and news as we can and last month Emma, one of the Drum Shop Team got to catch up with Gareth Grover, who is best known for drumming alongside Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes. Emma recently met up with Gareth at The O2 Ritz in Manchester and got to know all about what makes him tick as a drummer and what advice he has for other up and coming drummers!
Do you have any favourite pieces of gear in your set up?
My main snare, a Premier Elite 14” x 8” ‘GenX’ shell (Maple/Birch hybrid), is definitely one of my favourites. It reminds me of this old 80's Premier snare we had at school when I first started playing. It had an almighty crack to it, but weighted with a really nice deep warmth to it, never lost however you tuned it. So I tried to replicate that with the current 14” x 8” snare and it’s a dream. I particularly like the Premier Gen X hybrid shells too, they have a really lively birch tone, great for cutting through mixes, but with the added warmth of maple - a great balance.
When did you start playing drums? What got you into playing?
I started when I was 11 years old. I’ve always been switched on to rhythm in music, ever since my dad introduced me to some of his favourite music - things like Led Zeppelin, Prince, Cream. I just took up lessons at school and fell deeply in love with the instrument. My first teacher has definitely had the biggest influence on my playing and my attitude to music. An advocate of listening ahead of playing, it helped me really understand the responsibility of a drummer in various different scenarios. He was an incredible jazz pianist as well, so we just used to sit in lessons and jam, learning to pay attention to more than just what I was playing in any one moment and taking in the bigger picture.
How often do you practice? Do you get the chance to practice on tour?
I’ll be perfectly honest, practice has been a point of concern for me for a while now. I have a young family and had a full time teaching job - teaching kit in schools - which was a lot to juggle and for a long time I definitely let my practice slide for too many years. I also play a lot of functions with a party band and do any recording sessions I can get. The preparation for these things would form most of my practice and would cover a lot of ground stylistically, but would never give me the time to get creative and stretch myself as much as I’d like. Time just seemed to fly by without ever really engaging with that side of things. With the Rattlesnakes' commitments getting more intense I’ve had to kick some of the teaching, which has meant lots more time on my hands. I’ve really got stuck back into working on precision, articulation, technique and creative ideas again and I’m really enjoying it. It’s almost like going back to the early days of learning when every new piece of material was exciting. I’m taking a little old Roland electronic kit on the road with us to practice too. Warming up on that instead of just a single pad has been really beneficial - gets every faculty woken and ready for the show.
Do you have a warm up routine that you do pre-show?
I generally spend a few minutes improvising through some singles, doubles and paradiddle combinations through different subdivisions, moving them around the whole kit to warm up my spacial senses. I’ll groove a bit too, often along to whatever music is on in the background in the dressing room. I tend to finish with whatever the first song is that night, or something at that tempo at least, I feel like it focuses my mind on the right thing for that moment.
As well as performing you also teach, which do you prefer? Did you always plan on becoming a teacher as well as a player?
Both have their merits, but playing and performing is really where my heart lies. I remember watching bands at shows when I was young and going home dreaming of being up there doing my thing. I love seeing peoples' faces when they’re locked into watching a performance, same for me when I’m watching my favourite bands. It’s magical. Teaching also has it’s magical moments; seeing people progress and break through barriers is really rewarding. I think the best teachers come from a place of experience. So, for me to have the opportunity to perform with the band - learn about touring life, the technical challenges of shows and the focus and stamina required for that side of the job - hopefully means I’m well equipped to teach from all aspects.
What’s your favourite kind of music to play and/or listen to?
I listen to and play a really eclectic array of different styles, I can’t really say I have a favourite. I get a lot of pleasure from playing jazz and big band music - it takes an incredible amount of focus to achieve the right kind of feel, and requires a lot dynamically and technically too. I also love improvising, finding ways to explore and express different patterns and ideas in lots of different ways, and make something coherent and musical from it too. It’s a real challenge and helps equip you for any musical eventuality, like if things don’t go to plan in a live performance, you have the ability to think quickly and work your way out of a musical hole without detracting from the music or the performance.
Do you have any favourite artists/bands at the moment?
I always mentally clog up when asked this question! I listen to such a variety of music, sometimes it’s hard to remember what’s gone through my ears. I’m writing this while listening to the most recent Arcade Fire record. I love that band so much, I feel they write really hypnotically, and cover such a range of feels on every record, it never gets tired. I’ve also been spinning a lot of Hiatus Kaiyote - they’ve been coined as ‘future-soul’ which is pretty bang on. Their drummer Perrin Moss is a master of subtlety and packs away some amazing, mind-bending soul/hip-hop grooves. And singer/guitarist Naomi Saalfield has an incredible voice and a beautiful way with her phrasing. I’m a big fan of the latest Foo Fighter’s record Concrete & Gold, it feels like a step back towards what I loved in the band’s early few records. To roll off a few more names regularly on the stereo at the moment, Queens Of The Stone Age, Death From Above 1979, Sampha, Christine & The Queens, Everything Everything, Glass Animals, Tame Impala, Lee Fields & The Expressions.
What’s your top tip for all the aspiring drummers out there?
This is my holy trinity of tips……...First and foremost, you have to enjoy what you’re doing on the instrument. The enjoyment will help all the other elements fit into place - it gels together what you do as a musician. Secondly, strive to work for yourself and your individuality as a musician, not to be clone of something or somebody else. By all means, look to and learn from others, build skills and knowledge, but carve your own creative path and you will always have something fresh to offer that the next drummer might not have. Lastly, you won’t make any friends by being a diva. Communicate with people, open yourself up to constructive criticism, and just generally do your job well, to the best of your ability, on time and on form. Reputation is very important in this industry.
We’re beyond grateful that Gareth took the time to answer some of our questions and we hope this gives all you drummers out there a real behind the scenes insight into the life of a working drummer. Gareth has also supplied us with a list of his current set-up, so if you want to get an idea of the type of kit he uses then take a look below:
Premier Elite Series Drums in Silver Sparkle - Gen X shells (Maple / Birch hybrid): 22” x 18” Kick, 12” x 7” Rack Tom, 16” x 16” Floor Tom, 14” x 8” Main Snare Drum
14” x 6.5” 2nd Snare Drum (plain birch shell) - Dampened with a thick head and lots of moon gel for deep ‘electro’ sound live.
Cymbals - Paiste: (Live) 24” / 22” Big Beat Multi , 20” Big Beat Multi, 20” Giant Beat Multi, 16" Big Beat Hi Hats, 10” PSTX Swiss Splash and 14” PSTX Swiss Flanger Stack
Cymbals - Paiste: (Studio) 20” Signature Dark Energy MkII Ride, 18” / 19” Big Beat Multi, 16” 602 Classic Crash, 15” Big Beat Hi Hats, 13” Twenty Series Hi Hats and 20’ Twenty Master Dark Crash/Ride
Electronics: Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad, DDrum CE Drum Triggers (used for impulse-control of gates and compressors at front of house sound desk)
Remo Drumheads: Main Snare - Coated Powerstroke 3 batter, Clear Ambassador Reso. 2nd snare - Coated Pinstripe Batter, Clear Ambassador Reso. Toms - Clear Emperor Batter, Clear Emperor Reso. Kick - Coated Powerstroke 3 Batter, Starfire Chrome Ambassador Reso.
Sticks: Vic Firth - 85A Wood Tip
Cases: Protection Racket AAA Series
We love not only learning about some of the amazing drummers within the drumming community but we love nothing more than to shout about them and support them! So if you’ve liked what you’ve read, we’re pretty sure you should get yourself over to Gareth’s socials and check him out, you can find Gareth on the following platforms:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
With special thanks to Ed Mason who photographed Gareth Grover in the above images.
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