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Pete has been playing the drums since he was twelve years old, and has been largely self-taught. Despite starting in the school band, he quickly turned to independent study.
In high school, things developed for him when he became friends with musicians from many new genres. "When I was probably fourteen, I posted an ad on the local bulletin board," Pete says. "My band was looking for a bass player, but I was so set in my ways--classic rock and alternative rock was all I liked at the time. I remember the ad...in big bold capital letters, I wrote 'NO METAL OF ANY KIND". As it would happen, the bassist the band decided on was a big metalhead anyway. He soon thereafter befriended another musician from California who introduced him to Megadeth and Dream Theater. "He changed my life," he laughs. "I was like, 'THIS is metal? No, it can't be! This is great!' I became totally obsessed with Dream Theater, all of their side projects, and other heavy bands like Symphony X and Megadeth." |
As time went on, Pete fell deeper in love with progressive music. Big discoveries for him were Rush, Symphony X, Opeth, Spock's Beard, and The Flower Kings. "I rediscovered things I'd missed out on, too, like Jethro Tull, Genesis and ELP," he adds. "Pop culture doesn't pay enough attention to the back catalogues." Since then, Pete has played drums in classic rock bands and collaborated with many different musicians over a wide array of music, including a metal group that covered 'girly' pop songs, a jazz standards trio, and a project that's hard to classify. "It was like if Primus took a page out of Barenaked Ladies' book and wrote songs that could make it on the radio," he says. "Someday I really want to get that group back together for a real release."
Pete was also a drum instructor for several years at a private music studio, teaching students ranging in age from 6 to 60 years old. He also loves smooth jazz, funk, and even 80s pop rock. "If you shuffled my music library you'd probably get some brutal progressive death metal followed by Enya, then Fourplay, then Parliament, then Duran Duran."
When not involved in music, Pete loves spending time with his daughter. His hobbies include collecting and playing video games, woodworking and DIY projects, craft beer, and pinball. He aspires to one day build a pinball machine entirely from scratch.
Pete was also a drum instructor for several years at a private music studio, teaching students ranging in age from 6 to 60 years old. He also loves smooth jazz, funk, and even 80s pop rock. "If you shuffled my music library you'd probably get some brutal progressive death metal followed by Enya, then Fourplay, then Parliament, then Duran Duran."
When not involved in music, Pete loves spending time with his daughter. His hobbies include collecting and playing video games, woodworking and DIY projects, craft beer, and pinball. He aspires to one day build a pinball machine entirely from scratch.
PETE'S INFLUENCES
Pete's musical influences come from all over. Some favorite artists include (in no particular order): Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater, Rush, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Katatonia, Symphony X, Tool, Big Wreck, Spock's Beard, Boston, Enya, Muse, Frank Zappa/Zappa Plays Zappa, Pink Floyd, Riverside, Tom Petty, Toto, Circus Maximus, Police, Matchbox 20, Haken, Leprous, Primus, Flower Kings, Fourplay, Gorillaz, TransAtlantic, The Cars, Dire Straits, Outworld, The Goo Goo Dolls, Kamelot, Melodramus, and many more.
Pete's biggest drumming influences are mainly from the progressive genres, although he has stated he enjoys musicality and tastefulness in any drummer. To list a few, in no particular order: John Bonham, Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, Nick D'Virgilio, Gavin Harrison, Daniel Liljekvist, Martin Lopez, Martin Axenrot, Simon Phillips, Carter Beauford, Pick Withers, Danny Carey, Piotr Kozieradski, Jason Rullo, Steve Ferrone, Tim Alexander, Sib Hashian, Jamie Salazar, Anika Nilles, Truls Haugen, Matt Smith (McKenna), Baard Kolstad, Joe Travers, and more.
Pete once shared lead vocal duties in a classic/alternative rock cover band he played in from 2011-2012, singing everything from Deep Purple to Tom Petty to Matchbox 20 and Barenaked Ladies. "I've always enjoyed classic and alternative rock, so that was a fun project. I dabble in guitar just a little bit, so some day I would love to front a Tom Petty tribute band, singing and playing guitar."
On the Odd Logic record Penny For Your Thoughts, Pete performed a spoken word voiceover on the track "The First", as well as guttural vocals on tracks "Court of Ancient Rulers" and "The Island". On Effigy, Pete performs guttural vocals on tracks "Mercenary", "Witch Runner", and "Maiden Child". On Last Watch of the Nightingale, Pete performs guttural vocals most prominently on "Of the Nightingale" and "Boundary Division".
Pete names Mikael Akerfeldt as his biggest "harsh" vocal influence, citing his delivery and execution, and the highly musical way he uses the technique. More influences include Maynard James Keenan, Randy Blythe, and Carlos Zema, among others.
Pete's biggest drumming influences are mainly from the progressive genres, although he has stated he enjoys musicality and tastefulness in any drummer. To list a few, in no particular order: John Bonham, Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, Nick D'Virgilio, Gavin Harrison, Daniel Liljekvist, Martin Lopez, Martin Axenrot, Simon Phillips, Carter Beauford, Pick Withers, Danny Carey, Piotr Kozieradski, Jason Rullo, Steve Ferrone, Tim Alexander, Sib Hashian, Jamie Salazar, Anika Nilles, Truls Haugen, Matt Smith (McKenna), Baard Kolstad, Joe Travers, and more.
Pete once shared lead vocal duties in a classic/alternative rock cover band he played in from 2011-2012, singing everything from Deep Purple to Tom Petty to Matchbox 20 and Barenaked Ladies. "I've always enjoyed classic and alternative rock, so that was a fun project. I dabble in guitar just a little bit, so some day I would love to front a Tom Petty tribute band, singing and playing guitar."
On the Odd Logic record Penny For Your Thoughts, Pete performed a spoken word voiceover on the track "The First", as well as guttural vocals on tracks "Court of Ancient Rulers" and "The Island". On Effigy, Pete performs guttural vocals on tracks "Mercenary", "Witch Runner", and "Maiden Child". On Last Watch of the Nightingale, Pete performs guttural vocals most prominently on "Of the Nightingale" and "Boundary Division".
Pete names Mikael Akerfeldt as his biggest "harsh" vocal influence, citing his delivery and execution, and the highly musical way he uses the technique. More influences include Maynard James Keenan, Randy Blythe, and Carlos Zema, among others.
PETE'S EQUIPMENT
Tama Superstar Custom drums (ca. 2006, all-birch shells, die-cast hoops, StarCast mounts), Custom Scarlet Fade
8x7, 10x8, 12x9, 14x11, 16x16 toms, 20x18 kick drum (main), 22x18 kick drum (mounted as gong drum)
Legend mid-90s maple snare in transparent lacquer - 13x4, die-cast hoops (main)
Gretsch Catalina Maple snare in transparent black matte - 10x5, triple-flanged hoops (side)
ddrum Dios Bubinga/Aspen snare in striped champagne/violet sparkle - 13x6, die-cast hoops (alt)
Ludwig Acrolite (early 80s) aluminum snare in Galaxy Black - 14x5.5 (alt)
Pearl ICON rack system, clamps and booms; Gibraltar cymbal accessories and Roc 'n' Soc Lunar hydraulic throne
Tama Speedcobra HP910LWN double pedal and Speedcobra HH915D hihat stand
Sabian and Meinl cymbals:
18" AAXplosion Fast Crash; 17" AAXplosion Fast Crash; 16" AAX V-Crash; 14" AAX Stage Hats; 21" AA Raw Bell Dry Ride; 8" AAX Splash; 12" AAX Splash; 8" Signature MAX STAX; 10" Signature MAX STAX; 17" AAXtreme Chinese; 14" Meinl Thomas Lang Filter China
ProMark Sticks: Joey Jordison Signature TX515/Simon Phillips Signature TX707
Evans heads: Coated G2s over Clear G1s, EMAD1 with patch (kick), Coated G1 Genera Dry over Clear 300 (snares)
Apple MacBook Pro running Logic Pro X, EZDrummer and ToonTrack Software
8x7, 10x8, 12x9, 14x11, 16x16 toms, 20x18 kick drum (main), 22x18 kick drum (mounted as gong drum)
Legend mid-90s maple snare in transparent lacquer - 13x4, die-cast hoops (main)
Gretsch Catalina Maple snare in transparent black matte - 10x5, triple-flanged hoops (side)
ddrum Dios Bubinga/Aspen snare in striped champagne/violet sparkle - 13x6, die-cast hoops (alt)
Ludwig Acrolite (early 80s) aluminum snare in Galaxy Black - 14x5.5 (alt)
Pearl ICON rack system, clamps and booms; Gibraltar cymbal accessories and Roc 'n' Soc Lunar hydraulic throne
Tama Speedcobra HP910LWN double pedal and Speedcobra HH915D hihat stand
Sabian and Meinl cymbals:
18" AAXplosion Fast Crash; 17" AAXplosion Fast Crash; 16" AAX V-Crash; 14" AAX Stage Hats; 21" AA Raw Bell Dry Ride; 8" AAX Splash; 12" AAX Splash; 8" Signature MAX STAX; 10" Signature MAX STAX; 17" AAXtreme Chinese; 14" Meinl Thomas Lang Filter China
ProMark Sticks: Joey Jordison Signature TX515/Simon Phillips Signature TX707
Evans heads: Coated G2s over Clear G1s, EMAD1 with patch (kick), Coated G1 Genera Dry over Clear 300 (snares)
Apple MacBook Pro running Logic Pro X, EZDrummer and ToonTrack Software