When I was three I became fascinated with drums when I heard the song Wipe-Out on the radio.

When I was six I was checking out a band set up at a block party. I aked the drummer to do the Wipe-Out thing and he did, however, he broke a drum stick. I asked him for and got that broken drum stick. While walking home holding that drum stick I said to myself "I'm gonna be a drummer some day."

When I was seven we moved to Roscoe Village. In the basement of our new home I found a snare drum. I claimed it for myself but my older brother John said he claimed it first. I took a hammer to that snare drum and oblitterated it. I said to myself "If I can't have it neither can my brother." That was the start of my heavy hitting.

My older brother John picked himself up a drum set and I played (not destroyed) it whenever I had the chance. John also taught me my first drum beats.

I took band in elementary school but got thrown out in 6th or 7th grade for tipping over the marching bass drum. I took a few lessons at a music store after that.

Then on Christmas a month before my 13th birthday I received John's drum set for a Christmas present.

By the time I reached 8th grade I roadied for a band called Oblivion. I learned a great deal about drumming from their drummer Andrew Krueger. He taught me how to play tripplets (bass-akwards though). I learned a lot about being in a band as well, some good and some bad.

I hooked up with a drummer named Mark Abbinnanti the summer before high school. We taught each other a great deal. We would jam to Neil Peart of Rush, and Carl Palmer of Emmerson, Lake & Palmer. It was also around this time that my older brother Mike introdued me to the music of King Crimson and Gentle Giant. King Crimson became a life changing event in regards to my influence on drums. Bill Bruford started to become my favorite drummer and main influence.

In high school I continued to roadie for Oblivion but started jamming in my own bands.

Kounterpoint was the first full band I was in. This band consisted of my high school buddies (including Roland Montijo who was later in Edge Runner with me in 1995 and 1996). We played some Montrose, Ted Nugent, House of the Rising Son (Phil Sypneski on vocals), and were about to learn some Zeppelin.

By the time I reached junior year I was in a band called Still Motion with the Ruiz brothers. We played some Aerosmith, Montrose, Ted Nugent, Queen and the Stones.

When I was 17 I joined the Original Onyx.

Onyx #1 - 1977 - 1978 - GlennSpence on Guitar, John Flannagan on Bass Guitar, Bob Page on Keyboards (short time) and myself on drums and percussion. We started out as a four piece but the original keyboard player fell to heroin. He died years later (R.I.P.). We were then a three piece for a short while. We soon added Tony Wiese on Rhythm Guitar, and Jack Mondolak on Keyboards a short time later. We even had a violinist and sax player in the mix at times.

This was the first band I was in tat featured original songs. We also played some cover songs by Black Sabbath, The Stones, Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, James Gang, Wishbone Ash, Fleetwood Mac and one song from Genesis and Gentle Giant.

After surviving a coup by the the guitarist, Glenn, he quit.

Onyx # 2 - 1978 - 1980. Enter James Latimer on Lead guitar (See also Lake Effect and the The Mike Capilo Project). This band crossed the boarder from a rock band to a Prog Rock band. I introduced King Crimson music to the band and it changed the band. We started writing very progressive music with multiple timings. I bought my first gong.

We started playing bars and were recorded by WZRD Radio. We played North Eastern twice with one live broadcast.

In addition to original songs we played covers by bands such as Jeff Beck, The Moody Blues, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, Led Zeppelin, Queen, ZZ Top Muddy Waters and more.

James Latimer took me to many fusion improv sessions that taught me plenty. The fusion players were patient and willing to teach a greenhorn kid like myself. One of the other drummers was Mike Capilo (See also Mike Capilo Project). He taught me my first syncopation exercises. I learned a lot about fusion playing from Mike.

It was about a year later when I started studying under the now famous Mark Walker (Oregon). Mark was a seasoned studio musician and also a great fan of Bill Bruford. I learned a lot of the Bruford syncopation stuff from Mark.

By the time Onyx broke up in 1980 I was out of high school.

I joined a Punk/New Wave band called the Cut-Outs until I was de-throwned by my first drum guru, Andrew Knueger, from the band Oblivion I used to roadie for. Such is life. We played original songs and covers by such bands as The NY Dolls, Gary Neuman, The Rolling Stones and such. We played Tutts, Rutts, Hughys and Wizards (Later to become the original Exit).

After this I went through a radical change and joined a Christian Community and quit playing drums. In 1882 I left the community and moved to Ringgold, Georgia and got into my first Christian band. Three months later I moved to Louisville, Kentucky with one of the guitarists and joined a curch to be part of the house band (Direct Line). From this band we bacame the group Aslan with the other guitarist from Georgia.

Some time later I hoked up with a different church and started to jam with the singles' minister Keith Lloyd. We bacame The Keith Lloyd Band. We recorded some studio stuff and played churches and coffee shops.

When I was replaced I went to college and recived an Associate of Arts Degree in Communication/Journalism in 1985.

I moved back to Chicago in 1988 after the death of my Stepfather.

I joined theThe Mike Capilo Project which included Mike Capilo and James Latimer (See also Onyx and Lake Effect). This was an attemt to get signed playing tasty comercial music. James ended up leaving then the band fell a part a few months later.

It was after this band that the original Edge Runner band was formed with Pat Long on Guitar, Drago on Bass Guitar later - Nabil on bass Guitar) and myself on Drums. We played Progressive Rock and Heavy Rock. We never played out live.

After this I was in a number of bands.

Pipe Dream - Original and Classic Rock & Dance Tunes ( Romantics, Van Halan, Edgar Winter, Golden Earring and BTO).

Mad Hadder - Original and Classic Rock and Blues ( Rush, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Trower, ZZ Top, Nirvana, Stevie Ray Vaughn & Cheech and Chong).

Edge Runner # 2 - Improvisational Progressive Rock. This lasted about a month then we formed with Andrew Tzadok to become Surreal Banshee.

Surreal Banshee - Original Progressive/Psychodelic/Meditative with elements of Improv. This band included a violinist, six-string bass guitarist, two guitarists and a female vocalist.

Edge Runner # 3 - This included the bassist from Edge Runner # 2 and Surreal Banshee (Dave) with his friend Tim. This lasted about a month.

Edge Runner # 4 - Original Imrov in the style of Progressive/Stoner/Acid/Fusion. This band had two bass players (One on six string (Dave Grossman - from Edge Runner 2 + 3) the other on 4 string frettless (Mike Chizzo) with an E-Bow. Both these bassists and the guitarist (Mark Bayerle) were also members of Surreal Banshee at one time or another.

Edge Runner # 5 - Original and Improv Prog Rock. This version included Andrew Tzadok (from Surreal Banshee) with new Members Roland Montijo (See also Kounterpoint) on Guitar Synthesizer, Dale Lawenz on Bass Guitar and Eric Ahlgren on Keyboards (See also Lake Effect).

Wet Animal (With Rick Wartell and Ron Holzner of Trouble) Original Hard Rock. We also did a killer version of No Quarter by Led Zeppelin and Relentless by Pentagram. We played The Riviera Theatre, The Expo of the Extreme at The Congress Theatre, The Double Door, Smiler Coogans, Bedrocks, Thurstons, The U.S. Beer Company and did a mini tour to Cleveland, Ohio.

Cletus and the Sliders. Classic Rock, Rhythm and Blues. We did cover songs of The Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, The Doors, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Johnny Lang.

Lake Effect - Classic Rock, Rhythm and Blues. James Latimer on Lead Guitar (See also Onyx and The Mike Capilo Project), Rick Zaporowsi on Lead Vocals and Bass Guitar and Eric Ahlgren on Keyboards (See also Edge Runner # 5). We did covers songs from these bands: ZZ Top, Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Golden Earring, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stevie Wonder, The Ides of March and Bill Withers.

Solar Confusion. Original Space Rock. We did do two Hawkwind songs as well. We backed up Hawkwind's keyboardist, Harvey Bainbridge, at JJ Kelly's and also backed up Harvey at a The Strange Days Space Rock Festival at Nelson Ledges State Park outside of Cleveland. What a trip that show was. We ever saw The Northern Light on the Friday night. Our guitrist, Keith Packut, has recently passed away. May he rest in peace (How high can you fly?). Peace brother.

Lake Effect II - (see above. Same line-up).

Surreal Banshee (Reformed) - Original Progressive/Meditative/Stoner/Industrial with elements of Improv. Mimi - Lead Vocals, Andrew Tzadok - Master Mind, Guitar and effects, Nate Swanson - Electric 5-String Violin, Mandolin, Jeff Parish- Bass Guitar and Multi-effects and myself on Electronic Drums and Ambiant Keyboard Sounds.

Head First - Classic Rock and Popular Covers. Andy Mueller - Lead Guitar and Lead Vocals, George Lemperis - Lead Guitar and Vocals, Kevin Curameng - Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals and myself on drums. Check out the Head First Web Site for a complete list of cover bands and song although I doubt you will see any pictures or even references of me at that site now.

Edge Runner # 1 (Reformed) - Original Heavy Progressive Rock Fusion. Pat Long - Guitar and effects (original Edge Runner Guitarist), Pete Rodriguez - Bass Guitar, Bob Holzner - Hart Professional and Prodigy mixed electronic drums. Check out our Web Site at: http://edgerunner.us for song list, and Mp3 download.

CURRENT - Working on my own CD "Music For Meditation & Serenity" with former Kounterpoint, Edge Runner # 5 and Surreal Banshee members Andrew Tzadok, Roland Montijo and Nate Swanson.