MyBiography

                                                    The Rattlesnake's Story
   I was born on September 9,1969 in Roanoke,Virginia. My earliest memories were set at a little white house in Vinton, just outside of Roanoke. I was barely a toddler when we lived there. My family remained in that house until 1978. It was during my earliest years I was exposed to music in a huge way. I remember every weekend usually on Saturday night my two uncles and a few of their friends would end up at our house,cases of beer in tow,and my old man firing up his console stereo. My father cranked out country music from Hank Sr. to Marty Robbins and even some bluegrass as well.
   However it was also during this time I got my first taste of Rock & Roll. My father and my uncles were big on CCR. I always loved it when it came time to play Travelin' Band or Who'll Stop The Rain. It was at that time,I realized what I wanted to do in my life. Doug Clifford's drumming always had me clammering for more. I knew then I had to play drums.
   Around 1975 or '76 my friend Todd Keaton and one of my other uncles Jeff Smith who was closer to my age,(and not in the story above) got me hooked on KISS. I immediatly fell in love with the superhero persona along with Peter Criss' booming drums,Ace Frehley's blistering riffs,Gene Simmon's growl,and Paul Stanley's powerful vocals. To this day KISS is my favorite band of all time
and a major influence on me.
   Other than KISS I loved anything in the rock genre usually pop music of the time. Peter Frampton,
The Bay City Rollers,Boston,Bad Co. along with disco in the 70's was usually what I listened to. Basicly,anything that was in the top 100 in any given year of the 70's, was a pretty safe bet that I liked it.
   In the 80's we moved to a new neighborhood in Roanoke. not only had my surrondings changed but
rock music was changing too. Disco faded slowly. In pop Bay City Rollers, and Frampton were replaced with Rick Springfeild, REO Speedwagon, and Donnie Iris to name a few. Along with the countless R&B acts of the time I loved the transition to 80's pop and rock though I still longed for the
simplicity of the 70's music. Anyway in the 80's the pop culture had integrated to everyone. There was no stereotype as far as fans of the music then as it seems to be today.There was no "Black Music" or
"White Music". Everyone dug Pat Bennatar to Kool & The Gang. I was really into the pop scene up
to 1987 when I got bit by the Heavy Metal bug! Motley Crue,Twisted Sister,Iron Maiden,you name it
I was into it. As far as the Metal craze, I was a late bloomer to it but managed to add to my cassette
collection quite often. I had what I thought to be the biggest music collection I ever saw at the time.
My fun though would not last as 1989 drew to a close music was heading toward a quick and drastic
change.
   1990 saw the arrival of Alternative music. Sound Garden,Nirvana,etc. For me Rock & Roll started
to take a nosedive at this time. I never got in to alternative.I tried to give it a chance but it was not real
Rock & Roll to me. I guess I was to be stuck in "Classics" land.
   1991 saw the death of my father and also the death of Eric Carr drummer of KISS about 2 month's apart. I used my music collection to not only heal after my father's death,but also to recall the wonderful times we had in years past,when he would crank that stereo and we would have a blast.
   1992 I met the woman who would become my wife( almost 9 years later) named Melisha. I was 22
and she was14. I know I should have stayed away but there was something inside me that said this girl is special. She was and still is. I always owe her a life time of grattitude for buying me my first drum kit,and my second. She bought me drums at I time when I thought I would never get to play drums ever. I got that first drumset in October of 1994 and formed my first band one month later with my friend,Mike Summar.
   Mantazh( pronounced Montage) was formed Thanksgiving day 1994. We had tacos that year. It was just Mike and I jamming at his place for about 7 or 8 months. Some friends of ours loaned us their basement for as long as we liked. We tried out different people to add to the band with no luck.
Enter Mike "The Viper" D. Mike Summar met him at a flea market in Roanoke I think. Before too long we talked him into at least trying out for lead vocals. It was between him and one other guy who's
name I cant remember but we liked Mike D's attitude and welcomed him aboard. A few months down the road we met James Hawks who would become our bass player. After practicing for a while I told the guys we should get our feet wet by entering the battle of the bands at Scooch's. We won the first round in September 1996,and took second place honors in October.
   Between the years of 96 and 98,the band went through a number of line up changes. We were happy to find John Gamble and Buddy Henager in I think April of '97. We made a 5 song EP in Oct.
1997,and got little radio exposure. Somehow we managed to get gigs and we were getting better.
In May 1998,I decided to leave the band. I had a number of reasons but the main one was it was getting nerve racking for me wondering if the band would be bigger than it was. We played our last
show in June 1998, and it would be the last time any of us would get to play at Scooch's,which was leveled in the summer of 2000.
   In July of 1998,I joined a band called Hat Trick. Johnnie Dempsey, Chad and Charlie Barbour, and
Chris Furrow made up the rest of the group. The genre was classic rock and was very enjoyable. Chris was replaced in early 1999. Once the new bass playerBill Burgin was in,we had a busy year logging in 32 shows for 1999. In December of '99, Chad Barbour left the group. We tried many guitarists but none measured up. I got fustrated in waiting so I joined not one but two other bands in March of 2000.One of those groups was called Legacy who at one time rocked Scooch's at leats once a month.The other was a failed Mantazh reunion. Both of these groups folded inside of a month. One day I get a call from Eric Hurley, guitarit for Vikki Potter. She did country and needed a drummer. I was originally going to pass on the deal but the band was promised to open for Leann Rimes in a big
colliseum. With stars in my eyes I left Hat Trick on Easter 2000.
   In addition to Eric there was a guy named Ray on bass. I had 7 days to learn 2 sets of material for
our first show out. We pulled it off but I was scared to death I would mess those shows up. In July of
2000 we played the Salem Fair in Salem,Va. That was not only the bands finest show with the best drum solo I have ever done but it was to be the bands last show with Vikki. The following practice day,the band was fired. We dont know why to this day but oh well.
   In August of 2000 Buddy Henager comes back in my life with an offer to play drums for a group he's jamming with. A country band called Puss N Boots. Ironicly one of the ladies in that band had called me a month earlier and I turned the position down. I did jam with them not considering myself as a member but a free agent until I found a rock band again.We never had a full band but we did one show for a Toys 4 Tots concert in December 2000. At the end of 2000 I counted up my perfomances
for the year. I only played out 8 times. Compare that with 32 from 1999. I had to find something. On
January 31,2001, I left Puss N Boots.
Feberuary 1,2001 I (again) rejoined Mike Summar & John Gamble along with Jeff Angell and Bruce
Lowman. The band played some classics I liked along with modern rock I did not like. The band has
yet to be named and my future with them is uncertain at best.
   Well to bring you up to speed it is now June 30,2001 and I did leave the band mentioned above. They are now called Vertigo. On March 13, I became the new drummer for a band called Mr. Natural.
I am still close to the guys in Vertigo. In fact I set it up so they could open for Mr. Natural at Back-roads.
    On March 27,2002, after a little more than a year,I quit Mr. Natural. There were plenty of reasons for this decision. The main one being that none of my ideas were being used, and I never got to sing.
That band has other problems as well. As many members that have left in the last 6 months, you would think they would realize that they are not doing something right. I hope one day they realize the mistakes they are making. If they would have heeded my suggestions they may have been bigger than
they were. They will learn like everyone else has.
     I have been back in Vertigo since my split from Mr. Natural. We have a CD's worth of songs but not yet recorded.
     In July of 2003 I moved into my own home. For the first time I feel free.
     I have also recently been a controversial person to deal with as far as comments I have made on my site. I have since appoligized and still hope that anyone offended can forgive me.
    On August 18,2003, Vertigo and I went seperate ways. Sometimes things just dont work out and
you just have to move on. At first I was surprised but soon after I was relieved that I didn't have to
be the one to quit. I considered quiting the band for quite sometime. Originally, I was going to leave
the band after Festival In The Park, but we got a gig in West Va., so I stuck it out. Now that my time
in Vertigo is over, I will take a break from the scene, but I wont be gone for long. I've been doing this
for almost 9 years,and looking back at my history, I have always found another place to fit in.
    Within a week, I made a contact. Mark Brushwood, who had some road time under his belt, had
hooked up by phone. A couple of weeks later, he gets a call from some guys in Covington. We drive
up there and jam. I had the feeling the setup was not for me. Dont get me wrong, we did some songs I have wanted to do for years but no other band would do them. Mark called me recently to see if I would reconsider. Since my phone hasn't rung, I am giving this some serious thought to maybe make a go of it. If I do decide to do this, maybe I can start achieving my goals and reach my objectives. For now, I'm sleeping on it.
After some consideration, I think I will give it a shot. No name for the band yet. I hope these guys are worth the trip.
   Well, turns out I should have left well enough alone. The house these guys practiced in got sold. None of the guys owned it. I thought I would lose all of my stuff, but they were good enough to bring my things back to Roanoke. Now that everything is accounted for, lets try again.
November,2003. Mike Doss ( formerly of DVATO ) asked if I would like to sit in with the band Rimshot on New Years Eve. I have known the people in that band for a while, so I thought why not.
December,2003. After a couple of weeks of people being sick with the flu, we managed to get together twice. Not nearly enough time for me to be prepared, but the band told me not to worry about it. If I had known things would turn out like they did, I would have declined the offer no matter how much money I would have received for the gig. Too late to back out . I'll just have to make the best of it. I just dont want the band or myself to look like fools. A lot of songs they do I have never heard of. I'll just pray a lot.
   As for what happens after that, I'll still be looking for a band. I dont think I want to be in Rimshot permanently. I want a band that will do classic rock the way my heroes Loud, Clangin', & Bangin' do it. Maybe I will find that band maybe I wont, but they will have to pry the drumsticks from my cold dead fingers before I'll give up. Keep watching for more updates.
Happy New Year!!! The show with Rimshot was nothing more than impressive! I really surprised myself. Mind you the show was far from flawless, but there is no way that you could tell I only had roughly 3 hours practice time with this band if that much. I played like I had rehearsed for a good month or so. I still cant believe that was me on that stage! The songs I did not know, I caught on to in about a verse or so. I dont mind saying I was scared to death up till showtime. After the first set, about 4 people came up to me and said "Dude you are the s**t man! You rock!" I just said "Thank You, I appreciate it." I did not know how to feel, but when those people said that, any further worries I had, went out the window! I have thanked God ever since. He heard my prayers! I just gave 110% hoping I moved someone. I did my job, and did it better than even I would have guessed. There is still some speculation as to wether or not I may be asked to join Rimshot on a permanent basis. I know I have my rock roots, but if I did that good in Basset, I may do even better in places Rimshot are better known in. The Rattlesnake is poised to strike again, just need the right oppertunity. I need to find a band and fast if I want to make it to Festival In The Park. Got 5 under my belt, and I would like to make it 6! Keep watching for more updates.
   On Wednesday January 7, 2004, The Bill McCray band called me out of the blue wanting to know if I wanted to audition. It was sort of spur of the moment,but it was arranged. I went in, set up and we rocked! By the time all was said and done, one of the guys said they should call the other guy they were to audition and tell him never mind. But to be fair the others owe that guy a chance to audition, and I agree with that. I do want the job, but not until a fair analysis has been made of both drummers involved. Hopefully by January 11, I should know one way or the other.
   Well never got the job with Bill McCray. February was long and uneventful, until the 25th when Jr from Rimshot called to say they parted ways with Ben and want me at their next practice. One day later the phone starts to ring off the hook! Don't know why it takes 6 months for my fliers to be noticed. Anyway, The calls I got came up empty in reality, so on March 13 after a show with Rimshot, I decided to join them officially.It has took a long time since Vertigo to even get into a band, but the wait may be worth it. Though at this point my hopes for a 6th Festival appearance seems bleak at best, I will be there next year! Let's see what kind of future I have with Rimshot.
     8/14/04   Things are going good with Rimshot though I do miss my all out Rock & Roll, but I'm managing to get a couple of Rock ideas in the mix. Scottie D is with me as always to lend a hand when one is needed. All is well so far.
   10/21/04   Just found out that Rimshot is booked for the Coffee Pot for December. This will be my first time doing a full show there since 1999! I hope we do well. Looks like I could ring in 2005 with Rimshot! Things could be better though. It'll get there. Got a feeling we could play Festival in 2005.
   11/04   Surprises keep on coming. Found out that I am going to be a father! Hope I am a halfway decent one. Looks like my favorite local band Loud, Clangin', & Bangin' will be on the back burner for about a year. Just saw them at Cheers on the 20th. I would love to attened their last couple of shows but my band is busy. God I'm going to miss LCB.
Any way Rimshot is playing the Coffee pot in December and I will get to sing a couple of songs. I am greatly anticipating this show! We have 3 dates in December booked including New Year's Eve. I will be sending material to the Festival In The Park people to see if we can get in. I am Keeping my fingers crossed.
   2/05 My wife and I lost our baby at the 8 week mark. She is strong and I'm sure we will try again. Steve Thompson left Rimshot. The plan is to carry on without a replacement.
11/05 A lot has happened this year. Rimshot played the Festival In The Park 2 days back to back, played Coffee Pot twice, made a new home at Nashville Connection, and on a personel note I have had the busiest concert schedule since 1999, logging in 36 shows for the year. That's just one more than I did with Hat Trick for 1999. We also have shirts out now. I am going to introduce a new design in 2006. I have taken up motorcycle riding as well. In September LCB came back!! Thank goodness! This has been a great year, and I hope 2006 is twice as good.
2006 was a great year as the concert calander was really busy. Another record setting performance for the year for me. If that were not good enough, my wife gave birth to our wonderful twins Samuel Adam Smith, and Leanne Marie Smith. Words can not express how I feel about them. Love doesn't really sum it up good enough. They were born October 14,2006 both weighing 4 lbs. 5oz.
2007 saw Rimshot going out of town more than usual. Thank goodness because I need the break from homelife. Princeton,West Va., seems like a second home. I wish we could play there at least twice a month.
   It looks like I will be in Rimshot for a good while. I would love to play in a pure rock band again, but if I leave Rimshot for another band they would have to be established, have equipment, have gigs lined up and want to record originals. They will also have to pay more than what I am currently getting. I'm sorry but I have been doing this 13 years, and I'm too old to start from scratch.
2008 has started great. The 460 roadhouse have us booked for at least 6 shows throughout the year.
In September 2008, Pete Ryder and Junior Fralin formed Walkin' Sideways and asked if I would join. I jumped at the chance. In a month we played our first show at 460 Roadhouse to rave reviews. We played another show there in November. At this point family issues were going to get in the way so I was quietly replaced in December. In the meantime Rimshot is still going strong.
The new year started off in a positive way. On New Years Day, Johnnie Dempsey called wondering if I would like to join him and Terry Foss. They have been playing as a duo for a long time, but I guess they want to give a band situation a shot. As Johnnie told me of what they were going for ,I started to remember the Hat Trick days. I thought "We were a big deal once, can we do it again. I aalso wonder if I still have what it takes to pull off the work ethic for the kind of shows we used to do.
   June 5th 2009 marks the last show I played with Rimshot. I quit after a performance in Salem. The spark in that band is no longer there. Besides I belong in a rock band anyway. Have heard nothing from Johnnie Dempsey.