just as their 2nd album came out.
Then the 3rd album called "White Bread Blues" was released featuring a new drummer named Tim Solyan.
I went to see them on that tour when they came through Dallas and was amazed by how incredibly fast and accurate he played.
Their music was fast and frenzied and I could swear that Tim's muscles were made of steel bands.
All of this played on a simple 4 piece kit with only a hi hat and a crash.
Not only was he playing fast, not only were the time signatures hard to pin down, but as I sat down later and tried to slow down and figure out his riffs, I realised how difficult they were even at a slow speed.
Afterwards, I talked to them and soon became friends with Tim.
Shortly after meeting him in Dallas, he sent me a videotape of several VF gigs and I eventually had to make a copy of it because I was beginning to wear out the original
He was very friendly with me and continued to correspond with me over the years.
His small drumkit inspired me to downsize my own and realise how challenging it was to get so much out of so little.
His open handed style directed me to think in different ways and eventually arrive at the central hi hat concept I have now.
I guess you could say Tim is one of the main influences responsible for my highly unorthodox playing style.
The pictures were sent to me by Tim and taken by his wife Nancy.