Post #2

 


Here we have that Mike Cook guy with one of his earlier drumkits.  
This is in the Emmerson Street days, in the mid to late 80's.  I loved this kit.  It was pretty versatile for what it was and sounded fine.  Durable too.  I beat the living shit out of it back in the day.
You can see one of the old Peavey SP2 speaker cabinets in the shot.  That tells me this is during one of my old band's rehearsals for whatever gig we were getting ready for.  The drumkit itself isn't really gig-standard, though.  I'd gotten my semi-pro drumkit not too long after this, in the form of my Tama Swingstars.  That was a two-headed style kit, but I removed the bottom reso heads because I just like the sound of single heads better.  And they're louder, and if you know me...
That basement on Emmerson sounded pretty friggin' good for band jams.  I don't think I've played in a basement since that sounds quite the same.  I started playing drums in those days with my old buddy Larry, who's guitar playing even early on turned plenty of heads.  I remember my family hearing us and commenting on his playing more than mine.  I don't think my family was ever all that impressed with my drumming.  I don't believe they'd ever recognized me as a musician at all, actually. At least I'd never heard it, outside of say my brother Greg and later Rick.
Doesn't matter, I had fun all the same.  Back in those days, a lot of my friends used to remark how much they enjoyed my style.  None of my family members ever saw any of the gigs I'd played, one of my biggest disappointments.  Didn't seem to matter from what mountaintop I'd shout from where I was playing.  I guess now they never will.  I can't seem to find a group of guys who want to play anymore.
Still, these were the best of times.




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