Twenty Drummer Questions Volume Sixty-Three: JP!
Credit: Arno
1. How long have you been a drummer?
I started drums about 6 years ago.
2. When/why did you decide to be a drummer?
I was a guitarist since more than 10 years and I wanted to experiment something else. Actually with some of my other bands, I sometimes had to create some drum patterns, so even before starting playing drums, I kinda knew how it worked. It wasn't such a big step to buy one and start learning how to hit.
3. What kind of set do you play?
The most classic set. Bass drum, snare, rack and floor toms, hi-hat, ride and 1 or 2 crash cymbals (depending on which band I play in.)
4. What album(s) did you learn to drum to? If not an album, with whom? Or did you just bang it out?
I started drums with some Nirvana or Foo Fighters songs, but I quickly tried to work on some some Converge albums (Jane Doe mainly.)
5. When you started out, did you buy so many accessories?
No. I just bought a friend's drums, and I only used the shitiest cracked cymbals that some other friends gave me.
6. Single or double?
Single.
7. Stick size/type?
Vic Firth: 5B.
8. Nylon tips, or wood?
Wood.
9. Which brand of heads do you prefer?
Actually I never really had the chance to try a lot so I always followed the classic ones that people advice on the web (Remo / Evans.)
10. What is your favorite cymbal ever?
Well, when I started drums I mainly only used cheap ones, then I moved to South Korea.
In Asia, usually drummers (and musicians in general) don't own their own equipment so I never bought a cymbal since that moment, except recently for our last North American tour. I'm really not an expert about cymbals, but I liked the Meinl mb8 18" I used for that tour.
11. What are your thoughts on china cymbals?
It's not really my stuff, but why not...
12. How about splashes?
No way, I play punk!
13. Where do you get your gear from?
Usually, second hand websites.
14. How do you feel about the statement “any drummer with more than a four piece set is an asshole?”
Well, I definitely prefer small sets. I played too many times with drummers thinking they're impressive because they have a lot of toms and cymbals... "Asshole" is the word.
15. What bands have you played in, or are currently in?
I was vocalist for 10 years in a band called Headust (Metal / France)
I play guitar in Escarres since 2006 (Mathcore / France)
I play drums in Tentaculos since 2009 (Punk Garage / France)
I play drums in MyManMike since late 2011 (Fastcore / South Korea)
I play guitar in Velo Velcro since 2013 (Garage / South Korea)
I also recently started a solo project called Octopoulpe in which I play drums, bass and guitar.
16. Where is your best performance located? (This refers to physical media.)
I would say our last recording with Escarres (2012), or the last album of MyManMike (2014.)
17. Who are your top three drummers now?
Hard question... I'd say Ben Koller from Converge, Kai Hahto from Rotten Sound and maybe Dave Grohl (he's still the best rock drummer reference for me.)
18. Who were your initial top three drummers?
When I was young, I was much more into metal so I would say Tomas Haake from Meshuggah, Vinnie Paul from Pantera and Dave Lombardo from Slayer. I still love them but I'm definitely less in that kind of playing. The metal drummers usually forget that playing MEANS sweat.
19. Have you ever actually stopped a cymbal crack?
No.
20. Do you play any other instruments, or do you feel like a drummer should just concentrate on doing their drummer job well?
As I said before, I started guitar first. I think that playing other instruments helps you to understand how to play with people.
21. What is your signature move?
The moonwalk.
22. Which cd do you put in just because the drums are amazing?
Mastodon "Blood Mountain" or Queens of the Stone Age "Songs for the Deaf."
23. What would be the most exciting fill in spot for you?
No idea...
24. Shoe preference, or no shoe?
I usually play without shoes, but it doesn't really matter.
25. How do you feel about playing to a click track?
To me, playing with a click track is a good thing to do when I practice alone. On some songs it helps me to keep the rhythm, but I will NEVER do that on stage.
26. What is the best show that you’ve played?
As a guitarist, I'd say it was a show in Tokyo under a bridge with Escarres in 2010.
As a drummer, probably during this last tour in the US. Hard to choose one, but it's probably between a house show in Seattle (Wa), and a house show in Providence (RI). Anyway, playing in houses, squats or weird places is usually more intense and crazier than in real official venues.
27. Are you concerned about the type of wood that sticks, the kit, and etc. are made of?
Not really.
28. Do you use different sticks for different songs, depending on need?
No. I play punk...
29. What are your thoughts on drum triggers?
Not my stuff. More than 10 years ago, the drummer of my first band tried to use triggers. It was terrible... Never again...
30. Fill in the blank:
Best word (phrase) ever to describe your drumming: "This guy rocks like Lars Ulrich!"
Worst word (phrase) ever to describe your drumming: "This guy has the groove of Lars Ulrich!"
Word (phrase) that you are aiming for while drumming: "JP, please don't loose a stick!"
This was an excellent read. JP was super intense to watch. I hope to see him again!