The Beginning

Doesn't everyone want a drumset? Doesn't everyone want to play drums? That's what I thought as a kid. And I am probably still not that far off.... The attraction to a drumset as a 5, 6, 7, year old was heavier than any other instrument or sport. So when I finally did get a kit, it quickly became an obsession. It put me in a place that most call "the zone". I would put on records (Led Zep, KISS, VH, Foreigner, Black Sabbath, Rush, AC/DC) crank them in my headphones and lose myself in the music. I still do when I playing. Once you have experienced those feelings, it is an important place to be; without it, life would mean much less. So in essence, drums, (and then guitar and music in general) became something I needed to be creative within to stay sane, happy and do on a professional level in order to function. It's that simple. But I think most of us that put the time into one love understand this. We never feel like we have done enough, practiced hard enough or proved ourselves enough and that is part of what keeps us going. But that's cool. I'd rather not sit around bored because I've achieved every little goal I've set my sights on. I like the journey and the thrill of not knowing what's around the corner. But that's NOT to say it wouldn't have been great to join the next Led Zeppelin when I was 20! But it ain't that easy. So you keep trying....

One Thing Leads To Another

After high school, I went To Berklee College Of Music. My main concern at that time was finding a place to play drums as my parents were adamant that I go to college. College made no sense to a teenager who only wanted to play drums for a living. So Berklee worked out perfectly. There I met a buddy name John DeServio. We became great friends and ultimately joined bands together, toured together and shared many experiences in the biz together. John now plays bass in Black Label Society and has known BLS founder Zakk Wylde since high school. That is how I met Zakk a long time ago and how I ended up playing in his first post-Ozzy Osbourne band, Pride & Glory. John and I also played with guitar virtuoso Vinnie Moore (now with UFO) together which included opening up 10 arenas for Rush. That was an insane highlight. Through playing with Zakk, I got a chance to jam with Slash. That led to me joining up with him on his first post Guns'n Roses band "Slash's Snakepit". Through that time I also was working with artists like Stevie Salas, Sass Jordan, Andrew Strong, and others in LA.

In '97-'98, I started writing music with intentions on finding a singer and being the guitar player. Well, the singer was never found and for better or worse, I tried. We called it BALL and started playing all over LA. Looking back it was a lot of fun but also a lot of work with very little payback. It is such a difficult thing to accomplish as it takes 100% dedication and focus yet there is zero guarantee. That is why the biggest bands usually started from nothing; they had nothing to lose and nothing else to live for. It is an amazing thing to be a part of if you are one of the lucky few. BALL ended up with a little Japan deal and then a US deal that went sour after the record was mastered and we started with the artwork. The label went under and we were left with a mastered record and no one to release it.

Somewhere right around when I started BALL, I did a demo for the band Foreigner. I did it at the producer's house without the guys in the band. The next day they heard and leader/guitarist Mick Jones as if I'd like to have a jam. We did, it went well and I joined the band. I stayed in Foreigner for 2 years as I worked BALL when I was off the road.

Then I joined up with Ozzy Osbourne in 2000 for the Ozzfest. That was a total high point. BALL was mixing its record and I was rehearsing with Ozzy. The next year after the BALL record didn't come out and the Osbournes decided to have Mike Bordin rejoin, I joined up with Billy Idol. This relationship lasted up to this day and we have become writing partners over the last 5 years. Billy is figuring out his next move and Foreigner happened to call at that same time to do their new record and join back up with them.

I have also had the opportunities to fill in for Jason Bonham when he broke his arm while in Foreigner, Matt Sorum when broke a finger on tour with Velvet Revolver and also did a month with Seether when their drummer John Humphrey was having back problems. All those experiences were totally cool and help to spread your name around.

I also had a chance to spend 2 days around one of idols; Eddie Van Halen. He hired a cover band I jam with to play a party in his backyard. We rehearsed the night before and then played the next night. Eddie came up and played a bunch with us and that was as cool as it gets. He had such a huge impact on me as a kid. He was totally cool and we had a great time.

So I am currently touring with Foreigner and writing with Billy Idol. I also write for a music company called Mastersource that hires me to write a bunch of rock tunes that they get in movies, TV shows and commercial and all that. It is challenging to deliver the goods yet not get to close to the music you are writing. I am also a new speed bag addict. For musicians, especially drummers, it is such a cool, rhythmic excercise tool that has an insane amount of advanced techniques to get into. It sounds cool, it looks cool, and it ain't that easy to do. But everyone digs the speed bag, right?

VATER and their great sticks!

Of course, when I am playing drums, I am using Vater sticks.... Why... well because I'm no dummy!!! C'mon! The guys at Vater are great. The sticks are killer. They feel right and they are real consistent. That matters so much when touring. You get used to your routine and the way your kit feels. The weight and density of the sticks is more noticeable than ever when you are playing live. Vater delivers and if you are not playing Vater, them maybe it's because you simply haven't tried them yet! So what are you waiting for?

Thanks for your interest and play Vater!!
- Brian Tichy

Brian Tichy plays the Vater Xtreme Design 5B in wood tip.