Chris McMahon

My journey started at the age of 4/5, when, for some reason I decided I wanted to play the drums. My parents being as supportive and loving as they are, obliged and bought me a little electric pad to hit for a few years. I had school drum lessons and this is where I learnt basic rock grooves and fills. However the biggest asset I took from these lessons was an improved passion and the ability to read sheet music. So this continued for a few years (well...5/6 years...), slowly but surely improving. I was then taken on by the Worcestershire Big Band drummer, George Johnson, who taught me a whole different approach, basically resetting me back to zero and reconstructing the way i approached the drums, from the way I held the sticks, to the way I viewed my approach to music. Also at this point my parents realised that it wasn't just a passing phase, (which it could well have been!) and proceeded to buy me my first real kit. From that moment things really started to improve, with the fantastic tutoring from George, combined with the freedom to practice the drums on a kit regularly (still using the good old practice pad though!) my drumming found new footing in the world of swing, jazz, funk and fusion. These genres that had been opened up, combined with the rock I had been playing from an early age gave me a fantastic pedestal to work from. Combining ideas and nuances from these genres I started to form my own approach to the kit. I joined the swing band in school, and formed a band with friends, taking opportunities to play with other people, improving my timing and musical intuition, plus having a great time! When I was 16 I started working around Sixth Form, and slowly built up the funds to buy better drums, better cymbals, better gear. Around this time George felt I was ready to go on alone, I can't thank him enough for everything he did for me, both teaching, and by telling me when I should be seeking out the knowledge and experience myself. during this time I also played my first live gig, in front of over 300 people, with the Wyre Forest Swimming club band. In the years after I went on to study the works of Dave Weckl, Mike Portnoy and Benny Greb (my 3 biggest Idols in the world of drumming) again 3 very different drummers expanding my repertoire further and further. I learnt to play to a click track, to just a metronome, and improved my ability to improvise and 'jump in' whenever needed. From learning songs as fast as possible, to hopping on stage behind artists I''d never heard, to sitting down and figuring out musical, rhythmic parts to best suit the style, vibe and musicality of a song.