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BiographyName: Mike Rutledge
Styles/Influences: At this time, I love bass fishing, playing my drums and playing my guitar. Before my disablility, I was into playing alot of sports. My influences are Neil Peart and of course Buddy Rich. Guitar player Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad. My likes in music are Rock & Roll, Country, Blues and Gospel music. History:I started out playing on 3 or 4 Tide boxes, the big ones, and that was my drum set. My sister and her boyfriend at the time, now her husband, took me to drum lessons, at the age of about 10. Then I got into sports, bowling, softball, basketball and tennis, which was my favorite sport and I played that year round. After I was married in 1972, at the age of 19, I got my first drum set and 6 months later I was playing in clubs. I started out with a 3 piece band and played every weekend for about 3 years, until the bass player moved back to his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. Then we put an ad in the paper for another bass player, which he then knew of another guitar player, who joined the band with us. We played for about 3 years, then picked up a lead singer and a keyboard player that went to high school with the original guitar player and myself. On top of playing in the band, I had a full time inspection job. Then I started getting really burnt out after several more years, because I was never home and it was either playing all the time and working. I tried to talk to the guys about taking some time off or I was going to leave, and they said they would, but we keep playing 3-4 days a week. So I left the band and went back with them again, but it just didn't work out; I just needed time off from being so burnt. At that time I had a white set of double bass 24", Ludwig drums, with 10 toms, 2 electric drums, like the Cars band played, and 5 cymbals, just to give you an idea of what I played then. Then I had the best of times with my wife, which I didn't know what I was missing. Family is the most important, which I now realize. She is still #1; We went to high school together, dated for 2 years and have been married now for 34 years this November, and I hope for another 34. I also have 1 son, who is 19 years old and attending college. I became disabled when I was rear ended by a City transit bus. I have had 13 surgeries: One neck surgery, 3 back surgeries, where I have 4 titanium springs in my back, as well as hip and 3 elbow surgeries. On the third elbow surgery I had half of my radial head bone removed where previously it was locked at a 45 degree angle, After the surgery I had rehab and wore a hydraulic machine that kept my arm moving for 8 months, and I was called Robo Cop. This finally straightened by arm out to only 15 degrees off of going straight, but my arm does not come up to my shoulder, but it is good. I also almost lost my left foot, because of doctors negligence of my infection. After the fourth trip to the doctor, I wanted to go to a foot specialist and from there I was sent directly to surgery, where I returned home without the incision being closed, so that it would heal from the inside out. I've also had a few other minor surgeries. I was also in chronic pain for about 12 years and was ready to give up. Then one morning I got up and God blessed me with the chronic pain being gone. I didn't want to brag to much about it thinking it would come back, but as of date, the chronic pain has not come back. I do have the daily pain, but I learned live with that. Now within the last 4 months I have gotten another set of drums, which I thought I would never be able to do again, and I'm enjoying every minute of it. Gear
Drums: Rhythm Art in Black Wrap Finish (except where noted)
Cymbals: Various
Hardware & Misc:
I also use a combination of Tama, Pearl, and Rhythm Art stands. Heads: Various Sticks:
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8x14 Pearl Chrome Export Snare
