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BiographyName: Mark White
Styles/Influences: Buddy Rich, Dave Weckl, Greg Bissonette, Phil Gourd, Grant Collins, Tim Waterson, and my favorite has to be Terry Bozzio (to name major guiding lights). History: Well, I was born in a small town in South East England. My health at the time was normal, (whatever that is), and I was your usual kid...Yes, I was there for Star Wars (queued around the block a few times), and wished I could get in to see Jaws in "'75". In my early years I actually was into geology and was fascinated with crystals, and in particular Brazilian Geodes; but I became allergic to zinc dust, so that ended my collection. It was at the end of this hobby that a new noise took my focus. My next door neighbor, (Henry Logan) was a drummer and I used to hear him through the wall. All he played was Gadd Gadd, and more Gadd, and after a while I got hooked...I can't explain it, I just did. At weekends I used to go next door and listen to his record collection and he would show me basic coordination, and my first rudiment, the paraddidle. My parents weren't that supportive as my mother could not stand the noise drums make (after all, my dad used to play drums but she broke him down :)), but I was about 8 years old and I needed a focus. Well, all I had to bang on were the usual pots and pans, spliced with salad bowls for texture (they were my Octobans back then), and a few Buddy Rich records to play along to (sorry, I meant pretend to say "play along to"...I still can't by the way). Well, my Grandmother by now saw the interest I had and bought me my first snare drum and cymbal. To be honest, although it was well meant, and I miss her dearly, she was out of line to my mums dislike, but that was really the beginning of the journey; I was hooked on drums. As I got older I played along to most of the popular tunes at the time, but due to my dads influence I was drawn to wards Big Band Jazz and Funk which are a brilliant grounding for a young drummer(in fact, for any age drummer). In the summer I used to save up and go and see Buddy Rich either in London or locally, and he was the ultimate drummer to me, and the most professionalshowman alive; I was loving drumming. As time moves on and I left school, my first band, the school band, as well as the Basildon Blue Eagles (marching band), and entered the world of work and plan for a musical future (I was joining any band I could from folk to Jazz Rock). I went through a few jobs, but I have always been relatively strong, so I enjoyed manual work, either in building or involved in haulage, and it is here that my life would take a new coarse; one that would create obstacles where there were none before. I broke my toe, yep, it was that simple, but I still worked and eventually I went to see the doctor and he was puzzled as to why my left toe was sore as well. So, he sent me off for some blood tests that revealed antibodies in me that indicated a rheumatic factor, and I was diagnosed with Arthritis. I could not believe it. In fact, I chose to just believe that it was not happening and carried on regardless. Well, I was put on drugs and treatment; treatment that not only meant manual jobs were to be a thing of the past; but drumming and my future in it would have to be re-evaluated. I carried on, and even though I retrained in computers so I could avoid over exertion, in regards my body frame, my drumming life was pretty much un-effected. Unforunately, what did cause problems in regards to getting on with music, was religion. I was a dedicated Christian and my goals at the time was to serve god wholeheartedly, so drums took a back seat for a few years. I was still playing but any ambition was put on the back burner so to speak. Times moves on and again, I was actively in the drum seat, and for many years I was playing from one musical spectrum to another and really, I didn't give that much thought to my condition. Sure my daily medication was working, but on the whole it was being managed and then, it didn't...it just stopped managing me. Over the years my hands and ankles began to change shape, but it was a gradual process. It was monitored pretty closely, but eventually I noticed that my my grip and suppleness was failing, so I exercised my hands and feet, but the difference it made was pretty small. I had to change from traditional grip and learn matched, and go from heel-down to heel-up. My body was calling more of the shots and I was left with the feeling: Is there now a deffinite time until I let go and give up drumming for good? The last 12 years have been the most testing in regards to health, and as with all diseases as this, you have good days and bad, but you can mainly never predict them. Every time I play now apart from the pleasure it gives me I have to put up with pain (sometimes it's too much to bear, which can mean no gig...simply some days I just cant play), not only in my hands but my back and neck as well. The ammount of pressure I can exert on the downstrokes is now rather limited (although it's better somedays), so certain techniques, especially associated with soloing, I've had to dial back on certain chops as their execution puts more stress on my joints. So, reluctantly I have had to listen to my body more and more but, I still drum, thank goodness. Sure, I have lost a great deal of suppleness, but I have gained, I suppose, an appreciation of what I have left, technique wise. Pain at the moment is pretty full on and from time to time I can't grip the sticks, so that's when I give the kit, and myself a rest from them. If you can imagine, from your standpoint, placing your hands on a table, going from left to right, my second finger on my left hand is bent like a bridge, the third or middle finger is bent, but not so extreme, and the thumb has lost 20% range. So, traditional grip is definately totally a no no now. My right hand first finger is bent and my little finger on that hand is a bridge, fixed hard like my second finger on my left hand. On the palm of my right hand, I have 2 nodules that need steroids injected into them, as I have little grip and I can't make a proper fist. Sometimes, I even play with different weight sticks, such as a wider stick. Even though it's heavier, it is easier to grip if you have limited range (but not good if you drum. The amount of times my stick have become ballistic missiles is well, a lot). Also, To add insult to injury, about 3 years ago I had an eye test and I was Diagnosed with Occular Hypertension, (pressure inside the eye). This can be related to the type of Arthritis I have and can sometimes make reading a chart rather difficult; but I battle on. I still learn, as we all do and I set goals for myself that are attainable on my own time. I have had to learn to accept my limitations, but not beat myself up over them. Again, I'm still playing and that is the main thing. I would like to say thanks to my old neighbor Henry Logan for helping get me started on the journey, and that even though I stumble and fall, I still get up, dust myself off and look forward to the solo... ArticlesMark has written the following articles for Handidrummed.com: MediaAudio #1 (mp3)
Audio #2 (mp3)
Audio #3 (mp3)
Audio #4 (mp3)
Gear
Drums: 1970's Sonor Phonic 7-ply Maple in "Soviet Orange" finish
Cymbals: Various Brands
Hardware & Misc:
I also use 1970's Premier Heavy Duty Boom/Straight stands. Heads:
Sticks: Shawstixs Hickory 5A & Pro-Mark Japanese Oak Rock Knockers |
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