I started playing the drums over 50 years ago at age 7 or 8, in the local elementary school band. I got my first drum kit at age 11 or 12 and started playing with local musicians as a young teen, as many did in my hometown of Lombard, IL. At 18 I joined a local gigging heavy metal band, Hedstone. We played at many local Chicagoland bars in the early to mid 80's, like the Thirsty Whale. We even played in Wisconsin at the legendary Brat Stop. In 1986, I took a temporary break, as I was going to become a first time dad.
