Educator
About
Paiste Artist Since
March 2019
Nationality
United Kingdom
Main Affiliations
Educator
Heart Of A Coward
Website
www.cjmdrums.co.uk
Setup
Cymbals listed from left to right
14" Signature Dark Crisp Hi-Hat
10" PST X Swiss Splash
18" Signature Full Crash
20" Signature Full Ride
19" Signature Full Crash
20" 2002 Novo China
Videos & Pics
Biography
My name is Chris or “Noddy” to my friends and fellow musicians. I live in Milton Keynes United Kingdom and I have been playing the drums for over 23 years. I began learning at the tender age of 10 when I built my first drum kit out of flower pots in my parent’s garden shed, and proceeded to hit them with bamboo planting canes. After seeing how much I enjoyed this activity & noticing my natural flair, it wasn’t long before my parents bought me a real drum kit – the rest is history. By middle school I was an active member of the school orchestra and was performing publicly at various academic concerts, assemblies and events. Throughout secondary school I continued my musical adventure; I began to play with other musicians in the music department after school on a Friday, and this is where I formed my first proper band. We began to play regular shows at venues locally and in and around Buckinghamshire and beyond. I joined my local Rock School and further discovered my passion for playing live music. I was lucky enough to learn directly alongside award winning musicians such as Dirk Griffin, Andy Glass (Jethro Tull, Bill Withers, Solstice) and Pete Hemsley (Led Zeplin). Later in my career I would return to Rock School, but this time as a tutor. ‘Fellsilent’ was formed in 2003 with friends Acle Khaney (‘TesseracT’), and John Bowne (‘Monuments’, ‘Flux Conduct’). From a young age we began travelling the UK touring circuit as well as playing shows in Ireland and Europe. In 2005 we released our first “double A side” EP, and our debut full length album “The Hidden Words” in 2008 through Basick Records which is now considered a pioneering record in modern metal. Via the connections I made when travelling, I was lucky enough to be asked to cover on drums for Rob Rolf of Enter Shikari for their American tour scheduled through 2010-2011. This journey took me all over the United States supporting a variety of big name acts such acts as A Day To Remember, Asking Alexandria, Twin Atlantic, August Burns Red, Silverstein, Alesana and The Bled. On my return to the UK, I decided to further my education by attending Tech Music School (now BIMM) in London, where I completed a diploma in popular music performance. It is here that I really focused on improving my technique, exploring different styles, and was able to soak up the skills that would enable me to become a successful teacher. I had the pleasure of learning directly from legendary drummers such as Bosco De Oliviera, Andy Sturgess, Erik Stams, Giuseppe Grondona, and Philippe Castermane. On my return to my home town of Milton Keynes at the start of 2011, I joined Heart of a Coward. Since then, the band has gone from strength to strength and has gained a growing international fan base and following. A busy touring schedule has so far taken us throughout the UK, Europe and Asia supporting bands such as Sikth, Machine Head and Trivium. Highlights of our career include albums in the top 10 rock chart, and festival dates including Download festival 2013; the opportunity to open the main stage at Download festival 2015, and Bloodstock festival 2016. We are currently in the process of writing our 4th studio album; confirmed release date and tour dates to be announced. Myself and a group of hand-picked musicians formed The Midnight Jams in early 2014; this band was created with a mission to produce the ultimate function band, appropriate for weddings, parties and corporate events. We are currently performing regularly, playing a mix of 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and modern pop and rock classics. This step into the function band circuit has further encouraged me to expand my versatility as a drummer, and given me great experience depping for other function bands at a wide range of events, through a number of renowned booking agencies. In 2015 myself and fellow drummer Kev Hickman launched our very own drum school based in Milton Keynes. The Rhythm Room currently teaches a large group of regular students, spanning a wide range of ages and abilities. Our aim is to successfully guide aspiring drummers through their musical journey and evolution. This Experience is personally rewarding for me. I thoroughly enjoy watching my students get inspired & steadily progress to discover their own path in the music world. When I look back on my journey so far, it’s clear that drumming for me has never been just a hobby, it has been my life. I have no plans to stop the journey any time soon and so much still lies ahead of me; I will always strive onwards and upwards.
Setup Cymbals
