i started playing with the vandals in 1997. for some, as-yet undisclosed, reason their drummer was now a member of guns ’n roses and was waist-deep in the early stages of "chinese democracy". alas, the vandals had a plan b! but plan b was trapped in a world of suicidal tendencies. with an australian tour pending, the vandals dropped me a line.

this came at a time when i had practically sworn off music. a year prior, i had walked away from what could have been my only chance to travel the world doing what i’d loved - i was slowly coming to terms with that. now here was a chance to do it all again. i accepted the assignment, and the rest was history.

i owe a lot to the vandals for giving me those opportunities, and helping me to regain not only my confidence as a musician, but my love of playing music.

the vandals taught me to improvise (because you never knew when warren was going to strip naked and destroy the drum set).
the vandals showed me the world; from the exploration of japanese bondage clubs - playing for tens of thousands of people while opening for pearl jam in spain - being held captive in greece by a violent mob protesting the show - playing festivals with KISS.
some of my fondest memories were made with the vandals, and some my greatest musical accomplishments fell within the 60 or so seconds they allow for me to solo each night.

this last stint with the vandals was a trip; i hadn’t played with them in at least a year, and playing small clubs on equipment borrowed from the opening bands was a real refresher course for me. it only took a few seconds to knock the cobwebs loose, then it was the same-as-it-ever-was.

so, thanks to those who came to the shows - those who let us borrow gear - and most of all, thank you vandals. i hope to be on stage with you again before too long.

The Vandals "I’ve Got an Ape Drape"
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