I will never forget my debut on Drum Channel, as it was one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life! I want to thank Host, Don Lombardi and all of his Drum Channel staff (especially show Director/Editor Antoine Fadavi), for such an amazing day! I got to perform on drum set (3 solos), and be interviewed by Don Lombardi on the show, which was a dream come true! I also want to thank my mentor and band leader from Oingo Boingo Dance Party, Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez for being there, and introducing me to the Drum Channel world! You are awesome man!
Here’s a fun story from my day at Drum Channel. Weeks before the filming date, Don Lombardi asked me what size drums I like to use for my set up. At the time I was playing a Pearl Decade Maple kit, and Don requested that I play one of their dw kits for the show. No problem, I love dw drums! After I sent in the size drums I use on my set up, Don said I should bring any additional snare drums, hardware, or cymbals that I’d like to use on the show.
When we arrived on the day of filming, and entered the Drum Channel studio, the staff were already busy setting up a beautiful maple, natural finish dw kit for me to play on the show. Don Lombardi greeted me and told me, “Thomas, we did not have an 8″ tom in the natural finish, so, I went and borrowed one of Neil Peart’s.” I was awestruck. Wow! I knew that Neil Peart and other famous drummers stored their drums at the dw factory, so I was just blown away that Don Lombardi would do that for me. I set the drums up and played them all for sound check – including Neil Peart’s 8″ tom. As we finished soundcheck I removed Neil’s drum from the set up, and told Don Lombardi that I did not feel right using it. I know it may sound weird, but, I just did not feel worthy of using Neil’s drum – that is how much I respected Neil Peart. So, Don asked me if I was sure. I told him that I was. He took it from me, held it up one last time, and said – “Hey Thomas, do you want to channel Neil from this drum before I take it?” That made me smile and is something I will never forget!
Photos above: Setting up at Drum Channel
Photos from the Drum Channel Control Room. Six Cameras, and show Director/Editor, Antoine Fadavi. The photo below, my soundcheck – with the man, the Host of Drum Channel Don Lombardi watching closely – no pressure!
Photos: For the show they filmed three drumming sections of me playing and an interview with me joining Host Don Lombardi and Johnny Vatos.
Photos: Drum Channel. Don’t overplay was my mind set.
With special approval from dw drums Founder, and Host of Drum Channel, Don Lombardi, we were able to post the show video right here on thomasondrums.net! Thanks Don and Antoine! Check out the videos section of thomasondrums.net to watch the full episode of Drum Channel.
Drum Channel is an educational drumming website featuring live and on-demand lessons and shows. Please check it out, and become a member today! – Thomas
