Sick Drummer Magazine

Monday Metal Mayhem PodCast Interview with Mike Ranne...  {enclose mike_ranne.mp3}

Keep up with Mike here:

www.myspace.com/mybitterend

My name is Michael Ranne. I'm 26 originally from rutherford, NJ and now residing in upstate NY. I play drums in My Bitter End on Uprising Records. I've been playing drums since 12 years old and got my first kit at the age of 17. Before then, I would go to random friend's houses who had drumsets and jam on them as much as possible. when I wasn't doing that, I was all airdrums haha. I play a 4 piece Premier Genista kit w/ a DW 9000 double pedal. I use Zildian A custom cymbals that include a 20' ride, 16' projection crash, an 18' china, a 10' splash, and a 9.5' zil bel.

I enjoy all types of classic and modern music ranging from classical, jazz, fusion, rock, indie, hiphop, metal, grind, etc. Playing drums is an outlet for me to release built up aggresion while at the same time, creating something beautiful and getting a feeling of satisfaction from it. without it, I wouldn't be truly happy. I hope to accomplish through my playing, the same things drummers I grew up looking up to have accomplished and be reckognized one day not only as a good drummer, but good musician as well.

Mike Ranne Interview:

SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?

Mike: about 11 or 12 when i got seriously into it and reailized i want to dedicate myself to getting better at playing.

SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Mike: nah i partied alot in highschool

SD.com: Ever take any lessons?

Mike: nah....i took one lesson when i was 10 and the dude told me i wasnt cut out for playing. so then i decided if i ever would try to play again i would just teach myself , a couple years later i found myself understanding the drums and different cymbals so i just tried to play one day and it seemed to work.






SD.com: Who are your top 5 influences?

Mike: kenneth schalk
chris pennie
dave weckyll
hans grossman
jared logan

SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn't mean favorites, who are your favorites?

Mike: mike portnoy
carter beauford
derek roddy
flo mournier
neil pert

SD.com: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation

Mike: juturna by circa surviive
jhazmyne's lullaby by 7 angels 7 plagues
epitaph by necrophagist
beneath the massacre's 5 song ep
between two unseens by taken

SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?

Mike: yes, when and where? we've played so many shows where i either loved or hated the way i performed that particular night, but specific
ones are a blur now. we recently played cbgb's before it was closed for good and i remember i was pretty tight that night.

SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?

Mike: i love zildjian cymblas esp a customs but there are a few paiste's that i like also...sabians are ok also

SD.com: Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Mike: nah not really just drink alot of water and stretch

SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be...

Mike: practice as much as possible

SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?

Mike: chris pennie and jon longstreth blew me away w/ there performances w/ dillinger escape plan and origin live.

SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?

Mike: be going to school and working a job that i would eventually end up hating. i need music in my life, esp drums