Sick Drummer Magazine

Monday, 21 February 2011 15:17

Keep up with Shawn here:

www.myspace.com/thedeepmusic

www.youtube.com/shawnpriest

I started playing drums in 6th grade concert band but really didn't take it seriously until I was 15 when I saw Morbid Angel live. Pete Sandoval changed the way I viewed drumming all together. In 2002 I joined my first serious band Called "Datura" which broke up in 2005 I then joined "The Deep" in 2006. After 2 US tours with them, I got a chance to play for Virginia based thrash band Arsis. I've now completed 4 US and Canadian tours with them including the "Facemelter Tour" with Dying Fetus, and The "Thrash and Burn" in 2008 tour where I also filled in on drums for Winds of Plague on a few dates. Between tours I was briefly involved in a death metal project called Cast Into Finality and released a 6 song EP in early 2009 with them. Later that year I started a grind/doom project with former Gaza guitarist Luke Sorenson, which is currently on hiatus.

In early 2010 I reunited with the Deep and we completed our self titled 6 song EP and are currently label shopping. I am always interested in doing session work and and filling in on tours for bands in need and hope to continue making extreme drumming a career.

Shawn Priest Interview:

SDM: How old were you when you started playing?

Shawn: 11

SDM: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Shawn: I started out playing the snare in 6th grade concert band and ended 8th grade playing a full kit in Jazz band.

SDM: Who are your top 5 metal influences?

Shawn: John Longstreth, George Kollias, Derek Roddy, Pete Sandoval, Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka (RIP)

SDM: Who are some other of your favorites?

Shawn: Thomas Lang, Igor Cavalara, Adam Jarvis, Nick Barker, Jean-Francois Richard, Garth from Wayne's world

SDM: Let us know 5 CD's that are in your current rotation

Shawn: Origin-Informis Infinitas Inhumanitas (this has been in constant rotation since 2003), Misery Index-Heirs to Thievery, Decapitated-Nihility, Muse-The Resistance, Old Man's Child-In Defiance Of Existance

SDM: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Shawn: I always do the "Clapping warm-up" (Elbows/forearms together and clap as hard as possible 100 times), a series of leg stretches and a shot of Sambvca if it's available.

SDM: Do you read music? Regardless of answering yes or no, please tell us how it might have effected your playing?

Shawn: The last time I read sheet music was in the 8th grade, ever since then I've learned and played by ear. In a genre that consists of relentless 16th and 32nd notes, sheet music begins to look more like Binary code then music anyway ha ha.

SDM: Can you tell us about the gear you use?

Shawn: I've played a 5-piece Pacific/DW LX series for about 7 years now. I use Axis-A long board pedals, Sabian Cymbals but Wuhan Chinas, Aquarian Studio-X tom heads and pro-mark sticks. The best part of my kit is my snare; a "7 x "14 Premier marching snare that I've modified by replacing the nylon snare strands with a "Fat Cat" 24 strand snare bottom and using a Remo weather king top head. It's the loudest, punchiest, face-meltiest snare drum I've ever played.

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

Shawn: Practice every day and take negative criticism with a grain of salt.

SDM: Who gave the best live performance you've ever seen?

Shawn: Watching Adam Jarvis play with Misery Index every night on the "Facemelter" tour blew me away. I've never seen anyone punish their kit the way he does. It's like watching Gerard Butler in battle in the movie 300, but imagine a DDrum kit instead of Persians.

SDM: Aside from drumming, what else do you like to do?

Shawn: I watch a lot of South Park and NBA. I have also been known to party from time to time.