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FOUND BY SHAKEZULAH

This interview is taken from fanbased Breaking Benjamin website

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BC, former drummer for (hed)p.e. stepped into the BB family in a very difficult time in the band's evolution. The fans often ask what BC has been up to over the last year and we were pleased to find him healthy, happy, and excited about his latest projects. Firegoat sat down with BC recently to see if he remembered Mr Excitement from the Modesto and Sacramento shows

TSB - When did you start playing drums?

BC - When I was 11 years old.

TSB - Who are your influences as far as drumming?

BC - I'd have to say my old influences were Neil Peart (Rush), Alex Van Halen, and Stuart Copeland (the Police). New school influences would have to be Brooks Wackerman (Bad Religion/Suicidal Tendencies).

TSB - When did you first join a band?

BC - 1992. I met Wes Geer (guitars) who ended up as my band mate in (hed) p.e. We played in a band called Liquid Tree and occasionally played shows with Mark (bass) and Jerred's (vocals) band called Live Urban Sex Tribe.

TSB - What type of band was it? Was it similar to (hed)?

BC - It was a very "white boy" funky band. We called it "Superpsychofunkychunk."

TSB - Looking around on the Internet, I haven't been able to find much history on (hed)p.e., how did you get started with them?

BC - Like I stated prior, Liquid Tree and L.U.S.T. played shows together at the Troubadour in Hollywood. We both figured out that our bands sucked as a whole, and decided to form (hed) and do more of a rap/rock type thing.

TSB - How long did you play drums with (hed)?

BC - We formed (hed)p.e. in late 1993 and I bailed out New Year's Day, 2004. I was there for the long haul…1 EP, 3 full length albums, and many, many tours.

TSB - What were the reasons behind your leaving (hed)p.e.?

BC - It was a mutual decision actually. We had simply grown tired of each other. It happens in music. When we weren't touring, I taught performance driving at a racing school in Las Vegas and was enjoying that so I figured I'd do that for a while so I could gather my thoughts regarding music. Besides, I felt that (hed), as it was, was over. It needed some type of overhaul and boy, did it get it.

TSB - Do you still talk to any of the other guys from the band?

BC - Wes quite often. I'm very proud of Wes for being sober for about a year and a half now. He was a mess. I thought he was going to die from his drug abuse and when he quit (hed) one night in San Antonio, I thought that was going to be the last time I would ever see him. Chad is in a great band called Duress. Check ‘em out at www.duressmusic.com. I speak with him quite often as well. I believe his new band will have some success in the near future.

TSB - Who were your favorite bands to tour with? Who were the coolest guys to hang out with when you weren’t on stage?

BC - I had so many great times with so many bands including Snot, System of a Down, Sevendust, Slipknot, Spineshank, Korn, and believe it or not, your own Breaking Benjamin.

TSB - I saw Breaking Benjamin and (hed) on the Jagermeister tour when both bands opened for Saliva. Is that when you first came to know the Breaking Benjamin guys?

BC - Yeah. I had heard them on satellite radio prior to the tour and actually dug ‘em.

TSB - What were your thoughts about them when you first heard the music?

BC - I liked what I heard. Honestly, when I first saw them live, I thought they were very boring and nobody in the band looked very enthused on stage. I had actually cornered Jeremy one night and told him that I thought he was an incredible drummer, but he needed to move a bit on stage. Aaron? Jeez…he looked like he was just hating it but I think he's come a long way in the past few years because last I saw at a show in DC, he looked as if he was having a great time. Mark? What can you say about him? Well, he definitely knows what the ceiling looks like. A ruling bass player I might add. Ben? I thought it quite interesting that he always shot the devil horn sign to the crowd... nevertheless, a great singer.

TSB - You began playing with Breaking Benjamin in September, 2004. How did they approach you as far as joining them to play the tour?

BC - I was in touch with Mark and Ben occasionally, One evening, Mark called and said that Jeremy was no longer with the band and they needed a drummer for their upcoming tour which started 6 days later. I was a huge fan of We Are Not Alone so I took ‘em up on it.

TSB - What was it like going out there every night and playing someone else’s material?

BC - Very interesting. Jeremy played to a click track whenever BB played live. So when I came out and played the songs faster than the record, I got quite a few dirty looks, Other than that, I enjoyed it. BB was quite a bit different from (hed)p.e., percussively speaking, so I had much to adapt to in a very short period of time.

TSB - I remember standing outside the club in Sacramento and hearing some kid say so to you, “Hey, Jeremy….when did you get the new orange drum kit?” Did you get a lot of that, people thinking you were Jeremy?

BC - Not really. It happened that once, I believe. With all of the drama on your website, I have no idea how anyone would've thought Jeremy was still in the band.

TSB - What was the fans’ reaction to you? There has been a lot of criticism of everyone who has played with the band since Jeremy’s departure. Did you feel that when meeting fans or did people react positively to you?

BC - Of course people were nice. I mean, even those who might not have approved of me were very nice. Why? Because they were hanging with the band. But, honestly, with BB, they built their fan base over time and I can understand how fans would not be happy. I was not the original drummer, period. When I left (hed), the same stuff went on with the fans and honestly, the band was never the same. Same with BB. Their new album will feel different from the last because of the new drummer. Jeremy had his style, I had mine, and Chad has his. Change, in some ways, is good. I would like to say that I wish Jeremy Hummel the very best in his musical career though. He was always cool to me. I've gotten to know Chad just a bit too. He's a very cool guy as well and I wish him the best of luck with BB….he’ll need it (laughs).

TSB - Can you tell us one of your favorite memories from your time with the band? Any good stories?

BC - Tons of great stories…tons. Too bad what goes on the road stays on the road.. Favorite memory? Farting on Ben's face.

TSB - When did you first hear of The Shallow Bay?

BC - The day I joined BB.

TSB - I know you've seen the site, what was your first impression of what we do here?

BC - Somebody's got a lot of time on their hands.

TSB - What advice would you give to people who are trying to get started in the music business?

BC - Most of all, is be very cool to people on your way up, because they'll be watching you on your way down….and, in the music business, you will go down.

TSB - What are your future plans? Do you have anything in the works you'd like to tell us about?

BC - I believe I'm retired from being a touring musician unless the right opportunity comes up. But, I'd have to say that I'm a very lucky man to move from something I loved to something else I love as a career. If you are into motocross or riding dirtbikes/ATV, check out our new movie Huevos 8 at www.hbombfilms.com

Thanks for moving this here for me and fixing it up like that.

Btw, you wouldn't happen to be into Breaking Benjamin, would you?