Little Jimmy Druiett
It’s a bit nostalgic now-a-days for me to look back on my (30 years) of playing drums for the Mike Dalton Band… I remember many, many years ago crafting my original bio for when I first joined Mike’s band. It was such an exciting time for me. The opportunity to join a professional, working band, that not only was already very successful and consisted of some of the best players around, but also came with an arsenal of original music to tackle, which was a huge bonus for me and where a lot of my passion for music was. It was such a great opportunity and I was beyond thankful, and still am to this very day to be a part of it!
Looking back over the last thirty years, (I joined the band in February 1995), what a life experience it has been. So many different live shows, events, weddings, original gigs, recording(s), musicians, cover songs, artist days, venues… It’s almost hard to remember it all! Although I will never, ever forget walking around Hoboken with my drum rug and having to hop on a train to get back home or “run Forrest run” at Monmouth Park! ?
The experience of living through all of that over the last three decades has been one that has helped me become not only the player and musician I am today, but has opened me up to so many different types of music, approaches, and players that I never would’ve had the opportunity to play or jam with otherwise. As well, many friendships in the music community have been forged with some of the best players around! And that’s one of the really cool things about being in this band. There is an endless amount of musical styles, so many different players that join the fold, opportunities to play for different audiences, and just interesting experience after the next! Not to mention the experience I have gotten on the business side (non-performing) of all of this. INVALUABLE!
I never lose sight of the fact that I am extremely lucky to be what I would call a “professional working drummer”. If I was wasn’t fortunate enough to have crossed paths with Mike so many years ago, who knows what my drumming career would have turned out to be. Needless to say, I thank my lucky stars that it worked out the way it did. All these years later, I find myself as excited as ever to continue gigging and performing Mike’s original music, which if given the choice, would play Mike’s originals all the time! (Mike is my Dave Grohl!)
Thank you Mike Dalton for this lifetime opportunity. I cherish the time we have spent performing together and look forward to many more years of doing so. I may be a bit older, a bit grayer, a bit slower, and a bit more ‘in the pocket’, but one things is for sure… I remain more passionate and excited than ever to continue our path forward together making music for the masses and hopefully bringing some to joy to people a few hours a night!
Love to All!
Little Jimmy Druiett
Jimmy’s Favorites : (Retro)
Originally from : Point Pleasant, NJ
Music tools: Drums (And a little guitar)
How long have you been playing these tools?: Drums – “Since age of 3″… Guitar – “Current work in progress”
Musical influences: Neil Pert, Lars Ulrich, Eddie & Alex Van Halen, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Chad Smith
Current favorite bands/artists: STP, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Allman Brothers, Mike Dalton Band
Short Term Goal: Continue to learn and develop my guitar skills…
Long Term Goal: Go on an arena or stadium tour playing for thousands of people night after night!
CDs currently in car: Pear Jam, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Audioslave, Incubus, Paul Mcartney, Pink Floyd, Aerosmith, STP, Allman’s, Mike Dalton Band
Favorite Color: Black & Silver
Favorite Food: Italian
Favorite TV show: Seinfeld, Prison Break, 24, CSI Miami, Scrubs, CSI New York, Sopranos, Friends
Favorite movie: Star Wars Series, Die Hard Series, Armageddon
What book(s) are you reading right now? Not a one!
Favorite Magazine: Maxim, Modern Drummer
Favorite Smell: Summer at the Jersey Shore.
Alcoholic Beverage: Grey Goose Orange and 7-UP
What do you think about?: All kinds of shit!
What do you do in your spare time?: For me to know and you to find out!
Coolest Thing You’ve Ever Done: Sat on the stage, (in a rocking chair), at Jones Beach during an STP show. Partied with the band all day, pre & post show! Totally fucking rocked!
