Anyway, there it is. I am writing again to share more news about stuff I am doing:
After a successful few shows with Losers in the summer, I had impressed enough to grab the notice of another band, whom, short a drummer, asked if I could jump on board for a couple of shows.
The incredibly good Bullet Height (Sony), with who Losers played in May in Berlin, contacted me a couple of weeks back. Their drummer Michael was on tour with another of his bands, and so I ended up traveling 20 hours in a van over 3 days to the Czech border and then across to Holland.
The shows, the music and the band themselves were (and are) very very cool. I had some amazing fun and am extremely happy they asked me to join for this mini tour :-) Thanks guys!
People reading: If you don't know Bullet Height, you should definitely check them out and immediately make a purchase of their debut album "No Atonement". It's GREAT!
Next up is a new album due for release on playdead sometime before the end of the year.
Mr Dog The Bear's 2nd album features a host of guest musicians and vocalists, making it something a little different from the first record.
2017 is turning out to be another "Rich Millin™" year...
January
1st 2017 and I was feeling fairly sure it was to be a quiet year for me
musically. I was concentrating - (and still am, although now time
is definitely an issue) - mostly on my teaching work. Dr Paradiddles Wonderdrumporium boasts two (three, including me), excellent teachers, one of which is the terminator of drums - Alessandro Guida.
But,
back to my story; I was concentrating mainly on the school and working
hard to get us teachers all super busy, but slowly and surely, a whole
bunch of other projects started to creep in...
As you may (or may
not) know, I was already, (and still am), playing for a few bands:
FlyCatFly, Marakesh, The Deja Nova Trio... The occasional gig here and
there and some recording new ideas. I was happy with that, especially
with the pressure of running a school. (And also playdead music - but more about that later too...) Then, later on in January this year I got some requests for recording;
Last
week I was in Bremen to be a part of Zeki Min's new album.
Recorded in
the same old-school "live" style as Zeki's first two albums, it was a
fun week playing with some true talent and super top nice people, and
experimenting with loads of different sounds and instruments,
culminating in me playing the football... no, really.
I can't wait to hear the finished record.
We
also played a show while I was there, at this amazing venue right on
the water. A Maritime museum and art gallery with moveable walls and
the nicest hosts ever.
It was a slapdash affair as we didn't actually
rehearse - just turned up, set-up and played. Amazing funny fun.
Christian Bendel was also on board in Bremen, taking some wonderful photo's and
documenting the whole thing.
And, we also managed to fit in recording a
folk/trance track... Zeki, where's the video?! I didn't hear that
song enough!
I am in the midst of recording drums for an album
for a band through my good friend Idan Altman. He's vacated
Berlin in favour of the Dutch wilderness - I hope to visit him soon...
And,
like I said, I have also been working on new material with FlyCatFly
and Marakesh, and have done a few rather amazing shows for both Marakesh
and The Deja Nova Trio, including a slot at this years Berlinale, a silent concert(!), a lakeside show and being joined by a special guest
at one gig...
Late spring saw a session at my studio in Berlin
for the upcoming album from Israeli singer/songwriter Asaf Meir. He and
his Brother, Nadav, came over to the studio and we recorded some drums
for Asaf's new album which should be out later this year. Beautiful
stuff...
Now, the craziest bit of the story so far this year:
About 3 weeks ago I got an email from this guy Paul.
I met him and his band in a studio last year whilst on set making a music video for Marakesh.
His band were recording an album in the same complex.
Anyway,
me and the drummer got chatting over a cup of tea in the kitchen.
These guys are also English. We were talking about drums and England
and tea, and it turns out (to keep the story short), that, these guys
are from a teeny tiny town up north, about 7 hours drive from my
home town. This mini little place, so far away from Swindon that they
were sure I'd never heard of it...
But, I do! I know this family from there and, I in fact stayed with them about 25 years ago!
Turns out the band know this girl I was staying with and her family! Crazy coincidence!
So,
I guess Paul remembered that story and remembered I play drums, so
recently, when his drummer was unfortunately unable to make some shows,
Paul emails me and asks if I can step in last minute.
Now, this all in itself isn't so crazy - apart from them knowing this girl and her folks back home...
There's another coincidence: Tom, it turns out, having been the drummer in White Belt, Yellow
Tag, was actually booked, by me, to play a show in Swindon about 10 years
ago... where my old band supported him... and he used my drums... but
neither of us can remember meeting before last Friday!
Mental.
Anyways,
"Losers" are an utterly incredible band made up of some of my favourite
musicians, and I am totally and utterly stoked to have the chance to
play with them.
With one show in Berlin already chalked off, we have an
XFM session in London this coming Friday and then will be playing
Camden Rocks festival on Saturday.
So, that's it so far, and it's barely June.
Tomorrow I head to the UK.
I
am running a masterclass, booked in for June 9th at 7pm, at the brand
spanking new Western Audio Recording Studio. Which, if you don't know
about and are a musician in Swindon, or within driving distance of
there, you should definitely check out. An amazing place... Very very excited to be spending some time there next month.
Then,
upon my return, what next... who knows... Maybe I'll get some more of
my absolute favourite all time artists and musicians emailing me asking
if I can join them for some project or another... I should be so lucky.
