2015 and England is calling...

I thought I'd escaped, but, it looks like the UK has me on a long bungee...

I will be on tour in the UK for 6 weeks in March and April and back again in December 2015 until 2016!  Talk about planning ahead...

So, my schedule for this year is as follows (I am writing this as much for myself as for anyone else wishing to catch up with me - I forget things...):


15th Jan 2015 - more radio shenanigans with Frog Baseball

24th Jan 2015 - RECORDING; starting work on the new album with Zeki Min

14th Feb 2015 - SHOW:Fever Creek Festival, Marie Antoinette, Holzmarktstrasse 15-18, Berlin with Nadav Meir

15th Feb 2015 - RECORDING:at The Funkhaus in Berlin with Mr Flemming Borby for his forthcoming album

Tour with Eban Brown:
6th March 2015 - SHOW:The Broadway Theatre, Barking, UK
7th March 2015 - Radio interview, Solar Radio, UK
8th March 2015 - SHOW:Lomax Theatre, Liverpool, UK
13th March 2015 - SHOW:The Harlington Theatre, Fleet, UK
14th March 2015 - SHOW:Bakewell Town Hall, Derby, UK
17th March 2015 - SHOW:The Glee Club, Birmingham, UK
18th March 2015 - SHOW:The Bierkeller, Bristol, UK
27th March 2015 - SHOW:The Hub, Southampton, UK
6th April 2015 - SHOW:Towngate Theatre, Basildon, UK

17th April 2015 - SHOW:Jugendtreff Hinterhoff, Arpke, Germany with FlyCatFly

29th May 2015 (Date TBC) - SHOW:Record Release @ Privat Club, Berlin, Germany with Le-Thanh Ho

6th June 2015 - FESTIVAL: Secret Chord Records; UK Record Label all-day-event at KAOS, Berlin, Germany with FlyCatFly, Zeki Min + maybe one or two more...?!

15th June 2015 - I have to cancel my mobile contract as I really need a new phone

12th Dec 2015 - SHOW:12 Bands of Xmas, Swindon, UK joining various fools on stage...


Other projects (both live and recording) I am involved with this year include:
Mr Dog The Bear (Italy)
Strangers By Day (Germany)
Acaurio Cósmico (Germany)
Charlotte Giers (Germany) - Legato Sound Studio session

There's me then:

Back again...?

I flew back from England on Monday after spending 70 hours in the studio with some truly amazing musicians...

If being asked to attend a song-writing and recording session by the UK's "next biggest producer" wasn't enough, the fact that it was for Josh Kumra made it an extra special honour.  If you don't know who Josh Kumra is, you should definitely have a listen...  His songs are beautiful, his lyrics connect and his voice, well, that's something else entirely...

Mr Sam Bates

I've been lucky enough to play for some outstanding bands and musicians in my career and Josh has to be right up at the top of the list; Witnessing the magic when an artist can play a tune with perfect emotion and intent is something that always gets me, but to see it done in one take, the sun shining through the window shining off the guitar and with the fire crackling in the background, that is a moment I don't think I'll forget in a long time...

Hopefully this past weeks session won't be the last time I get to work with Josh and the team.







I am very excited about 2014.  It has obviously started extremely well, not only with the session last week, but also having already played a couple of shows with Strangers By Day.

There will definitely be more shows, not only from Strangers, but also from other projects and bands I am working with:

FlyCatFly are playing a show in Arpke, Germany in July (7th) along with some Swindoners!  I am hoping this won't be a one off!

On the same bill, and also with some stand-alone shows, I have been working with Zeki Min on his solo album (mixing in progress).  I can't wait to hear the finished product...

The extremely intense - (I think that's probably the most apt adjective) - "Frog Baseball", also have an album in the mixing stages and will be ready to explode live soon.

Dr Paradiddles WonderDrumporium is getting busier too, but still I want more!  I get bored when I don't have a million things to do!  So, if you need some drums recorded (anywhere!), or if you are in Berlin and want some drum lessons, please get in touch!

Masterclass (and limited private lessons - UK ONLY!)

I have just been confirmed for another Masterclass at The Academy of Music and Sound in Swindon on March 21st 2013.

Last years Masterclass, (based around both the music business and drumming as a career) was a great success and this years, (based around drum tuning) will hopefully be just as good.

Thanks to The Academy for asking me back :-)

Maybe I will see one or two of you there?!

I am also offering 1-2-1 lessons while I am in the UK, although the spaces are extremely limited (maybe only 2x 1 hour sessions!)  If you would like to book a private lesson with me, please email me directly:  richmillindrums@gmail.com

Rich

Touring 2013

It's been very infrequent that I post anymore.  Probably because I like to leave it until I have a decent amount to talk about each time...
So, the last post was all about remote recording from my custom drum studio in Berlin.  I am happy to say, since that post I have been very busy indeed...  A very interesting job being the most recent:  Recording the official (tbc) song for Eintracht Brauschweig FC (currently pushing for promotion to the German 1st division!)  If the song is chosen and confirmed as the official team song for 2012/2013 (which is looking pretty likely!), then I will have the pleasure of playing the song live at their last home game of the season!  Let's hope they get promoted :-)

So, that is one of a few live shows I am doing in 2013.  Most of the other touring is with the amazing Berlin based band, The Driftwood Fairytales.  They have a fantastic full time drummer, Jan, but due to other commitments Jan is unable to play and so I have been asked to tour across Europe this year with the band.  A full list of live dates are below.

The first shows of this year are actually this weekend in Germany where we will be joined on tour by Plummie Racket.  I might even raid the stage (along with Benni from The Driftwood Fairytales) and play a couple of tunes with him too!

As for everything else, I hope to remain as busy as possible.  I would love to keep the constant stream of recordings coming, I am still happily available to travel worldwide for any recording or live work and I may even have some University teaching soon in Berlin for dBs Music...

Maybe I'll see you soon at a show...???

Rich


TOUR DATES 2013:

GERMANY
1st Feb: Jugendtreff Hinterhof - Arpke, Germany - with The Driftwood Fairytales & Plummie Racket
2nd Feb: Baracke - Munster, Germany - with The Driftwood Fairytales & Plummie Racket 
3rd Feb: ??somewhere in?? Hanover, Germany - with The Driftwood Fairytales & Plummie Racket

UK
22nd March The Swan, Wantage - with The Driftwood Fairytales
23rd March The Bear, Marlborough - with The Driftwood Fairytales
24th March The Beehive, Swindon, (afternoon kickoff) - with The Driftwood Fairytales
25th March The Dublin Castle, Camden, London - with The Driftwood Fairytales

ITALY - Driftwood Fairytales Tour
18.07.13 Southern Germany,
19.07.13 LÖRRACH
20.07.13 MILANO / BOLOGNA
21.07.13 ROMA
22.07.13 (TBC)
23.07.13 (TBC)
24.07.13 PALERMO / SIZILIEN ROCKET BAR
25.07.13 PALERMO / SIZILIEN WATERSHIP DOWN VEG CAFE
26.07.13 RAVANUSA / SIZILIEN FESTA CON LA FAMIGLIA
27.07.13 RAVANUSA / SIZILIEN PIZZERIA
28.07.13 RAVANUSA URLAUB
29.07.13 RAVANUSA URLAUB

Swindon bound...

This Wednesday I will be returning to Swindon for the first time since September.  I am very excited!  Not only do I get to see all my family and friends, but I also get to play lots of drums with some amazing musicians!  I have missed my bands...  I have missed them a lot.

I wonder if I will miss Berlin?!

For those of you in Swindon - see you soon!

For those of you in Berlin - see you when I return!

For those of you elsewhere in the world - where's my invitation for a visit?

GIGS!

There are a mountain of gigs coming my way over the next 6 months with various bands in various venues, towns, cities and countries!  Hopefully some of you will be able to make it to one of these:

Firstly on 16th Dec I will be playing for (at least) The Dacoits at the annual 12 Bands Of Xmas event held at The Vic in Swindon, UK.  This is always a very drunken affair where bands are asked to play any 2 cover versions in a style of their choice.   I'm sure I've had very much fun at all the previous 12bands nights - you'll have to jog my memory if you saw me at one of the last ones...

Next up is a full on rock set with The Dacoits again on 17th Dec at The Bear in Marlborough, UK.  This will be along with the wonderful Vooz (a drunken bunch of locals who always manage to tear up the joint whenever we play with them - especially Robin the last time I saw them at the Vic when he managed to fly across the stage face-first and not miss a note: Professional.)

Then is a more acoustic style Dacoits gig at The Beehive in Swindon on 20th Dec.  A little light Christmas jolly full of hot wine, hot bass player, hot chicks, hot music and a hot fireplace where the drum kit is usually set-up.

On 21st Dec is another full on Dacoits show at The Vic in Swindon to support Black Sheep Apprentice on their album launch night!  Even though I am not sure if their album is ready to launch.  Having been a very temporary drummer for BSA I am excited to see them perform with Mr Andrew Cox behind the kit.  And, as an added bonus (for me definitely!) I get to also play a set this night with the wonderful BabyTrain.  2 gigs in one night!  I don't usually get involved in such shenanigans...

After what I'm sure will be a very cold but beautiful Xmas and New Year in Berlin (and Salzgitter), I am proud to say that I have been asked by Mr David Marx to accompany him and bass player Kai Wiergert under the guise David Marx & The AK Poets.  There is a gig scheduled for early Jan in Berlin - details to follow.


Also, exciting news from the System Of A Clown camp:  We might do another gig in April!  Venue and date TBC, but it will be in the UK somewhere...


Hopefully I will see you at one or maybe more of these gigs.


So long for now
Rich

Swindon Music

 I grew up in Swindon.  I am proud to say so too.
Swindon is a lovely town and it is and always will be my home.  I think Gaz Brookfied wrote a song about that...

Anyway, I am not in Swindon any more, even though my heart, my friends, my family and my bands (well, most of them), still are.  My band, The Dacoits is the one band in particular that I am missing.  And, just because I am not living in the UK any more, doesn't mean that the band will not continue.  In fact, we are currently working on a second album and already have some UK shows booked for December this year.  We are also planning a UK/European tour for next summer (starting in August).

You can see videos from The Dacoits on my Videos page.

I would like to also include some more video footage here, as Swindon Viewpoint and Martin Parry have been amazingly active when it comes to getting out to shows and making some fine live footage of bands around Swindon.  At this years Swindon Shuffle, Swindon Viewpoint cameras seemed to be everywhere!  They managed to get footage of most bands.  And, seeing as this blog is all about me me me, here are some videos of 'me' and the bands I played for at this years event.

Firstly, a video for Black Sheep Apprentice and the song: Let It Go.
I filled in for the band after the original drummer left to become a model.
I recorded drums for a few tracks on their debut album and I am very excited about hearing it when I return to the UK for the album launch show at The Vic in December.

This is a video for the band BabyTrain and the song: Forever.  This video was shot at The Beehive in Swindon.  BabyTrain are another band which I will continue to play for when the occasion presents itself!  There is even talk of a gig in Leipzig, Germany, in May next year!

Finally, The Dacoits again with Keep On Moving.  A monster guitar riff written by Neil Mercer.  Who, I have to say is also a master of acoustic guitar.  After seeing them just before I moved away, I must highly recommend that you listen to, or even better, go and watch Rumour Shed.  Beautiful stuff.

And, apart from all that, I decided (for a laugh - I was drunk when I agreed to do it!) to play in a System Of A Down tribute band.  Well, actually, I wouldn't say we were a tribute.  More of a bunch of drunken fools playing loads of System songs in a brutal fashion.  Here's one from the Furnace in August - footage by Mr Townsend (I think).

There are also rumours of another SOAC show, (we've already done 2 one-offs!)...
News to follow.

Will write more soon
Rich