TRA: When did you start playing?

CB:Even though I’ve been around drums all of my life I didn’t start seriously playing

 the drums until I was 13 years old…almost 25 years ago ?

 

TRA: Why the Drums?

CB: Honestly, it was out of necessity.  I started out playing the guitar/singing and

 formed a band.  Our drummer ended up moving out of state and at the time there

 were about 50 guitar players to every 1 drummer.  Needless to say, it wasn’t easy 

finding a drummer so, I figured I would learn to play the drums and just find a

 guitar player.  I obviously ended up loving it and the rest is history.

 

TRA: When was your first show and how did it go?

CB: I think my first show was only a few months after I started playing the drums.

Most of the early shows were for family and friends, so I assume that they went fine.

 

TRA: Do you believe you have a style of playing if so how would you describe it? 

I like to call it “Drum-jitsu”.  It’s everything, all at once, really loud…then it ends 

with an exploding heart punch.

 

TRA: Do you play any other instruments?

CB: I also play the guitar

 

TRA: What inspires you?

CB:My wife and my kids.  They always have great ideas and  they are my motivation 

when I’m playing.

 

TRA: What do you think you bring to the band?

CB: Besides keeping time and providing that “Black Outline” I also help writing and

 arranging songs.  

 

TRA:   What are you most passionate about, being a musician?

CB: I guess I would have to say that I’m passionate about playing songs that you can

 connect to and the relationships that we make as a band.

 

TRA:  Who are your influences?

CB: The DESCENDENTS, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Police, fugazi, August Burns

 Red, Sevendust, Animals As Leaders….too many to list!

 

TRA: Is there something you tried and tried to do but never quite got? Or it was

 tough but you finally got it? Musically?

CB: Trying to play the drums as a lefty…Still trying.  It gets easier every day.

 

TRA:  If you could have a dream band, I mean besides your own, who you would put

 in it and what kind of music would you play?

CB:Tough one…Maybe Tosin Abasi (lead guitar), Boh (bass), Jeremy Enigk (rhythm 

guitar/vocal).  I think we would play Sunny Day Real Estate type Emo (diary era) and

 some style of Math Metal.  

 

TRA: What was your first concert?

CB: Hall & Oats.  I think I was 5.  They were great!

 

TRA: What are you listening too?

CB: For the last year I have been listening to BABYMETAL!  Totally hooked on it.  

It’s rare that I have a CD stay in the player for so long.

 

TRA:  Was there a changing moment in your life when you realized that this was for 

you, that drums were your passion and you needed to learn it? If so what was that?

CB: It was probably when (as I mentioned above) my drummer moved to California

 and I filled the drumming position.  My Dad gave me a few pointers and taught me 

the solo for “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”.  Then I learned how to play “Smells Like Teen 

Spirit” and knew that this was what and how I wanted to play.

 

TRA:  What are you plans for the future?

CB: Write more, play more and have a great time doing it…also get my PLS

 (Professional Land Surveyor license)

TRA:  What is your favorite song to play and why?

CB: As far as my band goes, I like to play the song “Make Way” because it’s heavy, 

has a great melody and an awesome groove.  Also, the song “Diabolical” because it 

has a few fun time changes and we’ve added a little musical treat in the middle of it

 for our live shows. 

 

TRA:Tell us about your band: 

CB: Faith in the Fallen aspire to be one of the top original rock bands playing in 

Chicago and a part of a vibrant, supportive rock scene that collectively raises up its

 community and brings new attention to the incredible wealth of talented Hard Rock

 and Metal music coming out of Illinois and the Midwest. For Faith in the Fallen, 

it’s pretty simple.  We want to create inspired, original rock music.  Period.  We’re

 five family guys living in Chicago’s south / southwest region with a passion for 

writing and playing music and finding time in our busy lives to continue rocking.   

If you live in Chicago and love Hard Rock and Roll—we’re YOUR local band. Turn 

to the person, next to you—that’s us.  We rock for you and because it’s what we love

 to do.  Join us in bringing hard rock back to life in Chicago and Chicagoland’s 

south side.

 

Thanks so much Charles for being part of our little part of the web. These guys are 

the real deal, So Definatly check them out. All you gotta do is click! 

 

Faith in the Fallens website

 

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