Paul Wandtke has officially made his musical debut this year drumming for the hit musical ROCK OF AGES and this page is dedicated to P@ulE’s experience, be sure to follow this daily blog.
Rock of Ages Days 9-Day 23: P@ulE talks about life, business, Berklee, music & random pics including one taken at Bam Margera’s house.
P@ulE Rock of Ages Blog: Days 9-23
Rehearsals have been going great! Instead of lying and saying that I got provided with a multi-billion dollar kit for rehearsal, I’m gonna just flat out tell you that I’m shedding on a kit you can buy from any local gas station. I will however be playing on a awesome kit when we do tech runs! Tech runs start tomorrow! Sweetness.
So……………………wicked! Please keep up with my blog to learn about what’s going on and to keep up with my original songwriting project, where I’m trying to fit the mold of what a contemporary rock band would sound like in today’s age. I’m studying the history of rock, the fashion, the culture and well been living it I mean; I meet people and they think I’m crazy cause I live like it’s the decadent age of Motley Crue coupled with a Cobain mindset mixed in with a little emotion that is all and everything punk.
I’ve been working really hard on my craft of songwriting and singing whilst doing our Rock of Ages rehearsals. Today I woke up and was like whoa. I’m in Florida, playing drums for a living, I’ve been writing songs…………what’s going on, I’m making my goals and dreams come true!
The following is info about me, my life and sh#t like that.
Dude…………….. and dude-ets,
Like, essentially this blog of mine was supposed to be my blog all about drumming but I’m kind of mutating into something else; an expressive person. I kinda wanna just dig deep and share with you what I’m all about. and not be all “professional” like.
If your curious here’s a link to know how I got this gig.
I’m a dude that grew up skateboarding listening to all types of music but mostly punk and rock that one day decided to study all styles of music and go to Berklee just to do it because I thought it was the right thing to do.
Was it right?
Well let’s see………
Con:
I’m broke. I took out student loans to get there.
Pros:
I did what I wanted to do. I sought out a plan and goal and came thru. It took me 5 years to prepare not only financially but mentally. I essentially became and am becoming a self-made man. It’s a feeling that I would never ever want taken away from me. It’s priceless. I also learned how to read and write and think about melodic, rhythmic, harmonic dictation that’s how I’ve been getting steady pay gigs because most have been reading gigs but now the experience from gigging is being applied to my own songwriting because I’m thinking differently; a bigger picture.
I’ve been gigging professionally for 5 years now and I can say it’s been simply humbling to play drums for a living.
I’ve done some great tours and now I’m rocking kit for an awesome killer musical!
Why I am talking about all this? Why not? haha
I just wanna tell people my story in hopes there’s some musician out there with a dream or passion. I just love inspiration and that’s what keeps me alive. Inspiration keeps me sane, keeps me in line and keeps me going. Inspire each other; go out and do it.
So let’s get into the blog!
The lady came to visit me at the hotel.
My girlfriend Jenn came out to check out her little drummer boy to make sure he’s not up to no good and to make sure he’s working on his album.
Jenn actually helps write lyrics every once in a while when she’s forced into a situation when I’m in the apartment yelling into a microphone at the apartment.
A pic of a mic on a lamp stand in my hotel room
Check out some of our lyrics here via Dead Original’s Crazy About You music Video and a demo lyric video for Never Come Back.
Dead Original- Crazy About You “Official Music Video”
BlankTV launches Dead Original’s new song Never Come Back
Here’s a pic of Jenn when she filled in for me so I could go to Starbucks
How did Jenn and I meet?
We met when I was on tour drumming for Kill Hannah during their main support run for The Smashing Pumpkins. During the run we made a stop in Tampa, Florida at The Ritz the rest if history.
Here’s a pic of me and Jenn backstage at The Ritz, in Ybor City recently taken! It’s been almost 3 years now!
Is Jenn cool? Yeah and she’s smart too! She’s in grad school and sh#t, like my life is nothing but short of a movie. Like what woman in her right mind would date a vagabond drummer on his way to rock prowess?
I’ve been to over 45 countries the past two years working on cruise ships……..like what woman deals with that; being away and all………………………
……………
She LOVES ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We go together like bread and butter. I knew she was the one when “she” asked to watch Led Zepplin’s 2-Disc Set DVD.
She’s been in a couple music videos of mine and we just have fun all the time. Let’s just say it’s not a typical go to the movies relationship.
Here’s a random pic of my lamp stand in the hotel currently being used for a microphone stand…………………………
Rand
A pic of P@ulE at Bam Magera’s house. Never……….. go there and be the first one to fall asleep.
DUDE IF YOU GOT THIS FAR LIKE WHOA NO WAY!
HAHA THANKS FOR READING.
BTW………………why am I starting a project where I sing and play guitar???????
I WANNA ROCK……………….on my own terms.
“If Rock is dead, then so am I”
~P@ulE
Check out www.deadoriginalmusic.com stay up with P@ule and his music.