Thomas
How did you join SOE?
I knew Church and Schenky since the 90s from the local music scene. We used to play together at concerts or the same festivals with our bands back then.
Fun Fact: We only recently found out that Church's and my father played together in a band for a while - and rehearsed in the same rehearsal room as we do today...
What else do you do at SOE?
I take care of everything that has to do with technology in the band - on stage (mixing, monitoring, lightshow), in the rehearsal room, on the internet (website, social media, Youtube). Here and there I also write a song, a guitar riff or lyrics.
Otherwise, as the "prog guy" in the band, I like to be the one who tries to add "that special something" to the arrangements. And with the drums you can also influence the feeling or whole style of a song. For example, the song "Revolution" was initially more of rock song, but suddenly became a thrash metal type song just by changing the drums.
What did you do musically before SOE?
Unlike some others in the band, I have a very "linear" musical career. From my first band - at that time still in school - my prog metal band CRISES developed in the mid 90s . I have remained faithful to it until today, even if the band is unfortunately now pretty much on ice.
How did you come to play the drums?
After hearing "In the air tonight" for the first time as a six-year-old, it was clear that I absolutely had to play the drums! But it took me until I was 15 to make that a reality.
Fun Fact: I'm an almost entirely self-taught drummer, but my first and only drum teacher during the first years was the drummer of a now very successful German Volksmusik music band! But when I arrived at some point with Slayer songs and asked for double bass exercises, our ways parted quickly...
Who are your idols?
Gavin Harrison, Mike Portnoy, Marc Zonder, Dave Lombardo, Gene Hoglan
Which bands and musicians did influence you?
When I was very young: Pink Floyd, Genesis, Yes, Alan Parsons, Manfred Mann.
Later: Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Annihilator
Even later: Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Queensryche, Death, Soilwork, Porcupine Tree
Your three records for the ages?
Pink Floyd „Dark Side of the Moon“
Dream Theater „When dream and day unite“
Fates Warning „Perfect Symmetry“