01/09/2008 – Interview with BEYOND THE LABYRINTH

BEYOND THE LABYRINTH is a Belgian Progressive Rock band, who have so far released one album, but the folllow-up will be out soon. Musically you can compare them with, for example, ERIK NORLANDER, QUANTUM FANTASY, and similar, even though I'm just telling this based on their MySpace songs. it was mastermind Geert Fieuw who suggested I should contact drummer Bruno Goedhuys for this inquiry, also because he/Bruno seems to be a very experienced musician, but also very talented. So, one thing lead to another and below you can read all about Bruno's skills.

01. When did you start playing the drums and what triggered that desire?

I was born with drumsticks, my mom is a kickdrum. ;) No, seriously, I started when I was 5 and since then drumming is as essential as H2O to me.

02. How did you learn to drum: on your own or by taking lessons?

Nobody can learn drums on their own. That would mean you would re-invent drumming and you never heard anyone play drums before. Everybody is influenced by somebody... I started learning at the local music academy, joined the local harmony, and from there on I took as much lessons in different drumstyles as i could carry. I mostly enjoy the private drumsessions, clinincs and workshops with drummers as Bruno Meeus, Virgil Donati, Dom Famularo, Simon Phillips, Gene Hoglan...

03. Who are your influences (other drummers)?

Gene Krupa, Danny Carey, Ginger Fish, Josh Freeze, John Tempesta, David Silveria, Buddy Rich, Vinnie Paul, Dave Buckner, John Bonham, Gene Hoglan, many more...

04. When did you buy/get your first kit? Which brand/model was it?

My first kit was a plastic/metal drumkit i got at the age of 5 from Santa-Claus. :D I got my first real kit at the age of 6 - a 1959 Premier 4 piece in Marine White.

05. How many kits have you had over the years?

?? beuh, dunno, 9??

06. Which kit(s) do you have now? (brand, model, skins, cymbals, hardware, ...)

Drumkits:

* 2 x Premier 1959 (Marine Blue & Silver Sparkle) - Finish Ply - Original Hardware - Remo Coated Ambassadors on top and bottom/pre-international sizes + Kick.
* Remo Masteredge Quadura -1998 - Blue into Green metallic Fade Finish Ply - DW hardware - DW 5002 Double Pedal - Remo Renaissance on top and bottom + Kick.
* Camco 1960 - Red Sparkle Finish Ply - DW Hardware - Camco Double Pedal - Remo Pinstripes on top and bottom + Kick.
* DW Collector's Series - 2004 - Black Velvet Finish Ply - DW Hardware - DW 5002 Double Pedal - Evans EC2 on top - Evans G2 on bottom - Evans EQ3 on Kick.
* Roland td6.

Snares:

Camco - 6,5 x 14 / Metal Shell
Premier Royal Ace - 6,5 x 14 / Wood Shell
Premier Connoisseur - 5,5 x14 / Wood Shell
Cadeson - 6,5 x 14 / Phosphor Bronze Shell
DW - 7 x 14 / Maple & Birch Shell
Remo - 4,5 x 14 / Quadura Shell
Worldmax Black Beauty - 4,5 x 14 / Brass Shell
Tama -6,5 x 10 / Wood Shell
Sonor - 2 x 10 / Wood Shell

Cymbals:

All cymbals are AMEDIA-Cymbals.

Thrace Raw Rock Ride 20"
Thrace China 20"
Tigris China 18"
Tigris China 16"
Tigris Splash 10"
Tigris Crash 16"
Euphrates Splash 9"
Euphrates Crash 14"
Euphrates Crash 16"
Shaban Classic Crash Medium 16"
Shaban Classic Crash Medium 18"
Shaban Classic Crash 18"
Vigor Rock HiHat 13"
Vigor Rock/Galata Spinat 10"/8"
Vigor Rock Crash 14"
Vigor Rock Crash 16"
Vigor Rock Ride 20"

07. Are you endorsed by certain brands?

Amedia Cymbals, Balbex Drumsticks, May Miking System

08. How important is it for you to have a realistic drumsound when recording or performing live?

I play very different styles and every style requires a different approach and a different sound. It is more important to have the right sound.

09. Do you use triggers? Why (not)? If so, in which situations?

I use triggers in small venues where they don't use drum-micking and to save some PA channels. On some gigs I use accoustic drums mixed with triggered electrosounds.

10. What makes a drumkit a good drumkit, in general or for the style you play? (material, setup, portability/movability, ...)

Exept for portability/stability and sound it is important that the kit 'FEELS' right. You can buy the most expensive awesome sounding drumkit in the world, if it doesn't 'FEEL' right it's no fun to play.

11. How much money can a professional kit like you use in studios or on stage cost? (rough estimation, despite different setups)

Whatever it takes, going from 0 to 10000 euro... for that right studiosound. On stage and especially for touring, don't OVERdo it, a goodsounding touring-kit shouldn't be too expensive.

12. How often do you practise? Do you then also try new things or just maintain what you're already capable of?

24/7 - even when I sleep I'm developing new grooves, extending techniques and mastering new skills.

13. Do you stick to a certain style or can you play different styles?

As much as possible!

14. Any advice you have for starting drummers? Or something you'd like to share in general?

Get your copy of George Lawrence Stone 'STICK CONTROL' and practise it for the rest of your drumming Live! Learn to TUNE your drums.

15. For the 'famous'/very experienced drummers specifically:
a) Do you believe drums and drumming will evolve during the next five or ten years?
b) Do you believe instruments have reached a level where it will become stale or can it still be improved greatly?
c) What are the greatest weaknesses of drum kits now and what needs to be improved to reach a better sound or to facilitate the task of playing drums for you?

a) When I was a kid, starting to play drums, it was very hard to get some education from the big boys. Today, young drummers can get a kick-ass education on every corner of the street. Now guys like Thomas Lang or Marco Minneman set a new standard on modern drumming, of course drumming will evolve into a new level.
b) They alwas come up with new stuff, different wood, new materials, ... Look at the Gibraltar's Catapult Linear Motion pedal , the PDP Bow Oriented Action Pedals, Bubinga drumkits, DW X-Shells and other Cross-laminated Shells... Evolution will never stop but can it improve greatly? Time will tell...
c) The greatest weakness of a regular wooden drumkit is the impact of the atmospheric conditions: Temperature, humidity, dryness, ... etc. Protect your kit with some good hard cases or at least some bags. If you are happy with your drumsound then why change it? The biggest impact on your drumsound is how you tune it and what skins you use. Start there and if you still haven't found the sound you are lokking for, I wish you good luck! :D The drummers-market and product-choice is gigantic.

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