MasterMind Drummer
Newsletter #46
Nov 4th, 2024
The Body Keeps The Score… So Start Listening.
Today’s newsletter is more of an anecdote than anything. A little story about something that happened to me recently, and what I took from it.
As I’ve gotten older, it’s becoming much easier for me to be sensible and actually listen to what my body is trying to tell me, rather than riding on youthful adrenaline, stupidity, arrogance, and confidence, and hoping for the best.
I’ve had a few instances over the years when the body has packed in, for one reason or another, and I’ve chosen to just ignore all the signs, and just charge on… Never a wise move.
This could’ve been because of something silly like lifting heavy weights incorrectly in my younger years, and then putting my back out – I’ve done this a couple of times. Ego lifting is a real thing.
Or, like when I was 31, I had just auditioned for an up-and-coming artist in Australia named Ecca Vandal, and on my way home from the audition (after getting the gig), I came off my bike and completely shattered my collarbone.
This was a bad one. I had to go in for an emergency operation as there is a main artery behind the clavicle that was shattered, and it was at risk of getting punctured due to the bone fragments floating around.
Within 24hrs, I had a new titanium plate put in, with 12 screws across it, holding my left collarbone together.
Intense.
The funny thing was, even after going through something as traumatic as all that, and taking the necessary time off to recover etc, 6weeks later I was feeling well and truly over it, so I decided to attempt a personal best deadlift (162.5kgs), and actually ending up bending the end of the titanium plate off my clavicle. So pulled the last two screws partly out…
Seriously, what a bloody idiot.
There I was, back in the doctor’s office, looking at an x-ray of the BENT titanium rod on my clavicle, and having to tell the doctor this had happened because I was over it, and thought it was a good idea to attempt a PD deadlift, just 6weeks after major surgery.
This left me with two options – a bone graft from my hip, which they’d then replace the whole clavicle, or, just leave it, and deal with the superficial element.
Bone grafts from the hip are not great, as they lead to future hip problems, and being a drummer, that was definitely not an option for me, so instead, I chose to leave it.
Now, when I say ‘deal with the superficial element’, what I mean by that is, to this day, you can actually see the end of the titanium plate poking up off of my clavicle, where I bent it –
There is my epic scar, and that little bump above it that you can see, is the end of the titanium plate bent up.
Like I said, what an idiot!
As a side note, once I recovered, I did end up playing for Ecca, and it was a lot of fun.
The best way to describe her is that she was punk, with a strong backbone of electronic music.
Her husband Rich (who produced her), had found my Mars Volta and Meshuggah Medleys online, and reached out asking if I’d like to join the team.
What happened was, they had produced a bunch of rad music, and had released a video for the first single White Flag (linked above), and ending up getting signed just from that! Amazing.
The opportunities were coming in thick and fast, so they had to assemble a team quickly and wanted me to drive the ship… Ace!
We toured Australia multiple times, as well as went overseas and hit places like Canada and the US, and even opened for artists like The Prodigy, when they were out touring Australia. It was a blast.
I also organised a bunch of drummers from my drum shedding crew, to all dress-up and feature in one of her music videos. See if you can guess which one I am – Watch here.
It was great as it was another artist who just wanted me, for me. I’ve actually been quite fortunate with that, over the years.
It also makes the point too, that promoting yourself and sharing your skillset online, is a fantastic way to get opportunities, as you never know who’s watching!
I’ve had sooooo many bits and pieces come through over the years, because of my content online.
Anyway, back to what I was talking about – The body keeping the score!
Well, about 5weeks ago, I was actually hit by a car on my bike!
I have been opting to bike to the studio every day recently, as it’s about 35km there and back, and such a great way to build more cardio and outdoor time into my day – don’t forget, Vitamin D is super important for all around health, so get outside more!
Coincidentally, I was actually biking to the bike shop that day, as I ride a single speed, and was getting a faster gear put on.
Check out my whip. A bike that means business –
I’ll add too, when it comes to exercise, I consider this baseline health for me, not my exercise for the day.
This is just my mode of transportation. I still do my weights and running etc, outside of riding to work. This is just a bonus.
I point that out, as I think it’s an important mindset approach to fitness. There is baseline movement, and then there is actual exercise.
So, I was biking to the bike shop, entered a relatively busy area, and BAM! was taken out by an elderly woman who simply didn’t see me.
I went over the bonnet, the bike went under the car, and as it was all happening I was thinking, ‘shit, I’m getting hit by a car, I hope this doesn’t impact my drumming’.
This was a VERY similar to my thoughts in the moment, when I broke my collarbone. Priorities!
I was on the ground and could already tell it wasn’t great. I took the hit to my right-side, and could feel it.
I was on the ground, looked over to her car, and she was actually still driving, meaning, she didn’t stop immediately. She was still in shock and trying to pull over. I actually watched the car drive over my front tire. It was all quite dramatic!
That could have very easily been my leg, so I am very lucky.
I jumped up, picked up her side mirror that I had completely taken out, opened her door so I could comfort her (as she was freaking out), and handed her back her mirror.
She asked for my details, for her insurance, which I gave her, but I actually suggested she didn’t get them involved and to just say that the car was damaged while parked, or something like that. She was in the wrong and I don’t think they would’ve liked to hear that she had hit someone. It would’ve made the claim very difficult.
She messed up, sure, but given her age, I didn’t want her to get stung. I didn’t even ask her to fix my bike, as from what I could tell, she didn’t seem to have much.
I stayed with her for a bit and made sure she was OK, and then walked my mangled bike on to the bike shop as it now needed a little more than just a faster gear installed.
As I said, my right side was pretty beaten up, specifically my right arm and right hand.
My leg was a bit buggered too, as I had taken the whole impact on my right side, but it was my hand and arm that were compromised the most.
My right-hand ring finger was sprained and very swollen, and I had a slight bone fracture in my palm, which was a very weird feeling.
This put me in a tough position as in just two weeks’ time I had the Wellington Jazz Festival booked in. I was doing another Drum Duo performance alongside Darren Mathieson (Shapeshifter, Kora, Hollie Smith) with guitar maestro Nick Granville on guitar.
Then, a week after that, a headline Black Comet show in Napier, and then just 2 weeks after that, the Black Comet album release show.
The problem was, too, I was still somewhat recovering from a forearm sprain I did back in April, just 2 days before my first Drum Clinic of the year.
That sprain never really had a chance to heal properly as I had 5 drum clinic dates booked in, and they were all wrapped around the 10-date Black Comet Winter Tour! There was going to be no chance to rest, and for some time.
It was about 2-3mths of quite intense drumming each and every week. To be honest, it didn’t really slow until September.
So… what to do?
Well, as much as it ‘pained’ me (very punny), I chose to pull out of the Wellington Jazz Festival.
That gig specifically, required me to be at my most ‘choppy’, and ‘fusion best’, for a full 2hours, putting on the full show, and knowing me, I would’ve just knocked some painkillers back, strapped in, gone 110%, and then completely ruined myself for the upcoming Black Comet shows, which for me, took priority.
Like I say, at any given time you have to choose your battles, especially when you are managing things like injuries.
Drummers, specifically, are athletes. There are no two ways about it. So you need to act like one.
I do this for a living, so EVERY DAY is a commitment to health and well-being, so that I can be at my best physically and mentally. But when things happen that are outside my control, it’s about taking a step back, assessing the situation, and seeing what I have to work with.
Young me didn’t think like this, but young me also paid dearly at times. Young me was an idiot.
As a now 40-year-old, I don’t just focus on daily exercise anymore, as that is not enough, I prioritise ‘body maintenance’ too.
For me, that means doing a daily 12min stretch routine that is made specifically for track athletes, followed by 100 push-ups, and 100 body-weight squats.
Much like the daily ride to the studio, these are not factored into my daily exercise, these are just apart of what I consider to be my baseline required maintenance.
Getting old is a b*tch!
I’ll be honest though, I’m much better for it. Even after all these years of taking a committed interest in my health, I actually feel my best now, and I know that is because of the daily maintenance I have incorporated in recent times.
*if you’d like me to write a newsletter breaking down how I approach my health and fitness, and how I would recommend it from beginner through to advanced, just reply and let me know.
I’d be happy to do that.
So, I did end up doing the Napier headline Black Comet show, and it was tough, but I got through. I had taken a full 14days off of the kit, after the initial accident, but it probably wasn’t quite enough time to fully recover, and could still feel it throughout the entire show.
Then, I rested some more, and by the time I got to the Black Comet Album Release show, everything was pretty much back in order. Phew!
I still feel both injuries a little bit, now, depending on what I am doing, but they are much better.
So the big lesson here? Basically, don’t be an idiot. If you hurt yourself, take the time you need to recover. You only get one body, and as drummers, we require ALL of it, and for as long as we can possibly muster.
So, don’t forget…
The Body Keeps The Score… So Start Listening.