I am playing the drums with Ropetrick - one of three bands on at the Wheatsheaf pub in Oxford this coming Saturday (31st Jan). We probably should have rehearsed more....
(Published in Faith and Philosophy 2011. Volume 28, Issue 2, April 2011. Stephen Law. Pages 129-151) EVIDENCE, MIRACLES AND THE EXISTENCE OF JESUS Stephen Law Abstract The vast majority of Biblical historians believe there is evidence sufficient to place Jesus’ existence beyond reasonable doubt. Many believe the New Testament documents alone suffice firmly to establish Jesus as an actual, historical figure. I question these views. In particular, I argue (i) that the three most popular criteria by which various non-miraculous New Testament claims made about Jesus are supposedly corroborated are not sufficient, either singly or jointly, to place his existence beyond reasonable doubt, and (ii) that a prima facie plausible principle concerning how evidence should be assessed – a principle I call the contamination principle – entails that, given the large proportion of uncorroborated miracle claims made about Jesus in the New Testament documents, we should, in the absence of indepen...
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Wow. I must be losing my touch. :)
What type of music do you play? Who are your drumming inspirations?
It's like a whole new side of Stephen we can explore...!
Favourite drummer:
Peter Erskine.
Other drummers I like:
Vinnie Calaiuta on Frank Zappa's Joe's Garage and Shut Up 'n Play Your Guitar.
Jack DeJohnette
and loads of other people too... especially if a weird time signature is involved. E.g. early Genesis, The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Hopefully prog rock will make a come back before I die.
I also like jazz stuff (especially Erskine, or anything on ECM label)
I very rarely get to play. But I DID get to do a gig with my friend Tom, a first rate pianist, a while back (has played Ronnie Scotts) and other pro musicians, at the Cafe Royal in London at an evening hosted by Richard O'Brien. And he sang with us, which was very groovy indeed.
He also did the Time Warp. So I can die happy.
eh.. guess I'll go back to playing the drums on Guitar Hero.. someday Stephen. someday.. ;)
I'm sitting in with an open mic jazz trio this next thursday. I've been playing for a long time, but this will be the first in a few years that I've played in front of a crowd.
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Ah! You've mentioned some of my favorite drummers. I'm going to pass on two names I've discovered in the last few years:
Benny Greb. Extremely talented but not a show-off; plays what's necessary for the music. He's very relaxed behind the kit, and really creative too. I hope you don't mind a video clip: this is a good example of him being organic.
Finally, there's a young kid by the name of Moritz Mueller that makes me wanna toss my sticks in the wood stove. Check out the ostinato starting just after 0:30. The second part is pretty amazing too.
Sorry for the spam. I enjoyed your comments at Debunking Atheists, and thought I'd try to repay you for it somehow.
Fine choices, by the way. Considering your love of prog rock, I'm a little surprised that you didn't mention Neil Peart of Rush or Bill Bruford of Yes. I can't tell you how many hours of my life I've spent either playing along with (or, to ask my wife, the constant air drumming I do while driving, sleeping, eating, etc.) those bands... :)
And of course, Jack DeJohnette hails from right here (or at least close enough) in Chicago, IL, so I'm totally with you.
Some others I like: John Molo (played with Bruce Hornsby for along time), Kenny Aronoff and Stewart Copeland, if for no other reason that he's just, well, weird on the skins. Also, I've recently come back to some of the classic greats, especially Buddy Rich and Joe Morello.
Do you still own a kit? My wonderful wife actually got me a new set - after wandering bereft in the wilderness for about 15 years after selling my original Pearl set to my sister (what can I say? It was in a fit of financial turmoil!) - a year ago Christmas. I still have all my old Zildjians that my dad used 40 years ago, which is good - I went through the tin pie plates that came with the set in about 30 minutes. :)
Of course, you're probably right in the MIDDLE of your gig as I type this, but I hope you have a fantastic time. I would love to hear how it went...!
John
Gig went ok, thanks. Weird mix of bands - ambient guitar, us, ambient guitar plus drums, then 80's style rock outfit.
I have couple of kits, one Yamaha and one DW and some paiste cymbals.
Cheers either way.