Mike's Biography
The
history of Mike Terrana dates back to a time when his ancient ancestors used to
swing through the trees and beat on hollow logs with broken tree branches.
Well…not much has changed since then! Mike is proudly carrying on the family
tradition with the same reckless enthusiasm. Sometimes Terrana still manages to
find the time to hang upside-down from a tree and scream like a wild monkey from
hell. (Usually on the weekends…Sorry Mommy)
J
Originally
born in New York State. Mike had to pay his dues in the club scene in the
late 70’s and early 80’s. In 1987 Mike decided to make his way to the
west coast to settle in Los Angeles Ca. At that time, LA was considered to
be the Mecca for Heavy Metal. After ten years filled with the relentless
grind of recording and touring complete with it’s fair share of ups and downs,
Mike became disenchanted with his situation in the USA and decide to relocate to
Europe in 1997.
“The
music scene in LA had changed drastically and there was not much work for
drummers of my style. During this time I had completed a few tours of
Europe with Yngwie
Malmsteen and Tony
Macalpine. I thought the response to my
playing style was quite receptive, so I took a gamble and decided to move to
Holland. I lived there for about 6 months. I found it to be a great place
to live, but it was still hard to find work as a drummer.”
Then
Mike started getting calls from many German musicians, like Roland Grapow from Master
Plan (Ex-Helloween), Gammy
Ray, Axel
Rudy Pell, and Rage.
“Since there was more work in Germany it made sense to move there.”
Mike ended up in Hamburg, which also turned out to the launching pad for artists
like The Beatles,
Ritchie Blackmore
and Cozy Powell.
Terrana
keeps busy as a full band member of Rage.
He also performs clinics and recording sessions with various other artists when
his schedule permits. Recently he has formed a new fusion band with French
guitar player Cyril
Achard called Taboo
Voodoo. The band is a mixture of rock and fusion, incorporating
beautiful melodies interwoven with odd meter and interesting arrangements.
“I really love this kind of music. I was a big fan of all the fusion
bands that came out in the 70’s… Weather
Report, Return To Forever, Tony Williams and The
Mahavishnu Orchestra”.
“When
I am at home, I listen to a lot of Big Band Swing music and the drummers from
that era, most notably Buddy
Rich,
which I believe to be the greatest drummer ever to walk the face of the earth.
I also like to listen to Frank
Sinatra,
one of the coolest and most important Jazz singers in the history of swing
music. I like this music because really gifted musicians played it in real
time, often in one take. These people were innovators, pioneers, and
craftsmen. They really had something to say and created a timeless and
classic style all, their own. Their music will live for many
generations to come.”
“There
has only been one very constant obsession in my life up until now, and that is
drumming. When I was a kid that’s all I ever dreamed about, I thought it
was cool then and it is still cool now! I knew at the age of 8 that I was
going to pursue a career as a professional drummer. I really can’t think
of anything else I would rather do with my life. My work is my passion.
I enjoy the fact that no matter how much I practice…. I can never get good
enough…it is a never-ending growth process. I really enjoy watching other
drummers of our day like Terry
Bozzio, Marco
Minnemann
and Virgil Donati
take the art form of soloing to the very edge. I find it instructional and
inspirational to see and hear this display of drumming pyrotechnics. I
find that when I expose myself to these various artists, that my own style
develops and morphs into something new. I think that’s what being a
musician is about, learning, creating and being inspired by what other before
you have created.
“I
like to use all of these influences from swing, fusion jazz and funk when I play.
I think it’s cool to make heavy metal music swing and groove. I believe that
it is the human touch, which fills the music with emotion and captures the soul
of the artist. I think vinyl and CD recordings are like snap shots of that
particular moment in one artists life; how they felt & played at that time.
The art of recording is basically to capture those magic moments.”
“The
attitude of the recording industry has changed drastically in the past 20 years.
The advent of Digital recording technology and the use of computers and samplers
have choked out the precious and delicate nuances of human emotion from
today’s music. Many people have lost site of this very beautiful and important
key element.”
“If
this technology had existed in the 60’s & 70’s I truly believe that
drummers like John
Bonham, Keith
Moon, Cozy
Powell, Stewart
Copland,
Bill Bruford, Billy
Cobham, Phil
Collins
and a host of many other legendary drummers would not exist. All of the
above-mentioned drummers can be recognized by their personalized drum sound (tuning)
and playing style. Drum samples erase the style and soul of the drummer.
It masks the personality of the artist.
Now
all drummers sound the same!
What
a Tragedy!
Boring!”
I
really try hard to make records that reflect my personality and style. In
this day of age, the task is easier said then done. I believe it is
becoming an exercise in futility; however; I press on and fight the good fight!
When I get behind my kit, I am there for one reason and one reason only, to
express myself as an artist and to entertain the listener.”
