I started hitting things rhythmically at age 4...I strapped myself to a drum stool and played along to my family's albums...everything from Broadway Musicals ("Pippin", "Godspell") to and eclectic selection of Rock (Beach Boys, Foreigner, KISS) and then, finally, that magic moment at age 9....Genesis. The drum duet from "Second's Out" along with the odd-time signatures of "Cinema Show" and "Dance on a Volcano" sealed the deal. I was destined to become a professional musician...

I was 11 years old when, for my 12th birthday, my older brother bought us tickets to see Genesis on their "3 Sides Live: Encore Tour". The concert was at a sold out Flushing Meadows Tennis Stadium (the old one) and it completely blew my mind. It was my favorite band, with my brother and best friend and Genesis played their SIGNATURE PROG song, "Supper's Ready" in its entirety! An unbelievable first concert experience!

I am very fortunate to be endorsed by the following companies! DrumCraft (drums), Paiste (cymbals) and Vic Firth (sticks). I'm not sure what is meant by favorite piece...piece of equipment, piece of music, cake.........sooooooooooooo.....I love the way my 20" 8 Series DrumCraft bass drum sounds (fat and punchy), I love my Paiste 17" Dark Energy crash and Vic Firth SD4 Combo sticks. My favorite piece of music...hard to say....too many. Favorite cake...Molten Lava Chocolate cake (with vanilla ice cream)....cool

Phil Collins. He encompasses everything that I am and/or pursue as a musician and a person. Amazing drummer/multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter/producer, normal guy with a dry sense of humor.

I have my own gig, AnaniA (reverbnation/anania) and I play, compose and arrange for the world-renown Blue Man Group in Berlin, Germany. I also play drums and sing background vocals for Jaimi Faulkner (Melbourne, Australia/Berlin) and Della Miles (former background singer for Whitney Houston). From time to time, I have the great fortune to play with my band back in Minneapolis, Greazy Meal featuring John Fields {Jonas Brothers, Switchfoot, P!nk, Backstreet Boys), Jim Anton (Johnny Lang), Tommy Barbarella (Prince & the NPG), Ken Chastain (Paul Westerberg, producer), Tom Scott (Asche & Spencer, producer), Julius Collins (Smartmouth, Superhero of Funk) and Brian Gallagher (Prince & the NPG)...lucky devil am I

I would LOVE to play the 1986 drum duet with Phil Collins (back in those days). I'd also love to jam with Pino Palladino because his bass playing is some of the tastiest playing ever...I'd love to tour with Peter Gabriel (circa 86-93) and hang with the Foo Fighters....I'm sure playing with Stevie Wonder and/or Prince would be quite an experience, too

The LARGEST audience I've ever played for (outside of TV) was at Dodger Stadium, in front of 45,000 or so (Wango Tango music fest in 2001 with Blue Man Group)--one of the greatest feelings ever... The SMALLEST audience was for about 13.5 people, in a weird converted office bldg/hostel or something in Coburg, Germany. It was literally like playing in someone's house party...incredible

Genesis, "Second's Out". I picked it because there are so many classic prog Genesis songs on there...great musicianship and so much to listen to (and to listen for). I first heard this album when I was 9 years old and it's still in high rotation my record collection! ....plus it's a double live album so I get more music to pass the time with ;-)