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Erik Stams (BMus-hons) has been a professional musician for over 20 years. He currently performs, records and teaches in London and South Wales. Erik began playing drums at the age of ten. After graduating from New York's Fiorello Laguardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts (FAME) under Justin Dicciocio he studied drum-kit, percussion and general music at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, privately with the legendary Henry Adler (author of Buddy Rich's Snare Drum Rudiments and Louie Bellson's Modern Reading Text in 4/4), Walter Garces and briefly with Jerry Gonzalez (the Fort Apache Band). Erik honed his craft performing, recording and touring in and around NYC, specializing in Funk, Reggae, Jazz, Ska and Rock. He can be heard on various albums, film soundtracks (Francis Ford Coppola's New York Stories, Dust on the Wings - Australia, The Inbetweeners) and television commercials.
Erik settled in London after a tour of Japan with Walter Schreifels of Quicksand and Rival Schools (Island Records) in 1996. Since then he has performed in and around the UK with American saxophonist Butch Thomas (Lenny Kravitz, Sting, Jaco Pastorius), disco-diva Viola Wills, Ensemble Bash, the Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Stu Hamm (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani), Julian Crampton, Drill Queen, Jamie Lawson , Monkjack and War Machines of Love (with former New Model Army guitarist Adrian Portas). He is currently working with upcoming band Eyes on Film.
Erik is the Head of Drums at Tech Music School (formerly Drumtech) / Thames Valley University (London) writing and teaching diploma and degree level courses. He teaches privately in London and Cardiff, conducts workshops and master-classes, contributes articles for Rhythm, Drummer, and Percussioni (Italy) magazines and has recorded several educational play-along cd's (Rhythm/Drumtech/Total Guitar).
SPONSORS:
EYES ON FILM to appear at Glastonbury 2011.
Joe Leach (in conjunction with Greenpeace) is constructing a temporary version of his COWSHED recording studio in the middle of the Glastonbury festival. Eyes on Film will be present as house musicians and will be performing every night of the festival on the adjoining stage. For more info: http://cowshedglasto.tumblr.com/
To hear EYES ON FILM click on the links below:
RHYTHMFEST 2011 Erik Stams will be returning this year for another week as resident tutor
PRESS RELEASE (2009) -Erik Stams named as new Head of Drums at Drumtech
Monthly rhythm section column currently running in RHYTHM magazine
Teaching Aled Jones
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/playitagain/programmes/series1/aledjones/
'Play it Again' (Sunday April 8th , 2007, 8pm, BBC1)
BBC1 television production 'Play it Again' teaching singer, BBC television and radio presenter Aled Jones to play drums. The program documents Aled's progress over the course of three months of lessons, challenges and performances including sitting in with a Led Zeppelin tribute band and a masterclass with Stewart Copeland.
Check out Erik's MySpace site as well:
www.myspace.com/erikstamsmusic
EYES ON FILM DRILL QUEEN
WAR MACHINES OF LOVE MONKJACK
WORLD'S FASTEST CAR THE DARLING BUDS
Erik Stams does NOT appear on any current WML recordings. New album currently being recorded with the
legendary Chris Kimsey at Konk Studios in London.
On location with BBC 'Play it Again' music initiative (2007). .
New York Bands (pre-1997):
The Second Step
Brother Mustard (NYC) - a poorly written but valid site
The Second Step
The Beat Brigade
Thick as Thieves (1987?)
