John Hill <- Click name to email

John has been playing drums since he was three years old... as long as he can remember. John began to get serious while armed with a background of good musicians to grow and learn with!  During high school, John hooked up with a band named INFINITY that also included Glen Miller on vocals. After several years, the band changed its name to Wattzit2ya. Wattzit2ya remained intact for a while, until John decided to try to take it to another level and play full time He left Wattzit2ya and joined a band called Rat Ranch that was one of the top bands playing around Texas at the time.

Rat Ranch opened for many musicians including Joe Walsh, Nazareth, Peter Frampton, the Starship, America, Tears for Fears, and 38 special.  After nearly 3 years with Rat Ranch, John was tired of playing four to six nights a week so he decided to take a break from music. However after a period of time of not even touching a drum, John started to get that itch! Playing Drums is what John does best. 

John was born into a musical family so it's in his blood!  For several years John's father played bass for Willie Nelson and was around when Willie wrote some of his biggest hits! His father, Doug Hill, also backed up Hank Williams Sr., Bob Wills and played with Charley Pride as well as many others.! His uncle played banjo with Jerry Reed and Roy Clark too!  John's biggest influences in drumming  are Steve Ferrone, Vinnie Colaiuta, Neil Peart, Manu Katche, Bryan Holmes (The Producers), Tony Williams, Jon Farriss (INXS), Carter Beauford and basically everyone else who compliments a song.

John's Equipment List:

Kit # 1 (outdoor gigs) - Yamaha Recording Custom with John Douglas "Volcanic Spew" finish. Volcanic Spew is a metallic black/dark blue based finish mixed with a silver/white glitter pearl dust finish made to resemble the lunar surface; 16x22 bass drum; 8x8, 10x10, 10x12, and 12x14 toms; 5 1/2 x 14 custom hand hammered bronze snare.

Kit # 2 (indoor gigs) - DW collectors series kit with white marine pearl finish; 18x22 bass drum; 8x10, 10x12, 12x14, and 14x16 toms; 5x13 and 5x14 matching collectors series snares in white marine pearl wrap.

Kit # 3 ("gig around town" kit) - Pacific (DW) all maple shell 5 Pc kit wrapped with a blue marine pearl finish; 18x22 bass drum; 8x10, 10x12, and 12x14 toms with matching 5x14 snare.

Cymbals - 13' custom master sound hi-hats, 20' K custom ride, 15' K dark crash, 16' K custom crash, 17' Z custom crash, 8' K splash, 10' K splash and 18' Oriental trash Chinese cymbal. All in brilliant finish. Same Cymbal set up is used with all three kits.

DW 5000 turbo double pedals

Sennheiser 602 and 604 microphones

Shure In-Ear monitor system