In 1994, I attained my first recording contract on Atlantic Records with Memphis-based Soul-Rock group THE MOTHER STATION. It was short-lived, but nonetheless a learning experience. The studio was great, my first video and my first record advance. We recorded a second album, which I thought blew the first one out of the water, but never released it.
Keeping busy with local-scene gigs and session work, I landed a 2nd record deal on Wind-Up Records in 1999 with DUST FOR LIFE, another Memphis-based group. We released two singles, made two videos and toured for about 6 months with 3 Doors Down, Nickelback, and Creed. Great gigs, thousands of great people!
By 2000, DFL had just lost its momentum. I was on my way back from a much needed vacation in New Mexico when I received a call from Matt Martane at Ardent Studios about helping this rock band from Enterprise, Alabama (wherever the fuck that is, right?!) to finish an album, as they had fired their previous drummer while recording. I accepted the offer, learned and recorded 12 songs in a week. Walking out of the studio when the session was over, the singer chased me down and asked me to join the band. The band's name prior to my joining was COG. After negotating record-deal number 3, the group's name changed by-way-of an office contest at LAVA RECORDS/ATLANTIC to re-name the band. We became COURSE OF NATURE. We didn't even have a bass player when we signed, that's why there were only three of us on the album. We made one video and only released one single, but having the opportunity to tour with Nickelback, Creed, Jerry Cantrell and other amazing people was incredible. I'm not talking some B-Stage bullshit either. We had opening slot, right before the headliners. The best and biggest crowds I had ever played for. If they could bottle and sell the feeling when it's your gear up on that stage and those lights go down, the intro pumps through a massive, chest-thumping P.A., and 10,000 people go fucking crazy, dude- you would have an epidemic addiction!
Currently, I'm recording an entire album by myself, writing and playing everything. I'm also working the singer-guitar player from DUST FOR LIFE, Chris Gavin, trying to get something up this year, as well as Scot Petri, a talented guitarist/songwriter, who has some fantastic ideas that we'll get into the studio this year. As each of these ideas are developed and recorded, they will be posted, so please stay tuned.
As always, anyone needing drumtrax or a touring drummer, let me know.
Everybody needs everybody-
Rick
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