(click below to see mini 'live bass solo' video)
Accidental jam
July 20, 1976 - Seven years to the day of man's revolutionary first steps on the moon, Diem Brooks was born...Seven years later, Diem performs his first long awaited major solo performance at the Sydney Opera House on the piano accordion. After a warm welcome into the music industry by the eagerly enthusiastic audience, and receiving rave reviews in the newspaper, Diem knew there and then of his aspirations to make his musical artform longeval.Diem, (born with the given name of "David Matthew", later accepted the nickname / pseudonym of "Diem" [pronounced D-M, ie. being short for "David Matthew"] to avoid constant confusion with other people in the entertainment industry of the same name) is the son of one of Sydney's former leading session / live drummers Ken Brooks (John Farnham, Marcia Hines, Kamahl, etc) and younger brother of guitar virtuoso Chris Brooks (progressive rock soloist, Mark Boals [ex-Yngwie Malmsteen vocalist], Feeding The Addiction, etc).(The) pre-teenage Diem, discovered a love of dynamics, rhythm, and arranging, leading him to study percussion and basic drumming rudiments and techniques, eventually evolving into strong improvisational skills in which he used by performing impromptu drum recitals between songs of his father's bands. But with a love of rhythm and melody, Diem eventually wished to combine the two and at age 15 began playing the bass guitar.After studying the bass guitar intensely, and playing with various bands, Diem discovered his own unique style and approach by utilising his rhythm and percussive skills combined with his melodic improvisational and soloing skills, which gave him the opportunity to play with one of Australia's leading guitarist's Peter Northcote (Rick Price, John Farnham, Tom Jones, Shania Twain, Coke/Toyota commercials, etc.)After being influenced by, and befriending fellow artists such as master bassist Billy Sheehan (Talas, David Lee Roth, Mr Big, Niacin, Steve Vai, etc), and Irwin Thomas (Irwin Thomas, Dweezil Zappa, John Farnham, Southern Sons, etc), Diem is more determined than ever to make his musical longevity dreams a reality.Since the amicable parting ways of Diem's band "vienna circle", Diem has been performing solo shows (handling acoustic guitar and vocal duties) around Sydney, and is currently writing and recording new material and hopes to put together a new band soon.Diem Brooks' talent as a bassist, songwriter / arranger, producer, guitarist, drum / percussion programmer, pianist, keyboardist, and singer, can be heard in the tunes featured above, and in the "music" link @ www.soundclick.com/diem which also features five 'bass' demo tunes (primarily used to showcase Diem's bass style diversities).Stay tuned to Diem's 'myspace' site to hear new sound samples soon !
