Glenn Mortimer profile picture

Glenn Mortimer

About Me


PAISTE CYMBALS - YAMAHA DRUMS

G'day,

How cool is Myspace? I get to be "Friends" with all my favorite drummers in the world!
I am so greatful that I get to play music for a living. I have performed music professionally for over 20 years, played nearly 3000 gigs and recorded on 19 albums.   I have taught in schools and have planned and conducted group workshops as well as teaching private drum lessons for 18 years. I have been involved in the music industry all my life, having contributed as a professional musician to the Australian music scene and over seas since 1986 by performing, touring and recording regularly.
My professional music career started performing corporate functions and weddings with my high school music teacher. At this time I was one of the first drummers in the Victorian Curricula Examinations to study contemporary drum kit in Australia. My private drum teacher at the time, Frank Corniola, wrote this curriculum which is now the recognized curriculum for secondary schools throughout Australia.
I attended the Victorian College of the Arts and while in my final year I began performing with Australian veteran musician, Broderick Smith. The highlight of my time with Broderick was opening the shows for the Joe Cooker ‘Night Calls’ tour of Australia. We played to full houses, unusual for a support act, and an estimated 45,000 people. Michael Coppel promoted the tour and Festival Records paid all our checks. Having Joe Cooker say “Cheers” to me back stage one night and wink in approval of my drumming was a huge confidence boost to a 24 year young man.
Now married and living in Queensland, AUSTRALIA, I'm living the dream...... well, kind of. I'm performing, recording and touring with great musicians and enjoy passing my experience and knowledge on to other drummers by doing drum workshops for Yamaha and Paiste. If I'm not playing music I'm riding my Harley Electra Glide Ultra Classic out on the highway somewhere.
When I say living the dream I mean I get to play music whenever I want and don't have to be tied down to a day job. I've made great money playing music and most importantly I've invested my money well. I'm now in a position where I don't "HAVE TO" do certain gigs. It's taken a long time to get to this point but it's a great feeling of freedom to be here.
As for the future, who knows? I believe destiny has a lot to do with hitting the topper-most of the popper-most. Making the "Big Time" was my dream as a young drummer but not so important as I get older. All I know is I make a living doing what I love doing, working in my chosen field. I'd say that puts me in the top 1% of successful people in the world.
Look....I'm here to unashamedly promote myself. Some of my students and peers think I am a star drummer but I've got a long way to go before being "World Famous". I've meet a lot of those "World Famous" drummers like Dave Wekel, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dennis Chambers, Terry Bozzio and others and one thing always strikes me, obviously these cats can really play and have the chops, but they play what is appropriate for any given situation, are emotionally expressive performers and they are lovely guys too. They are basically normal functional human beings (most of em!) except for one important thing, they where DESTINED to be "World Famous" drummers before the day they where born.
If things continue as they are for me and I keep making a living doing what I'm doing, that will be just fine. Either way, I'm a very happy camper and love doing what I do. I know one thing is absolutely certain. The best is yet to come!
God Bless You
Discography

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 07/07/2006
Band Website: THIS IS IT! Who needs anything else?
Band Members:

AVAILABLE FOR RECORDING SESSIONS AND TOURS

Influences: My biggest influences in order of degree are: 1) Mitch Mitchell - The Hendrix Experience, 2) Keith Moon - The Who, and 3) Hal Blaine - Played with everyone from The Carpenters to The Beach Boys. I also have to mention KISS. Although Peter Criss is not a major influence on my style, KISS was without a doubt one of my favorite bands as a teenager. My other drumming influences include the Melbourne guys I studied with and hung out with like: Frank Corneola, David Jones, Darren Farrugia, Andrew Gander, Micheal Jordon, Graham Morgan, Virgil Donati, Gordon Rickmiester

International artists that I'd like to hang out with: Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jeff Porcaro, Hal Blain, Jim Gordon, Harvey Mason, J R Robbinson, Paul Leim, Tony Thompson, Chris Parker, Jim Keltner, Simon Phillips, Manu Katche, Get the drift? (Studio Musos) Also the Classics: Bonzo, Ringo, Buddy Rich (I got to see play one night in a little club in Pennsylvania), Phill Collins, Gean Krupa, Dave Wekel, Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham.

Other Jazz Cats that I studied in my Victorian College of the Arts Uni days; Chick Webb, Papa Jo , Art Blakey, Philly Jo, Tony Williams, Roy Hanes, Elvin Jones, Jack Dejohnette, Marvin Smitty Smith, Jeff Watts

The Solo drummers; Terry Bozzio, Akira Jimbo, Grant Collins

Most recently I've been digging Danny Carey, Thomas Lang, Carter Bruford and that drummer from 'Muse"

I'm also influenced and effected by all the musicians and bands I have worked with including:

Bandography

Adventures in Paradise
Amanda Testro Band
Andrew Cox
Artimis
Ask Andrew
Beetroot
Blind Lemon
Bongo Starky
Bring on the Junta
Broderick Smith Band
Carlos Panguana
Cocker happy
Creamer
Edwin Holt
Even Steven
Fester
Fiona Burnett Trio
Future Native
Grand Wazoo
Grooveyard
Goat
God squad band
Ham and Beans
Happy Hammond Combo
JoCrighton
Joshua's ladder
Julian Wilson Quartet
Jungle Juice
Kamahal
Kerrie Searle Band
Kita
Leaping Lizards
Mason Rack Band
Matt Kirsch Trio
Matt Walker
Michael Harding Trio
Myxomatosis
Mr. Briefcase
Nigel Maclean
Outrage us
Paragon Ideal
Punchline
Red Ant
Red Eyes
Reverend Funk
Simon Lewis Band
Simon Kent Quintet
Spoonful
Soul D
Starlengrad
The Band Who Knew too Much
The Boarderers
The Body Electric
The Congo Boys
The Diva Show
The Groove Messengers
The Living Room
The Maelstrom
The Paragon Ideal
The Rondels
The Shania Twain Show
The Sharks
The Supreme Masters of Relaxed Living
The True Spirit
Theory of Everything
Thrombosis
Through to China
Thunder Drums
Tony Barber
Walkulpa
Wendy Andrew
Wendy Rule
Westgarth
World War III


Sounds Like:

Solo Drumming Compositions
Performed at the Burleigh Underground Drummers Workshop
Thanks to Haydn for hanging from the rafters to film this angle!


Record Label: Mustard Seed Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Biography

G'day,I am so greatful that I get to play music for a living. I have performed music professionally for over 20 years, played nearly 3000 gigs and recorded on 19 albums.   I have taught in schools and...
Posted by on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 08:00:00 GMT

New my space

I posted my space today.  Hmmm. Now to make it look good.  How do I do that?  I have some photos uploaded.  Next I'll upload some music and then a video or two. Cheers.
Posted by on Fri, 07 Jul 2006 05:11:00 GMT