I've been playing Drums and Percussion since I was 10. I'm a second generation musician - It's in my blood. My father, BRUCE KAPLER, is the saxophone player on LATE SHOW w/ DAVID LETTERMAN.
At 16 I started playing out with a wide variety of NY based bands. Everything from Loud, Hard & Fast to Acoustic coffee bar Singer/Songwriters. While playing shows up & down the East Coast (including some time on the Van's Warped Tour), I had the good fortune to find myself in the studio with legendary producer / engineer EDDIE KRAMER of JIMI HENDRIX fame. (LED ZEPPELIN, KISS, etc.,etc.,etc.) An amazing "Experience" to say the least! EDDIE subsequently encouraged, actually strongly suggested I consider moving to LA. During a short exploratory trip in the fall of '06, he introduced me to talented frontman, musician, writer JAMISON BOAZ. An instant musical kinship was struck and a few months later I moved to LA to begin the project EPSILON ZERO with JAMISON.
Within the first few months of gigging around Hollywood, I was recruited by famed vocalist and Sunset Strip icon HAPPENIN' HARRY to be the resident drummer in HAPPENIN' HARRY AND THE HAPTONES. More a family, the band is populated by a constant rotation of the best Rock & Roll musicians LA has to offer.
DIZZY REED and RICHARD FORTUS of GUNS n' ROSES, ALEX GROSSI and CHUCK WRIGHT of QUIET RIOT, MIKE DUDA of W.A.S.P., the legendary BILLY SHEEAN, LEMMY of MOTORHEAD, GREG COATS of BANGKOK 5, SCOTT GRIFFIN of LA GUNS, JEFF DUNCAN of DC4, and the list goes on. The band's residency at THE CAT CLUB and THE JOINT also provided me the humble privilege of relinquishing the drum throne on occasion, for a few songs, to some of my favorite drummers, now friends, RAY LUZIER, BRIAN TICHY, & JOEY HEREDIA, just to name a few.
A growing friendship with DIZZY REED and ALEX GROSSI led to my joining DIZZY's band HOOKERS N' BLOW. As one of the drummers in H n' B's rotation, (that includes MIKE DUBKE of W.A.S.P., FRANKIE BANALI of QUIET RIOT and DAVE MORENO of PUDDLE OF MUD), I've been behind the kit for shows throughout the U.S. and South America.
I've been fortunate. My first 2 yrs in LA have been busy and very fruitful.
I managed to squeeze in a tour of the UK w/ IT'S THE PIGS, gigs w/ OTTO'S DAUGHTER, THE FADED SPADES, (I know I'm leaving out a bunch more), as well as a new project, KING OF THE ANTS, w/ the amazing guitarist AUGUST WARCHELL formerly of JOHNNY CRASH.
Along the way I've developed this reputation as an accomplished Emergency Drummer. I've done countless last minute one-offs. 15 songs and the show's tomorrow nite? Play to a track? click? no click? No problem. I'm a perfectionist. I play it right - which is to say, what is called for, in detail, the way you want it played. AND, I'll groove the snot out of it.
One thing - to those quick to hang this "Hired Gun" tag on me. (Never heard that one 'till I got out here.) I do what I do because I love playing music-period And I'd rather sleep on a pool raft in a room w/ no furniture than be a "weekend warrior" w/ all the premium channels. Yes - I learn fast and retain - on time, every time. If I say I'm there, it's in stone. And when I commit, my work ethic is exactly the same - whether its for $50 or $5k. I play .. That's what I do.... That's all I want to do.... If that's you too,
we have something to talk about.
Check out my Blog - I'll be posting project updates and upcoming shows.
Message me here or at [email protected]