Your Personal Drum Coachs
Hi, my name is Steve and I'm a self-taught drummer from Castledawson (Mid-Ulster, N. Ireland).
I've been a die-hard Rock and Metal fan for over 30 years and a drummer for 25 years.
There was something about drums I always loved ever since I was a child though I didn't start learning behind the kit until I was 15 and played in a couple of bands with friends.
When I was 19 I was almost paralysed (and almost died!) in a serious motorbike accident where I broke my back, snapped my left arm and badly broke my left wrist.
This awakened something inside me and ignited a fire. A burning passion to give my all to what I loved - being a drummer in my own band, and playing heavy fucking music!
This made me realise life is too short and unpredictable to spend all your energy on working a job doing things you don't like (or a job you don't really give a fuck about!)
Refusing to give up I got back on my feet and was so driven and determined to rehabilitate myself, make a full recovery put my band INTERROGATE together and push myself to be the best I could be and take that band as far as possible!
Metal music, writing lyrics and playing drums was a great outlet for me to get out a lot of pent-up anger and aggression inside me as I always bottled everything up and pretended I was OK even when I wasn't.
Without it I don't think I 'd be alive today.
I was highly driven and determined to live life to the full and dedicated the next 13+ years to becoming the best drummer I could be, writing music, lyrics, recording EPs and pro-quality albums, managing my bands and performing live all over Ireland and as far away as the USA!
I wrote a blog a few years ago going into more detail about my experience, suffering and how I bounced back from my accident in the hope it might inspire or help someone else who is struggling.
Click the button below to read "That Day I Broke My Back"
All the years of blood, sweat and tears was finally paying off and I was a step closer to 'the dream' by going on tour in the US 2011 I came home with talk of going back for bigger tours in the future.
But a couple of months later INTERROGATE broke up and I was devastated. I put my heart and soul into that band.
I started a new band, 7 DAYS DEAD, soon after and it came together pretty quickly, wrote some great songs and the potential was huge.
However everything fell apart in 2013 as our singer ended up in prison and I was suffering from chronic knee pain that forced me to give up drumming for the next 5 years.
I couldn't do what I loved most, I was in constant pain, broke up with my girlfriend and was stuck in a job I fucking hated!
This almost broke. Doctors had no clue how to fix my knee pain and nothing changed until suicidal thoughts started and I hit rock bottom.
I refused to give up though and realised it was all on me to heal myself.
I then became fascinated with learning about the power of changing your MINDSET and ended up completely changing my life.
Over the next couple of years I became the fittest and healthiest I had ever been, going from feeling hopeless and depressed to healing my own knee pain, getting a new job, promotion and new relationship.
I went from unable to sit without constant pain to doing yoga, MMA training and hiking mountains.
I then got back to playing drums for the INTERROGATE reunion in 2018 which was probably the best show we ever played!
In 2019 I started teaching drums, created my own online clothing brand BORN 2 BLEED and quit my 'normal job.'
The aim of the brand was to inspire others to overcome their struggles, turn their lives around and become the best they can be.
I sold Metal and Hardcore-inspired apparel with positive slogans, shared my own story of struggle and how changing my mindset changed my life.
My intention through sharing weekly emails, blogs and social media content to help people realise, that no matter what their struggle, there is always hope and always a way to turn your life around.
I shared inspiring stories from B2B customers who overcame addiction, abuse, obesity, traumatic injury and mental struggles and bounced back stronger than ever.
I also had brand ambassadors like NYHC legend Pete Koller from Sick Of It All, UFC fighter Lyman Good and Halford guitarist Metal Mike sharing photos of them wearing BORN 2 BLEED merch which was pretty awesome.
You can also read in more detail about what exactly I did to heal my chronic knee pain and overcome the mental struggle that came with it.
Again, I wrote this blog for the brand website a few years ago in the hope it could help or inspire others.
Click the button below and feel free to share with anyone who is seriously struggling with chronic pain, illness or depression.
The clothing brand give me a new creative outlet and the chance to put out something positive in the world and inspire others to keep fighting and change their lives for the better.
However, I decided to close it down at the end of 2025 and put all my focus drum lessons and taking my mindset to the next level.
I love helping people learn to play drums though I see myself as more of a coach than your typical music or drum teacher.
My aim has always been to be the drum coach and mentor I wish I had when I was learning and help people avoid the mistakes I made and help them get better faster.
I honestly believe if I had myself now as a coach back when I was starting out I could've learnt in 5 years what took me 15 years to learn!
I enjoy coaching people of all ages and abilities and am grateful that people have travelled from all 6 counties in N.I. for lessons and even as far as Donegal.
The ones I am most passionate about working with though are the ones who want to go ALL-IN and want to be the best they can be.
My years of experience pushing myself to be the best drummer I could be along with the mental and physical struggles with traumatic injury, chronic pain the wisdom I gained getting through that puts me in a unique position.
I believe I can help others not only learn to play drums but to realise they are capable of a lot more than they thought and help them to develop the mindset and positive mental attitude that can help them through all areas of life.
Throughout my years playing in and managing bands, I always struggled to find people who were as driven and passionate about playing music as I was.
So my aim is to take on more clients who want to push it to the limit and see just how good they can get.
Regardless of whether you want to play drums for fun at home, play in a local band or push yourself to the absolute limit, I'm confident I can help you - if you're willing to put in the work of course
Remember, anything is possible.
