We recently connected with Mike Dillon and have shared our conversation below.
Mike , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
From a young age I was enamored with drums and always would watch the drummer of any band that my parents to me to see, I particularly remember see the jackson 5 cartoon series when I was 6 and thought that when Tito play percussion that was the coolest … I started drum lesson at in 5th grade and by the time was a junior in high school I had decided that music was my calling. I went to North Texas State University and studied music. My dream at 17 was to be a professional drummer. To have become a band leader, Vibraphonist and composer has been beyond my wildest dreams. Music is an endless well..
Mike , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a classically trained percussionist .. I play a lot of different hand drums and mallets instruments in addition to drum set.. I have been the lead singer of a 90s funk punk Band called Billy Goat. That band Toured for 7 years and had a nice underground following. From there I returned to playing vibes and percussion teaming up with lots of different bands. I have also played with Les Claypool, Karl Denson and Ani Difranco. I currently play percussion and Drums With Rickie Lee Jones and Lead my Band Punkadelick
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Support the regional and local artist. Not just the big name artist that charge 500 a ticket
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
The importance of selling merch and how that is the battery that runs underground musicians
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Mikedillonvibes.com
- Instagram: Punkadelick
- Facebook: Themikedillonband
Image Credits
Noe- the picture of me with Mallets