We recently connected with Greg Collister and have shared our conversation below.
Greg, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
I LOVE this topic because it has been one of my most frequently asked questions on my musical journey. “So this is all you do? Play drums?!” people ask me! With a smile I always reply yes and teach, and record as a session drummer, I add. All the meanwhile I’m thinking at the same time in my head how grateful I am to be able to do it!
Almost all entertainers and entrepreneurs will tell you earning a living is not always easy in the beginning especially from your very own work.
Most people give up when the going gets tough and the struggle becomes real. This is the first thing I will share with you all and that is you must have PERSEVERANCE running through your veins. You will see exactly what I’m talking about as I get deeper into my story.
I personally use a combination of things to make my living, that is an ever expanding list. It all starts with an idea, you know that dream you have in your heart!! What is the one thing you love to do more than anything else?!? Get after it! For me hands down it’s Drumming!
More specifically:
1. Playing live and touring
2. Recording drums on songs for bands and artists as a recording/session drummer.
3. Teaching and doing drum clinics
Now, let me start off by bringing you all up to speed on what I’ve been up to since my last interview that ties into our main topic of earning a full time living from your creative work!
Greg, 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?
Hi! It’s so good to be back here interviewing with you voyage! I would like to start by recommending you all read my first 2 interviews which read like a series. It starts with #1 Voyage LA “Meet Pro Drummer Greg Collister” September 2017 and #2 Shoutout LA Persevere or Pivot? “Meet Greg Collister Professional Drummer” December 2020 You can find them under the>Press section on>the home page of my website> gregcollister.com where you can also connect with all of my other social media!
So many amazing things have happened since we last spoke so let me bring you all up to speed. These last 3 years have been truly magical!
First off for those who don’t know me I am an LA based professional drummer, who is highly regarded for-Live Performance/Touring -Studio Recording/Sessions & Teaching Drum Lessons/Clinics. Known for my versatility in playing all styles/genres of music while showcasing an extreme passion for drumming and presence behind the drums.
If you’re looking for a pro drummer for live performance, touring, recording or drum lessons please contact me directly by call or text at: (323)786-3493 email at: [email protected] or you can PM or DM me on social media @gregcollisterofficial on all platforms!
Over the last year or so In addition to doing my dream drum build #1 set up for recording, launching Collister Clothing, & starting the “Life of Your Dreams” series on my YouTube channel…I also met & talked drums with Danny Carey (drummer of tool) who is one of my biggest drum influences! I visited my latest teacher & mentor world renowned drummer & educator Thomas Lang, where I played on Legendary drummer Terry Bozzio’s kit, talk about a dream come true!!! I met Gregg Bissonette for the 1st time! I used to see Gregg on the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine as he was one of my earliest drum influences growing up. I filmed an amazing drum jam where Thomas and I exchanged solos which can be found under>the latest news section> on the home page of my site> gregcollister.com.
At the time of my last interview Human Drama was just getting ready to release our latest album “Blurred Images.” Well…after a successful release in April of 2021 We were picked up and featured in Rolling Stone Magazine and the album went #1 on Amazon Latin America! We also shot 3 Incredible music videos for “February 10th” which I think is my favorite track on the album, “Another Crash” which is also a favorite of mine, & “I’m looking”, all can be found on YouTube (just search the band name + the titile of the listed tracks above). June of 2022 brought the accomplishment of performing “The 35th Anniversary Trilogy concert” at the Teatro Metropolitan in Mexico City where we played 3 albums back to back!! I had never done anything like that before! It was amazing and it was followed by a meet and greet, pictures & an autograph signing with the fans the next day! I love the fans so much, they make the world go round!
Starting early in 2021 I recorded drums for International Metal Artist Burgi Zerschëllt for one of his tracks titled “Wild Turkey Woman” & I began performing with one of my favorite Artists Yo Quiero Silla (i call her the Latin or Mexican Pop Princess)! I met Silla about a year & 1/2 before and was anxiously awaiting our stage time together! Since, we have gone on to walk the red carpet together, perform multiple shows including the Saca La Banda Tour, Latin X fest in downtown LA, out in Las Vegas & most recently for George Lopez’s Malas Palabras Records release party and artist showcase where Chris Perez and Andy Vargas of (Santana) had heavy involvement & also performed that night!
Throughout the year:
I held a full-time position teaching a full roster of amazing drum students as well as performing worship every Sunday morning and some Saturday nights.
I was flown to Vegas, picked up from the airport in a Lamborghini, and driven to a multi-million dollar mansion and recording studio where I would spend weekends recording drums.
I continued working with another of my favorite artists Josh Moreland (R&B, Soul, Rock, Hip Hop, Battle Cry) by playing local shows in Hollywood & LA including playing drums for an amazing music video shot for his song “All for love”, still to be released. A highlight in early 2023 was playing a Pre-Grammy show “a tribute to the nominees” headlined by (The Keith Harris Experience-drummer of the Black Eyed Peas) at the Globe Theater in DTLA, where I also walked the red carpet & landed in Getty Images for the 1st time. Not only is Josh’s music incredible and so much fun to perform live..Josh just brings so much amazing energy to the stage and life itself. Love working with him!
In the middle of the Year:
I had the serious pleasure of performing live with Mick Mahan (bassist of Pat Benatar). I also did some live and studio recording for John Trescott Luis & Lee Krabbe with bassist Ric Fierabracci who is certainly one of the world’s best & who has played with everyone from Yanni to The Beach Boys, & some of the world’s greatest drummers such as Virgil Donati, Dave Weckl, & Billy Cobham. He is currently with Blood, Sweat, & Tears. Ric and I actually performed & recorded our parts in real time together (on the spot, no rehearsal) which is pretty rare these days as most times us session guys record our parts separately one instrument at a time. Name of the tracks are: “I fell for those eyes”, & “already gone”.
In the fall and nearing the end of the year:
I met & spent some time with the one and only Kat Von D, who I’ve been a fan of since I can remember first hearing her name and seeing her incredible tattoo work on TV! She has currently been on her own amazing musical journey!
I found myself performing live at the House of Blues Las Vegas on stage with Juanito Millionzuki for the Latino show music Showcase as part of Latin Grammy Week.
By the end of the year:
I had made an appearance & performed on National TV at Jimmy Kimmel Live with SHAH XO & The Cletones (Kimmel’s House Band)!! I can’t even begin to tell you the excitement and sense of accomplishment this brought to my career.
Around this same time I had also started preparing and rehearsing with the amazing SAMMI DOLL who plays keys for (Kat Von D & IAMX) for a show that would follow in January of 2022. Sammi is also an amazing artist & person I love working with! Her music is so good and so much fun to perform. We had a great show!!
I began playing local shows mostly at one of my favorite venues, The Whiskey a go go on the Sunset Strip with rock band Prima Donna Rising. We have also been playing at the Canyon and I finally got to play the Libbey Bowl in Ojai which was on my list of “most wanted venues” to perform!
Early 2023 brought a northern/Southern California tour with the band Yeti Valhalla which is fronted by the incredibly talented Adam Jang. I played NAMM for the first time with the band and we had an amazing sold out show with LA Guns at the Whiskey in April. I had never seen the place that packed before in my life!
As this year 2023 has rolled on I’ve continued refining my dream drum build/drum recording studio and joined forces to do some national touring with metal band Unveil the Strength which features original former Five Finger Death Punch Bassist Matt Snell.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I feel like my entire story is one of having to have resilience in order to continue this life I live as a drummer. The experiences are always good and bad, up and down, ebb & flow. Each time I play a show or do a recording or do a tour or record a track I’m met with challenges that I feel have helped me grow to then overcome the next set of challenges to level up. It’s really similar to playing a video game honestly. The experiences of our lives are like guide posts. This is what I believe builds resilience. It’s just like the story of how diamonds are formed. Diamonds undergo many years of intense heat & pressure before they are allowed to become diamonds.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
It started with trying to figure out how to sustain a life as a professional drummer. This has lead me down new paths that I am currently exploring, including my very own drum recording studio, writing, a new program for all of my Drum students/lessons (with several developments & announcements to come on all of that soon!), my own clothing line/merch. As I strive to expand my reach across the entire world, the end goal is ultimately for me to leave the legacy behind. It’s about how I can give back through my drumming for all of eternity to benefit from into the future & helping others achieve their dream lives!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gregcollister.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregcollisterofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090623333882&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-collister-45a516213/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GregCollisterOfficial
- Other: TIKTOK @gregcollisterofficial https://www.tiktok.com/@gregcollisterofficial -COLLISTER CLOTHING/MERCH- Facebook-Collister Drumline Official https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090994957465&mibextid=LQQJ4d Instagram-@collisterclothingofficial https://www.instagram.com/collisterclothingofficial/
Image Credits
@805.photographer Steve White Ella Hovsepian Getty Images Behind The Scenes @JaysfStop Jay Ross Joe Schaeffer Photography GWC Productions Foto Rock 21