Jerry Gaskill
Encyclopedia
Jerry Gaskill is an American
rock
musician who is the drummer
for the progressive metal
band King's X
.
He grew up in a very musical family with both his dad and brother being guitar players. The three actually started an all-instrumental band called Jerry and the Knights. Gaskill played his first bar gig when he was seven years old with this group and was paid $2 for his efforts.
Jerry and the Knights played at different functions such as talent shows, wedding receptions, parties and so on until his mid-teens. He then joined a local band called Frog Ocean Road who he had admired. Gaskill played with them until he was 18, at which time he had a self professed "Born Again" experience. He then became involved in the local Christian music scene playing at churches and jamming with other like-minded musicians.
In 1978, Gaskill decided to attend Evangel College in Springfield, MO.
and moved there with the intention of becoming a Biblical Studies major. He never lost the musical bug and was quick to involve himself in the local music circles. He was soon introduced to singer Greg X. Volz
who was putting a new band together and asked Gaskill to participate. They also asked bassist Doug Pinnick
to move to Springfield and join the band. Pinnick accepted, but a month after his arrival, the project fell apart.
Gaskill was soon asked, along with Pinnick, to join the Phil Keaggy
band (presumably through Keaggy's previous work with Volz) which they accepted. He went on a national tour with Keaggy for about a year. During the bands show in Springfield, Gaskill was asked by a member of the opening band if he would lend them his drums. That person happened to be Ty Tabor
who was filling in for the drummer who had quit the band the night before.
At one point, Gaskill became involved in a demo project for the Tracy Zinn Band that had Tabor as a member. The two hit it off and were later involved in other projects together.
After the Keaggy job, Gaskill and Pinnick (who had also been jamming with Tabor) decided to try getting their own band together. The group was rounded out by Tabor and guitarist Dan McCollam. They called themselves The Edge which eventually morphed into King's X
several years later.
Gaskill has enjoyed a long and storied career with King's X
and continues with them to this day. The album Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
was based in part on a story that he wrote. He has appeared as lead vocalist on 3 King's X tracks and is an integral part of their famous 3-part vocal harmonies.
He has 3 sons, 2 of which are also involved in music.
by Galactic Cowboys
, Redline by blues guitarist Jay Hooks, Ty Tabor's solo album Safety
, Black Sugar Transmission's 2007 debut album (helmed by Andee Blacksugar, who also played guitar in Jerry's solo band in 2005) and Doug Pinnick
's Poundhound albums and Supershine project.
Gaskill released a solo album, Come Somewhere
, in April 2004. He sang all lead vocals as well as performed all drum, acoustic guitar, and some electric guitar tracks. It was produced by and featured his King's X cohort Ty Tabor, and was recorded at Tabor's Alien Beans Studios.
drum
s, and Pearl
drums. Currently he uses GMS's SE line of drums. His current set-up is: 9" x 12", 12" x 14", 14" x 16", and 18" x 22". He is using a matching 5.5" x 14" SE snare. Gaskill has endorsed Paiste
, and used their cymbals since May 1990, and currently endorses Evans
drum heads. He also uses Vater
5B Nylon sticks.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
musician who is the drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
.
History
Gaskill has been interested in making music and playing drums for as long as he can remember. His father bought him his first drum, which was a snare, at the age of 4. From there, he pieced together a full kit.He grew up in a very musical family with both his dad and brother being guitar players. The three actually started an all-instrumental band called Jerry and the Knights. Gaskill played his first bar gig when he was seven years old with this group and was paid $2 for his efforts.
Jerry and the Knights played at different functions such as talent shows, wedding receptions, parties and so on until his mid-teens. He then joined a local band called Frog Ocean Road who he had admired. Gaskill played with them until he was 18, at which time he had a self professed "Born Again" experience. He then became involved in the local Christian music scene playing at churches and jamming with other like-minded musicians.
In 1978, Gaskill decided to attend Evangel College in Springfield, MO.
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
and moved there with the intention of becoming a Biblical Studies major. He never lost the musical bug and was quick to involve himself in the local music circles. He was soon introduced to singer Greg X. Volz
Greg X. Volz
Gregory Xavier Volz is a Christian singer. He is most noted for being the former lead singer of Christian rock band Petra from 1979 to 1985 and is currently the lead vocalist of the reunited lineup.-Biography:...
who was putting a new band together and asked Gaskill to participate. They also asked bassist Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
to move to Springfield and join the band. Pinnick accepted, but a month after his arrival, the project fell apart.
Gaskill was soon asked, along with Pinnick, to join the Phil Keaggy
Phil Keaggy
Phil Keaggy is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets...
band (presumably through Keaggy's previous work with Volz) which they accepted. He went on a national tour with Keaggy for about a year. During the bands show in Springfield, Gaskill was asked by a member of the opening band if he would lend them his drums. That person happened to be Ty Tabor
Ty Tabor
Ty Tabor is the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the progressive metal band, King's X....
who was filling in for the drummer who had quit the band the night before.
At one point, Gaskill became involved in a demo project for the Tracy Zinn Band that had Tabor as a member. The two hit it off and were later involved in other projects together.
After the Keaggy job, Gaskill and Pinnick (who had also been jamming with Tabor) decided to try getting their own band together. The group was rounded out by Tabor and guitarist Dan McCollam. They called themselves The Edge which eventually morphed into King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
several years later.
Gaskill has enjoyed a long and storied career with King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
and continues with them to this day. The album Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
-Critical reception:Gretchen Goes to Nebraska received virtually universal critical praise for its uniquely progressive musical approach and varied styles...
was based in part on a story that he wrote. He has appeared as lead vocalist on 3 King's X tracks and is an integral part of their famous 3-part vocal harmonies.
He has 3 sons, 2 of which are also involved in music.
Projects
In addition to King's X, Gaskill has performed on the albums Let It GoLet It Go (Galactic Cowboys Album)
Let It Go is the final album released by heavy metal band, Galactic Cowboys. It was released in 2000.-Notes:* The boy on the cover of this album is the son of Donovan White, who played guitar on the Crunchy album All Day Sucker....
by Galactic Cowboys
Galactic Cowboys
Galactic Cowboys was a Heavy Metal band based in Houston, Texas. They combined progressive metal with a style of vocals influenced by The Beatles and the heavy playing style of thrash bands such as Anthrax...
, Redline by blues guitarist Jay Hooks, Ty Tabor's solo album Safety
Safety (album)
Safety is the third solo album by King's X guitarist Ty Tabor. All songs were written, recorded, and mastered by Ty Tabor at Alien Beans Studios in Katy, TX.-Track listing:#Tulip #Better To Be On Hold#Missing Love#Funeral#Room For Me...
, Black Sugar Transmission's 2007 debut album (helmed by Andee Blacksugar, who also played guitar in Jerry's solo band in 2005) and Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick
Doug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
's Poundhound albums and Supershine project.
Gaskill released a solo album, Come Somewhere
Come Somewhere
Come Somewhere is the first solo album by King's X drummer Jerry Gaskill. Jerry wrote all of the material himself with the exception of "Johnny's Song" which was co-written with Herb Gaskill. Jerry performed all of the vocals, most of the acoustic guitars, and some electric guitar...
, in April 2004. He sang all lead vocals as well as performed all drum, acoustic guitar, and some electric guitar tracks. It was produced by and featured his King's X cohort Ty Tabor, and was recorded at Tabor's Alien Beans Studios.
Gear
Gaskill has in the past used YamahaYamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s, and Pearl
Pearl
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other...
drums. Currently he uses GMS's SE line of drums. His current set-up is: 9" x 12", 12" x 14", 14" x 16", and 18" x 22". He is using a matching 5.5" x 14" SE snare. Gaskill has endorsed Paiste
Paiste
Paiste, a Swiss manufacturer and designer, is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. Paiste is an Estonian/Finnish word which means "shine"...
, and used their cymbals since May 1990, and currently endorses Evans
Evans
Evans may refer to:people*Evans *for a particular person with the surname, see the List of people with surname Evans.place*Evans, California in the United States*Evans, Colorado in the United States*Evans, Georgia in the United States...
drum heads. He also uses Vater
Vater
Vater Percussion is an American drumstick and percussion accessory manufacturing company. It was founded by Clarence Vater, and is currently run by his two grandsons Alan and Ron Vater. Although the company began producing sticks in 1956, it did not officially become Vater Percussion until much later...
5B Nylon sticks.
Guest appearances
- PoundhoundDoug PinnickDoug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
- Massive Grooves...Massive Grooves from the Electric Church of Psychofunkadelic Grungelism Rock MusicMassive Grooves is the first solo album by King's X bassist Doug Pinnick under the name of Poundhound. The full title of the album is "Massive Grooves From The Electric Church Of Psychofunkadelic Grungelism Rock Music" but is typically shortened for obvious reasons.-Track listing:The Japanese...
1998 - Galactic CowboysGalactic CowboysGalactic Cowboys was a Heavy Metal band based in Houston, Texas. They combined progressive metal with a style of vocals influenced by The Beatles and the heavy playing style of thrash bands such as Anthrax...
- Let It GoLet It Go (Galactic Cowboys Album)Let It Go is the final album released by heavy metal band, Galactic Cowboys. It was released in 2000.-Notes:* The boy on the cover of this album is the son of Donovan White, who played guitar on the Crunchy album All Day Sucker....
2000 - Supershine 2000
- PoundhoundDoug PinnickDoug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
- PineappleskunkPineappleskunk-Personnel:* Doug Pinnick - Vocal, Bass Guitar, Guitar* Jerry Gaskill - Drums...
2001 - Jay Hooks - Redline 2002
- Ty TaborTy TaborTy Tabor is the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the progressive metal band, King's X....
- SafetySafety (album)Safety is the third solo album by King's X guitarist Ty Tabor. All songs were written, recorded, and mastered by Ty Tabor at Alien Beans Studios in Katy, TX.-Track listing:#Tulip #Better To Be On Hold#Missing Love#Funeral#Room For Me...
2002 - Black-N-Blues-The Sale video 2005
- Bob Burger - Surprise Party 2006
- Black Sugar Transmission 2007
External links
- Official site
- Jerry's Myspace page
- Site francophone, Accessed on July 24, 2006.
- Review of Come Somewhere @ The Phantom TollBooth