Ol Drake
Encyclopedia
Ol Drake is the lead guitarist of English
thrash metal
group, Evile
.
, were brought up in a musical environment, with the sound of Camel
, Guns N' Roses
and The Jimi Hendrix Experience
. Drake's father, Tony, played guitar from a young age and played in many local bands (Rudy and the Zipps), sharing bills with early incarnations of Black Sabbath
and Judas Priest
. Drake and friends would ask Tony to play tunes for them, like the Batman theme tune, and he could make the guitar "cry", which intrigued Ol. Matt Drake, having received classical guitar lessons when young, obtained a Fender copy electric guitar for a birthday. With future Evile drummer Ben Carter visiting the house, and also being a fan of Metallica and the guitar, Ol Drake was intrigued by the songs and the guitar. Matt started Ol on the path of heavy metal
by introducing him to the music of Metallica
. Drake, then aged 16, picked up Matt's guitar when possible and taught himself from then on. His parents being supportive would go on to support him in buying an instrument.
Drake also started to play the drums, inspired by a visit to guitar virtuoso Maurizio Mielle's store in Milnsbridge. He would spend a full day playing on a kit, set up directly above a hairdressers. Drake would play in a few bands on the drums, but his heart was always with the guitar.
When Drake reached music college, he developed an interest in music theory, jazz and classical music, which opened up his playing and progress on the guitar. He also developed an interest and skill in playing drums.
After Evile was formed, Drake spent all of his personal time on the guitar. A friend would buy him Testament
's Practice What You Preach
which got him heavily into Thrash, though he had already discovered Metallica and Sepultura
. Matt bought Ol Annihilator's "Never, Neverland
" for his birthday, as their father owned Annihilator
's Alice in Hell
. Drake was fascinated with Jeff Waters
' playing and Drake learned Waters' guitar work.
Drake would eventually go on to discover Moser Custom Shop guitars via the internet. He bought their "Bastard V", and has used this guitar for every concert since.
He spent several years notating guitar tablature for the majority of Annihilator's back catalogue. Jeff Waters, impressed by his work, dedicated a page on the Annihilator website to his tabs.
Drake made a guest appearance on The Berzerker
bassist Sam Bean's solo project The Senseless, performing a guest solo on the track "Promise".
In December 2008, Drake paid tribute to the late Chuck Schuldiner
, by posting a cover of Death's "Voice of the Soul" online, along with a video slideshow of Schuldiner related images.
In September 2009, Schmier from Destruction
asked Drake to stand in for their guitarist, Mike Sifringer, who broke his fingers forcing Destruction to find a temporary replacement, for their performance at Portugal's Caos Emergente Festival.
At the UK's Sonisphere Festival
at Knebworth
in 2010 Ol joined comedian Tim Minchin
on stage for his track "Rock N Roll Nerd".
Ol appeared as a guest on Destruction's 2011 album Day of Reckoning
stating that it was "An experience I'll never forget". On June 29 '11 Ol revealed the solos which he contributed are as follows:
"The Price" (1:09-1:20, 2:09-2:15 and 2:23-2:29), "Devil's Advocate" (3:08-3:21), "Sorcerer of Black Magic" (2:36-3:14), "Sheep of the Regime" (4:06-fade) and "Stand Up and Shout (Dio Cover)" (1:25-1:52 and 2:28-end).
got together to form a covers band. As Drake had advanced on the guitar by this time, they asked him to join the band. After bassist Mike Alexander
joined, they played many shows together over the next few years.
After school Matt Drake and Carter would get together and jam their favourite Metal tracks, mostly being Metallica songs. A jam took place in an old church in Honley. Drake came along one day and was impressed with how loud and powerful it was, having never experienced live music before. After months of practicing, Drake had learned some Metallica solos, and asked if he could join in. From the first rehearsal together he was hooked on being in a band, and he knew what he wanted to do.
Inspired by James Hetfield
, Drake's parents would drive him across the UK to locate an ESP Explorer guitar. He decided this was not the guitar for him, and settled for a BC Rich Jr V. He would use the BC Rich for every show from then on, borrowing his father's Ibanez guitars as a backup.
They would go on to play live in the local areas under the name Metal Militia, Drake taking on the role of lead guitarist, though after three or four years, this grew stale for the band, forcing them to eventually go on to form Evile in 2003. Original songs would feature in the live set, with positive results.
In 2004, they formed Evile
. They recorded an EP All Hallows Eve in 2004 (which contained an instrumental track by Drake named "Torment") and a demo Hell Demo in 2006. Soon after, the band signed to Earache Records
and recorded their debut album, Enter the Grave
, produced by Flemming Rasmussen
. He was also responsible for conceptualising the album art for Enter the Grave.
Drake plays and endorses Moser Custom Shop Guitars, Randall Amplifiers
, Ernie Ball
Strings and Homebrew Electronics Pedals.
He performs all guitar solos with Evile, with the exception of a solo in "We Who Are About to Die" and two solos in "Long Live New Flesh", which were played by his brother.
On 19 November 2008, while on tour in Europe with Satyricon
, Drake collapsed due to health issues. His jaw was fractured and the underside of his chin was cut open. Evile were forced to cancel their appearances on the remainder of the tour. He then had to have his jaw wired shut for two weeks for healing.
, Marty Friedman
, Kirk Hammett
, Alex Skolnick
, Dimebag Darrell
, Chuck Schuldiner
, Jimi Hendrix
, Slash
and Andrew Latimer
as influences.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
group, Evile
Evile
Evile is a thrash metal band from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Their debut album, Enter the Grave, was produced by Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark and was released worldwide in 2007 by Earache Records to critical acclaim by fans and critics...
.
Biography
Drake and his brother, Matt DrakeMatt Drake
Matthew "Matt" Drake is the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist in the English thrash metal group Evile.-Evile:In 2000, Drake and Ben Carter got together to form a covers band...
, were brought up in a musical environment, with the sound of Camel
Camel (band)
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...
, Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
and The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
. Drake's father, Tony, played guitar from a young age and played in many local bands (Rudy and the Zipps), sharing bills with early incarnations of Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
and Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
. Drake and friends would ask Tony to play tunes for them, like the Batman theme tune, and he could make the guitar "cry", which intrigued Ol. Matt Drake, having received classical guitar lessons when young, obtained a Fender copy electric guitar for a birthday. With future Evile drummer Ben Carter visiting the house, and also being a fan of Metallica and the guitar, Ol Drake was intrigued by the songs and the guitar. Matt started Ol on the path of heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
by introducing him to the music of Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
. Drake, then aged 16, picked up Matt's guitar when possible and taught himself from then on. His parents being supportive would go on to support him in buying an instrument.
Drake also started to play the drums, inspired by a visit to guitar virtuoso Maurizio Mielle's store in Milnsbridge. He would spend a full day playing on a kit, set up directly above a hairdressers. Drake would play in a few bands on the drums, but his heart was always with the guitar.
When Drake reached music college, he developed an interest in music theory, jazz and classical music, which opened up his playing and progress on the guitar. He also developed an interest and skill in playing drums.
After Evile was formed, Drake spent all of his personal time on the guitar. A friend would buy him Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
's Practice What You Preach
Practice What You Preach
"Practice What You Preach" is the title of a number-one R&B single by singer Barry White from his 1994 album The Icon Is Love. The hit song spent three weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart and reached 18 on the pop chart. The 1994 single also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Song...
which got him heavily into Thrash, though he had already discovered Metallica and Sepultura
Sepultura
Sepultura is a Brazilian heavy metal band from Belo Horizonte, formed in 1984. The band was a major force in the death metal, thrash metal and ultimately groove metal realms during the late 1980s and early 1990s, with their later experiments melding nu metal, hardcore punk and industrial.Sepultura...
. Matt bought Ol Annihilator's "Never, Neverland
Never, Neverland
Never, Neverland is the second album by heavy metal band Annihilator. It was released on September 12, 1990 under the label Roadrunner. The album was re-released twice: 1998 with 4 demo tracks as bonus tracks and again on September 9, 2003 in a two-disc compilation set along with Alice in Hell,...
" for his birthday, as their father owned Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...
's Alice in Hell
Alice in Hell
Alice in Hell is the first album by the Canadian thrash metal band Annihilator, released in 1989. The album was re-released twice: 1998 with 3 demo tracks as bonus tracks and again on September 9, 2003 in a two-disc compilation set along with Never, Neverland, entitled Two From The Vault...
. Drake was fascinated with Jeff Waters
Jeff Waters
Jeff Waters , is the guitarist and mastermind of the metal band Annihilator. He was born in and resides in Ottawa, Canada. As the main member and songwriter for Annihilator, Jeff is considered among the most influential guitarists in the world and as a top songwriter. He is also a well-known mix...
' playing and Drake learned Waters' guitar work.
Drake would eventually go on to discover Moser Custom Shop guitars via the internet. He bought their "Bastard V", and has used this guitar for every concert since.
He spent several years notating guitar tablature for the majority of Annihilator's back catalogue. Jeff Waters, impressed by his work, dedicated a page on the Annihilator website to his tabs.
Drake made a guest appearance on The Berzerker
The Berzerker
The Berzerker was an extreme metal band from Melbourne, Australia and was formed in 1995. The band's music, heavily influenced by older death metal and grindcore, can be characterized as a fusion of these with speedcore, and gabber...
bassist Sam Bean's solo project The Senseless, performing a guest solo on the track "Promise".
In December 2008, Drake paid tribute to the late Chuck Schuldiner
Chuck Schuldiner
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.Schuldiner was the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band Death, which he founded in 1983, initially under the name Mantas. He also recorded as guitarist and songwriter with his other band, Control Denied...
, by posting a cover of Death's "Voice of the Soul" online, along with a video slideshow of Schuldiner related images.
In September 2009, Schmier from Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...
asked Drake to stand in for their guitarist, Mike Sifringer, who broke his fingers forcing Destruction to find a temporary replacement, for their performance at Portugal's Caos Emergente Festival.
At the UK's Sonisphere Festival
Sonisphere Festival
The Sonisphere Festival is a touring music festival which takes place across Europe between June and August. The festival is owned by John Jackson and Kilimanjaro Live. It is jointly-promoted by K2 and Kilimanjaro Live...
at Knebworth
Knebworth
Knebworth is a village and civil parish in the north of Hertfordshire, England immediately south of Stevenage. The civil parish covers an area between the villages of Datchworth, Woolmer Green, Codicote, Kimpton, Whitwell, St Paul's Walden and Langley, and encompasses the village of Knebworth, the...
in 2010 Ol joined comedian Tim Minchin
Tim Minchin
Timothy David "Tim" Minchin is a British-Australian comedian, actor, and musician.Tim Minchin is best known for his musical comedy, which has featured in six CDs, three DVDs and a number of live comedy shows which he has performed internationally. He has also appeared on television in Australia,...
on stage for his track "Rock N Roll Nerd".
Ol appeared as a guest on Destruction's 2011 album Day of Reckoning
Day of Reckoning (Destruction album)
Day Of Reckoning is the 11th studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction. It was released on 18 February 2011 in Europe and 8 March 2011 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records...
stating that it was "An experience I'll never forget". On June 29 '11 Ol revealed the solos which he contributed are as follows:
"The Price" (1:09-1:20, 2:09-2:15 and 2:23-2:29), "Devil's Advocate" (3:08-3:21), "Sorcerer of Black Magic" (2:36-3:14), "Sheep of the Regime" (4:06-fade) and "Stand Up and Shout (Dio Cover)" (1:25-1:52 and 2:28-end).
Evile
In 2000, Matt Drake and Ben CarterBen Carter (Evile)
Ben Carter is the drummer of the English thrash metal group, Evile.-Biography:Having a musical family, Carter was always involved with bands and band environments from a young age...
got together to form a covers band. As Drake had advanced on the guitar by this time, they asked him to join the band. After bassist Mike Alexander
Mike Alexander (Evile)
Michael "Mike" Alexander was the bassist of English thrash metal group Evile. On 5 October 2009, Alexander died while on tour in Luleå, Sweden due to a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot on the lungs. Evile unveiled a to Alexander on 25 October 2009.-Biography:Alexander was born in London, England...
joined, they played many shows together over the next few years.
After school Matt Drake and Carter would get together and jam their favourite Metal tracks, mostly being Metallica songs. A jam took place in an old church in Honley. Drake came along one day and was impressed with how loud and powerful it was, having never experienced live music before. After months of practicing, Drake had learned some Metallica solos, and asked if he could join in. From the first rehearsal together he was hooked on being in a band, and he knew what he wanted to do.
Inspired by James Hetfield
James Hetfield
James Alan Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist, co-founder, main songwriter, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Metallica. Hetfield co-founded Metallica in October 1981 after answering a classified advertisement by drummer Lars Ulrich in the Los Angeles newspaper The Recycler,...
, Drake's parents would drive him across the UK to locate an ESP Explorer guitar. He decided this was not the guitar for him, and settled for a BC Rich Jr V. He would use the BC Rich for every show from then on, borrowing his father's Ibanez guitars as a backup.
They would go on to play live in the local areas under the name Metal Militia, Drake taking on the role of lead guitarist, though after three or four years, this grew stale for the band, forcing them to eventually go on to form Evile in 2003. Original songs would feature in the live set, with positive results.
In 2004, they formed Evile
Evile
Evile is a thrash metal band from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Their debut album, Enter the Grave, was produced by Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark and was released worldwide in 2007 by Earache Records to critical acclaim by fans and critics...
. They recorded an EP All Hallows Eve in 2004 (which contained an instrumental track by Drake named "Torment") and a demo Hell Demo in 2006. Soon after, the band signed to Earache Records
Earache Records
Earache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
and recorded their debut album, Enter the Grave
Enter the Grave
Enter the Grave is the debut album by the English thrash metal band Evile. Released on 27 August, 2007 in Europe and on 25 September in North America and Japan, the album received generally favorable critical reviews and entered the UK Rock Chart at number 33. It was produced by Flemming Rasmussen...
, produced by Flemming Rasmussen
Flemming Rasmussen
Flemming Rasmussen is a Danish engineer, producer, mixer and owner and founder of Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.-Biography:...
. He was also responsible for conceptualising the album art for Enter the Grave.
Drake plays and endorses Moser Custom Shop Guitars, Randall Amplifiers
Randall Amplifiers
Randall Amplifiers is a manufacturer of guitar amplifiers, a subsidiary of U.S. Music Corporation. Its products are/were used by artists such as Chuck Schuldiner, Dimebag Darrell, Metallica, King's X, Nirvana and Anthrax...
, Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball was an American entrepreneur, musician, and innovator, widely acclaimed as a revolutionary in the development of guitar-related products. He began as a club and local television musician and small business entrepreneur, building an international business in guitars and accessories that...
Strings and Homebrew Electronics Pedals.
He performs all guitar solos with Evile, with the exception of a solo in "We Who Are About to Die" and two solos in "Long Live New Flesh", which were played by his brother.
On 19 November 2008, while on tour in Europe with Satyricon
Satyricon (band)
Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, and the first one in the genre to join a multi-national record label .-Biography:Satyricon was formed in 1990 by Czral and Wargod. Ulver and Satyr soon joined them...
, Drake collapsed due to health issues. His jaw was fractured and the underside of his chin was cut open. Evile were forced to cancel their appearances on the remainder of the tour. He then had to have his jaw wired shut for two weeks for healing.
Influences
Drake has cited guitarists including Jeff WatersJeff Waters
Jeff Waters , is the guitarist and mastermind of the metal band Annihilator. He was born in and resides in Ottawa, Canada. As the main member and songwriter for Annihilator, Jeff is considered among the most influential guitarists in the world and as a top songwriter. He is also a well-known mix...
, Marty Friedman
Marty Friedman (guitarist)
Marty Friedman is a guitarist, well known for his tenure as the lead/rhythm guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth, which lasted almost a decade...
, Kirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, Alex Skolnick
Alex Skolnick
Alexander Nathan Skolnick is an American jazz and metal guitarist. He was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band Testament from 1983 until his departure in 1993...
, Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
, Chuck Schuldiner
Chuck Schuldiner
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.Schuldiner was the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band Death, which he founded in 1983, initially under the name Mantas. He also recorded as guitarist and songwriter with his other band, Control Denied...
, Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
and Andrew Latimer
Andrew Latimer
Andrew Latimer is an English musician and one of the original members of the progressive rock band Camel. He is mainly a guitarist and singer, but also a flautist and keyboardist....
as influences.
Evile
- All Hallows Eve EP (Self Released) 2004
- Hell Demo (Self Released) 2006
- Enter the GraveEnter the GraveEnter the Grave is the debut album by the English thrash metal band Evile. Released on 27 August, 2007 in Europe and on 25 September in North America and Japan, the album received generally favorable critical reviews and entered the UK Rock Chart at number 33. It was produced by Flemming Rasmussen...
(Earache RecordsEarache RecordsEarache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
) 2007 - Infected NationsInfected Nations-Band members:* Matt Drake - Lead vocals, rhythm guitar* Ol Drake - Lead guitar,* Mike Alexander - Bass guitar* Ben Carter - Drums...
(Earache RecordsEarache RecordsEarache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
) 2009 - Five Serpent's TeethFive Serpent's TeethFive Serpent's Teeth is the third album by the English thrash metal band Evile. It was released on September 26, 2011 in Europe and on October 18, 2011 in North America...
(Earache RecordsEarache RecordsEarache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
) 2011
Guitars
- Neal MoserNeal MoserNeal Moser is an Arizona-based luthier.He began his career with guitars in 1964. He worked in the guitar industry beginning with Vox in 1965, until he went into the Navy in 1966. After finishing his tour in 1969 he worked at West Coast Organ and Amp as a guitar repairman...
MCS Red "Bastard V" Import-T w/ Bill LawrenceBill Lawrence (guitar maker)Bill Lawrence is a recording musician and an electric guitar pickup designer/maker and guitar designer/maker in the musical instrument industry, designing pickups and guitars for Fender, Gibson, Peavey and other companies from the 1950s to the present.MusicianThe Bill Lawrence story began...
L500XL Bridge Pickup - Neal MoserNeal MoserNeal Moser is an Arizona-based luthier.He began his career with guitars in 1964. He worked in the guitar industry beginning with Vox in 1965, until he went into the Navy in 1966. After finishing his tour in 1969 he worked at West Coast Organ and Amp as a guitar repairman...
Mvi Black Import
Effects
- Homebrew Electronics Powerscreamer
- Homebrew Electronics Mock II
- Boss NS2 Noise Suppressor