QI Legends:

Dutch Boy ~ Cadets ~ Bluecoats ~ UNT ~ BK ~ Heavy Hitter Pads ~ Logic Books

Watch Bill throw down some

QB beats from back in the day!

We at Quad Inc. would like to take this opportunity to thank Bill for doing this interview and for everything he has done for the Quad community.

To quote from the Q-Bible:

"You are all going to be the pioneers of what could easily become a Quad drumming dynasty unparalleled in Drum Corps history!"

I think we can all agree that Bill has epitomized this and influenced the next generation of Quad drummers, and that can truly be called a Dynasty.

It's a pleasure when the student surpasses the teacher - it's what we all strive for. And Bill has done that and then some.

-Mike Stevens

QI: How did you first get involved in music?

BB: When I was in 3rd grade some older band students on a recruiting mission stopped by and demonstrated their instruments. It seemed like a cool thing to do and I was particularly fond of the clarinet.

QI: Tell us a little about your experiences and history in drumming.

BB: In 4th grade I blew off clarinet because it looked like a confusing mess and started playing drums because it looked easy. I also got into drumset when I was in 7th grade. In high school I played snare matched grip, but we developed traditional grip during my last year. I was the last cut from Dutch Boy's 1991 snare line and ended up playing top bass that year (totally clueless). I went on to play quads there and then in Cadets under the expert tutelage of Mike Stevens. I'd put all of my energy towards being the best player I could be in the best lines, so when I saw UNT `95 at PAS I knew what I had to do. The `96 NT quad line was a great experience and really changed the way I'd approached a lot of things. Anooj "broke my rules" as far as drumming goes and had a big influence on my playing as well. Looking at `94 Cadets and `96 UNT I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time.

When I aged out all I could do was teach, so in `96 I ended up with a gig at Bluecoats. By year two they were at a level worthy of a name and the BlueQ was founded. The guys in the `97/8 lines were great players & great guys, it's fun to see what they've all gone on to do with percussion. (These are the guys I chose to drum with on the Reefed Beats DVD.) After Bluecoats I helped out here & there until the severe ringing in my ears forced me into retirement from drumcorps in `03. (Get some molded sensaphonics.com earplugs guys!)

Now I'm blessed with opportunities where I get to travel the world drumming at clinics, and really everthing that I do is in someway related to drumming. Yee-Ha!

QI: What led you to eventually play Quads?

BB: I hated traditional grip and figured that being a drumset player too, having a mechanically disadvantaged left hand just wasn't worth it. I remember when practicing drumset one night, (after my first tour playing top bass), I decided to change gears & practice some traditional snare stuff. It was awkward and sucked, so for kicks I played the same thing matched grip and everything worked fine. In that millisecond I had a revelation that I was to play quads. More snare drummers should switch to quads, there are 3x as many snare guys as quad guys auditioning for spots. Why not play the odds? (And once you experience playing manly quad beats with players as good or better than you, you'll never want to play snare again anyway.)

QI: Who are your influences?

BB: Phil Collins! I got into old Genesis in the 7th grade and stole all his licks, and then of course same thing with Neil Peart from Rush.

Marching-wise, it's mostly the guys I marched with who showed me cool beats. Mike Stevens and Anooj Thakker are also way up there on the list. As a teacher, Paul Rennick definitely influenced my approach a lot after the initial Cadets influence.

QI: What do you value the most about your experiences as a Quad drummer?

BB: The development of the unbridled will-power necessary to fulfill virtually any vision. If you want something badly enough and are willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, you can pull it off. These are same skills/instincts that have allowed me to end up doing the things I'm doing today.

QI: What advice would you give to the "up and comers"?

BB: Get Rudimental Logic, Quad Logic, Reefed Beats, a Heavy Hitter Quadropad with laminates, and get to work! I'm laughing as I write this because it seems so shameless to plug it all one after another, BUT, I created all of those things specifically to build better/faster/stronger quad players! With that, be sure to harp on the fundamentals constantly and be patient. Set goals and find ways to keep it fun!

QI: What products do you use?

BB: Dynasty drums, Vic Firth sticks & Heavy Hitter pads, Remo drumheads, and Zildjian cymbals--this is the stuff that I endorse and firmly believe is the best! I also use molded earplugs from sensaphonics.com, that brand rules.

QI: Anything else you would like to add?

BB: Wear your earplugs!!! You don't want to be like me facing potential retirement from drumming in your early 30's, so be smart!

Thanks to Mike for teaching me back in the day, making this website & asking me for an interview! And thanks a ton to so many drummers out there who have supported me in what I'm doing, from the beginning to now (& hopefully in the future as well!). I'm amazed and astounded at all of the blessings that are coming my way, drumming related and otherwise.

Finally, I have to agree with Dave England about giving the Lord Jesus Christ a try. He's very real and will freely give you everything you'll ever need for now and all of eternity. Can't beat that deal can you?

QI: Do you have a website or any other way our readers can learn more about you?

BB: BillBachman.net has a bunch of cool stuff on it, from video clips & educational stuff, to information on my Heavy Hitter pads, Logic books, and Reefed Beats DVD.

Thanks guys & reef beats like the wind! -Bill