LÉON

As a 9 year old kid, Léon got his first drumsticks.  His parents put him in the local drummer corps in Oploo because he was not interested in soccer at all.  Back then, one learned by beating on a wooden block with a rubber pad nailed onto it.  So, Léon practiced the first one and a half years on this "instrument" before getting a real drum.
After some 7,5 years in the drummer corps, he wanted more.  He had been asking his parents for a drum kit from the age of 12.  Because they had (and wanted to keep) good neighbors, his parents wisely refused.  But then Léon turned 16, an age when parents’ opinions are much less important.  Without informing his parents, Léon simply went out and bought a drum kit himself, installing it on the landing at home.  Luckily, when his parents found out, he was allowed to keep it!  (So, all of you who are still living at home with parents who forbid you to start drumming--just go out and buy your own drum kit.  It’s OK.)
From that time on Léon practiced as if his life depended on it; every free moment was spent drumming.  With a headphone on,  he played along as much as possible with Genesis and Phil Collins; actually, Phil Collins was his drum teacher.
Later on, Leon was inspired a.o. by John Bonham and Billy Cobham.

After sitting in with some people to find out if playing in a band was what he really wanted to do, he began drumming in his first real band.  The band was made up of a group of friends, and they called themselves "Daddy Long Legs". 
He played folk/rock for about 2,5 years then started organizing live band gigs for Take One in Gennep.  At one point in time, he arranged jam sessions for local musicians, joining in as well.  

Out of these jam sessions, a new band arose:  "Red Stuff", playing hits from the 60’s and the 70’s.
Red Stuff began playing more and more music from Led Zeppelin; thus, a new Led Zeppelin tribute band called "Physical Graffiti" was born.  Léon played in this band for 5,5 years, mainly in the Rock scene in Germany, but also in Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Austria.
The most impressive experience for Léon thus far was the "Bonesfestival" in Germany where Physical Graffiti played in front of a crowd of 15.000 people.
And now, a long and cherished wish comes true: a Blues band.

leon@bluemonday.info to E-mail Léon.