Alec Wheatley got his first drum set as a rental from Zone music in Cotati, CA at age 12. A few months later he and a couple friends started their first band in his garage. About a year later they had their first paid gig, playing his friend's bah mitzvah. By 14 he was playing for a professional band, playing fairs and venues all over Sonoma County, CA. He played in a number of professionally gigging bands throughout high school spanning a wide breadth of genres. He says: "My favorite band from that time was called The Silver Lining, formed during my last year at high school." A couple years after high school he took some time away from professional music to go to college, getting his bachelor's degree in philosophy from UC Berkeley while playing in the jazz combos on campus. After graduating he spent 3 months in Japan living above a dojo, studying Aikido and Katori Shinto Ryu. "Japan is all about miniature things and vending machines... and green tea... and zen gardens" Alec says. In May of 2009 he joined Mystic Roots, his first time playing in a reggae band. "I love the challenge of learning to play a whole new style of music," he says. Currently he is enjoying getting paid to travel around the country, playing music and going to shows. "There's so much great music we get exposed to....especially when we open up for the reggae legends," he says. What's next? "I'd really like to go tour Europe, I think they'd get a kick out of our sound." Until then he'll keep working on his one drop, and is sure to be playing a town near you soon.
Favorite drummers: Carter Beauford, Mitch Mitchell, Stewart Copeland, Jose Pasillas and Dave Weckl.
Favorite philosophers: Hume, Lao Tzu, Alan Watts, Plato, and Morihei Ueshiba
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©2003