Mike Johnston

Mike Johnston profile

Name:

Mike Johnston

Band:

mikeslessons.com

Drumming since:

5 years old - 1981

With MEINL since:

March 25, 2011

Birthday:

October 15, 1976

Zodiac Sign:

Libra

Place of Birth:

Santa Monica, CA

Currently living in:

Folsom, CA

Favorite Food:

Fig Newtons

Favorite Drink:

Green Tea

Matched Grip or Traditional Grip:

Matched Grip

MEINL cymbal series used:

Byzance

Favorite MEINL cymbal:

Byzance 18" Extra Dry Thin Crash

Car that you currently drive:

BMW

Not counting on drums, what do you do for fun:

Astronomy / Physics

Teacher:

Steve Ferrone, Pete Magadini

Highlight of your career so far:

I would have to say the first time one of my students got a record deal. My dream for all of my students is for them to accomplish their dreams, so that was pretty amazing.

Drumming strengths:

Not sure if I have any drumming strengths. Everything in drumming starts out as a struggle for me. I would say that my one talent is figuring out ways to explain complicated drum concepts in a simple, tangible way that everyone can understand.

Drumming means to me:

Drumming means perseverance. Sitting down at the kit to work on something that I can't do, but knowing that if I just stay at it and chip away at it that I will get it, and then I will be able explain the process I went through to others.

Advice for up and coming drummers:

My advice would be to make as many drum friends as possible. Drummers are an amazing group of people and it would be a shame to miss out on some incredible friendships just because you were intimidated by another drummer.

How would you describe yourself:

MetroNerd: Metro because I care that my shoes match my shirt and because I get the hives in Home Depot. Nerd because I only listen to Astrophysics podcasts in my car. Fun Fact: The Albedo Factor is the amount of light a given surface reflects. Snow has the highest albedo factor :)

When I look back on my life one day, I would like to be able to say:

That drummers all over the world had a teacher/big-brother that truly cared about their success as a drummer and a person.