Welcome to James Butler's Place

 

Welcome to my site where I share what is going on in my musical life. I play the drums and have been playing for over 40 years. I started when I was 10 years old in the Baptist Children's home in Brentwood Tn. Below is a rough summary of my drumming career.

Back in 1972 when I was 14 I played in a band with Herman Cisneros, Buddy Bishop, Greg Eversole, and Eric Taylor. Buddy Bishop played rhythm guitar but had a drum set that he let me play. We played a few parties for friends and played a few gigs at the Rainbow Skating Rink in Tusculum and also the Rainbow Skating Rink in Bowling Green Ky.

I never really owned a set of my own until I was about 16 years old. It was one I bought for about 100 dollars at a pawn shop on Nolensville Road in Tusculum, I think the year was 1974. I played that set when I use to jam with Chris King, Steve Crutchfield and Ricky Reed out at Chris' house on Old Hickory Blvd.

The next time I played with the pawn shop set was with Kevin Turner, Richard Hamelin, and Steve George at Kevin's apartment in Hickory Valley Phase III in 1977. That was probably the first SLASH group.

Then I went on to play in other bands. In 1984, I got back together with SLASH. This time with Steve George, Richard Hamelin, Fred on bass. 

In 1985, 1986, I played with a band called Valhalla. Tim Bishop was the band leader and I have forgotten the other two members names. We played for Herman Cisneros memorial 4 of July party in 1986 for his widow Kaye. I use to have that on VHS tape but have since lost the tape.

In 1986 - 1987 played with a band called Axe-N-Hand with Scott Davis, Paul Faircloth, and Gentry Smith. We played several private parties, setins with other bands at local venues, and played for about a month every Friday and Saturday at Bumpers bar on Dickerson Road. 

In 1988 I mostly jammed with members of the Gallina band. I use to live with Todd Gallina out in Murfreesboro and was considered a backup drummer for Terry Gallina but I never actually got to fill in for him at any of their gigs. It was fun to jam with them though and we had quite a few parties at the house in Murfreesboro. A lot of good memories were made there. Really do miss Todd and Terry.

In 1994 I played with an oldies band and did one gig with them at a Motel bar on Spence Lane in Nashville. Don't remember the name of that band but I did not like playing old sixties music so I left that band.

In 1998 I was back with Steve George but this time the band was called Better Dayz. The lineup was Steve George, Tom Lyle from Gallina, Jerry Calvin from Majesty, and a female singer (I don't remember her name). We did all of the SLASH material that Steve had written over the years.

From 2000 till 2010 I did not play drums at all but everytime I listen to a song on the radio, I'm playing the drum part in my head. I never lost my ability to play cause I am always practicing drums in my head. I know, it sounds wierd, but that is the truth. I picture myself playing all the time. I guess its my form of day dreaming.

In 2010 I couldn't take it any longer and broke down and bought an electronic drum kit. I got a Roland TD4S V-Drum kit and a 500 watt Samson Expidition portable PA system to play it through. This is the rig I currently play at my church and now I am also back with Richard Hamelin again after all these years. This time it is Richard Hamelin Bass, myself on the Roland V-Drum Kit. Where will it lead from here? 

Now it is just Richard Hamelin and I looking for a lead and rhythm guitar player and singer front person and also having to write new material.