Age: 31
From: Toronto, Ontario.
Current Band: Merkury Burn
Previous Bands: Jane Doe, Jezebel, Maidenstone, Venus Envy.
Website: www.merkuryburn.com
Email: c.marchese@sympatico.ca
Discography: "Rumours of Our Death" Merkury Burn/2002, "Suburban Porn" Merkury Burn/2001, "Two and Two are One" Jane Doe/1997.
Favorite Beats/Licks: Anything programmed by the Chemical Brothers, Anything by Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins), "Poor Tom" Led Zeppelin/John Bohnam (the song has an awesome drum lick).
Favorite Sticks: Zildjian 5Bs
Left or Right Handed: Right

One of the founding members of "Jane Doe", Cathy Marchese now creates "hard and loud" rock beats that ably drive the gritty, punchy rock music of Merkury Burn.

A Toronto-based band, Merkury Burn have just released their third CD, "Rumours of Our Death". With no illusions of fame and grandeur, the band prefers to play smaller venues to their ever-increasing fan base. Cathy explains, "I'd/we'd like to explore different cultures and countries and eventually do some extensive touring in Europe down the road," but for now you can catch one of their live gigs in Toronto at venues such as The Tequila Lounge and The Bovine Sex Club. (Gig listings can be found on their website at www.merkuryburn.com, as can copies of their CDs "Suburban Porn", "Versatile at Parties" and "Rumours of Our Death.")

Growing up in a generation where it has been more "acceptable" for females to play drums, Cathy's experiences have been different to those who have gone before her - but maybe that's because of her headstrong, can-do attitude more than anything else.....

DG: What inspired you to play drums, and how old were you when you started?
CM: Actually, I started tippity tapping when I was four years old. At age eleven, I decided I would attempt to "make" my own drum kit, which I did out of boxes, cheese crates and paint can lids, nailed to poles for cymbals. My parents got me my first drum kit a year later.

DG: What was your first kit?
CM: My first kit was a sparkly blue 3 piece no name piece of c*** that had the worst cymbals in the world. But you know, it was my piece of c***. Every time I would hit the cymbals, they'd fly off and I'd have to step on them because they'd be turned inside out. The damn kit was my pride and joy at the time, I loved it.

DG: How did you learn to play?
CM: Initially, I would either pop a record on and play along to stuff like Duran Duran or the GoGo's. Once I figured out how to keep a beat, I would jam with some of my friends who played guitars or whatever instruments were around. That's when I discovered getting into Motley Crue, AC/DC and Judas Priest.

DG: What kind of kit do you play on now?
CM: Now I'm playing a four piece Pearl Custom Z Bird's eye Maple kit. I also use both Zildjian and Sabian cymbals.

DG: What style of drums/percussion do you play?
CM: Mainly rock, hard and loud, always. I've been dabbling into different styles lately including some ska, reggae, hard funk, that sort of stuff. I'm also experimenting with drum loops and sampling, coming up with some complex beats and playing along to them.

DG: Have you ever taken lessons? If so, where? Would you recommend lessons to others?
CM: I took one lesson and the guy was a total moron. I made the mistake of playing one of the cheesiest beats which was, "We're Not Gonna Take It" by Twisted Sister (you know, the one with the cowbell) during one of our breaks. He heard it, didn't recognize it but loved it. He then made me play it over and over again while he charted it out. It was bad, I walked out.

DG: Who are your current influences?
CM: I'm currently digging Matt Cameron (ex Soundgarden), Jimmy Chamberlin, and Eric Kretz (Stone Temple Pilots) as far as kit players are concerned. I'm really getting off though on stuff like the Chemical Brothers and the Prodigy as well.

DG: How do you carry all your equipment?
CM: On my head. For real? I get all my friends to help me out, they're pretty cool with that, as long as everything is packed in there appropriately.

DG: Do you get intimidated when you go in a drum store?
CM: Never, never have actually. I tend to be the one who intimidates.

DG: Name your favorite drummer and describe his/her best qualities.
CM: My favorite drummers tend to change daily, depending on what's in my disc player and what my mood is like. Right now, I'm listening to Jimmy Chamberlin. Awesome technique, attack and drum fills. Powerful, I love it loud and hard.

DG: What do you believe the drummer's role is in a band?
CM: The drummer's role is really to keep it all together, steer the train so to speak (not to sound cheesy).

DG: What was your best comeback to an ignorant comment about your drumming?
CM: If some turd says something like, "Not bad for a chick," I usually just ask them, "Who's the chick?" I've never really had to deal with ignorance, maybe I just don't hear nor pay attention, honestly, I can't be bothered.

DG: When a man asks you if you need help carrying your drums, what do you say?
CM: To get his hands off my goods or else…

DG: Do you think being a woman in a male-dominated profession has been a help, a hindrance, or neither? Why?
CM: I just love playing so whether it's male dominated or not, I've never really allowed that to dictate anything.

DG: Was there ever anything that kept you from playing?
CM: I ruptured my achilles tendon a couple of years ago while playing squash so basically I couldn't play for 5 months. That practically killed me. I was super bitchy those 5 months, let me tell ya…but I recouped. Did tons of exercising. I was determined to get better, quicker. I was in the studio laying down drum tracks 6 months after my accident.

DG: How long were you playing before you knew this was the thing for you?
CM: Probably about 5 minutes.

DG: How long were you playing before you played a gig?
CM: I started playing at age 12, my first gig was when I had just turned 15. It was a battle of the bands in one of the local clubs. I attempted to order a drink after I was done playing and got asked for ID.

DG: Do you read music?
CM: Yup. I studied piano for 3 years where I learned most of my theory. In high school, I played the alto sax (cuz they wouldn't let a chick sit behind the kit). I taught myself how to read drum charts. I'm pretty rusty right now with that though.

DG: How did you improve your speed?
CM: Quit smoking.

DG: What drumming resources (stores, books, teachers, magazines, etc.) do you recommend?
CM: Watching videos of your favorite drummers. You get to see what's being hit and when, hand/foot techniques, drum notations on the screen, and you get to hear what things sound like all at the same time. I purchase drum magazines on a regular basis as well, I like to keep up with what's happening.

DG: What was the greatest compliment you've been given about your drumming?
CM: That my hair matches the colour of my kit. Seriously though, that I look fluid when I play but stab the audience with explosive fills that come out of nowhere. I like surprises and I like it when others do as well.

DG: What are your aspirations as a drummer?
CM: To get more tattoos and play 'til I'm 80. The band I'm in right now, Merkury Burn, is the best and most inspirational band I've been in so far. I'd/we'd like to explore different cultures and countries and eventually do some extensive touring in Europe down the road.

DG: What would you be doing if you weren't a drummer?
CM: I'd be selling shirts and hats on a beach in Mexico somewhere.

© April, 2002 Happy Mazza Media, LLC.
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