John Tourlos: drums, backing vocals

Confessions of a Drum Addict: It didn't begin as you might expect. I was in grade school when I saw a classical orchestra perform for the first time. I saw the timpani drums and was fascinated. I begged my parents to allow me to join the school orchestra and pay for timpani drum lessons. My mother said no and told me, If you want me to pay for music lessons, the instrument you are going to learn is the accordion. I was crushed, but the seed of an obsession was planted.

The addiction took over in high school when I discovered that cutting class and going to a friend's house to play his drum kit was more fun than studying algebra. I was hooked! Obsessed! I needed to play like John Bonham, Leonard Haze and Neil Peart. Even now, the addiction still grows, but it can no longer be satisfied by just playing along with records and copying established drumming styles.

I need to express and feed my addiction by creating, playing, and recording music. After playing in various groups, jam sessions, and other types of musical projects, I have found a home with the Slippery People. The diversity of musical styles we explore as a band allows my drum addiction to be sated.