An Interview via e-mail with Cinderella's Drummer 'Fred Coury' Completed between 2nd and 4th January, 2005 Questions by Glenn Milligan
What initially got you started playing music? I started playing violin at age 5. It was probably due to my father and mother always playing Violin and piano together constantly. Do you still play violin and trumpet from time to time, since they were the first two instruments you played? What did you used to play on them? I still do once in a while. I played everything from Vivaldi to Chuck Mangione. What was it about Keith Moon in particular that turned you onto the drums, as opposed to other drummers at the time? Nothing. I wasn't a moon fan until later in my playing years What type of band were Sunjammer? Did you do many gigs? What were the stand-out points of the band ? Why did you break up? Did you record anything? It was just a rock cover band. We started doing some originals but I wanted more out of a band so I left. I think we did record a few things. I'd love to find those tapes. What is your favourite type of kit and sticks? Drum Workshop Drums and Pro-Mark Sticks How did you become to be a member of Cinderella? Eric Singer called me one day and asked if I wanted to audition for a Band Called Cinderella. I made the call and they sent me all the songs from Night Songs. They asked me to learn 4 songs in a week. I charted them out and learned all ten by the next day. When I called them back they didn't believe me and said "OK, come to philly tomorrow. I did and played the songs exactly as they knew them. They had one more person to audition and then I got the call from Eric Brittingham saying that I was in the band! Who would you say are your other favourite drummers and why? Everyone that I hear. Because I learn from everything. Good and Bad Have any new drummers grabbed your eye of recent? Josh Freese is quite amazing at any style Which Cinderella songs do you like performing most of all and why? Night Songs, the Last Mile, really all of them. What have been your favourite Cinderella albums and why? Night Songs is my Fav.! It just rocks. The others are amazing too but that one sounds like crap but is just pure rock through and through How did it make you feel when you broke through with 'Gypsy Road' ? In the US that wasn't the breakthrough. I started here from the very beginning with 'Shake Me' which wasn't even a single. It felt amazing. We really didn't know what was happening, we just kept touring non-stop. What have been your favourite support and Headline Tours? Support was Bon Jovi and Headlining was Long Cold Winter What have been your best happenings on the road that you can talk about? Best would be just being on the road. I feel so blessed to even have that opportunity year after year! What got you involved in re-mixing 10 of Marilyn Monroe's Greatest Hits as it's quite a jump from Cinderella? I have been mixing records for quite a number of years, Brian Perera from Cleopatra records asked if I knew how to remix (dance, chill, techno, etc.) Of course I lied and said yes. Soon there after I was getting remix tracks from him and I just started doing them. The first ones were absolutely horrible but then I found my niche. I have since done Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Flock of Seagulls, Information Society and a handful of others. I even have an Electro-Clash record out called EFFCEE "Perfect" How did you get involved in Video Mods on MTV2? I have been acting for the past 10 years. My agent called and told me about an audition for "motion capture" for an MTV2 show called video mods. I auditioned and got it. I had to wear a motion capture suit with reflectors on it and just pretend like I was playing live. It's what they do for video game characters. So, I'm a few different popular video game characters playing in a band. I have been re-cast for the new season as well. Tell us a bit about the band 'American Avenue' whose album you've been mixing ? How did you get involved? They are a lot like Yellowcard. I did it for the UBL/Rock DIY label. I don't know if they will get released but they are a great band. I didn't produce but I did mix it. What other hobbies and interests do you have outside Cinderella apart from mixing? I tornado chased for four years while I lived in Tennessee and I play a lot of tennis. I also love to act so acting has become somewhat of a priority. What are the best and worst things about being in Cinderella? Best things are-being in Cinderella. Worst are -- uh, nothing! Do you ever do drum clinics? If so, what are your thoughts about them? Thinking about doing them this year What do you miss about the heyday of the big hair 80's Rock Scene? Any good stories? Great stories but I don't know you! I can't tell! Which other bands did you like to hang out with? Motley was my favorite. Anytime I would have a break, I would go out on the road with them. All fun, All the time! What are the best compliments you have been given? I never get compliments. That was modest wasn't it? If you had the chance, what other drummers would you like to meet and perform with and why? Neil Peart. He is in a class by himself. Apart from Rock, what other styles of drumming do you like top play and why? R & B, it's all about the groove What are the band up to at the moment - I heard a rumor floating round that Cinderella had split up? Cinderella will be touring this summer headlining the Rock Never Stops tour with Ratt, Quiet Riot and Firehouse. What can we expect of Cinderella in 2005 - albums or otherwise? Touring Will you be coming to the UK in the near future at all? We're
trying to get there this year! Cheers Fred for answering the questions. Special thanks also to Ron Arold (Fred's Webmaster) for setting it up. |
