October 15, 2008 was the day American Math Rock band Don Caballero started their tour in Europe. On the fourth...
October 15, 2008 was the day American Math Rock band Don Caballero started their tour in Europe. On the fourth day of the tour Drummerszone.com hooked up with the 3-piece band to see the show and talk with drummer Damon Che about the new 'Punkgasm' album. But not only the album was topic of discussion; also the history of the band and songwriting and influences of the band. But with Damon Che, you can talk just as easily about apples as about music.
Drummer extraordinaire Damon Che was born as Damon Che Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is founder and band leader of Pittsburgh-based seminal instrumental super-rock outfit Don Caballero.
With exceptionally tight and fantastic chops, Damon Che is nothing less than a math-rock drumming octopus.
After Don Caballero Damon Che started a band called Bellini, which he then quit mid-gig, mid-tour. They're still going without him. Damon Chee has also released a few records as The Speaking Canaries in which he plays all instruments and sings, well worth checking out.
Che is notorious for his erratic and unpredictable behavior. Don Caballero's breakup was largely due to Che's on-stage outbursts and non-communicative nature. In a much publicized incident, he got into an argument with his bandmates in Bellini during an Athens show and proceeded to pack up his gear and drive the van to Chicago alone, leaving the others stranded.
Che reformed Don Caballero in 2003, with himself as the only original member. This new lineup completed several tours in 2003 and 2004, and released their CD World Class Listening Problem in 2006.
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Mike Alonso
