Bodo Stricker never ceases to amaze. Whether he is sporting a new signature crazy hairdo or his versatile drumming skills, he always makes sure that no one ever questions why he is called the Drumbeast.



At around 14 years of age Bodo took his first steps in becoming one of Germany’s best drummers when he filled in for the sick drummer at his local music school. He soon started to share his passion with his older brother Ulf, who is also a well known drummer. After many years of practice sessions in his parent’s basement in a small town near Düsseldorf, Germany, and all self-taught skills he decided to record his first cd.



Originally, Mr. Drumbeast started out as a jazz drummer, so naturally his first musical recordings had been situated in that genre. Several years later he discovered the band Primus, which has been one of his main influences and has helped shape his style of drumming. Bodo still credits Tim Alexander (and Vinnie Colaiuta) as his main role model.



He soon joined the band Absurt, which wrote similar songs and covered some popular Primus songs. While recording their first full length album, Bodo met his future band mates from Final Virus. Juggling more than one band at a time would become something he maintains until this day. With Final Virus he embarked on a 3-week-long tour of China, where they were much celebrated and played in front of more than 70.000 people at a local festival. Their Zappa-esque style of music has made them very well-respected among the German progressive music crowd and even earned them a gig at famous Zappanale festival in Northeastern Germany.



Having always enjoyed heavier music as well, “Bo” also joined the band Two Dollar Haircut from Cologne, Germany. There, he was able to act out his metal side. Over the past couple of years he had developed an interest in bands like Meshuggah and Slipknot and emulated drumming icons such as Tomas Haake (whom he also cites as a huge influence).



Eventually, he left all 3 bands and founded a new musical project called Last One Dying in 2007. Starting out originally as a spoof of the metalcore genre, the band soon became popular among the German metal community, so they went on to record their first EP. After supporting metal legends Sepultura and having been elected “demo of the month” by German "Metal Hammer" magazine, they recently recorded their first full-length album, which is slated for a Fall 2009 release.



However, Bodo would stick to his multi-band routine and decided yet again that one band alone wasn’t enough to be fully stretched. While touring with Last One Dying, he made friends with the guys in Callejon, a Cologne-based metal band with entirely German lyrics. When they needed a replacement for their old drummer in early 2008 they didn’t hesitate to call up the Drumbeast himself to do the job. So Bodo Stricker did. In a few months’ time they wrote songs for an entire album, signed a record deal with one of the world’s most established metal labels, Nuclear Blast Records (a division of Warner Music Group), and released their debut album “Zombieactionhauptquartier” in the Fall of 2008. The album received rave reviews among European rock music media and Callejon embarked on a sold-out CD-release tour. They also took part in the "Darkness Over X-Mas" tour and have continued to tour many sold-out venues of 1.000 fans and more per show.



Callejon have now established themselves among the elite of German metal bands. Bodo has been featured in a 4-page interview in the January 2009 edition of Sticks magazine and the band’s first video has been broadcast on television numerous times.



Bodo has become a role model for young drummers who are trying to emulate his lightning fast feet. Bodo’s name has now become synonymous with extraordinary double-bass skills and he constantly strives to be even better.



Over the past years, Bodo has also been a staple at Musikmesse Frankfurt, where he performs at the DW booth. In addition to DW drums, pedals & hardware and Zildjian cymbals he also endorses Vic Firth sticks and Remo heads. Occassionally, he also perfoms with his brother Ulf as the much celebrated drum duo "St(r)ick Brothers".



Due to his drumming skills ranging from jazz to metal and the success of his bands the future is bright for Bodo Stricker. He has proven that his unique and ever-changing look is more than just a crazy hairdo – it reflects his unique and eclectic drumming style, making him the true Drumbeast.