Kate Schellenbach started playing drums at the age of 14 when a family friend asked to store her drums at Kate's house. The only way Kate's mom would agree was if Kate was allowed to play them. Several years later Kate found herself drumming in The Beastie Boys. After recording the Pollywog Stew 7", one of the first New York Hardcore records, shle left. Kate on leaving:

"Why did I quit the Beastie Boys? I didn't want to rap and I didn't feel good about grabbing my dick."

After 10 years of playing, Kate decided she had a lot to learn. She names Paula Spiro as a great instructor and motivator. In an interview with drummergirl.com Kate reveils:

"I'd been playing for a while and basically learning by listening and copying what I heard. But then I kind of reached a plateau where I couldn't learn anything more … I was frustrated with my level of playing … You start meeting more and more musicians, and they're just like kicking your ass. Not that I'm competitive, but just, like, How come I can't really like do fills…time signatures, jazz, or blues?"

So Kate started looking through the "Voice" randomly at the music section. And there she spotted drum instructor Paula Spiro's ad.

"So I called up this drummer Paula Spiro, and we talked for like an hour... She was like, "Why don't you just come and check it out? … She was really open, she respected that I had been playing for years. She totally figured out where I was at … I was really nervous when I first went … She has this interest in honing your skills no matter what level you're at, even if you may never be a big-time drummer. She became a real mentor for me. She convinced me that I could do this as a career, if I really worked hard, that I could be one of the great female drummers..."

And look at Kate now: she is succesfully working as a freelance drummer recording and gigging in NYC for many years.



Kate Schellenbach has been responsible for the solid groove behind Luscious Jackson since 1992. She also recorded with Amy Ray of the Endigo Girls for her solo record which was released in 2001. Kate was the drummer for the NYC all-girl punk band, the Lunachicks, during the summer of 1992. She also worked with Wench, Hagatha, and The Slits.



Kate is also recording with Gabby Glaser, formally of Luscious Jackson and Atlantic Records recording artists, Dusty Trails.



Kate names filling in for Clen Burke playing for Blondie in 1999 as one of the most memorable musical experiences she had.