Marco Minnemann made his name as a drummer, powering bands led by the likes of Steven Wilson, Joe Satriani and Mike Keneally. But there has always been more to this strikingly versatile, German-born San Diego multi-instrumentalist — as hinted at by his varied involvement in 2013’s well-received Levin Minnemann Rudess.
Of course, Minnemann’s most ardent followers know that he previously laid down his sticks to create the 2012 solo effort Evil Smiles of Beauty/Sound of Crime. But last year’s high-profile trio collaboration with Jordan Rudess and Tony Levin opens the door to a whole new audience who, intrigued by his successes there, would like to hear more — not to mention those who never knew about his abilities as a singer-songwriting guitarist in the first place.
“I’m very happy to have the chance to be presented as a multi-instrumentalist — because that’s what I do,” Minnemann tells us, in an exclusive Something Else! Sitdown. “But, yes, I pretty much hang my ass out the window as a drummer most of the time. That’s what I’m doing when I’m touring with Joe Satriani, Steven Wilson, and those guys. They book me mainly as a drummer. That’s what I play live the most. But in the studio, people know me as a multi-instrumentalist. I’m very happy about that. But no, I don’t have any hard feelings is I’m only seen as a drummer — because I know the true fans, they do care.”
Check out this exclusive advance stream of the complex, driving “Soul Dance” from Minnemann’s forthcoming album EEEPS. Due on July 9, 2014, the album is (like Levin Minnemann Rudess before it) co-produced by Scott Schorr for Lazy Bones Recordings. The difference? EEEPS is a solo project in the truest sense of the word, with Minnemann writing all of the music and the lyrics, playing all of the instruments, co-producing and even serving as engineer and mixer on many of the songs.
You’ll never think of Marco Minnemann the same way again.
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