Interview by Kris Peters
Gold Coast drummer CJ Nash is a man of many talents.
Drumming, of course, heads the list, but Nash also runs his own businesses Nash Management and BigNote Productions, plus moonlights as a band manager, promotor and muse.
The man is an enigma, a true gentleman of the scene and now he has decided to give back to a lifestyle and industry that has been the backbone of his existence.
On July 1, Nash will host a workshop entitled The Foundations Of Rock Drumming from which he will not only impart his wisdom and guidance upon others, but also share in tales of life on the road and as an integral part of the Australian music industry.
The first in what is envisaged to be an ongoing series of workshops, The Foundations Of Rock Drumming is an exciting opportunity to see the music world and its myriad of experiences through the eyes, talent and knowledge of just one small cog in the endless churning machine.
It is an opportunity to learn, grow, communicate and discuss the many wonders of music and couldn't be in the hands or minds of many better people in this country.
Big call, I know, but check out the interview with CJ himself to gain just a small glimpse into the excitement and tenacity that forms part of his DNA.
"For me to do this... I've had a career now for over 20 years. I was playing my first shows when I was about 13 years old," he measured. "When I say show, I mean cover band shows. Being in a pub rock band playing Elvis and Beatles tunes on a Friday night. Not being 18 they would put me downstairs in between breaks because I was under age and couldn't be up there, so I would sit downstairs for 15 minutes and do my homework (laughs) and then go back up. I've come a long way. I've achieved a lot in the industry, without trying to push myself up on a pedestal by any means, but I was a classical percussionist in a brass band. I've toured with a lot of really great acts over the years and been in a weird, eclectic group of bands and musicians and artists that I have played with over the past 20 years from being in marching bands playing the Shanghai Tourism Festival to playing Party Brass Bands in Switzerland to playing in masked metal bands across Australia to even being part of the 1000 Gongs Festival at the Australian percussion gathering and getting to play something ridiculous like a 72 inch gong. I've had a career with all of this, and I'm one of those people that does like to give back and share my knowledge. I don't really gatekeep any experience or knowledge I have had from anyone for that matter. I know that there are a few things that I can accredit to my success over the years, and probably the biggest one is having these foundations that have allowed me to adapt to essentially any situation musically that has been put in front of me. It's helped me to adapt and swim and not sink. Again, being the kind of person that wants to give back and help and give as much knowledge as possible, I feel the world of workshops is the best place to do it. I've had quite a big career and I feel like I'm at the point where I want to start being able to give back and really help that next generation of musicians and drummers that are coming into this strange post-covid world."
In the full interview CJ discusses the nickname The Pineapple Drummer, gives more of an insight into his history and what makes him tick, why now is the right time for him to host workshops, what he hopes people will get out of it, who he thinks it will help, what makes this one special, one of his stories of life on the road, the upcoming NuMetal Mayhem Tour he is a part of and more.