From Viral Fame to Drum Legend: An Interview With The Mad Drummer
An exhilarating interview with Steve Moore, the Mad Drummer, as he shares how a viral video launched his career and offers electrifying insights on commanding stage presence.
Steve Moore aka The Mad Drummer is a powerhouse of creativity. His unique style led to him securing sponsorships with Ludwig, Sabian, Evans, and Pro-Mark sticks.
Steve has since appeared at multiple drum festivals, where he has performed with Thomas Lang, Benny Greb, and Keith Carlock, to name just a few. He even headlined The Adams Drummers Festival in Belgium.
Your clip 'This Drummer Is At The Wrong Gig' went viral and got over 50 million views. Can you talk about how this happened?
At the time, I was playing with the band Rick K & The Allnighters. We were playing at an amusement park named Knoebels. Someone in the audience videotaped my performance and posted it on YouTube. I think it received a few thousand views, but nothing extraordinary.
Soon after, a different person uploaded the video again, however, they retitled it “This Drummer Is At The Wrong Gig.” And that was it! It exploded in a matter of weeks.
It wasn’t something that “I” did. So I can’t take any credit for it. The stars just lined up, and things happened the way they happened. I’ve never taken any of it for granted.
What opportunities came your way after this clip went viral?
There’s the obvious stuff: I was a guest on The Office on NBC. I was featured in an Advil commercial, as well as a few others. I was on The Bio Channel. I was on TV Total (Germany’s #1 Late Night Show) where I performed with the house band for 3 days—a lot of great stuff like that.
I performed in China at a huge event for New Year’s Eve (2024). I’ve also performed in Russia a few times, Belgium, Austria, etc. I’ve also had the honor of performing at some giant drum festivals, with some of the world’s best drummers. I don’t believe any of that would have happened had that video not gone viral.
However, I think the most important thing is, that it’s given me a license to reach out to people. Some people may not know me personally, but if you’re in the music business, you’ve likely seen that video at some point. So it’s a great icebreaker because a lot of people already know who I am.
Most of my drum endorsements are a direct result of someone helping me out, as a result of that video. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) put me in touch with Sabian Cymbals. Ray Luzier (Korn) put me in touch with JH Audio (in-ears). Brian Hitt (REO Speedwagon) put me in touch with Ludwig before I signed with Tama Drums. And then Jeff Bowders (Paul Gilbert) put me in touch with Tama, and Vater Drumsticks. I went from being Mr Nobody… to being Mr. Nobody with cool drum stuff!!! LOL It’s honestly helped me meet a lot of great people.
The audience doesn’t owe you a thing!!! It’s YOUR job to discover what excites them. So pay attention to them.
You have amazing showmanship and an incredible groove! What advice do you have for young musicians who want to have a better stage presence?
First off, you need to know when to NOT do it!!! My performance was intended to be funny. It was part of the show. So it worked. But if you do it at the wrong time (or wrong gig) you’re likely going to get fired!!! I obviously wouldn’t perform like that if I was playing for Alan Jackson. Well… I don’t know… it would be kinda funny. LOL, I’m joking. If the artist didn’t want it, then I wouldn’t do it. It’s that simple.
However, if you do want to step up your stage presence, I believe you need to own (or discover) who you are as a player/performer. Ask yourself: How am I different? What can you do, that someone else can’t (or WON’T) do? Let’s say you’re a very tall person. Don’t disguise it. Instead, find a way to appear even TALLER. That may turn into “your thing.” People will begin to talk about the TALL SINGER they like so much.
Also, watch the crowd carefully. They (your audience) will tell you what they like and dislike. You just have to pay attention! Don’t just punch a time clock. The audience doesn’t owe you a thing!!! It’s YOUR job to discover what excites them. So pay attention to them. Allow them to teach you something. I don’t believe you have to do anything crazy, but you need to connect with them in some way.
It’s really about personality. I believe people are drawn to “characters.” Some people like Superman, while others prefer Batman. But few people will ever talk about a guy looking down at his feet. So give them a reason to CARE about you.
Think about how great Ringo was. He swayed back and forth and smiled a lot. He didn’t have to go crazy. And people LOVED him for it. It became his calling card. He also played perfect parts for the song. That’s super important as well.
Speaking of playing parts, another key component is you MUST be able to play. That’s sort of a plus!!! LOL You might be the best entertainer in the world, but if your playing falls apart, all the thrills in the world aren’t going to save you. People want something to see… but don’t forget they’re also listening to you.
You appeared on the TV show 'The Office' what was this experience like?
It was truly magical. The cast, the crew, and even the folks at catering treated me like their friend. I felt like I was at summer camp. Everyone kept hugging me the entire day. What you see on the show is REAL. That energy is a real thing. They act the same way, even if the camera isn’t rolling.
I have to admit, I was terrified to meet James Spader. He can be extremely intimidating! He walked straight up to me, shook my hand, and introduced himself. Then began talking about big band (swing) music. We talked for 30 minutes or so. He was great, I enjoyed it. He’s a very intelligent man and knows a great deal about the music he enjoys.
Brian Baumgartner (the guy who plays Kevin) was a complete joy to be around. I never felt pressure from any of them. They really took me under their wing and guided me through the entire day.
Your drumming on the project 'Brick Mistress' is phenomenal! Can you talk about this project?
I really appreciate that. I loved being a part of that band. Unfortunately, the band dissolved many years ago.
I just wanted to play that track, because it was always fun to play.
Connect with The Mad Drummer
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About Magesh Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming DVD called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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