When I was four years old, I had a pair of long, round pillows that I loved to hit with wooden spoons, trying to mimic the drum parts I heard on my parent's records. At age 6 (maybe 7?), I heard the song «Tom Sawyer» by Rush on the radio, and my life was changed forever! I had never heard drumming like that, and I knew at that moment that I wanted to be a drummer. Luckily for me, my parents were very supportive- they got me a small drum kit, and I began taking lessons.

Thirty years of drumming later, in 2012, I got a phone call from my long-time friend Barry Brostrom- he was doing sound for Ritchie Blackmore, and they had a European tour coming up in just a few weeks. Due to some odd circumstances, they were without a drummer! I quickly uploaded my first-ever video to YouTube, shot in my basement as I played along to two of the songs by Blackmore's Night. Two days later, Barry and I drove to Long Island, NY, where I met Ritchie and auditioned for the band... and three weeks after that, I was on a plane to Germany with 40+ new songs swirling around in my head! It was a trial by fire!

The thrill of being on the road and playing live music is one of my life's greatest joys. I love traveling and meeting new friends! I've found that there is a connection between the audience and the musicians that creates an exchange of energy; on good nights it has a profoundly positive effect on everyone involved, sometimes even to the point of spiritual elation!

Simply put, music is good for the soul!

David Keith (Drummer for Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow)
Ludwisburg, Germany, 06 October 2018Follow

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