Jerry Gaskill

Jerry Gaskill
Born	December 27, 1957
Instruments	Drums
Associated acts	King's X

Jerry Gaskill (born December 27, 1957 in Bridgeton, NJ) is an American rock musician who is the drummer for the progressive metal band King's X.

History

Gaskill has been interested in making music and playing drums for as long as he can remember. His father bought him his first drum, which was a snare, at the age of 4. From there, he pieced together a full kit.

He grew up in a very musical family with both his dad and brother being guitar players. The three actually started an all-instrumental band called Jerry and the Knights. Gaskill played his first bar gig when he was seven years old with this group and was paid $2 for his efforts.

Jerry and the Knights played at different functions such as talent shows, wedding receptions, parties and so on until his mid-teens. He then joined a local band called Frog Ocean Road who he had admired. Gaskill played with them until he was 18, at which time he had a self professed "Born Again" experience. He then became involved in the local Christian music scene playing at churches and jamming with other like-minded musicians.

In 1978, Gaskill decided to attend Evangel College in Springfield, MO. and moved there with the intention of becoming a Biblical Studies major. He never lost the musical bug and was quick to involve himself in the local music circles. He was soon introduced to singer Greg X. Volz who was putting a new band together and asked Gaskill to participate. They also asked bassist Doug Pinnick to move to Springfield and join the band. Pinnick accepted, but a month after his arrival, the project fell apart.

Gaskill was soon asked, along with Pinnick, to join the Phil Keaggy band (presumably through Keaggy's previous work with Volz) which they accepted. He went on a national tour with Keaggy for about a year. During the bands show in Springfield, Gaskill was asked by a member of the opening band if he would lend them his drums. That person happened to be Ty Tabor who was filling in for the drummer who had quit the band the night before.

At one point, Gaskill became involved in a demo project for the Tracy Zinn Band that had Tabor as a member. The two hit it off and were later involved in other projects together.

After the Keaggy job, Gaskill and Pinnick (who had also been jamming with Tabor) decided to try getting their own band together. The group was rounded out by Tabor and guitarist Dan McCollam. They called themselves The Edge which eventually morphed into King's X several years later.

Gaskill has enjoyed a long and storied career with King's X and continues with them to this day. The album Gretchen Goes to Nebraska was based in part on a story that he wrote. He has appeared as lead vocalist on 3 King's X tracks and is an integral part of their famous 3-part vocal harmonies.

He has 3 sons, 2 of which are also involved in music.

Projects

In addition to King's X, Gaskill has performed on the albums Let It Go by Galactic Cowboys, Redline by blues guitarist Jay Hooks, Ty Tabor's solo album Safety, Black Sugar Transmission's 2007 debut album (helmed by Andee Blacksugar, who also played guitar in Jerry's solo band in 2005) and Doug Pinnick's Poundhound albums and Supershine project.

Gaskill released a solo album, Come Somewhere, in April 2004. He sang all lead vocals as well as performed all drum, acoustic guitar, and some electric guitar tracks. It was produced by and featured his King's X cohort Ty Tabor, and was recorded at Tabor's Alien Beans Studios.

Gear

Gaskill has in the past used Yamaha drums, and Pearl drums. Currently he uses GMS's SE line of drums. His current set-up is: 9" x 12", 12" x 14", 14" x 16", and 18" x 22". He is using a matching 5.5" x 14" SE snare. Gaskill has endorsed Paiste, and used their cymbals since May 1990, and currently endorses Evans drum heads. He also uses Vater 5B Nylon sticks.

Complete discography

King's X

• See the entry for King's X here

Solo albums

• Come Somewhere 2004

Guest appearances

• Poundhound - Massive Grooves... 1998
• Galactic Cowboys - Let It Go 2000
• Supershine 2000
• Poundhound - Pineappleskunk 2001
• Jay Hooks - Redline 2002
• Ty Tabor - Safety 2002
• Black-N-Blues-The Sale video 2005
• Bob Burger - Surprise Party 2006
• Black Sugar Transmission 2007

External links

• Official site
• Jerry's Myspace page
• Site francophone, Accessed on July 24, 2006.
• Review of Come Somewhere @ The Phantom TollBooth

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Name	Gaskill, Jerry
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Date of birth	December 27, 1957
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