Street Drum Corps *Interview with Bobby*
Street Drum Corps
Bobby Alt
Adam Alt
Frank Zummo
Street Drum Corps (photo: Erin Broadley)
In a sea of crap that all sounds the same, you have to appreciate the originality behind the Street Drum Corps. For fans of STOMP! and other street-noise related acts, you will definitely dig SDC. Â However, even if you’re not into that sort of thing normally, you might be surprised at how they can reel you in with their intense sound. Â And thanks to an international tour with 30 Seconds to Mars, Street Drum Corps is now global! Â The tribal, almost evil beats are intoxicating in any language.
I got to speak with Bobby Alt, an original and full time member of SDC. Â Check it out!!
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Street Drum Corps
You started playing drums when you were 10 years old; yet this group only formed four years ago. Were you in a lot of other bands in between?
I moved to LA when I was 19 years old and immediately wanted to get out into the music scene. I took a look at the Percussion Institute of Technology and realized maybe sitting in a classroom wasn’t for me.. and I said, ya know what, I wanna get a job and get out there, meet some people.. so I met some guys when I was picking up a drum set to borrow, and from there I got introduced to LA clubs.  I met Matt Londe, who was working for Matt Hyde (produced Porno for Pyros), heard a group name Crumb was seeking a new drummer. So I auditioned, moved to San Francisco, did Lollapalooza, opened for Bush, Jewel and tons of great bands! From there, I moved back to LA and started my own group, The Devil Roosevelt, with my high school band mates from New Jersey. There, I met my manager who was managing System of a Down at the time, and he’s been my mentor and from then on! I got my first record deal with Warner Bro. with S.T.U.N., and we shortly  got dropped and signed by Jordan Schur at Geffen…. had a five year run and then I started the Street Drum Corp as sort of a side project to S.T.U.N., but it’s a side project gone wild. And now… six years later, this is my life!
Did you ever think you’d go from banging on pots and pans as a kid to playing the Warped Tour, Coachella, Projekt Revolution, and other famous festivals?
I absolutely believed 100 %! I’d dance around to Michael Jackson and all the oldies that my mom and dad listened to. I knew it was what I was going to do. I think music chose me, I didn’t choose music. A lot of hard work and dedication, believing in myself and surrounding myself with good people and passionate people. I was at the first Lollapalooza ever (Jane’s Addiction was one of my favorite bands).  Now, six years later I’m ON Lollapalooza. It shows if you believe and you build it, you will get what you want. Now I’m seeing younger kids that have come to S.T.U.N. shows, SCD shows, and writers I’ve done interviews with, like yourself! And now they’re working for big time magazines and companies,  so I’m getting to see it through them and these kids.
Is there anyone you haven’t played with that you’re just dying to get on stage with you?
Off the top of my head.. three that come to mind are Perry Farril from JA, Jay Z and Pharrell. Jack White is also one of my favorites, I’d love to have him come make some noise. Â I could seriously go on and on!
Pharrell
Has Bert McCracken ever puked on you?
He’s never puked on me but I just got off the phone with him! I talked to him then I talked to you. Never puked on me though…. I’ve actually never seen him puke and I’ve  known him for ten years.
How does your latest album differ the most from your debut album and earlier matieral?
Our first debut was just buckets, pots and pans… we’ve come a long way! It’s been a natural progression.  We kind of exhausted all the garbage cans. Being on tour with Linkin Park, The Used, 30 Seconds to Mars… our music has grown.
Do you think it’s easier or harder to be in a band with your brother?
It’s great! I’m glad I get to share these moments with my family, I wish everyone in my family could be in the group! There’s so many people involved with us, it makes it really special that I get to share the stage and create music with him. Even Frank now feels like a brother. One reason I wanted to be in a band when I was younger… wasn’t the style, wasn’t the sound of it, but it was the people that I’d do it with. It’s been one of my favorite things.
Frank Zummo oF SDC
Do you have any other music projects going on the side?
This is it. Full time Street Drum Corps. I live, breath and bleed SDC 24 hours day. It’s focus. I have been known to do a lot of different things at the same time, and I tend to. I look at my girlfriend who writes songs, has a bathing suit line, DJ’s and does movies, and she’s really successful. People do a lot of things, and I mean I do little things here and there cos I have a lot of energy, but my number one focus right now is SDC.
What was it like performing on American Idol?
It was a real honor. It was great to see how that big machine works and our label, Interscope, is involved in it; helping pick the talent that competes and so on. I loved being a part of it! We got to catch up with the people on the show, like Kara DioGuardi. We actually wrote a song with her in the beginning of our career. Plus, I really like a lot of the singers that come out of the show. I only started watching it last year. My girlfriend and I… that’s our show. We cuddle up with the dogs and watch American Idol! Toward the end of the season, I had seen every episode and then we got asked to do it second to last episode. So awesome.
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There are still THREE shows left in Los Angeles! So head over to THE ROXY THEATRE Â to catch Street Drum Corps with these special guests:
NOVEMBER 23: Â STEPHEN PERKINS (JANES ADDICTION), TONY HAJJAR (AT THE DRIVE-IN, SPARTA), JOHN SAWICKI & MORE. OPENERS INCLUDE CAROLINE D'AMORE
NOVEMBER 30:Â JACK IRONS (PEARL JAM, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), TONY HAJJAR (AT THE DRIVE-IN, SPARTA) & MORE. OPENERS INCLUDE STAB CITY
DECEMBER 7:Â BERT McCRACKEN (THE USED), IIAN RUBIN (NINE INCH NAILS), ZOE BONHAM & MORE.OPENERS INCLUDE ELECTRIC VALENTINE
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To learn more about the Street Drum Corps, check out:
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About the Author
Denise Borders 39, Los Angeles. Denise founded PWV in 2008 and remains the primary manager and photographer/videographer. She is not secretly obsessed with Joey Cape.
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