Derek Roddy comments

The whole thing with all us guys audition footage is....you’re seeing 5 minutes (of what some editor thinks.... is creating “drama” for reality TV)

If you notice.....all of the drummers with the exception of Mike was presented as if they had a “flaw” in their playing.....and that certainly wasn’t the case.

What you didn’t see are the 2 hours and 55 minutes of kick ass jams, tunes played exact, etc......each drummer had.

Another thing that needs to be considered in my case is.....

I auditioned for DT because I was asked.......not because I wanted to be the new DT drummer.

Too much commitment for me to stop what I have going on in my life.

I have a snake collection (over 100 animals) that has generated more income than DT would be able to pay me. For me to stop that.......would take a lot.

This drum thing is fun and all but, it doesn’t make up even half of my yearly income.

For me to consider that gig....meant I had to move out of a really big passion (and security) to do something......I’ve done already (touring) and am doing still through education and my own projects.

One of the questioned asked by RR was “how would getting this gig change your life”

My answer was.....“I’m not looking to change my life.”

That was a big shock to everyone listening! Haha.

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Then why did you accept the invitation to audition for them? Other than it just being a fun thing to do. Did they pay your plane tickets and living in New york while you were there?

like I said....because they asked.

If you’re a “professional” drummer.....

you have to go on things like this or you get the reputation of....”don’t bother calling Roddy....he won’t even bother coming”

So, you go to the audition.

Yes, they paid for everything. I was only in NY for 2 days so....I wasn’t living up there or anything like that.

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You dont happen to have a chance of getting hold of more audition footage of you?

I don’t...although, my section would be useless because of the missing audio.

The camera audio would have been OK .....if it wasn’t an “in ear” session. Meaning there was no room volume...other than live drums. Everything was in the ears....keys, bass, guitar, Franks voice.

So, for me....all you would hear would be distorted crappy sounding, camera miced drums. Haha.

They may have a plan to release some footage with the new CD but, haven’t heard anything.

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Looking the small part with you, Derek, it seems, to me, that they had understood that you did not want the job. And it must have hurt their pride in some ways... Maybe that’s why your segment is so small. They did not want to give you too much exposure because you were not waiting after them.

Good call.....

but, I believe my section was short because there was no useable footage. Haha.

You couldn’t hear us talking, couldn’t hear guitars, vox, bass, keys during the tunes....there was simply nothing to use that didn’t sound like distorted camera mics.

They actually respected the fact that I was the way I was.......one of them said to me...”at least you’re being honest”

Another thing as well.....some of the other drummers are pissed at the way they were presented in this Doc.....for example you got the feeling that Marco and Thomas WANTED that gig.....I know that they might have taken it but, they weren’t going to cry over not getting it.

In fact, one of them told me that it would destroy everything they loved about what they are doing with music. They couldn’t do outside projects, HAD TO be there for DT 100% of the time, etc.....that’s not something a drummer like Marco is wanting to do.....you know.

Would he have taken it?.....I can’t say that he would have....knowing him the way I do.

I believe the only drummers who actually wanted that gig was Mike......maybe Peter (haven’t spoken with AP)...The other guys....I believe were there because they were asked.

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I would have loved to play with them....from a musical point of view......it could have been incredible.

But, the commitment to them, for that amount of time... was something that each drummer had to reason with.

I just couldn’t see myself forgetting about everything else I love in life.....outside of music.

It simply wasn’t worth it to me personally. But, would still love to create some music with some of them....and that IS a possibility for the future.