Hey everyone! Wow, here we are in 2011. First of all, Happy New Year to you all! I haven't updated my site in a long time due to being crazy busy over 2010 and early 2011. Last year flew by... It was a busy year for me in 2010 and it looks like 2011 is going to be busier!!! Lots of exciting news in this update... I've had a dream come true, tour dates being announced, a new DTP record that I recorded drums on along with other albums coming out and much more...
First of all, I am very proud and honoured to say that I will be on the cover of Drums Etc... Canada's Drum Magazine, along with a full feature interview inside! This issue is officially out today - March 1st, 2011 and will be on stands until the end of April, 2011. The interview with me inside the magazine discusses my career with Devin Townsend, playing with my side bands Terror Syndrome and Ten Ways, my influences, teaching, my approach to drumming and much more. This has been a dream of mine since I was a little kid playing drums, to be on the cover of a Drum Magazine. To have it actually happen for the first time is surreal, exciting and very fulfilling.
You can see and read the whole magazine which I'm featured in at this location http://www.muziketc.ca/en/welcome_en.aspx You can also pick-up the magazine at music stores throughout Canada as well. I hope you enjoy it! HUGE thanks to Sofi and Ralph from Drums Etc... for approaching me to do the interview and cover feature. Bruce Wittet who interviewed me for 1.5 hours, what a great guy. Big thanks to all my endorsements, Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Regal Tip Drumsticks, Evans Drumheads, Trick Pedals and Audio Technica for their continued support. Lastly a special thanks to Peter M. at Pearl Drums for his big support which helped make this happen as well.
I recently took part in recording the brand new Devin Townsend Project album 'Deconstruction' in November 2010. I split drum duties with blast master and drumming buddy - Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork). The whole session was very inspiring from hearing what Dev came up with to watching Dirk lay down some amazing, fast and insane drum tracks. I played on more of the progressive, slammin' heavy stuff with a few fast parts thrown in for good measure, while Dirk handled the crazy blast beat/grind stuff. I'm very proud of my drumming and everyones contributions on this record. 'Deconstruction' is an album you will want to hear for the originality alone. I can honestly say there isn't another record out there you could compare this to. It's very original/versatile music while being heavy and intense. Devin has done it again and there are some amazing guest appearances on it too. To find out even more about the record got to www.hevydevy.com This album will be out in Summer 2011. Stay posted for an actual release date and more news on the record.
As of March 3rd, I will be back on tour with the Devin Townsend Project . We will set out on our first tour of 2011 by doing a headlining tour of Europe for close to 5 weeks. We will be starting in the England and playing shows in countries like France, Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Holland and many more. You can see all the tour dates on my TOUR page. I look forward to seeing our European friends on tour, we have a ton of material ready to play for this time out in Europe. Can't wait!
I have updated my Media section with new videos for you all to check out. I have some new Drumcam videos along with a Evans video interview I did regarding the skins I use live and much more. Go to my MEDIA page to see all the new videos! I'll be adding new Drumcam Videos when we finish this upcoming European Tour as well... Stay posted!
As for Drum gear... I've added three new Sabian Radia Cup Chimes to my cymbal collection. These are amazing cymbals that have cool sounds for dynamic parts in the various music styles I play. Check them out HERE!
Lastly, I recently did a couple session here in my hometown of Vancouver, BC, Canada. I recorded the new full length album for TheMightyOne... I also recorded their first album as well. If you want some straight up, catchy radio rock music, check these guys out. I also recorded a couple tracks for local artist Andrew Conroy at the luxurious Armoury Studios (Downtown Vancouver). This is more a Pop/Punk type of album that I took part in. Again, very catchy and fun. It's nice to play on different styles of music and record music that isn't just progressive or heavy. I have much more to offer as a drummer than just one style of playing and to all of you drummers out there... Remember... it's important to be versatile and to try and have your own style. You'll get more work as a session player as a result and you'll enjoy drumming more too!
There's my first update for 2011! I'll keep you posted on the DTP's many tour dates coming up in 2011 along with more RVP Drumcam videos, tour pictures, sessions and much more regarding my future. Things are going amazing in my career right now and I plan on making them even better! Thanks for your support everyone, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the people who support me and believe in me and the DTP!
All the best,
RVP
Hey everyone, Lots of really cool news for you in this update! First of all, I have a big announcement regarding teaching drums. I officially will be teaching private drum lessons out of Long and McQuade Music Education Centers starting on September 7th, 2010. Long and McQuade is the biggest music store chain in Canada and a very reputable company. I'm honored to be working with such a great company dedicated to musicians of all ages. To book drum lessons with me, just click HERE and it will take you to their contact page for rates and scheduling times. I will be teaching out of the Vancouver and Port Coquitlam Stores and maybe more stores down the road. Please take note that I can only teach a limited amount of students due to my recording and touring commitments with the Devin Townsend Project, so first come first serve!
A couple studio updates... I will be one of two drummers drumming on Devin Townsend's upcoming 'Deconstruction' album. Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork) will be the other drummer involved on this record. It'll be an honor sharing drumming duties with Dirk and I'm really looking forward to recording the record and hanging with Dirk. No date has been confirmed yet for when we start the recording but I'll keep you all posted when it's announced. I'll also be recording a full length album for the band TheMightyOne. I recorded their first album and they will hire me again to record their second record. I've finished pre-production on the record and will be recording the album sometime in September 2010.
I've released a ton of RVP Drumcam videos for you all to check out. They were taken from various Devin Townsend Project tours in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe during 2010. Go HERE to check out the videos and to see what I see when I play and how I play various songs with the DTP. I'll keep on updating the Drumcam videos in the future after more tours are complete.
As for touring, I will be on tour with the DTP again in October and November throughout the USA and Canada. This will be a headlining tour for the DTP. We did a tour earlier this year supporting Between the Buried and Me with Cynic. This time you can catch a full 90 minute headlining set with the DTP and guest's. All the tour dates are currently being confirmed and announced at http://www.hevydevy.com/tours. Look for your city. Look forward to seeing you all on the road!
Thanks for all your support here at this website, at my Facebook Fanpage, YouTube Page, Twitter Page and my My Space Page. I love hearing feedback from all the fans regarding touring or anything I release or do. thanks, you ALL rule!
Best,
RVP
Welcome to the new and much improved rvpdrums.com website!
So much has happened over the past couple years in my musical career and my new website will get you all caught up to date on EVERYTHING including recent News to Tour Dates to Videos to MP3's to Pictures to Sessions and much more.
Here's a nice big update on my most recent happenings...
First of all, I have re-joined forces, playing drums (Live and Studio), with the one and only Devin Townsend in the Devin Townsend Project. I recorded the DTP album 'Addicted' in May 2009 and it was released world-wide in November 2009. The DTP are currently in the middle of a World Tour supporting 'Addicted' and the rest of Devin's Solo Material spanning over the past 15 years. We have already toured, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and we're about to leave to do a Festival/Solo Headlining Tour of Europe starting on June 20th, 2010. Even more tour dates will be announced for the remainder of the year, stay posted.
I also play drums in my recently created Metal band Terror Syndrome and another Progressive Rock band named Ten Ways. Ten Ways is playing a show on June 5th, 2010 at The Bourbon in Downtown Vancouver, BC, Canada. This will be a CD release party for the bands new album 'The Solution'. You can buy the new Terror Syndrome S/T Album HERE and the new Ten Ways album 'The Solution' HERE.
I'm still proudly endorsing Pearl Drums and Hardware, Sabian Cymbals, Regal Tip Drumsticks and Evans Drumheads. Within the last month I also just signed endorsement deals with Trick Percussion Pedals and Audio Technica Microphones. I've been searching for the ultimate drum pedal for years and I can honestly say I have found it with Trick Pedals.
Thanks to Mike Z and everyone at Trick Pedals for their awesome support. As for microphones, I've always wanted a consistent and powerful sounding drum sound live, Audio Technica Mic's have finally given me that ultimate sound for live purposes with their top notch microphones. I would like to thank Lana and everyone at Audio Technica/ Erikson Music for their amazing support as well.
One thing that I don't have on my new website is a Forum Community to keep up with all my fans and followers. Instead, I have created these brand new web pages for you all to keep in contact with me at as well:
I'll keep in touch with you all at these other web pages on a daily basis, unless I'm on tour... in which case I will try my best to keep up with you all depending on how hectic my tour schedule is from day to day.
I'm continuing to do Session Work, Drum Clinics and Teaching Private Drum Lessons as well. I will be taking on new students starting July 2010 when I get back from my European Tour with the Devin Townsend Project. To contact me for Private Drum Lessons in the Vancouver area, email me HERE. For Press related info, Interviews or anything else, go to my 'Contact' page and send an email to the corresponding email address provided. I'll return ALL emails ASAP or as soon as my free time permits me to.
Thanks for dropping by rvpdrums.com. I'll keep this site updated monthly to keep you posted on all RVP happenings. Thanks for your continued support. I have nothing but endless thanks to all of you for your support. You ALL rule! See ya' on the road!
Best,
RVP
