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 About
Spent the first twenty-three years of his life in Franconia (a ski town of about 800 friendly folks located in the White Mountains of Northern New Hampshire.) At age two he was finally introduced to the local culture of downhill skiing. This among other outdoor p ursuits occupied much of the young boys' psyche, that is, until the mature age of three-and-a-half when his good-hearted parents gifted him a plastic smurf drumset. Not only was banging on these things to make noise the most fun thing in the world, but performing on the sofa to a sold out living room was equally as addictive. With the rug now firmly pulled out from underneath his feet, the obsession seed was planted, and so established a third generation of Mead family drummers.
In school he followed the black dots on the page, but outside these walls he was free to create. And what better place to create than in the local bars with his guitar playin' buddies. Though he was only twelve at the time, his ability to rock-out was appreciated and the band received payment for their services. Ok so, play drums and people will give you money . . . yeah, that's the ticket! And so began his career as a professional musician.
At the time, continued education seemed like, well, a continued waste of time. However, the givers of the smurf drumset were insistent upon his progress and led him the way of a University education (he majored in “banging on things to make noise with people in front of you” and minored in “drawing pictures.”) Overall, a creative and fulfilling experience that miraculously ended with a piece of paper deeming this so.
Drumming in New Hampshire: no future, not happening. Packed his life into a pickup truck and headed west in search of gold (so he says.) After two months of four-wheel-drive accommodations he settled into a bungalow on the Southeast side of Portland Oregon. The rain was relentless and the ivy grew thick but the music community had much to offer. His schedule quickly gained complexity. By day he taught kids how to bang on things to make noise, by night he played a gig (or two) with whichever band hired him for his special rocked-out-ness. This was pretty much everyday for three years, a ton of work and good times, but the walls closed-in and he was ready for a bigger adventure.
Hmmm . . . Los Angeles, Nashville, or New York City? (smog, twang or sleeping in someones' kitchen for $800-a-month?). He opted for the breakfast-in-bed special and packed his life onto four wheels and pointed them east. Upon arrival to New York he signed up for more school (by choice this time) at the famed Drummers Collective as a way to ground himself and gain more knowledge still. Overall, a creative and fulfilling experience that improved his ability to bang on things to make noise.
Since then, Bill has been freelancing New York as a session musician. Live dates, tours and recording are his specialty. Anywhere from Monk to Meters, Marley to Moreira, or Mahal to Madonna are all commonplace. He prides himself on his groove, versatility, professionalism and good vibes. As one of the hardest working individuals you’re to meet, his character maintains an easygoing “grew up on the side of a mountain” kind-of quality that's hard to find in a New York City persona.
And so continues the outdoor pursuits and musical festivities, nothing here has really changed. On with the show!
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Some drummer
influences:
Richie Hayward
Steve Gadd
Jeff Porcaro
Jim Keltner
Carlton Barrett
Teo Lima
Russ Kunkel
Bill Stewart
Matt Cameron
Aaron Comess
Zigaboo Modeliste
Pick Withers
Jim Gordon
John Bonham
Roy Haynes
Brian Nevin
Billy Martin
Stewart Copeland
Charley Drayton
Anton Fig
Keith Carlock
Jeff Sipe
Chris Layton
Stanton Moore
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Some artist/group influences:
Steely Dan
David Byrne
Bob Marley
Steps Ahead
James Brown
Neil Young
Keith Jarrett
The Grateful Dead
The Aquarium Rescue Unit
Medeski, Martin and Wood
The Subdudes
Dire Straits
Moon Boot Lover
Van Morrison
The Meters
Little Feat
Jackson Browne
Guns N' Roses
Djavan
Traffic
John Browns Body
The Allman Brothers Band
George Clinton
Taj Mahal
Frank Zappa
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