Derek Kerswill is a drummer who wears many musical hats. And he wears them well. A completely self-taught drummer who first picked up the sticks at the ripe age of 9, Kerswill is a deft, versatile skinsman who can adapt to whatever playing situation he finds himself in, thanks to the passion and intense heat with which he plays. Its as though his love for playing drums courses through his veins and is a vital part of his DNA.
Kerswill has worked with rock and metal bands as easily as he has worked with singer-songwriter types and pop musicians. Next to versatility, groove is the most key element of Kerswills style. Power grooves are his specialty. But Derek Kerswill does it all.
Before their disbandment, Kerswill anchored the kit in the critically lauded Massachusetts band Seemless. He also contributed to the writing of the bands music. Seemless played a current yet classic style of music that can only be described in one word: timeless. While Seemless was Kerswills primary band for many years, his deision to move on to a collaborative project with great friend, Dave Witham proved to come to fruition in the form of T A NG E N T S; a surprising breathtaking and beautiful project in the brit-pop influenced arena with such mainstays as Radiohead, Muse and even a hint of Sunny Day Real Estates most artful works . He is also actively involved in newer projects "Dead of Night", with Matt Bachand and Jon Donais of Shadows Fall and has been working on pre-production recordings with Doc Coyle of God Forbid and Tommy Vext, (formerly of Divine Heresy/Snot).
In June of 2007, he hopped into the drummer's seat with Massachusetts metalcore vets Unearth and lasted almost 4 full years with them, writing and recording what most say is one of Unearth's best recordings to date....."The March", which also landed him his second Billboard charting record in 2008 debuting at #42. In October 2010, he announced that he would be parting ways with the band due to "creative difference". No longer than 3 weeks after the split with Unearth, Derek was right back out on the road in Europe with hardcore/metal newcomers The Ghost Inside for their 25 date "Returners" headline tour.
Kerswills studio resume is equally impressive. Hes been called upon for the side projects of several of heavy musics most influential personalities. He worked on Icepick, the side project of Hatebreed singer, and former host of MTV2s Headbangers Ball, Jamey Jasta. Hes also worked on Kingdom Of Sorrow, a hotly anticipated collaboration between Jasta and Crowbar/Down's Kirk Windstein, whose debut record hit Billboard's Top 200 at #131 in February of 2008. He has also worked with Cave Ins Steve Brodsky, on the New Idea Societys album "You Are Awake Or Asleep". Brodsky is considered a musical visionary in some metal and indie rock circles. All these artists recognize the value of working with someone like Kerswill.
Further illustrating his versatility and ability to adapt to any situation hes put in, Kerswill, who is endorsed by Gretsch Drums, Meinl Cymbals, Gibraltar Hardware, XL Specialty Cases, Aquarian Drum Heads and Vater Drumsticks, played studio drums on Reborn, an album by glam metal act Stryper. And if any further proof is required, check his chops on the European release of Shadows Falls Fear Will Drag You Down.
Thrash. Pop. Classic rock. Glam metal. Post-hardcore. Indie rock. Studio sessions and live performances. Writing and playing music.... You name it, and Derek Kerswill does it all! If all drummers were this vast in scope and style, it would be a drummers world. Thats what makes Derek Kerswill one of modern rocks most notable up and comers and a model to inspire future drummers of the world.
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