Pete Wilhoit - Fiction Plane Drummer

Basic Facts:

Name: Pete Wilhoit

Home Base: Bloomington, Indiana

Education: University of Indiana

With Fiction Plane since: 2003

Q & A with Pete Wilhoit

How old were you when you started learning your instrument, and were there lessons or are you self-taught?

I started playing the drums in 4th grade. It was French Horn or drums, so come on, is that really a tough one.

First band memories?

Again 4th grade. It was me and a friend named Bill Maki (who had a drum set). We started listening to Beatles records and playing along. Him on piano and me on drums. We then started writing our own tunes and playing them for our classmates at school. We were called the Explosives. We were a huge hit at reccess and rainy days etc.

We've heard that you drove from Indiana to NY to audition for Fiction Plane - true?

Yes, 13 hrs.

Favorite FP gig to date?

That's a tough one. I would say right now it would have to be Moscow

Olympic Stadium in Russia. Pretty amazing. Such a huge venue and such an historic city.

What's currently rotating in your iPod? (We heard on InterFM in Japan that your iPod was new and blank; what did you fill it with?)

I filled it tons of my favorite older bands (Zeppelin, Police, Genesis, Rush, Doors etc.)

I would say the newest thing has been the Thom Yorke album, but my favorite latest is Death Cab for Cutie. Brilliant band, and amazing album.

Favorite place visited on this summer's tour?

Barcelona, Spain. It wasn't on the tour, but we spent a few days there for fun, and it was!

Favorite road story from this summer's tour?

There are quite a few, and some that I probably can't share (sorry), but there was a really cool moment at the end of the tour. We got to play "Next To You" w/ Sting and both bands, then Dan decided to stage dive. The crowd took him almost all the way back to the sound board! It was amazing, and Sting loved it. The crew said that is the first stage dive at a Sting concert they have ever seen. Funny.

Thing you miss most when on the road?

SLEEEEEEEEP!! It always seems like we are having to get up to catch a train or flight or bus. Shit, just let me get some damn sleep.

"If I wasn't in a band, I'd be...."

If my body would have lasted I would have been a baseball player.

You've recorded jazz, rock, and "lounge pop" ... which format challenges you the most?

Well each format presents different challenges. Jazz is much more of a personal expression on the drums, and that can be fun, but sometimes it's hard to get a take that everyone is happy with. I would say that can be the most difficult thing. You have to be really consistant with your choices so that you if the main artist is happy with

their take, you will be happy with yours.

Is there a comprehensive listing of all the bands you've recorded or played with? I've come up with Cutters, Gyrogenics, 3rd Man, BeebleBrox, Janiece Jaffe, Four Sexes, Kevin McCormick, Craig Brenner, Krista Detor...

There is no official list. Here are some more: Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers/Solo), G.E. Smith (SNL/Solo), Ari Hest (Columbia Singer Songwriter), David Moore (Warner Bros artist), Veronica Antico (French pop artist Sony Europe), Michael Brunnock (Irish singer songwriter), Lyle Workman (Sting- Broken music tour).

You're listed as a mentor for other drummers (i.e. Jeremy Strawn, who is now a teacher as well). What's the first thing you advise your students to do when they start drum lessons?

It all depends on what level they are starting at. If they are just starting out, it's important to make sure they are having fun. If they are already advanced I always ask them what they want to accommplish by playing the drums. Then we set realistic goals and how to acheive them. Really the most important thing is to inspire someone. They might not learn as much about the physical movements of playing the drums, but they may be inspired to want to do that like I was with Kenny Aronoff and Shawn Pelton.

[In other words, it's] more about getting someone excited about the possible future that being a musician can hold for them. For example, I have taken many many lessons from Kenny Aronoff, he is one of the most recorded drummers in history (go to www.kennyaronoff.com and check out his resume'). Sometimes in our lessons we would talk about musical situations or funny stories about famous artists, basically things that get you excited about the world of music and never even touch the drums or pick up a stick or open a book. To me, trying to make it playing an instrument means you have to be inspired enough to want to put in the LONG hours, and make the financial, personal scarifices that it takes to even stand a chance to make it. That's why the inspiration is the most important part, it's that spark that let's you believe the dream is really possible!