User:Ted Parsons Drummer

Ted Parsons

In the annals of modern music, the drummer is typically relegated to a support role in the background—if not entirely replaced by a machine—but not so for sticksman Ted Parsons, who has carved his own unique niche in the world of beats. Known for his metronomic precision as well as for that inimitable funk “swing,” Parsons has proven himself as versatile and dynamic a musician as anyone who has ever beat the skins. After 25 years of entertaining audiences around the planet, his longevity in this fickle business attests to a mastery of technique, and ability to adapt to diverse sounds and styles.

Born and raised on the north shore of Massachusetts, Parsons picked up the drums in elementary school when he joined the school band. By high school, he was starting his own bands, covering the popular rock music of the day, which included everything from  60s pop to 70s Rock to Punk and New Wave. When he went away to art school at Pratt Institute in Brookyn, he became ensconced in the New York City’s downtown, post-punk/no wave scene, which dramatically expanded his musical horizons.

In the mid-eighties, Parsons was among the vanguard of drummers who pioneered an aggressive, militant, rhythmic assault that not only became the sonic signature of industrial music and metal of that era, but also went on to inform later trends such as drum n’ bass. Starting out with NYC noise merchants, Swans, a seminal underground act, he eventually found himself in the original line-up of Prong after answering an ad in the Village Voice. Regulars at CBGBs, this metalcore outfit was signed by Epic/Sony on their way to becoming a globally lauded act, who were constantly on the road.

When the band was eventually dropped by Epic after their sixth album, Parson’s story might have ended there, but he rebounded, returning to his underground roots. He joined Justin Broadrick’s outfit, Godflesh, to make Hymns (2001) as well as 1 other album, and became a part of Broadrick’s other project, Jesu. In addition to touring with Godflesh he was also invited to do a 2003 world tour with Killing Joke, whom he cites as big Paul as a huge drum influence. During this time, Parsons also started playing or collaborating with a whole host of artists including Jim Thirwell’s Foetus Corruptus, Ray Manzarek, Bill Laswell, Keith Levene (PIL), BucketHead, Jesu, Damo Suzuki, NIC, Treponem Pal, Project Paper Clip, Scotty Hard, WordSound, Eraldo Bernocchi ,Mettallic taste of blood and many more. He also strayed into experimental dub, co-producing Teledubgnosis, with partners Jason Wofford and Greg Grinnell, and NIC in Dub with Necessary Intergalactic Cooperation.

After meeting the love of his life Tonje, Parsons also relocated to Oslo, Norway in 2000, and has been living there ever since. When he is not collaborating with musicians from all over the world on various independent projects, he gives drum lessons in his new hometown.  Parsons has gotten back to his first love visual art .He continues to draws and paint in Norway .                 See his Art and Music @  tedparsons.net

http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/01/ted-parsons-interview