News:
Why?
When I checked out the internets drumming section, I found five (5) pages devoted to just one drummer (two, I think, was about Ringo Starr, currently the narrator of "Tomas the happy tank-engine and Friends"). Not one of these pages was devoted to any of the drummers I liked to refer to as even "fair". In my discontempt, I had to make the hard choice, of which drummer deserved a homepage the most. A lot of drummers was in my mind (none mentioned, none forgotten!), but the only one I could think of who have been a part of creating modern drumming, and still does, is the great Gene Hoglan. With the - maybe - greatest drumrecord EVER (City), he has proven himself more then worthy for the title as the worlds (if not gratest - ) meanest drummer. Gene is the meanest, fastest, tightest, most groovy, thrashy and technical pulse ever, and he even has a taste for new and up-coming things!
ALL HAIL THE NEW FLESH
Gene Hoglan faqs (from the SYL faq. Author: Mario)
This is one qustion I get alot; How big are Genes balls? I went to investigate, and found out that Danish ex-Invocator guitarplayer, "Perle" had found out, while holding a camera in his hand, daring their support to Dark Angel in 1992. Thanks to Søren Tingkær at Progress Records, for bringing this to my attention, and buy Invocators album, "Dying To Live" from the same label!
Gene Hoglan was born on August 31, 1967 in the Mexican Cantina in Dallas where his mother worked. Genes family means a lot to him. His sister, Lisa, was and still is the greatest inspiration to him. Genes Dad was in Mariachi band and Gene was born while Dad was on stage. Father claimed baby wasn't his: "no son of mine would be that ugly." Genetic background: Nordic, Mexican, Syrian, and native American Indian.
While growing up, Gene listened to: US AM top 40 from 69-76 first song bought - No One to Depend On - Santana album - Bill Cosby - I Started Out as a Child.
Started in the LA music scene by working with bands like great White, WASP, and hanging with Mötley Crüe. Gene was a crew member for Slayer, and did interviews with the band. He held Dave Lombardo's bass drums in place in the studio while he recorded 'Chemical Warfare'.
Place of residence - Long Beach and Byron's (Zimmers Hole & S.Y.L bassplayer) couch.
For some more private and fun stuff, visit Mario's S.Y.L FAQ.
Drumkits:
Dark angel:
Gene
plays all drums AND rhythm guitar on all the Dark Angel albums, unless
else is noted.
"Darkness
Descends" 1986
"Ultimate Revenge II" 1988 - Soundtrack, various artists.
"Leave
Scars" 1989
"Three Way Thrash" 1989 (Stand VCI Entertainment)
"LIVE Scars" 1990 (Relativity Records)
"Time
Does Not Heal" 1991 (Relativity Records)
"Decade
Of Chaos" 1992 (Relativity Records) - Compilation release
NOTE:All the Dark Angel Tracks are released by COMBAT/Relativity Records unless else is noted
Death:
As Gene Hoglan states in the interview this issue; "To a lot of people, we created death metal, so we can redefine it if necessary." And redefine it they do, though the changes aren't extreme. There are some intricate riffs in here, evident that there was MUCH time and effort spent in this newest release. The acoustic pieces in a song like "Empty Words" show a band that is willing to keep their albums fresh and invigorating. Even the brutal vocals haven't been toned down, and this time around Chuck Schuldiner utilizes one of my most favorite, but seldom used in death metal, effects: the echo! Yes, as if Chuck's voice wasn't brutal enough, the extended use of echo tends to make his bloodcurdling screams slowly fade from disc into your cranium! Once again, the lyrics are more tuned into the horrific reality of society than cheesy horror movies. Quite an outstanding release, even Gene Hoglan's drumming is top notch, as we all remember his outstanding work for the legendary Dark Angel.
There you have it! From the Vibrations of Doom magazine! Read the interview with Gene!
Death albums:
"Individual
Thought Patterns" 1993 (Relativity)
"Symbolic"
1995 (Roadrunner)
Naphobia
"Of Hell" 1995
Guested on the tracks "The UnGodly", "Technical Fool" and "As Anceints Evolve" while he was in Florida doing Symbolic.
After Death breaks up, Gene does a few guest appearances. These are a little hard to find, and I wouldn't be surprised, if a few came up along the way. Therefor, I ask you to send me a mail, if you have a clue to something he did. Thank you!
Strapping
Young Lad "City" 1997 (Century Media)
Testament
"Demonic" 1997
Gene did this album as a guest (like John Tempesta did with Low). He continues his new style, but there hasn't put as much time into the drumtracks or the production as SYLs album. The sound sounds a bit like it's recorded live.
Interviews and reviews:
An interview with Gene Hoglan while he was with Death can be found in Vibrations Of Doom #9 (just the interview)
The Dark Angel lyrics by Gene
An interviewer wrote this to the Dark Angel page:
Here's one fan's personal story about his encounter with Dark Angel's Gene Hoglan:
"I got to met Gene Hoglan and the rest of the guys a few years back. They were playing a show with Wolfsbane (they sucked) and Overkill at the Cubby Bear bar in Chicago. After Dark Angel played Gene sat down at the bar next to me, he said he hadn't seen Overkill in awhile. I got his autograph and asked him a few questions. I told him I was in N.Y. City 2 or 3 years before and found an old metal magazine, it was very small and very cheap but it had Slayer on the cover and an interview inside. The guy doing the interview was named Gene Hoglan. I asked him if he was the Interviewer? He freaked and said he was, it turns out he was a roadie for Slayer when they first started and this mag was the first one to have them on the cover. I also told him that I had the Ultimate revenge 2 and thought it was great, he said thanks but there sound sucked. I told him I liked Death's sound but when I saw them at MetalFest they didn't move around the stage at all, no thrashing no nothing. And Chuck S. was a real dick to us in the crowd. Gene said Chuck was a dick at the Revenge show and said he thought Death as a band sucked. Funny ain't it."
This comment was sent to me by Doug Jones:
"I went to jr. and High school with Gene.. He graduated in 85 from Millikan High in Long Beach.. I knew him from school and we became casual friends.. He was the one who really opened my eyes to metal.. He is God on the drums and his lyric talents are unparalleled.. I watched him at a Slayer gig at the Paladium go in the pit and everyone backed off as this guy thrashed.. He stole the floor and no one was about to stop him.. Thats it .. Thanx.. Doug"
Relations:
Don't send fan-mail to me, send it to the boys themselves - Heavy Devy Records (mail) Devin Townsend's record company. All the lads can be contacted through here - word is that they write you back. I myself have no personal contact to Gene, so if you think of a question, setup-thinges, etc. mail me if you get the answer from him
Ups!
(yeah!
It's kind of slow today...)