| Biography |
| Joseph Livingstone was born in Liverpool, England on November 19th, 1962. On that same afternoon, `The Beatles` were playing at the `Cavern` less than a mile from Joseph`s home. Music was always present in the Livingstone household as Joseph`s father was a jazz drummer and it was through his father that Joseph became aware of the musicians who would be his inspiration for many years to come...Cannonball Adderley, Buddy Rich and Joe Zawinul (both of whom Joseph met several times during his youth) and Pytor Tchaikovsky. Although exposed to musicians like Zawinul and Tchaikovsky from an early age, Joseph did not have any desire to pursue a life as a composer. For the young Joseph Livingstone, it was the drums which were to hold his fascination. At the age of twelve, Joseph was given his first drum kit and for the next twelve years set himself a gruelling practice regime (often practising an average of six hours a day!) Added to this were years of working with other musicians in colleges, clubs and recording studios. During this period however, he became increasingly frustrated by the tonal and melodic limitations of playing an acoustic rhythm instrument. He did consider electronic drums but quickly dismissed the idea as a gimmick..."It is just not in the nature of the instrument to be melodic. No matter what you do to them, drums are fundamentally rhythmic and that`s that!" This growing sense of musical inhibition, coupled with his discovery of musicians Karlheinz Stockhausen and Gustav Mahler, led Joseph to turn towards sound creation of a different kind. Composition was the answer. "At long last, I could create the music I wanted to listen to!"...was Joseph`s response when asked why he stopped performing on the drums with other musicians in favour of composition. "Drumming is my first love of music and always will be..." listen to the fantastic drum work on `Uncreate` and `The Damage Letters` for proof of his mastery of the instrument.."but being a player in a group, no matter how good, will never be the same as creating your own complete sound world." Joseph`s compositional output to date gives us all a chance to live in this unique musician`s sound world. |
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