User:Drummerboy1976

Rahul Gopal, born on 10th December, 1976, in Chennai, India, is a musician and drummer

Early Years : 1996 Onwards
Rahul’s association with a musical instrument (the guitar, of all things!!) started at the age of 19, funnily enough, when he was in college pursuing a graduate degree in Civil Engineering. Thanks to a really bad guitar teacher and a chance meeting with the college band's drummer, he decided to focus his attention on the drums instead. With no access to a teacher, training aids or even half decent equipment to play on, Rahul learnt all he could by playing along with records and practicing for really long hours. Within a year of starting to play, Rahul was burning up stages.

With No Idea : 2002 Onwards
Upon graduating from college, he decided to take up a day job and as a result, his drumming took a back seat. Disgruntled with the way things were shaping up (after nearly 4 years behind a desk), Rahul quit his job and started playing with a talented set of young people in an outfit called No Idea, slowly taking over the reigns as band leader. No Idea won the Great Indian Rock Festival 2005 and is one of the few Indian bands to have toured abroad.

No Idea came out with a self titled EP in 2004

Rahul has recorded and produced the No Idea album, which still awaits a final mix.There is no release date yet.

With Toccata : 2007 Onwards
Rahul also plays with Toccata, a group of professional and semi-professional UK based musicians, united in the mission to use their collective talents to help support both existing and new charities in their philanthropic endeavors. All the members of the group have a strong body of work and considerable experience as individual performers, or working in orchestras. Many are also experienced teachers. More on the project can be found at http://www.toccata-music.co.uk

Other Projects
Rahul also plays with some of the best musicians in India, apart from playing with No Idea and Toccata, on a fairly regular basis. A firm believer in the concept of the ‘groove’ and’ playing for the song’ and their collective superiority over flaming chops, he enjoys the respect and admiration of his contemporaries and peers.

Drums
Mapex M-series (all maple shell) kit including:

8x8 rack tom

10x8 rack tom

12x9 rack tom

13x10 rack tom(used as floor tom)

16x16 floor tom

14x5.5 snare

Cymbals
14" Sabian HHX Evolution Hats

10" Sabian HHX Evolution Splash

16" Sabian AAX Stage Crash

17" Sabian ProSonix Crash

18" Sabian HHX Evolution Crash

18" Sabian HHX O-zone Crash

10" Sabian B8Pro Splash/12" Wuhan Handmade China (used as auxiliary hi-hat)

Hardware
Janus Double Bass Pedal

Mapex Stands

Gibraltar Clamps and Stands