Hello, fellow drummers! My name is Shaun Foist, and I’ve been playing drums for nineteen years. I got started at around age ten, when my father showed me how to play. About six months later he encouraged me to enter a school talent show, playing to the Allman Brothers song “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed.”

I went on through school to study jazz band, and told my guidance counselor that I was going to be a famous drummer—ha ha! I toured, recorded, and went in and out of many bands through the years. A few months ago, producer David Bendeth (Breaking Benjamin, Paramore, Papa Roach) found me from a project I was involved in and gave me a shot to do session work with him. Now I’ve just finished my first session with David, recording drums for Picture Me Broken, a band fronted by Gregg Allman’s daughter, Brooklyn Allman. Some things are just meant to be, and it was so surreal doing this project. Who would ever guess that I would get my start by learning an Allman Brothers song as a kid, and then start up my professional career recording with Gregg Allman’s daughter?

David gave me a shot most people would die to have been given, and I’m very grateful to have his help and to have him as a friend. I currently play Tama Starclassic bubinga drums in SSR finish, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks, and Remo heads. Some of my influences include Neil Peart, Chad Szeliga, Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham, Tony Williams, and Lenny White. Advertisement

For more on Shaun Foist, go to www.facebook.com/shaun.foist.