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In a career spanning over 30 years, drummer Timm Biery has toured and recorded all over the globe with a variety of artists few can equal. In the process, he has quietly made a name for himself as one of the most awe-inspiring musicians you'll ever see. Considered a legend in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., his career has been chronicled in two books: “Capitol Rock” and “Washington Rock and Roll - A Social History”, both by writer Mark Opsasnick. Drummer for the Nils Lofgren Band since 1996, Timm has worked with some of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock and jazz.
From 1981 - 1991, he toured and recorded with Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush, playing on the radio hit “Strange Dreams” and the albums “Juggernaut”, “Full Circle”, “Double Live” and “From The Hip”. During that same period, he built his first recording studio and began to be recognized as a talented producer and recording engineer.
In 1991, Timm began an association with guitar hero Danny Gatton that would last until Gatton’s untimely death in 1994. His work with Gatton can be heard on the albums “Cruisin’ Deuces”, “Relentless” , “9/9/94 - Live” and several compilation recordings.“Timm Biery is the baddest drummer on the planet - bar none!” Gatton once said in an interview. Their work together moved many others to feel the same way. The “Relentless” album - with organ great Joey DeFrancesco - was included in Al Kooper’s top 100 albums of the millennium list in EQ Magazine.
It was during his time with Gatton that Timm renewed an old partnership with guitar builder Paul Reed Smith, becoming a member of the Dragons, the PRS Guitars clinic band. The group was also known as the “Hard Rock Café Band”, hosting the Tuesday Night Live series at the Hard Rock Café in New York City. There, he got to perform with a variety of stellar musicians, including guitarists Warren Haynes, Tommy Shaw and Arlen Roth. Timm produced and engineered the Dragons’ 1st CD, which was critically acclaimed all over the world for its massive guitar and drum sound.
But don’t think for a second he’s just a drummer for guitar heroes…
In the course of his career, Timm’s shown he can work in virtually any style, performing or recording with blues artists Root Boy Slim, James Mabry and Jacques “Saxman” Johnson, boogie-woogie piano sensation Deanna Bogart, up and coming Americana artist Tony DeNikos, jazz saxophonist Tim Eyermann, the late, great Senegalese koura player Djimo Kouyate, vocalist Clint Holmes, R & B legends Martha and the Vandellas & Little Anthony and the Imperials, and the late Lee Atwater’s Red, Hot and Blue Band, among others. His television credits include “America's Most Wanted”, John Madden's “All-Madden Team” specials, as well as advertising campaigns for Levi Strauss and Taco Bell. Film credits include the cult favorite “Headless Body, Topless Bar” and “Bringing Out The Dead”.
A gifted teacher and clinician, Timm began work on an instructional book in 2003. Over the next 2 years, it would evolve into a series of 3 books, and all are scheduled to be released in the coming months. The series is called "Serious Drum Set - A Systematic Approach To Learning". It's been developed from years of teaching and refined over months of discussions and trials with drum instructors across the U.S. The included CD will feature learning tools never before used in a drum method book, made possible through a licensing agreement with Make Music, creators of the world renowned Finale® family of products. There are also plans for a companion DVD to coincide with the book series.
2006 found Timm back on the road with Nils Lofgren in support of his latest release “Sacred Weapon” (which led to a featured update in Modern Drummer magazine). He also continued to do shows with his longtime friends in the James Mabry Band and released two recordings: "Play In Traffic" (with the improvisational group B/D2) and "Conversations" (drum duets with Michael Zack)
2007 was a busy year in the studio, with 5 new albums being released: “Drums!” (a collection of pieces for solo drum set), “Samarkand” (a set of instrumental music featuring Timm on all instruments), “Touch” (a solo album of songs and instrumentals, again featuring Timm on all instruments), “ZEM” (from Christian artist Zach Ellsworth), and “Live At The Outta The Way Cafe Vol. 2” (a live recording from the James Mabry Blues Band).
Also in 2007, timmbiery.com's "Personalized DVD Lessons Program" came online. This program enables students all over the globe to study with Timm. Late in the year, he signed on as an endorser of Istanbul Mehmet cymbals and is looking forward to collaborating with them on future projects.
View a selected discography by clicking here.
View comments from a few of the artists Timm's worked with by clicking here.
Download Timm's media kit (in .pdf format) by clicking here.