While at Seminole Music & Sound, we had the pleasure of getting a brief interview with Casey Grillo of Kamelot before his clinic.In the interview Casey talks about life, the band, and scoring his most recent endorsement with the Zildjian company. Check out our exclusive interview.

DC - Congratulations on your career so far this has been a big year for you with The Kamelot tour, signing a new deal with Pearl and Zildjian.

CG – Yeah, there's been a lot of different changes from the last time I did a clinic at Seminole Music. My whole setup has changed, the setup I'm using for tonight's clinic is much smaller than my usual. I just wanted to show that you don't always need all those drums to play metal music. But I will be bringing all my drums out tomorrow night for the Kamelot show. I figured for a clinic like this it would be kinda neat to show something a little more versatile.

DC – You still have a wide selection of cymbals up there.

CG – Yeah more cymbals for me man the better!

DC – So you just launched your own online drum school?

CG – Yeah, LiveMusicSchool.com. I've just been teaching a little bit here and there, but I haven't really pushed it out there yet. It's one of those things that when it does get busy, it gets too busy. I had a couple really busy weeks, and I was like, “Uh oh, this is getting really tight!” because I was still doing things with other bands and doing stuff with Kamelot. Being out on the road almost makes it impossible to do everything.

DC - With your schedule the way it is with all the touring, recording, the practice, clinics and your new online school…How do find time to take care of the business side of things? Or do you have an assistant?

CG – I don't really have an assistant, but my wife really helps me out with everything. It's going to take some time to get things sorted out. I do have an attorney now; Paul Quin that's handling stuff with contracts, or if I need anything done with other companies he does that for me. He's a bit more than an attorney, he's been like an assistant. He also works with John Blackwell.

DC – He's a drummer right?

CG – Yeah, he actually helped pick out my cymbals. When we did the Zildjian deal, he was the one that signed me to them.

DC - So what was it about Zildjian that drew you to them?

CG – Well I've had a 20” Zildjian Earth Ride for 12-14 years now. It's been used on every Kamelot record but one. When I was younger and before I got endorsements with other companies, I have always played Zildjian's. So, it was an easy choice when they approached me in Europe. In Europe, a guy from Pearl suggested Zildjian to me being that they distribute them there.

DC - Since the new deal are you going to keep the same cymbal set up or experiment with some of their newer products like the effects line?

CG – I'm using mostly the same cymbal layout, but tonight I'm trying out a couple different cymbals. John Spinelli (Seminole Music & Sound) let me try out an 18” A Custom FX Crash and a 19” K Hybrid China.

DC - What is your favorite series in the Zildjian Family?

CG - I would have to say the A Customs. They are amazing, and beautiful-sounding.

DC - So have you actually got to go to the factory yet or is that trip still in the works?

CG - Not yet, but I do plan on taking a tour October 14 at the factory in Norwell, Massachusetts.

DC - Tomorrow kicks off the Kamelot Ghost Opera US Tour in St. Petersburg. I’m sure it feels good to start off in your own backyard?

CG - Oh yeah, it's good to start off he because I'm starting it off with my new kit. It's a Pearl Reference kit with a Purple Craze finish.

DC - What are your plans after the tour… should we expect to see you at some Zildjian events and drum fests in the future?

CG - Yeah, I'd like to. You have to get invited to do that stuff, but if Pearl or Zildjian want me to do something I'll do anything for them. I would pretty much do anything possible for any company I believe in. The companies that are nice to you and treat you nice, that's why I'm with Pearl and Zildjian.

DC - Both of them are really good names in drums right now. And Zildjian has been around forever.

CG - Yeah that's the thing, I always dreamed of being endorsed by them, and here I am today as part of both families.