Greg Saenz
| Greg Saenz | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Gregory Saenz |
| Born |
Template:Birth date 1967 Los Angeles |
| Origin | Los Angeles, United States |
| Genres |
Crossover thrash desertrock alternative rock punk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels | Suicidal (1985–88; 2000–01) High Speed (1987) Caroline (1987–1989) Noise (1989) Epic (1996) Capitol (1996) Reptilian Records (2001) Greedy Records (2011) |
| Associated acts | Excel, Dan Clements, Adam Siegel, Mike Muir, Kreator, Cyco Miko, My Head, Infectious Grooves, Suicidal Tendencies, The Dwarves, Blag Dahlia, Nick Oliveri, John Garcia, Kyuss |
Greg Saenz (a.k.a. Gregory Pecker) (born April 27, 1967) is an American drummer from Highland Park, California, currently based in Coachella Valley. He started playing for groups around North East Los Angeles in 1985, mainly influenced by drummers such as John Bonham, Cozy Powell and Phil Taylor. He later joined Excel where he stayed for several years. Also he is a My Head former member and former The Dwarves. Greg Saenz is currently drumming for John Garcia, and does occasional shows with Excel.
Saenz was born in East Los Angeles, raised in Highland Park. He took interest in music at a young age influenced by 1960s and 1970s rock and roll and hard rock musicians such as The Who, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. In 1985 he joined his first band, Wreched Horde. They were inspired by NWOBHM, but Saenz modified their style to some extent- (Greg said: "We sounded like UFO, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but I was already playing their songs a bit faster as I had gotten into tape trading in '83 and had been turned on to hardcore punk and thrash....bands like Venom, Motorhead, Suicidal Tendencies, Slayer, and Minor Threat".) Wreched Horde was offered a demo deal with Chrysalis Records after playing a house party in Highland Park, but the band dissolved before it could gain momentum. In summer of 1986, Greg read an advertisement in Recycler Magazine that said: "Excel looking for a dedicated, talented, punk metal influence. No egos". Saenz called singer Dan Clements and after an audition with Adam Siegel Greg was asked to join as Excel's drummer. Between the rest of 1986 and 1989 they recorded three demo their first studio album (Split Image) in 1987 (the recording was paid by Mike Muir and distribution was conducted by Caroline Records), the second one (The Joke's on You) in 1989, and a tour in Netherlands the same year with that line-up. In January and February 1989 he recorded together with Dan Clements the background vocals for the fourth studio album by the thrash metal band Kreator, titled Extreme Aggression. In 1992, Excel recorded a fifth and last demo: Third album demos. The next year guitarist Adam Siegel left the band definitely to form the alternative rock and grunge power trio My Head, with Saenz on drums and the former Bad Radio member Dave Silva on bass. However, this project was interrupted on several occasions for Siegel's participation in Infectious Grooves.
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