Acclaimed Rock Drummer BRIAN TICHY: 'Hired Guns Aren't Rock Stars. I'm A Hired Gun.'

In a new interview with Banner Driskell, Brian Tichy, the acclaimed rock drummer who has performed with WHITESNAKE, Billy Idol, Ozzy Osbourne, Sass Jordan, FOREIGNER, THE DEAD DAISIES and many others, was asked what people get wrong about music and the music business. Brian responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, I don't know. That's an interesting question. What do they get wrong about it? I don't know. It seems like people who don't play music — well, they don't care about music the way musicians do. Their opinions are completely different on why they like or don't like something. Well, there's a ton a non-musician doesn't get about music, 'cause they don't know how to play an instrument or write a song, or they don't know how a band fun[ctions]. They don't know anything about how it all works.

"But the music business? I mean, I guess… Perception," Brian explained. "If they see you with big artists that are well-known and been around a long time and are stars and done well and are rich financially, whatever, they assume you've gotta be kind of in that world, too. Even though you can go online and read about, 'Oh, these guys work for peanuts these days just to get the experience,' which that's a balancing act. You gotta choose what's worth it to you at what point in time in your life. Do I wanna do this now for this much money or not? But I think the perception is if you see somebody around enough, and it's also could be a good thing because if you want to come across like you have all this shit going on and 'look at me', you can do that by just posting a bunch of shit about, 'Look how cool I am around these famous people.' Then the perception starts to become that that's your club. You're in that club. But that's not a bad perception because it can... 'Cause perception, there's so much about it."

Tichy continued: "If I don't post shit online all year, there's gonna be some people who know my name that don't know what I've done. But if I keep posting that I was at [Tokyo, Japan's] Budokan with [Michael] Schenker in January, I'm out with [KISS's] Gene Simmons, I'm on this record, I've got a blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. 'Here's me at a soundcheck with a cool snare drum sound' or something. The perception [becomes that] you're working, you're out there, you're playing with these respected musicians. But that's not a bad perception. If I was in one band, I probably wouldn't give a shit as much. If I was in my own band and we were packing theaters even, just theaters, 1,000 people a night wherever we go, and I've got income to take care of my bills in that band, I don't give a shit how... If you know my band and you dig it, cool. I don't really need to go talking much about all this other shit, because that speaks loud enough because that's what I value the most, is my time in this band and what we've done to get to this level of success."

Brian added: "People's perception of what they think a rock star is or whatever… 'You must be a rock star. 'Cause you're in these bands. You're parading around with these legends that we've known since we were kids' or something. But nah, man. Hired guns aren't rock stars. I'm a hired gun. I played with [WHITESNAKE's] David Coverdale. He's a fucking rock star. I played with, whatever, Billy Idol. He's a rock star. [Ex-QUEENSRŸCHE singer] Geoff Tate's a rock star. Schenker's a guitar god rock star. I play with those people that pay me to do what they want to hopefully make them happy. They're the rock stars. But the perception is if you're around that, you must be... Well, I guess you're doing something right, but people might look at you. But like I said, it's not bad. If it gets you respect, whatever it is, if you're doing shit that people notice and you get respected for it, cool. Even if it's sort of unwarranted. You might get more respect just because of your association, not really because you're that fucking badass, but you've done enough where you've got yourself into positions."

Brian has a brand new band project called LED BY VULTURES in which he steps out from behind the drum kit and handles guitar and vocal duties.

The self-titled debut album from LED BY VULTURES arrived in August via Deko Entertainment.

Brian is one of the most in-demand rock drummers today. He studied music at, and has a degree from, the prestigious Berklee College Of Music.

Tichy is also the founder of the popular celebration events "Bonzo Bash" and "Randy Rhoads Remembered".

Since 1990, Tichy has has managed to tour and/or record with the likes of: Geoff Tate's QUEENSRŸCHE (2013-2014),Ozzy Osbourne (2000),LYNCH MOB (2010),TOOTH AND NAIL, Steven Tyler, THE GUESS WHO, Michael Schenker, VELVET REVOLVER, SEETHER, Zakk Wylde's PRIDE & GLORY, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Glenn Hughes, Sass Jordan, Gilby Clarke, Vinnie Moore and ZEBRA frontman Randy Jackson's CHINA RAIN.