After a call from his friend and former teacher, New York great Shawn Pelton, this Indiana native found himself leaving his Midwest home for the Big Apple and an audition with the newly signed British rock band Fiction Plane (www.fictionplane.co.uk).

 It’s been over five years since landing the Fiction Plane drum chair. In that time Pete has enjoyed a nine-month US/Canadian tour, two separate tours in Japan, a U.K., a 2 month, 29 date, 25 country European tour with Fiction Plane opening for Sting. He was honored to share the stage with such amazing musicians (Sting, his long-time guitarist Dominic Miller, new guitarist Lyle Workman, and drum legend Abe Laboriel Jr.). He was thrilled at getting a chance to play the Police classic “Next To You” w/ Sting when both bands rocked the song on stage for the last two shows.Fiction Plane is on a small break of a year long world tour opening for The Police on their reunion tour. This tour has taken Pete and band throughout North America for 38 shows, then 22 shows in Europe and the U.K. The show continues back in North America at NYC’s Madison Square Garden for a special Halloween show.

 Pete and Fiction Plane have made appearances on several TV shows including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”,  “MTV News”, MTV2:“You Hear It First”, “E! News Live”, “Extra”, “Viewsic on the PLANET” (Japan), “Taratata” (France) and made their US network television debut on "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn". Pete enjoys contributing as a writer as well as providing the rock solid backbone of the rhythm section with his ferocious, but still delicate, musical drumming style.

            Pete’s first band, The Cutters, formed in 1991. This rock band, consisting of four friends from Bloomington, was Pete’s first taste of the music industry big-time. The band got signed to a BMG label and did a US tour in support of their album “Sonic Wave Love”.  The band enjoyed an eleven-year career releasing two EP’s and two full lengths. In that time Pete played drums on over 35 studio albums and performed numerous live shows, which included the likes of Michael McDonald (The Doobie Brothers & solo), G.E. Smith (SNL) and Jazz great James Moody (Blue Note).

            Growing up in Bloomington Indiana, home of Indiana University School of Music where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz studies & Percussion, Pete had the great fortune of being taught by some of the top drummers in the world, including Shawn Pelton (SNL, Sheryl Crow), David Baker, Dominic Spera, Wilber England and drumming legend Kenny Aronoff. Kenny was not only Pete’s professor, but also played on Pete’s recital, helping him out with a double drum solo to close out the performance.

            Pete now calls New York City home and has already made an impact on the music scene there playing many shows with Ari Hest (Columbia Records), French pop star Veronica Antico (Sony Europe), and Irish singer-song writer Michael Brunnock. Pete often makes frequent flights to London to play shows with Fiction Plane, write, record and even shoot a music video with the band. While in London Pete also finds time to do shows and studio work with other artists as well.

Education:  Studied with Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa Ethridge, Joe Cocker, John Fogerty, etc.), and Shawn Pelton (Sheryl Crow, , S.N.L., John Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, Celine Dione, etc.).

Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies/ Percussion from Indiana University (’95).

Playing/Recording:

Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers/Solo)

G.E. Smith (S.N.L./Solo)

Fiction Plane - “Bitter Forces & Lame Race Horses” (Island), “Holes” (Disney) “Left Side of the Brain” (Bieler Bros.)

Ari Hest - “So Slow” from “The Break In” (Columbia)

Cutters-EP (A&M), “Sonic Wave Love” (CMC/BMG), “Flypaper Highway” (GVR)

Krista Detor- “Mudshow” (CoraZong records UK)

David Moore (Doghouse/Warner Bros.)

Kate Aumonier (Sanctuary U.K.)

Veronica Antico (Sony Europe)

Michael Brunnock (Indy)

James Moody (Blue Note)

Bob Durough (Blue Note)

Lyle Workman (Sting- Broken Music Tour)

Recorded on over 35 different albums ranging from Jazz to Pop, worked with David Kahne (Sugar Ray, Tony Bennett, Paul McCartney), and Paul Corkett (The Cure, Bjork, Radiohead, Nick Cave).

Television Appearances:

“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn", MTV, MTV2:“You Hear It First”, “E! News Live”, “Extra”, Fox 59“A.M.”, “A.O.L. Sessions” (Webcast),“Disney World’s New Year’s Eve Millenium Celebration”, Habitat for Hummanity “25th Anniversary Celebration”, “Taratata” (France), “Viewsic on the PLANET” (Japan), “The Mike Bullard Show” (Canada), Mus TV, 2Channel - Russia, and MTV Russia,

Endorsements: Tama (drums), Sabian (cymbals), Evans (heads), Vic Firth (sticks) XL Specialty Percussion (cases)

References:

Kenny Aronoff (contact info available upon request)

Shawn Pelton (contact info available upon request)