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.com). It’s been over seven years since moving to NYC and landing the Fiction Plane drum chair. In that time Pete has enjoyed a nine-month US/Canadian tour, three separate tours in Japan, a 2 month, 29 date, 25 country European tour opening for Sting. Fiction Plane was honored to be the opening band for The Police world reunion tour '07,'08. The band enjoyed 87 shows opening for the rock legends. Ending in Honolulu Hawaii the band shared the stage with The Police for the last time with both bands performing together (as seen on The Police Fan Club DVD). After a short but very fun tour with "The Feeling" in the UK and a 4 week tour with The Bravory, the band did European summer festivals including Rock 'em Ring and Rock 'em Park in Germany, Des Papillons de Nuits, 24 hours of Le Mans, les Vieilles Charrues (with The Killers and Bruce Springsteen) in France, Paaspop and Pinkpop in Holland (with Rage Against the Machine). FP return back to the states to rock the Unity Tour with 311 and Snoop Dogg. The summer ended with a one-off with Foreigner (with Jason Bonham on drums, what a great guy!). The band finished the year by playing a to a sold out Paradiso in Amsterdam, which they released as a DVD aptly named "Paradiso". All the touring raised awareness of the band, and garnered Pete the honor of being named #3 "Up & Coming Drummer" in Modern Drummer's 2009 Reader's Poll.

         Pete and Fiction Plane have made appearances on several TV shows including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, “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 sensitive/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.

           Fiction Plane has just finished their third full length album, due out in late spring 2010. The band is exciting about touring the new songs all over Europe, with future territories to follow.

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:

The Police (A&M records) Police Fan Club DVD

The Daunting- "Like A Tune" (U.K. Indie)

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.) “Paradiso” DVD (13Bis)

Lyle Workman (Sting- Broken Music Tour)

Ari Hest - “So Slow” from (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 (Indie)

James Moody (Blue Note)

Bob Durough (Blue Note)

Laura Critchley- “Feel Proud” (Big Print Records)

Crystal Kovach- Underground (Kovach Music)

Carli Smithson- “Won’t Say Goodbye” (Demo)

Dreya Weber "Lotus Seed" 2000

Recorded on over 35 different albums ranging from Jazz to Pop, worked with producers David Kahne (Sugar Ray, Tony Bennett, Paul McCartney), Paul Corkett (The Cure, Bjork, Radiohead, Nick Cave), Ash Howes (David Gray, Dido, Kylie Minogue, Nelly Furtado, Atomic Kitten, Natalie Imbruglia, Eurythmics, Tom Jones, Sinead O'Conner), Simon Osborne (U2, Sting), and Martin Harrington (Celine Dion, Kylie Minogue, Natalie Imbruglia).

Television Appearances:

" Jimmy Kimmel Live !"," 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

Print: Modern Drummer, Drummer Magazine, French drumming magazine "Batteur"

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)