Terry Stirling Jr.
Terry Lee Stirling Jr. (born April 12, 1988 in Los Angeles County, California) is an American drummer, currently playing for Southern California punk band Rufio.
Biography
Terry Stirling Jr. was born in Artesia, California but grew up in Ontario, California. He began playing the drums when he was 6 years old, and received his first drum kit for Christmas when he was 7. His parents encouraged his MusicAL interests, and he began playing electric guitar and writing and recording songs on a 4-track with his brother and friends. Following a chance meeting and performance for Terry "T-Low" Brown of the R&B group Next, the performer encouraged Stirling's parents to continue supporting his musical pursuits.
Stirling played in the jazz band and orchestra in junior high and began taking private lessons. He played snare in Colony High's marching band his freshman-senior years, and in his junior year in 2005, led the school's Winter Drum Line to a Southern California championship. He began to study Afro-Cuban music with a student of Dave Weckl, and studied the teachings of percussionist Chuck Silverman. He was asked to play for a latin/funk/R&B band called Sound Wisdom which featured a back up singer from the Black Eyed PEAS. Stirling approached Dennis Chambers for lessons, who introduced him to drummer Chris Coleman, who took him in as a student.
Stirling was presented the school's Louie Armstrong Jazz Award his senior year for his performance in the jazz band, most notably for his performance and solo in Buddy Rich's "Channel One Suite", which he performed with a traditional grip.
Stirling attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California for 6 months. Shortly after enrolling, Stirling auditioned unsuccessfully for an opening in the punk rock band The Offspring.
In mid 2007, Terry was referred to Malibu based rock band, Drive A. During Stirling's time with Drive A, the band played/toured with world reknown acts such as Cheap Trick, Motley Crue, Avenged Sevenfold, Pennywise, Rise Against, Papa Roach, Puddle of Mudd, The Starting Line, Shinedown, Black Tide, Flogging Molly, Jimmy Eat World, Paramore, Korn, The Used, Atreyu, Hoobastank, Camp Freddy (Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Tommy Lee, Chad Smith of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chris Chaney and Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses, Billy Morrison of The Cult, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray).
Through 2008 and 2009, the band toured with Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold, Alkaline Trio, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Secondhand Serenade.
The band released a record, "Loss of Desire", May 19th, 2009 under Dead Conflict/Adrenaline Records. The record, produced by Matt Sorum of Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver and Mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, contains 12 tracks showcasing the drumming of Terry Stirling Jr.
The band played a few dates on the 2008 Vans Warped Tour.
The band played festivals such as Edgefest in Dallas, TX 2 years in a row along with Columbus, Ohio's Rock on the Range.
In June of 2009, Stirling joins southern California punk band, Rufio.
"Rufio announces they are recording their Fourth Studio Album for release this Spring 2010. After a brief hiatus, the gifted shredders from Rancho Cucamonga, CA are back and loaded with fifteen new songs. During their "time off" , the guys found time to tour Brazil, Indonesia and look forward to expanding their global audience. The next year will include a full-time worldwide touring schedule in support of the release."
References
Drive A on the road to succeess]
VIDEO: Drive A interviewed by Camp Freddy live on 103.1
Drive A- Album review of 'Loss Of Desire'
RUFIO ANNOUNCE NEW EP, TOUR DATES, AND UPCOMING ALBUM