Although they were initially grouped with the legions of pop-metal bands that dominated the American heavy metal scene of the ’80s, Queensrÿche were one of the most distinctive bands of the era. Where their contemporaries built on the legacy of Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Kiss, Queensrÿche constructed a progressive form of heavy metal that drew equally from the guitar pyrotechnics of post-Van Halen metal and ’70s art rock, most notably Pink Floyd and Queen. After releasing a handful of ignored albums, the band began to break into the mainstream with the acclaimed 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime. Its follow-up, Empire, was the group’s biggest success, selling over two million copies due to the hit single “Silent Lucidity.” Queensrÿche never sustained that widespread popularity — like most late-’80s metal bands, their audience disappeared after the emergence of grunge. Nevertheless, they retained a large cult following well into the ensuing decades.
Meytal
My name is Meytal Cohen. Pretty common Israeli name that also just happens to sound like my favorite style of music. Coincidence? I think not. So yes, I’m from Israel. I’m the youngest of 7. I have 4 sisters and 2 brothers. My dad died when I was 7 years old, when a drunk driver crashed while he was standing on the sidewalk. My mom successfully raised us all by herself.
I started playing drums at 18 years old, despite the conventional ‘you’re making noise, you’re wasting time, you’re spending money, and this will never mount to anything’ sorta attitude I was getting at home. That same year, I graduated from high school and was drafted to the Israeli Defense Force (it’s mandatory), I served my country for 2 years and was released from the IDF.
At age 21 I moved to Los Angeles to attended the LA Music Academy, and while in school I managed to break my back in a car accident. I broke three vertebras, and had to wear a back brace for 6 months. I returned to Israel for the healing process, and within a year I came back to LA and later on graduated.
After school, it wasn’t easy, like it never really is for a musician trying to make a living at it. I tried to find my place in the huge and scary music industry of Los Angeles, and I can’t say I had much luck. In 2009, a few friends and I recorded a metal violin cover of System Of A Down’s Toxicity. We shot a music video for it and put it up on YouTube. A few months later, that video had 3 MILLION views.
After seeing the response to our toxicity video, I decided I was going to shoot 100 drum covers and see what happens next. 5 years later, I now have over 120 videos, 120,000,000 views, 800,000 subscribers on YouTube, and 1,000,000 likes on Facebook.
Many amazing things have happened / are happening thanks to your support – I’m incredibly fortunate to be endorsed by the best music companies in the world, to have produced my very own instructional package for drummers, the Maximum Meytal, and for creating my first original album funded by you guys through kickstarter, to name a few.
I owe you big time, for caring sharing and supporting what I do. you are the reason I get to do what I love, and I’ll forever be thankful for that. come say hi at one of my upcoming shows, fb, or twitter, and subscribe to my mailing list for some overly revealing, long ass updates, from yours truly.