Dave Ingraham
10/2005

Originally written by Eric Hutchinson for The Bruce Dickinson And Then Some Page

How did you get involved with the Tribe of Gypsies?

A phone call. I'd played in another latin-rock band called Toro (more accoustic pop-rock;not quite as heavy as the Tribe). Doug Van Booven played percussion in that band too. Anyway, that band eventually fell apart and a short while later I got a call from doug telling me about this other latin-rock band he'd just joined who were auditioning drummers. He said the guitarist was a bad-a** and I should check it out. Long-story-short, I auditioned and got the gig.

Why did you miss the TOG tour with Santana?

If I remember correctly,It was a logistical issue.By the time Roy called me about the Santana tour,I'd already commited to a summer of touring with the Young Dubs,so I had to make a tough decision.I would have either had to have gotten a sub for the Dubs gig or the Tribe would have to fill my shoes. That was a hard one for me,especially being a Santana fan and all(yes,the Tribe all got to meet Carlos!),but at the end of the day, I'm sorry to say it all came down to money: the dubs tour was going to pay the bills,and the Tribe tour wasn't.

Have you officially left the Tribe?

It was never really an official thing.The Tribe was always,or at least once Bruce came into the picture,an on-and-off thing.It was a labour of love but it was always starting and stopping.After working with Bruce and getting a taste of what it was like to actually make a living playing music, it made it harder and harder to keep going back to working a day job.When the Bruce
gig came to an end,I'd been working around town with different bands but I was broke. I got the call for the Dubs gig,and knew Roy was going to be busy with his producing, so I told him what was going on and he basically gave me his blessing;He understood.

What drummers have influenced you the most and why?

Wow,where to begin?I started playing drums because of Peter Criss of KISS. I saw KISS in Seventh grade,and that was it: I knew that was what I wanted to do. But once I started playing,I was into everyone from Neil Peart to John Bonham and
Stewart Copeland;You know,all the guys that every other drummer mentions! Nowadays,I'm into the less-is-more,groove-oriented drummers: Steve Jordan, Bernard Perdie, Jeff Porcaro, Ahmir Thomson and Adam Deitch from John Scofield's band--now that guy's a bad-a**!

Do you still talk to any of the Tribe members or Bruce?

Roy came to a Dubs show a few months ago.I hadn't seen him for a long time so it was great to see him.I went to a Maiden show shortly after Adrian and Bruce rejoined,and hung out with them back stage,but that was the last time I talked to them.I'm really crappy at staying in touch with people!

Do you still follow Bruce's solo career and /or Iron Maiden?

No,can't say I do.I heard a few cuts from Bruce's Greatest Hits record a while back,but that's about it.

What are some of your favorite/least favorite songs from the
Bruce days?

To this day,I think FREAK is a real ass-kicker.And TRUMPETS OF JERICHO rocks pretty hard.I loved starting the show with that on the second tour; It was a real adrenalin rush.I also always loved playing LAUGHING IN THE HIDING BUSH.That song's funky!Really syncopated and groovin'. TEARS OF THE DRAGON is a great song too,but I think my all-time favorite is CHEMICAL WEDDING.That song rules! I loved playing those slower Bonhamesque
grooves.

Least favorite songs? Well,with all due respect ,SHOOT ALL THE CLOWNS? I mean, come on, let's face it: that's some stupid sh**! I always thoughtTATTOOED MILLIONARE was pretty silly too.

Were you ever approached to play drums on his latest album,
Tyranny of Souls or the two new songs on the Best Of?

Not really. Roy had told me that Bruce was going to be recording again soon, and that I should give Bruce a call,but in all honesty, by that point I had kind of moved on.I had a steady-paying gig with the Dubs and I'd sort of had it with Heavy Metal. I never really considered myself a Heavy Metal drummer; it wasn't really my forte.I had a blast doing the Bruce gig while it lasted, but I always felt a little like a fish out of water. I think I pulled that gig off pretty well, but I knew that there were cats out there that specialized at metal drumming, so I reached a point where I was ready to hand that gig over to someone else
and move on.

What are your impressions of Tyranny of Souls?

Haven't heard it yet.

What was Bruce like to work with?

Bruce was great. He was always goofing around and looking for a laugh. He could be a real ball-buster towards some people,but he was always very respectful towards me which I of course really appreciated.I remember when I'd fiished tracking on ACCIDENT OF BIRTH, he helped me load up my drums and told me I'd done a great job.He didn't have to do that;that was just him being a good person.


What was it like to work with Adrian Smith?

Adrian was way cool. He's a really low-key, mellow guy, yet really hilarious--a great sense of humor.We got along really well and had some good laughs together. I'm sorry I didn't stay in touch with him,but such is life!

What was it like playing Maiden tunes in front of Nicko during the Skynyrd tour in the UK? Was it weird or anything?

That whole tour was weird from the very beginning, but If I remember correctly, that gig was at the Royal Albert Hall, which to me is like the Madison Square Garden of England.(not a perfect analogy,but you get the idea.) All I was thinking of was how many legendary bands and artists had played on that stage: the Beatles, Zepplin, Hendrix, Dylan,etc. So, needless to say, I wasn't that concerned about Nicko watching me, although I'm sure it only added to my nervousness!

What was it like touring without Roy on The Chemical Wedding tour in Europe? Was it a different vibe type of thing?

Well,it obviously wasn't the same vibe,but it was still a good time. I was feeling more confident on that tour,being the second time around, but it was a little tough making the adjustment to Roy's absence. Hats off to "The Guru" for learning those songs so quickly and filling in for Roy at such short notice. He did a great job, but of course, he's no Roy Z!

Did you know that Bruce was going to rejoin Maiden before that tour ended?

I don't remember exactly when I found out,but we all knew by the time we were recording the live record in Brazil that that was it.

What memories/interesting stories do you recall from your time
recording and touring with Bruce?

Man,I wouldn't know where to begin.The whole experience was amazing-- Probably the most exciting time of my life.But if I were to start telling stories, this interview would go on for days!(there was the time in Japan where I was so jet-lagged and sleep-deprived that I thought I was losing my mind. Or the time in Brazil where I got so violently ill I felt like I was dying. Or the time in Spain where Bruce jumped into the audience and started a fight with someone...see what I mean? I could go on and on.)

How did you get involved with the Young Dubliners?

Once again,a phone call.Their Management called me and told me about the audition.I wasn't that into the idea at first; their music didn't really blow me away or anything,but I decided to at least check them out. I went to see them perform (on my 35th birthday) and saw that they had a loyal following and also saw,based on their website, that they worked non-stop. I decided that I'd learn the songs and audition and, if I got the gig, then I was meant to do it.I think I was the last (9th) guy to audition
and, as they say, the rest is history. I've been living on the road ever since.

The Young Dubliners music is so different from Bruce and The Tribe. Is it challenging to switch between the different styles? Do you approach each one differently?

Fortunately, I love and listen to many different styles of music, so this helps me to adapt to different gigs. Even though I was never really a Maiden fan, I'd grown up listening to a lot of classic rock and early metal like Sabbath, Deep Purple, Zepplin, etc., so playing Bruce's music wasn't completely alien by any means.With the dubs, I had to learn a few different types of beats I'd never played before, but for the most part it's all the same thing: high energy and banging out 2 & 4!

What are the Young Dubliners doing now?

The Dubs released a new record REAL WORLD earlier this year, so we were on the road all year promoting that.We're headed to Ireland for some gigs at the end of October; we'll be there for a couple of weeks. (Mmmm,fresh Guinness...can't wait!)

Special Thanks to Dave for taking the time do answer these questions.