“My history with Tony MacAlpine” by Aquiles Priester
My story with Tony MacAlpine began in 1993. At that time I had already been living in Porto Alegre for five years. Leaving Foz do Iguaçu for the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, in the pursuit of my dream to become a professional musician.
In 1988, I began playing in Porto Alegre with cover bands and bands that composed their own music. In ‘89, I joined a band named Nômades de KZAK where I met a very talented 16 year old guitar player named Alexandre Machado, without becoming aware of it, he would change my life by loaning me Tony MacAlpine’s album Maximum Security.
That was how I got to know Tony’s music as well as a drummer named Deen Castronovo. I immediately became a great fan of both Deen and Tony. Deen became and still remains my biggest influence. What really caught my attention was the fact that I could not comprehend what he was playing. His style was so unique and complex. It was then I decided to start taking drum lessons with the Brazilian legend Kiko Freitas. It was 1993, I was twenty two years old, and full of hope about going off in search of my dream.
By this time I was already dating Patrícia, who is now my wife. We often listened to many of the albums that Tony had released. While listening to his beautiful melodies, we came up with a plan. We would go to San Francisco (where Tony lived at the time) to see one of his concerts live. Many things happened in my career since then. Although I had the opportunity to tour Europe with Tony in 2012, the dream was still not complete.
In 2013 my wife and I vacationed in San Francisco. Because Patricia would also attend a design conference, I packed some essentials to keep myself busy when she was gone. A small drum kit consisting of bass pads, a double pedal, and a hi-hat stand with cymbals.
It was on this vacation that I would receive an unimaginable phone call. It was Tony, inviting me to record what would become (Concrete Gardens) his new album. Due to issues with the schedule, recording would take place as soon as I returned home to Brazil. I didn’t think twice. The dream ended up taking somewhat of a different path, we didn’t attend Tony’s show. Instead the remaining 10 days in San Francisco, Patrícia honed in on her professional skills while I practiced the music that we would soon record. It was perfect.
In October of 2014, I finally watched Tony’s show in San Francisco. It was however a little different than I’d imagined. On stage that night, it was me who was behind those drums.
When I arrived at the venue, I felt very nostalgic and ended up sharing my story with Tony, who was very happy for me, giving me a hug. During the show while he introduced the band, he asked me to give the audience a brief version of the story. When I finished, I received a standing ovation. I wished Patrícia had been there that night. It would have made this special night even more perfect.
At present I’m on tour again with Tony in the United States (Concrete Gardens US Tour). As we play the songs I learned in San Francisco, every night becomes just a bit more special. As Tony likes to say, “We’re playing the songs like machines”. Hope is a very good feeling, it helps you surpass your limits and to believe that something very good is yet to come.
Time has passed, but the 16 year old Aquiles Priester who believed that he’d become a drummer and travel the world is still here within me.
Whenever I think that things are not going well or that I’m having difficulties in my life, I ask myself, “What would the 16 year old Aquiles do?” The answer is always the same, he would simply find a way to overcome the obstacles set before him continuing on his path.
I decided to write this text at a very opportune time, while traveling the roads of the United States on tour with Tony MacAlpine. This is without a doubt a dream come true.
Life has been very good to me and I thank God for having blessed me with the will and determination to fulfill my dreams. I had to share this with you because every single day matters. Especially when you’re happy and surrounded by the people who inspire you.
My sincere gratitude to my family for all their LOVE and INSPIRATION (Patrícia, Juliana, and Arthur Priester). To Tony MacAlpine for believing in my work and inspiring me to become a better drummer! Listen to the album Concrete Gardens and you’ll understand what I’m talking about…;)
And last but not least, many thanks to Bjorn Englen and Michael Mesker for making life on the road so easy… 😉
I love YOU ALL!
Where there is a will, there is a way!
Aquiles Priester
