Gary Young

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Gary Young was the first drummer of the 90s seminal alternative band Pavement.

Stephen Malkmus (vocal, guitar) and childhood friend Scott Kannberg (guitar, vocals) formed Pavement in Stockton, CA in 1989. Their first EP was recorded at a local studio Louder Than You Think-which was owned by Gary Young, then a forty something drummer who appeared on the EP. Young was also on the recording of demolition J-7 in 1990.

After the release of their first album, Slanted & Enchanted, Pavement toured nationally in support of it. They added a bassist and another drummer to bolster Young’s shaky timekeeping. The tour became notorious for the band’s sloppy sound and Young’s grandstanding.

The opprobrious, acid-fried ex-hippy drummer would greet the audience at the door, shaking their hands. He would act out by giving out cabbage and mashed potatoes to fans at the door, doing headstands, running around the venue and stage, while the rest of the band was playing, and drunkenly falling off his drum stool.

His bizarre drug and alcohol fueled personality had grated on the rest of his band and they could no longer take it. The final straw came when Young allegedly pulled a gun on Malkmus. When Young ranted about how he’d survive a nuclear war by finding a way to cook dead animals that would eliminate the radioactivity from their bodies, Malkmus joked exasperatedly, “You’ve got to shoot them right between the eyes with a silver bullet.”

His last release with the group was the EP Watery, Domestic.

He would later release three albums under the name Gary Young’s Hospital.[1]

Last heard of him was that he was selling self-constructed dog kennels on his front lawn.

Although Gary may have a kennel district on his front lawn, this hasn't stopped him from an enterprising business, marketing recording studio products. In particular,the Universal Microphone Shockmount. [2]