Greg Saenz

Greg Saenz (currently known as Gregory Pecker)^[1] (born April 27, 1967)^[2] is an American drummer from Highland Park, California, currently based in Coachella Valley. He started playing for several groups around Los Angeles, mainly influenced by British performers such as John Bonham, Keith Moon and Charlie Watts. He later joined Excel where he stayed for seven years. Also he is a My Head former member and current drummer in The Dwarves. Since 2002 he began to write his own music and form a solo career.

History

Saenz was born and raised in Los Angeles, taking interest in music at a young age influenced by 1960s and 1970s rock and roll and hard rock musicians such as The Who, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. In 1985 he joined his first band, Wreched Horde. The line-up was complete with "Moses" on bass, "Feedback Frank" and "Plague" on guitars, Tim Samoan on vocals and himself on drums. They were mostly inspired by the NWOBHM, but Saenz modified their style with their own influences (Greg said: "We sounded like early Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but my love of bands like Venom, Suicidal Tendencies, and Minor Threat had me speeding up the songs before long".^[3]) Wreched Horde broke up after almost signing a contract with A&R; the producer who talked them was later fired, so they missed the opportunity.

Then he read an advertisement in Recycle Magazine that said: "Excel looking for a dedicated, talented, punk metal influence. No egos".^[3] Saenz called singer Dan Clements and moved to Venice, California to join as Excel's drummer. Between the rest of 1985 and 1986 they recorded three demos: Sonic Decapitation, Personal Onslaught and Refuse to Quit, editing their first studio album (Split Image) in 1987 (the recording was paid by Mike Muir and distribution was conducted by Caroline Records), the second one (The Joke's on You) in 1989, and a tour in Netherlands the same year with that line-up. In January and February 1989 he recorded together with Dan Clements the background vocals for the fourth studio album by the thrash metal band Kreator, titled Extreme Aggression. In 1992, Excel recorded a fifth and last demo: Third album demos. The next year guitarist Adam Siegel left the band definitely to form the alternative rock and grunge power trio My Head, with Saenz on drums and the former Bad Radio member Dave Silva on bass.^[4] However, this project was interrupted on several occasions for Siegel's participation in Infectious Grooves.

In early 1996, Saenz became the drummer of the first solo release by Mike Muir (Suicidal Tendencies vocalist), together Adam Siegel, who recorded various tracks on the album. Then My Head signed a record contract with Capitol Records and released their debut album Endless Bummer, the song "Humbucker" became their only single and music video.^[5] The band broke up the January 1, 1998 but they recorded the track "The Beard" in an EP called Pneumonia, which would be later included in the fourth full length record by Infectious Grooves, Mas Borracho, released the August 29, 2000. Also the power trio appeared in the compilation album by Suicidal Tendencies titled Friends & Family, Vol. 2.

After leaving My Head, Saenz moved out of Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area.^[3] In 2000 he joined The Dwarves for the Epitaph Records "Punk-O-Rama Tour" to promote their new album Come Clean. In 2001, he played drums for the tenth studio album by The Dwarves, titled How To Win Friends And Influence People. Then he settled in Coachella Valley and played in various desert bands such as Vega, Forever Changing Concept, and You Know Who. In 2007, he returned to The Dwarves and made several tours around the United States, and Oceania between 2007 and 2012.^[6] In early 2010, he drummed on The Dwarves's fourteenth studio release The Dwarves Are Born Again. In summer of 2012, Saenz re-united with his old bandmates in Excel after 20 years.

Discography

See also: List of Excel demos

References

External links

• My Head MySpace
• Greg Saenz MySpace