I was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and grew up in New York City. I moved out of Brazil to NY when I was around 9 Months old but flew back and forth for a few years. Lived in Sunny Side and Astoria, Queens while I was in NY. When I was around 7-8 years old I got my first tape player and became a very big fan of music. I was always listening to anything and everything that was around, especially when I wanted to tune my parents out while they fought, or when people annoyed me. My best friend, when I lived in NY, used to sneak me into his house when his parents were gone and we'd go through his brothers vinyl collection. The first rock song he introduced to me was "Back Off Bitch" by Guns and Roses. I was instantly hooked. Then when I moved here to FL at age 11, I heard about this guy in a band named "Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids" and heard all sorts of cool stories from my older friends. One day I ended up in local a CD shop called CD Heaven and I saw Jessica From Jack off Jill and Jeordie White (Twiggy) hanging out inside. Jeordie was dating Jessica and she was working at the counter. I wanted an autograph really bad but I couldn't identify who was who. I didn't know much about Jack off Jill at the time though, but I really wanted Jeordie's autograph. They were both wearing makeup, fur coats, big boots, fishnet stockings, and both had dread locks. I was so intimidated but it inspired me so much. I saw their confidence and attitude and wanted to be just like that when I grew up. They never gave a fuck about what people thought about them and I admired it. I figured getting into music would also give me the confidence I need since I was always such a shy kid. From then on, I was hooked. I loved music more than most people I knew and I wanted nothing more than to become a "Rockstar." I never ended up getting his signature because I chickened out and didn't ask which one was Twiggy. I also got to watch a lot of videos of the spooky kids with their old bassist, Brad (Gidget Gein) and was influenced to begin playing the bass guitar. I always wanted to play bass like a guitar player plays a guitar. I saw way too many bass players that just stand there until I got to watch these two. Here I am today. I play bass for Deadstar Assembly, I get to tour and do what I love.
and I am,
The Dro