My name is Mr. Willful. I started as a drummer in a saxofone ensemble, where I was forced to play the exact same things over and over again in a jazzy-pop style. I escaped in 1989 by joining Room 101, a melting pot of recycle rock with no limits in music styles. For 15 years I was one of the three kings of the garage avant garde. In 2004 I became one of the Volunteers, which is a good name for the amount of money I receive every month. In ‘het Poortgebouw’ in Rotterdam I settled behind my drumkit and learned about playing alt-country music. My bombastic drums were replaced by minimal rhythms and my earplugs were history.

• Purpose: Rhythm section
• Gear: Rogers drums from 1969. Ludwig black beauty snare, Paiste line symbals and additional percussion.

Willful Wout's Top 5 Modern-Day Favorites:

1. Wilco – A Ghost Is Born
2. Admiral Freebee – Songs
3. I am Kloot – Natural History
4. dEUS – Pocket Revolution
5. Morphine – Like Swimming

Share your most intimate secrets with Willful Wout at wwout@elpinoandthevolunteers.com.

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