Nick Bailey - Composer / Principal Performer

How long have you been part of Extreme Rhythm?
Since it was just an idea forming in my head, about 10 years ago.

Instrument(s) you play mainly with Extreme Rhythm?
Bongos, Djembe, Congas, Shime-Daiko

Name your favorite music album of all time?
Led Zeppelin 2 – Changed my life forever when I heard it.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what 5 items would you take with you?
LP Galaxy Giovanni Djembe, Ipod, Punchbag & Mitts, Rusty, and a case of Red Bull :)

If you could perform with any artist or band, dead or alive, who would it be, and why?
Led Zeppelin.  Nuff said!

The coolest ‘celebrity’ or famous person you’ve ever met, and why?
Jimmy Page, because he was so natural as a person, or Anna Kournikova, for pretty much the same reason.

What’s the one thing you really need in your backstage area/dressing room before the show?
I need 60 seconds with all the guys to thank them for their work and their friendship, and to wish them luck on stage.  Then I need 2 cans of red bull, and finally, a very quiet space by myself, uninterrupted, for about 5 minutes.  I know that’s not ‘one’ thing, but you asked what I need!! :)

How do you handle mistakes during a performance?
Accept them immediately, repair any damage to the groove, and move on.

How do you handle nerves before a performance?
I learned many years ago how to embrace nerves, and enjoy them .  And how much their presence can heighten your performance.  So now, it’s more a case of checking that my nerves ARE there, acknowledging them, embracing them, and then we go out and do the business together!!

When you’re not playing music, what other hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), Bodybuilding.

Do you have a quote, or motto that you try to live by?
‘If you’re gonna do it, do it like you mean it’
… also …
‘Using no way as way.  Having no limitation as limitation’ … Bruce Lee

Name your most memorable moment with Extreme Rhythm (doesn’t have to be onstage)
Probably the ‘Wrong Roooooom’ episode – you’d have to ask Jim  about it :) Attacking the champagne with Rossie on a premier business class flight taking me from Riverdance in Germany to Kingston, Jamaica to perform with Extreme Rhythm wasn’t half-bad either!!

If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream career?
Professional MMA Fighter

This is your ‘soap box’ moment.  Give us your opinion/feelings about something random – Anything!  Good or Bad!
BE NICE!!!   Work Hard, and Play Harder!!!  Always consider others!  Love your friends and family like it’s their last day on earth, because they ARE your wealth!  Spend some time in absolute silence every single day, just you and your thoughts.   Get the balance right.   And finally, when trouble rears its head, don’t hit at all if it is honourably possible to avoid hitting, but NEVER hit softly!

SOME INTERESTING NICK BAILEY LINKS:

http://lpmusic.com/Pros_That_Play_LP/Players_Roster/bailey.html

http://zildjian.com/Artists/B/Nick-Bailey

http://www.promark.com/news/view/nick-bailey-extreme-rhythm/