Shane Wakker

Shane’s love for music started at a very young age, when he began piano lessons at the age of 7.  From there Shane studied piano until he was 13, when he discovered an even bigger interest in drums. 

Growing up in the Latrobe Valley in country Victoria, Shane had the privilege of learning from two great local teachers, first Ben Hellmig then onto Steve Shultz, who took Shane through his VCE solo music studies, scoring top marks.  During this time he was also busy playing with a number of bands from the Gippsland area, which saw him playing around the state already at his young age.

From here Shane went onto study at the Box Hill Institute of Performing Arts under the guidance of Robi Parolin, John Corniola and Tony Floyd, who helped in taking his career to the next level.  In 2005, aged 20 and while still at “Box Hill”, Shane was asked to join Aussie rock icons “BODYJAR” after long time sticksman “Ross Hetherington” left the band.  Since then he has been working up a big reputation for himself both nationally and internationally, not only as “Bodyjar’s” drummer but as a young exciting and versatile player.  This has seen him performing and recording here in Australia and overseas with many different bands and artists.  Some of these include The Danny McDonald Band, Foday Camara (Sen), Natty Wailer (Jma), Responder, Daughters of The Rich, Kaboombah and many many more.

Shane also performs workshops around Australia, which saw him appearing at the Australian Drum Festival 2006 in Sydney, alongside Kenny Aronoff, Gordon Rytmeister, and Grant Collins, as well the 2006 and 2007 Ultimate Drummers Weekend in the Yamaha Drums expo room on both acoustic and electronic percussion.

Shane teaches all ages and levels, across all styles.  He has had a large number of students over the past 5 years in Gippsland, taking students through all aspects of their playing with great results, including all VCE students receiving “A” marks in their final exams.

Some of Shane’s influences; John Bonham, Dave Weckl, Josh Freese, Stewart Copeland, Philly Joe Jones, Questlove, Terepai Richmond, Gordon Rytmeister, Buddy Rich to name but a few…

Shane is an endorsee of Yamaha Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Vater Sticks and Aquarian drum heads.

www.myspace.com/shanewakker