Matt is the drummer for European Barrage. He gets to solo on some pieces, but he really shines during his solos in "Sing, Sing, Sing."

He was so eloquent in answering my e-mail list of questions that I'm going to let him do the talking here.

I realised that music was what I wanted to do with my career at the age of about 15, this was due to my drum teacher, Graham Instrall, who had such a positive attitude and really inspired me to play music. I used to see him play in my lessons, and seeing him at the gigs he did and that made me realise that it was definitely the profession for me. The next step was to get the ball rolling in terms of getting professional work.

For me drumming has always been the most enjoyable thing in the world, I get the biggest buzz when I'm playing and I wouldn't swap drumming for anything in the world! I was definitely "one of those drummers" who bangs on all the surfaces around, I still do it (to the annoyance of everyone in the group especially Stefan!), and even got a sarcastic certificate from my secondary school headmaster at the end of my time there which read "for the person who never taps on any classroom surfaces!".

Before Barrage I played around the UK with many different groups in many different styles. I did a lot of big band playing, and was regularly involved with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Great Britain. I played with many function bands, small jazz groups, pop bands, orchestras, did some teaching, and started a degree in jazz at music college. I did some session work on a few pop band albums.

I heard about Barrage through one of the adverts which were put up about auditions around the UK. I auditioned in July, and received a call that same day from Dean Marshall offering me the gig.

The first time I heard about playing at Disney was actually during my audition, when we were told that we would be playing in many different countries, including the Disney parks, this was obviously very exciting, as was the fact that I would be a part of Barrage altogether.

Funnily enough, I actually knew Stefan and Ben Gunnery from music college (Trinity) before the auditions, however, none of us knew that we were all auditioning for the show, and so the first day everyone met we were so surprised that the three of us were there! How does that saying go? It's a small world or something?!

As a drummer in the show, I have got the obvious job which all drummers have of keeping (above all) GOOD TIME along with the rest of the rhythm section supporting the group with backings, and- of course- solos. We spend a lot of time working with Dean in order to play things just the way he wants them played, of course we have our own input to a certain extent, but Dean really knows his stuff and has a great way of communicating what he wants. He is one of the best directors I have ever worked with.

Flights obviously get pretty boring, so some of us have got a few Game Boys which we link up and play, or we read a book. I am definitely a window seat guy, though!

You will regularly see us playing Hacky Sack whilst waiting in the airports, we have made up loads of new rules which keep us amused, and often lead to someone ending up facing a wall whilst we throw the sack at them, it's great fun!

One of the most essential things to have, though, is definitely your CD/MD player. In my CD/MD players, I listen to every kind of music you can imagine. For me, one of the best ways of learning is to listen to so many different styles, and learn about them. I have got all kinds of music- from Roxy music to John Schofield, Vivaldi to Tito Puente, Funkadelic to the Woody Herman Big Band, the list is endless!

Matt McDonough and the rest of European Barrage will be appearing at Walt Disney World's EPCOT park in Orlando, Florida, for most of March and early April of 2001.

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