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| Rohan Zachariah keeps the beat for the outlaw country band The Dale Justice Band (publicity photo). |
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Growing up with a love for rock music in his native India, Rohan Zachariah may not have dreamed his future would lay in music closer to Johnny Cash than the Rolling Stones. Today, the young drummer is
the backbone of the outlaw country band The Dale Justice Band as it prepares
for a new fall tour and new album.
“Being a part of this band with such a great group of
guys is a dream come true,” Zachariah said. “I didn’t know much about country
music when I met Dale Justice but when I went to audition I felt at home
playing with them – I had spent all night learning all 10 songs they wanted me
to play – but I loved it!”
Already, Zachariah is preparing for the tour that will take him before the band’s rabid fans who love its
outlaw country style that echoes the music of such country music pioneers as Hank
Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and others. The band, made up of
singer/guitarist Dale Justice, guitarist Felix Matthiessen and Zachariah, will
kick off its tour in January.
“We’re really excited about the tour and having Rohan
keeping a solid beat for us come hell or high water!” Justice said. “The way he
plays, it’s like he was born to play country music but in actuality, he grew up
playing and listening to rock in India and he grew to embrace country music!”
Born in Chennai, India, Zachariah grew up listening to
his father’s favorite rock bands like Queen, Deep Purple, Boston and others. He
developed an affinity for the music and eventually gravitated to playing the
guitar, keyboards and drums, before settling on drumming. He would go on to earn
a film production degree at Madras University but all the while had the
intention becoming a professional drummer.
After earning his masters in electronic media, to
appease his parents, Zachariah was already playing with a number of top rock
bands in India such as The Misfits and The Bureaucrats, ultimately performing
on national television in India.
“But I knew I had to come to the U.S. and learn from
the best at Musicians’ Institute,” he recalled. “It’s the only place on earth
where you can have Chad Smith from the Chili Peppers sitting next to you,
telling you how to play.”
But while still studying, Zachariah met Dale Justice
and was soon a founding member of the new band that would make Roanoke,
Virginia its home base after some brief travels.
“Working with these guys has been amazing. You get to
know each other so well that once we’re on stage we already know what the other
will do,” he said. “We’re currently putting the final touches on the album so
we’re very excited about this first album releasing early next year!’
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