Name: Geoffrey “Kill” McCormick
Drummer, vocalist, engineer, producer
Birthplace: Milwaukee, WI
Current Residence: Phoenix, AZ
Influences: Phil Rudd, Kenny Aronoff, Tommy Aldridge, Tommy Lee, Neil Peart, Robert Sweet, Desmond Childs, many more…….
Quote: “The groove comes first. If you always play for the song, you’ll always have a gig!”
BIO
Geoff (AKA “Kill”) is a rock and blues drummer with a regional presence who is known for a hard hitting playing style, constant smile, and deep solid groove. He got his start in garage bands before moving into the rock club scene in his home state of Wisconsin then touring the upper Midwest for a year with a rock band called Savage Myth. Despite achieving regional airplay including drive time slots by popular request in the SE WI radio market, the band broke up. Hethen played with Oarfin recording artists Katella for two years, touring regionally in venues from clubs, to outdoor amphitheaters in support of Def Leppard, The Wallflowers, Seven Mary Three,Slaughter, Vince Neil, Vixen, Tuff, Jackyl, and more. Katella’s record “Freakshow 47” was sold in stores throughout North and South America, Japan, and Europe.
He next joined up with the Rex Carroll Band (“RCB”), a solo roots rock project of 3 time Dove Award winning rock guitarist Rex Carroll who is famous for his work with the rock band “Whitecross” as well his work with members of Stryper in “King James”.Accolades earned during this time including a band nomination for a Wisconsin Area Music Award (WAMI) in the category of “Group/Artist of the Year” and Geoff being nominated in the category of “Drummer of the Year” along with Tony Acevedo as “Bassist of the Year”. RCB appeared on a regional basis including appearances at the world’s largest music festival, Milwaukee’s “Summerfest”, and opening for Kansas on the main stage at the Harley Davidson 100th Anniversary festival. Geoff appears (uncredited) on several tracks on the second Rex Carroll Band release “That Was Then, This Is Now”.
Following his departure from the Rex Carroll Band, he helped form and launch an updated version of what became a top regional booking 80s AORSupergroup tribute, “Category X”. This band played30-50 shows a year throughout the upper midwest and supported numerous national acts such as Survivor, Tesla, George Thoroughgood, and “Weird Al” Yankovich. Category X made several appearances at Summerfest as well as other festivals and regular appearances at the Wisconsin State Fair. While with Category X, the band was recognized for their talent and rise to the top of the regional scene with a WAMI nomination for “Best New Group/Artist”.
After leaving Category X, Geoff moved to thePhoenix, Arizona area. After being rejected by his church Worship Team, he bounced between a few projects including a reincarnated but short lived ”Cactus Chainsaw”, featuring former “Tuff” and “Michael Angelo” vocalist Michael Meyers (Cordet).
Finally hewon the drum slot with “Beach Viper”, a modern twist on upbeat and loud Arena Rock, which the band and AZ music press has dubbed “Beach Metal”. Since joining Beach Viper, the band competed and won the 94.5 Kool FM Battle of the Bands and has played some of the hottest music venues in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area, including consecutive appearances on the main stage at the Arizona State Fair. In 2020 the band released an EP “Alive and Free” which garnered significant positive reviews from several Metal and Rockonline Music Magazines from all over the world.
With the band poised to take off, COVID shut down the live entertainment world just as the band was gaining traction. Today “post COVID”,the band is relaunchingwith a new live show and a new Bassist, Allan Villasan as well as writing for another original record.Geoff also continues with one-off projects and local studio work.
Geoff on Soultone cymbals: “the Explosion and Custom Brilliant RA cymbals I’m playing are really amazing. They have the high end shimmer I have always gravitated toward, while also having a fullness that I didn’t have before with my previous cymbal brand. They are also much more expressive, responding to varying intensity in a very musical way. The Brilliant finish is a must for me, and they are really bright. Working with Soultone has been great, they worked really hard to put together listening sessions to help me find my sounds, and put together a prototype high hat set for me that I totally dig. Love them!”

Links:
www.beachviper.com
https://www.facebook.com/killdrums1
https://www.instagram.com/geoffmccormick/

DISCOGRAPHY/CREDITS
Some of the recording projects Geoffhas worked on as a drummer and/or producer/engineer.
o Shakedown, heavy Blues. Session and live drums, backing vocals. www.spiritonerecords.com
o Savage Myth “Down and Dirty Demos”. Rock. Session and live drums, backing vocals.
o Multiple Kenn Fox records, World Music/AvanteGarde. Session drums. www.spiritonerecords.com
o The Rex Carroll Band, “That Was Then, This Is Now”. Blues/Rock. Session (five tracks) and live drums. Uncredited.
o Rick Harris, “Up All Night” – Folk/Rockabilly/Americana. Engineer and session drummer. https://rickharrisfolkart.com/release/up-all-night/
o Songwriter demos for WAMI award winning Country artist Nora Collins (Milwaukee and Nashville). Engineer and session drummer.
o Songwriter demos for WAMI award winning country and rock guitarist/singer John Eske (Milwaukee and Nashville). Engineer and session drummer.
o Multiple Power Pop records with former “Blind Date” guitarist and songwriter “Arnie Badde” (Milwaukee and Los Angeles) who previously worked with producer Jeff Glixman (Kansas, YngvieMalmsteen, others) as well as with KISS in the post Ace Frehley era. Producer, engineer, session drummer, backing vocals, percussion.
o Beach Viper “Alive and Free” EP. Producer, tracking engineer and drummer/backing vocals.www.beachviper.com