The Southwest Voice

By: Heather Lewandoski

Bakersfield resident Roger Watkins won the Guitar Center Bakersfield Drum-Off final Oct. 3. Showcasing his originality, skills, technique, style and stage presence Watkins out performed five other drummers to advance on to the district finals which will be held on Oct. 24 at Guitar Center Pasadena. He also walked away with a prize package that included a Remo Accessory Back, Vic Firth Stick & Accessory Pack, Sabian 10” Drum-Off branded AAX Splash cymbal, DW Drum throne and a Levi’s T-shirt valued at over $450.

Over the last four weeks of Guitar Center’s Drum-Off 2007, local competitions have taken place at over 200 stores across the nation. Store preliminaries took place on Sept. 12, 19 and 26 with the top two drummers from each of these events advancing on to the store finals on Oct. 3. Now in it’s 19th year, Drum-Off continues to bring together thousands of the nation’s top undiscovered drummers for the chance to compete for incredible prizes, national recognition and the bragging rights of being crowned Drum-Off Champion.

This year’s Drum-Off champion will receive a prize package valued at more than $45,000 including a Toyota FJ Cruiser, $10,000 cash, a feature in a Guitar Center ad campaign, a $2,500 Levi’s shopping spree, a custom designed drum kit from DW, Pearl, Tama or Gretsch, a Roland TD20 electronic drum-set, a set of cymbals custom printed with the winner’s signature, a one year drum, cymbal, stick and head endorsement deal, and a write up in Modern Drummer magazine. Additionally, store, district and regional winners will walk away with thousands of dollars in prizes from top Drum-Off partners.