It was in that band that he met Matt Steele. The two then formed their own band, which would become the obsession of their lives for the next few years. "We were practically joined at the hip back then," Matt recalls, "Thing One and Thing Two. It seemed like I didn't leave his house for three years!"

Through the years, Fred has developed a reputation as one of the best drummers in the business. His solid, in-the-pocket style of playing and easy-going manner keep his phone ringing anytime someone needs a drummer. It was no surprise therefore, as to whose phone rang when Matt Steele needed a drummer for his as-yet-unnamed recording project.

"Fred is amazing," Matt says, "first of all, we have a weird chemistry together. Always have. But during the recording, he would get everything in the first couple takes. Due to his schedule, I only had him for one night a week, and only a couple of hours a night. We spent one night miking drums and getting the levels right. After that, it was two songs a night, down just like that. For I Tune Out, I had written the riff the night before he came over, and played it for him when he got in the studio. We ran through it twice, and then BOOM! it was on tape. That's the ultimate testament to what a monster he is on the kit."

Fred's schedule at first prevented him from joining GIVEN. With Wall of Soul, the cover band Papawood, his father's country band and a few others, his book was pretty full. However, when drummer Eddy Worden left GIVEN, Fred's phone rang again. "Who better than the guy who recorded it?" Matt says, "He's the kind of player that makes us that much better, and he knows me musically and personally probably better than anyone."

f.y.i.