Biography - Gideon Meintjes

History

 

Gideon was born in Pretoria – April 1976, and started playing drums and Bass in 1990 at age 14. He played Drums and Bass at many school occasions and played Drums for his first independent band in 1995 “wieldoppe”. With Drums as his main instrument, he has also done many live shows and recordings with his Bass guitar from age 15 onwards.

 

Gideon is rated by many musicians as one of the top drummers in SA.

 

 

Drumming with various bands (as member) includes:

 

Duusman: 3 Music Videos, Draadloos feature on Kyknet, Kwêla Feature: E-TV, Kasper Rasper. TV-Show Features, Geraas: E-TV, and Connexions: Sabc 3. Also many newspaper articles and headliners followed including article in the “Insight” magazine.

Grey Matters: Kyk net’s Draadloos TV Feature with Gert Vlok Nel. Geraas Vuurdoop Competition winners 2002

Shag

Straight Wire

Strange Weather: Shows with Squeal, Just Jinger, Batery-9, Amersham...etc

SciCoustic: Gideon is a member of the band since its inception in 2000.

Highlights include: Kyk Net’s Draadloos TV Feature - Kaktus Op Die Vlaktes KKNK, Kasper Rasper show etc.

Pitstop – SABC3(TV Feature) with STRAB festival in Mozambique; featuring The Southern Gypsy Queens, Jack Hammer, Albert Frost, andSciCoustic.

E-TV news Live, Morning Edition – Feature on their new Album “Come and Love us”

DVD Recording at STRAB Festifal in Mocambique 2006.

 

Scicoustic has headlined many newspapers, and magazines, and has had 5 number one hits on (Local Radio Station) Tuks FM’s top ten, and one number two off their first album “Mirrors”. The band also featured on Fanta-World-Chart Show on (Local Radio Station) 5FM, by Barney Simon. The Piet Botha tribute concert in early 2006 was also a great hit, SciCoustic covered a famous Jack Hammer song. “Come and Love us” the second album was an even bigger hit.

Assassin Music video is currently on local television. Gideon has played almost every festival South-Africa has to offer, and as drummer, has shared stages with many bands like Just Jinger, Amersham, Koos Kombuis, David Kramer, Dozi, Paul Rickert with Battery 9, Valliant Swart, Piet Botha, Squeal, and Georgia. (Not performing with)

 

SciCoustic was invited to Kenya where they and Jonny Clegg played the Rock The Races event in Nairobi.

Gideon was also the Main Drum feature in the Music Maker Magazine (Jul/Aug 2008).

 

Misericord: Centre pull out poster and article in Peoples magazine June 2006

Gideon is currently still a member of his band SciCoustic, and performs with many other groups and artists country wide.

 

 

Groups and artists Gideon has performed with (still when needed): (in no order)

 

Los Hermanos – SA

Robbie Wessels

Rendezvous

Valiant Swart

Bok van Blerk

Dewald Wasserval

Adam Tas

Gian Groen

Eden: Carnival City Theatre shows, and DVD Recording, percussion

Cutting Jade

Daniel Msiza

Eric Clapton Tribute Show: Percussion

Dave Matthews Tribute band – with Albert Meintjes, Wouter Reyneke, Garth De Meillon, Gert Wolmarans, Siobhan Lloyd-Jones. (Drums)

Ménage à Trois: Percussion

Werner van der Hoven

Albert Frost: A number of shows including OppiKoppi “Hond uit ‘n box” with guest appearance – Karen Zoid

Grey Matters: Geraas Vuurdoop 2002 winners: Drums, and Bass with backing vocals

Petru from Idols top 10, with band “Which Way South”

Doc Barendse & Boet Faber

'n Pas De Deux met Heimwee

Kristoe Strauss: Many shows including OppiKoppi, KKNK, “Inni Bos” Festival in Nelspruit, and a Kyk net TV feature, with music video.

Anika: A number of shows including Kaktus Op Die Vlaktes – Kyk Net’s Draadloos TV feature

Sluggs Of War: Freedom day, Pretoria Union Buildings 2003

Fake Leather Blues Band: Founding member, and a number of shows

Michelle & Drop dead gorgeous: A number of shows, and Music Video

Maryke and Maz-D
Soil 7t7

The Prescriptions: A Corporate product launch with Barry Hilton

Godfrey Birtill from the UK: International Corporate Conference

Performer Theatre: Mosselbay Dec 2004 Beach band, beachfront entertainment

Soteria: Corporate Conference with special appearance: Danie Botha

Dawie Nolte: CD Launch

Hainley Cole

Hits From Musicals: Musical shows with Gerben Grooten and Friends

Naughtical Mile

Luna: Couple of shows on Drums, and percussion including OppiKoppi

Symphony Orchestra Musical “Annie ” 2005: With Conductor Gerben Grooten: Bass

Symphony Orchestra Christmas production 2006 – “The Best gift of all”: With Conductor Gerben Grooten: Drums. Show broadcasted live via satellite to over 40 countries on TV

Misericord: CD launch and a number of shows

Clark & van der Hoven

Natalie Chapman: number of shows Percussion

Spring day Celebration 2006 HCC

Q-Bassa – Afro Cuban project with Albert Meintjes, Wouter Reyneke, Gregg Georgiades, Jaco Loots. (Drums)

Pangea Lounge Band – With Gert Wolmarans (Percussion)

Nothing Alike – (Drums)

CIC Youth Band (Drums)

Seychelles – Was invited twice to play for the Prince of Bahrain at his private resort on the Seychelles Island for dinner parties, and Beachfront entertainment for Him and his international celebrity guests (Drums and Percussion)

FORR Festival Mocambique – Appeared with SciCoustic (Drums) and Valiant Swart (Drums)

STRAB Festival Mocambique - Appeared with Clark & Van der Hoven, Menage a tois, Fake Leather Blues band, Rendezvous and many more (Drums)

 

Apostolic Summit 2010 Pretoria: with Dr Ben Kleynhans, Dr William Hinn (USA) Dr Sagie Govender, Prophet Shaun Blignhaut, and Apstl Howie Baker (New Zealand) (Drums)

Hatfield Christian Church: Gideon played drums for Hatfield CC for two years (2004 and 2005), which sermons are broadcasted live to over 40 countries throughout the world every Sunday morning on TV, and live on local radio every Sunday evening.

 

 

Other related activities:

 

National and International Conferences:
Touch the Nations Ministries is the host of large conferences in the country. Once per month all the leaders from their churches get together in Pretoria, and twice per year they host a national, and international conference with thousands of church leaders attending, thus has a large influence. He is seen and approached by many leaders for advice on drums and equipment.

 

Apostolic Summit 2005-2013 Pretoria: with Dr Ben Kleynhans, Dr William Hinn (USA) Dr Sagie Govender, Prophet Shaun Blignhaut, and Apstl Howie Baker (New Zealand) (Drums)

 

Workshops: Gideon was invited to do a Drum workshop at the International Arts Festival, hosted by the American Embassy in 2005, which he did on Afro-Cuban Rhythms (Songo, and Gua-Guanco)

 

Workshops: Gideon and Garth (Bass Player) also did band workshops on “The Rhythm section” at various schools around Pretoria; covering topics like what to do in a rehearsal, and how to start working as a team.

 

Workshops: Gideon was invited to do a workshop for the Hatfield Christian Church group drummers. The workshop was 9 hours with only drummers; then Garth and Gideon finished off with a drum and bass session on rhythm interpretation and sixteenth note groupings and variations.

 

Workshops: Garth was invited to do a workshop at the South-African Bass players collective, and he asked Gideon to accompany him, which was a great evening. That gave momentum to their Instrumental project: Rendezvous to really raise the bar and get on the bus.
They did another few recital evenings with the SABPC at Pta Technicon. Then a few more. Live at st’ Pauls recording available.

 

Workshops around South-Africa: Gideon has been invited to do many workshops and clinics around the country, reaching those musicians who are living in far off and remote towns, and do not have the necessary material to help them improve their skills. 

 

Books: Gideon has written many tutorials on drumming. The first book, a course for beginners, is prescribed as syllabus at a contemporary Music College in Pretoria. It was also prescribed for drumming as a school subject at some High Schools in S.A. The second book is a course for advanced players.

These books were transcribed into a three years course: Pick up Sticks is the title and brain child of Drummers Inc (Gideon’s drumming school situated in Pretoria – South Africa).

 

Amazing Basics: a Series also by Gideon featuring triplets in-depth, Para-diddles in-depth, and Ostinato exercises to expand your drumming vocabulary.

 

Teaching DVD’s: 3 Parts available since 2010 on DVD

 

Lecturing: Gideon has been giving drum lessons since 1996 and was recently lecturing at the Music Centre of the High School Gymnasium in Potchefstroom (40+ students) as well as at a College for Contemporary Music Tuition in Pretoria (Emendy). Gideon was approached by many school’s music departments to assist, and teach, but couldn’t accept due to administration, and time restrictions mainly because of his own Drumming School -Drummers Inc. Drummers Inc teachers are also lecturing at the NOVO music academy at Hatfield Christian church.

 

Drummers Inc: Gideon’s drum school (Drummers Inc) employs 4 full time teachers; and has 4 branches; currently teaching 60 students. Gideon is an all-round great drummer both live and in the studio, covering all genres from country; swing; pop; rock; all the way through to heavy metal.

 

Musical Director: Gideon has been Music Director for 4 different worship bands, as well as the ROCK OPERA ORCHESTRA "Wake Not The Dead"