American Drummer Writer Joel Gausten | Inspirational Musician | Musicians with Disabilities

Joel Gausten

Location: New England

Challenge: Cerebral Palsy

Joel Gausten is a New England-based writer and musician.

As a writer, Joel has interviewed several notable musicians over the years, including Bill Ward of Black Sabbath, Gene Simmons and Eric Singer of KISS, Henry Rollins, Al Jourgensen of Ministry, Mike Ness of Social Distortion, James Williamson of The Stooges, Dave Lombardo of Slayer/PHILM, Rick Dufay of Aerosmith, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Lol Tolhurst and Reeves Gabrels of The Cure, David Thomas of Pere Ubu, Dot Wiggin of The Shaggs, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Jarboe of Swans, Nicholas Bullen of Scorn/Napalm Death, Midge Ure of Ultravox/Thin Lizzy, Billy Ray Cyrus, Steve Zing of Danzig/Samhain, Dave Brock and Nik Turner of Hawkwind, Jimmy Destri of Blondie,

Mark Slaughter of Slaughter/Vinnie Vincent Invasion, David Yow and Mac McNeilly of The Jesus Lizard, Valor Kand and Gitane DeMone of Christian Death, Johnny Temple of Girls Against Boys/Soulside, Roger Miret of Agnostic Front, Bill Laswell, Marky Ramone, Chris Connelly of Revolting Cocks, Jaz Coleman of Killing Joke, Xzibit, Geddy Lee of Rush, Hugo Burnham of Gang of Four, Richard Lloyd of Television, Yngwie Malmsteen, J Mascis, Hunt and Tony Sales of Tin Machine, Bob Daisley of Rainbow/Blizzard of Ozz, Adrienne Bailon of 3LW/The Cheetah Girls, Penny Rimbaud and Steve Ignorant of Crass, Tom Warrior of Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti of Throbbing Gristle, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge of Psychic TV/Throbbing Gristle, Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy, Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde and hundreds more.

Joel's non-music interviewees include Congressman Barney Frank, Art Monk of the Washington Redskins, Playboy Playmate Pamela Horton, TV star Chip Foose and model/actress Shannon Tweed. Additionally, he has worked as a White House-credentialed reporter, covering President Barack Obama for regional media in New England.

Joel's books include Tales of Horror: The History of THE MISFITS & THE UNDEAD, Pandemonium: Inside Killing Joke, Prong: The Early Years, The SABBATH Interviews and From Satan to Sabbath: The Metal Interviews 2000-2009. Gausten's upcoming books include Rock N Roll Monster: The Rik L Rik Story and Albums that (Should've) Changed the World.

He was also a contributor to/editor for Martin Atkins’ best-selling 2007 book, Tour:Smart, alongside such notables as Henry Rollins and Steve Albini.

In 2014, Joel's 2010 book From Satan to Sabbath: The Metal Interviews 2000-2009 was officially added to the library at the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame & Museum in Cleveland, OH.

Joel and/or his projects have been the subject of articles in a variety of publications including Spin, The Guardian, Blender, Revolver, Punk Globe, Guitar World, LA Weekly and Scream.

From 2010 to 2012, he hosted his own online radio show, Glory Is Noise, which included a mix of music and interviews with underground and mainstream recording artists.

A drummer since age 9, Joel Gausten has appeared on dozens of CDs, EPs and internationally distributed compilations by such acts as Electric Frankenstein, The Undead, The Sixth Chamber, Broken Heroes and The Graveyard School. He was a sporadic member of The Undead (fronted by former Misfits guitarist Bobby Steele) from 1998 to 2008. In 2001, he performed as a member of Pigface alongside Martin Atkins (Killing Joke), Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks), Charles Levi (My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult), Chris Haskett (Rollins Band) and Meg Lee Chin. In 1995, he rehearsed with The Misfits as a fill-in drummer and later appeared on a number of Misfits bootlegs recorded during these rehearsal sessions.

In 2011, Joel released a solo EP, Snake Bite Blues, which featured contributions from Pete Jones (Public Image Limited), Sonny Bellavance (The Devil’s Guitar) and Keith LeBlanc (Tackhead).

Currently, Joel Gausten is a regular participant in Effectionhate, an experimental “revolving door” recording project led by his wife Shannon and featuring contributions from past/present members of Public Image Limited, Bolt Thrower, Benediction, Prong, Swans, Ministry, Crime And The City Solution and Killing Joke.

Joel Gausten: Take Flight (feat. Jones/LeBlanc/Bellavance/S. Gausten)