Colleen Paydos


Location: Hubbardston, MASS

Challenge: Multiple Sclerosis

Website: facebook.com/colleen.paydos

When Colleen was 6 or 7 her father called out to her to come into the living room. She adds "There stood our black and white TV with a man on it playing drums. My father said 'sit down and watch this with me' so I did. The man was Buddy Rich and I was fascinated. I thought how can anyone do something so difficult?" At that point in Colleen's life she knew she wanted to be a drummer.

Colleen adds "It explained a lot to me like why I was always tapping my feet or hands to music. I was the only child out of 6 that loved music. I played it wherever I could. I came from a hard working family where we didn’t have much but what we had made us as kids think we lacked for nothing while mum and dad were both working 2 jobs". For Christmas that year Colleen asked her parents for a drum kit. She adds "Well, there was no way I was getting one of those – with all those kids to provide for and barely making ends meet – not to even mention the extra noise I didn't get one but….what I did get... was a little red and black drum pad on a stand and two sticks". Colleen happily played that drum pad every day pretending that she was Ringo or Micky Dolenz or even John Bonham.

Sometimes in Chorus at school her friend Reed would bring in his drum kit, shiny and red brand new Walberg and Augé and they sounded fantastic. She says "Sometimes, Reed would let ME play his shiny red drums but not very often".

Colleen's life marched on and days, months, and years passed and she never did get my drum kit but she always loved tapping her hands and her feet to the music. She adds "Always in my head telling myself to 'keep time'". As the years went on and Colleen became a mother she made sure that there was always music in the house. She says "We had a large vinyl collection and we sang all over the house. My son grew up (as did my nephews and nieces) learning every rock song the 70's and 80's had to offer".

Eventually when Colleen was 48 and single she met another drummer. His name was Lenny. She adds "We got along fantastic and we decided that since he could move his business he could move in with me and set up his drum kit and have a place where he could really enjoy his drums. I remember being in the cellar doing laundry when all of a sudden I heard him wail away on that drum kit he set up. I couldn’t believe how LOUD it was and thought to myself – might as well get used to this. Lenny’s set was one that even if you WEREN’T a drummer you fell in love with it". He played drums most of his life and had 40 years under his playing. This kit was custom made by DW, and it was 10 pieces of tiger stripped wonder. She adds "I just HAD to learn how to play this drum kit. I fell in love with it. So I asked him – will you please teach me how to play drums? He said – yes but if I tell you it’s not meant for you then you need accept my decision. said fine". So Lenny had Colleen on the kit day and night and within 6 months had her on stage. She adds "I found myself playing with serious seasoned musicians. It was a bit intimidating but I was determined to become a local musician and that's exactly what I did".

Lenny and Colleen would attend all the open jams – two or three a week and each time she'd get the opportunity to play with others. She adds "Mostly though Lenny and I played together – in our drum room I like to call a studio. He’d play, I’d watch then I’d play and he’d watch. We did this every single day together for the most part. After 7 years together we got engaged. I was so lucky. Found the man and drummer of my dreams and now I’m a drummer. Then unexpectedly in our 8th year together Lenny got sick – very sick. After 17 days in the hospital he passed away and I found myself unchartered waters. I was devastated. I’d go up and try and play and just cry and cry and cry. Getting re-motivated on the kit was so hard". Colleen wasn’t going to give it up – not after he worked so hard to create the drummer in her. She adds "There was no way she was going to walk away from it – but I did take a break – I had to. That whole first year all I did was cry – I couldn’t sleep and I kept screaming into the air “Lenny give me a sign”! After I play I leave my sticks sitting on my snare – might be a bad habit but I do".

Colleen says "One day I went back up to play and there it was….one stick on my snare – the other stick “placed UP” on a tom. There is NO WAY that could have moved up there – it HAD to be Lenny’s sign". After that she started to play a bit more – teary eyed but more. Sleep was still not an option for her. She adds "As the weeks drew on Colleen noticed that her feet and legs were going numb and tingling as well as her hands. Finally I went to a neurologist. He did a test on my legs (one with electric jolts to measure the response) and I told him I couldn’t sleep. But more importantly I told him about a weird spell or seizure I was having since I was 16. They only happen once or twice a year IF that but they are horrible. I’m always asleep when they happen. So he said let’s do an MRI. I said ok but I did have them in the past and they found nothing so I didn’t have much hope with this test but since it had been about 20 years since I had one I thought maybe there is something they will find. Well they DID find something – I had MS. You could have knocked me over with a feather. So he sent me to another neurologist who did her own MRI then she did a spinal tap ( that sucked by the way) and it confirmed I did indeed have MS. I have lesions in my brain and spine. Apparently after going a year without sleep my body retaliated. I had it all along but must have been able to suppress it. Whatever the case may be – I did indeed have it".

As the months rolled along Colleen noticed it getting worse and worse. She could barely hold a drum stick. She adds "My heart was breaking that I couldn't play. Finally the doctor put me on Copaxone which is 3 shots I give myself a week and it controls the lesions or slows down the growth of the lesions". Within about 6 months Colleen was feeling better and back to the drums however, she had NO MOTOVATION. Colleen decided that she would attend Drum Fantasy Camp that year in Chicago. She says "It's a 5 day camp with famous drummers that you get to study with and learn from with only 15 students per class. The first year I studied with Billy Cobham, Todd Sucherman, Robert Sput Searright. That really motivated me. I also joined Drumeo because Todd was doing a Master Rock Class for 6 months. That kept me motivated. The following year I attended again and studied with Steve Smith, Chad Wackerman and Dennis Chambers and a groove class with Vinny Valentino. It seems as long as I keep good drummers in my life and remain motivated by THEIR passion my passion stays – the MS I can work through it. I’m not in a band or anything like that so if I get tired and my hands and feet keep tingling and going numb I can stop". Colleen still plays open jams but not that many. She adds "I still have not showed up at and open mic/jam without Lenny and he’s been gone 4 year now. I am thankful he was in my life and I appreciate everything he taught me. I miss him so much but life goes on".

Colleen just participated in an all female drum documentary about female drummers that premiered in Nashville. It's available to watch on Amazon Prime now and it's called Beat Keepers, Women With Rhythm. She adds "MS has not stopped me and I don’t have any plans of letting it".

Some influences for Colleen was of course Buddy Rich but she also loves Todd Sucherman’s drumming and his teaching is just unbelievable. She adds "Neil Peart – he was Lenny’s favorate and eventually became one of my favorites. John Bonham but I honestly believe that his son Jason is a better drummer. Carl Palmer – one fantastic drummers. I’ve had the opportunity to meet a few of these masters and it just keeps me more and more motivated".


Colleen Paydos