E.A Phrogge

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Challenge: Cerebral Palsy / Blind / Nerve Entrapment Right Hand

Website: www.bandmix.com/phrogge

Phrogge is a drummer / percussionist from Phoenix, Arizona who has had over 56 years experience has a Vocalist, Drummer and Percussionist.

He was born with Cerebral Palsy, and has had over 35 years experience as a touring musician with many well known acts all around the world. Phrogge adds "I wore leg braces up past my knees until aged 14. My left hip is about an inch shorter than my right, as a child, I spent most of my weekends either in Toledo or Columbus Childrens Hospitals in Ohio".

He Started playing drums at the age of 12.

Phrogge started singing when he was 5 years old, entering all of the city regional & state competitons. He started winning competitions through his High School years.

Phrogge says "I am honoured cos of all I have accomplished and those I have been able to play with. Some of the greatest musicians on the planet consider me as part of their family".

As a drummer, Phroggie says "Im not a Neil Peart kinda guy, I'm more like a Levon Helm, Don Henly, Phill Collins kinda guy". Phrogge was taught by legendary Toto drummer, Jeff Pocaro.

Phrogge went blind due to 35 years of stage lighting burning out his retinas. He adds "I have gone through 9 eye surgeries. I had to have coal like masses scraped off my optic nerves with a tool similar to what a dentist uses. I can see only 3 foot in front of me with right eye depth perception".

Because of this, Phrogge has to sit down on stage as he becomes extremely dizzy.

Phrogge uses a percussion setup built out of a seniors walker like he uses to get to the bus. He adds "Everything is mounted except for the hihat. What I use on that kit as a bass drum is a 1980 Pearl steel snare with no bottom head or snare wires, using an Aquarian Modern Vintage 'Deep Head', bass drum beater is a Vater "Lambswool' beater".

He also sometimes uses an LP Black Mambo Cowbell Bass Drum.

Phrogge says "I consider myself an educator, not a teacher!"

He adds "Fortunate for me, when I started playing clubs at 12, I was raised and watched out for by bikers... Outlaw Morocycle Gang... Nobody messed with the lil kid".

Starting so young on the club scene, Phrogge became vary street wise and able to protect himself from a very early age.

Phlipperz Instructional Video 2016