Simon Crahan

Most Memorable Next-Level Performance?

One of the most memorable performances of my career was opening for Slipknot in Chile. As we walked on stage, there were thousands of people already packed in front of us, and almost immediately the crowd erupted. Seeing what felt like 10,000 people jumping, singing, and moshing from the moment we started playing was something I'll never forget. As a drummer, you're usually locked into the performance and focused on the next part of the song, but there were moments where I looked out and couldn't believe what I was seeing. The energy coming from the crowd was overwhelming. It felt unreal watching that many people connect with our music and give us that kind of reaction before we had even finished our first song. For a few minutes, it almost felt like an out-of-body experience. All the years of practice, touring, writing, and sacrificing for music came rushing through my head. Standing on that stage with my band, in a country thousands of miles from home, watching an entire crowd move as one was a reminder of how powerful music can be. That show taught me not to take any opportunity for granted. Moments like that don't happen every day, and it's one of those performances I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.

What Drives Your Creativity?

What drives my creativity is the constant search for something real. Whether I'm writing music, recording in the studio, or performing live, I'm always chasing a feeling—something honest that connects with people on a deeper level. A lot of my inspiration comes from emotion and experience. The highs, the lows, the chaos, the uncertainty, and everything in between. Music has always been a way for me to process life and turn those experiences into something meaningful. Some of my favorite songs are the ones that make you feel something before you even understand why. I'm also inspired by growth. I love pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, experimenting with new sounds, and finding ways to evolve without losing what makes me who I am. The idea that there's always another level to reach keeps me motivated every day. Live performance is another huge source of inspiration. Seeing a crowd connect with a song, watching people lose themselves in the music, and feeling that energy come back to the stage reminds me why I started doing this in the first place. At the end of the day, creativity comes from curiosity. The desire to keep learning, keep creating, and keep chasing that feeling that made me fall in love with music when I was a kid sitting behind a drum kit for the first time.

Why Do You Choose Vic Firth?

I chose Vic Firth because they've been a part of my drumming journey for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories behind a drum kit involve holding a pair of Vic Firth sticks. I've been playing with Vic Firth since I was a year old, and as I've grown as a drummer, they've always been the sticks I trusted. Over the years, I've tried different gear, played different styles of music, and performed on stages all over the world, but one thing has remained consistent: I know exactly how a pair of Vic Firth sticks feels in my hands. That familiarity and confidence is something you can't replace. As a drummer, I play with a lot of energy and intensity, so reliability is everything. Whether I'm practicing, recording in the studio, or playing a show in front of thousands of people, I need gear that I know won't let me down. Vic Firth has always delivered that consistency. Beyond the quality of the sticks themselves, Vic Firth represents a legacy of drummers who have inspired generations of musicians. To be associated with a company that has played such a major role in drumming history is something I deeply respect. At the end of the day, I didn't choose Vic Firth because it was a trend or because someone told me to. I chose Vic Firth because they've been with me since the very beginning, and they've been a part of every step of my journey behind the kit.