Steve Ziemke is a senior vice president for Gulf Coast Western, but this executive is known for much more than his business acumen. He may have decades of experience in the insurance and oil and gas industries, but Ziemke is a rock 'n' roller at heart.
Ziemke is no stranger to adventure and embraces all that life outside the boardroom has to offer. The father of three loves personal fitness, traveling, camping, skiing, and scuba diving. A true Renaissance man, he's also served as the drummer for the Colorado rock cover band Monument Hill for over 20 years.
What started as a small classic rock ensemble that turned into a full fledged combo more than two decades ago. Ziemke shares how he and his friends founded Monument Hill, their claim to fame, and where the band members are today.
Monument Hill's Humble Beginnings
Steve Ziemke never had formal drum lessons, but he did have a passion for music. . "I never really played the drums. I always had a natural knack and I would tap on things, driving everyone crazy. I never did anything with it," he says.
"For his 40th birthday my friend got together with three other friends to play rock and roll. After a while the drummer lost interest," Ziemke explains.
Emboldened by the party's lively atmosphere, he asked his friends if he could have a go at the drums. He didn't have formal music training, but that didn't matter. Ziemke simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to experience one of his life long dreams and to jam out with his friends. "We played 'Wipe Out' and a couple of Eagles tunes, and I just had the knack," he recalls. Ziemke has always loved classic rock songs and admired the drummers from Rush and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
What began as a fun party fluke soon turned into a musical enterprise. Together, Ziemke and his pals agreed to name the band Monument Hill in honor of the name of a nearby pass in Monument, Colorado.
The four band members decided to focus largely on classic rock hits, but they left their repertoire varied enough that everyone at an event could enjoy some tunes. "It's classic rock and songs that we think are danceable," Steve Ziemke says. "We love Tom Petty." The band also frequently covers hits by ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Black Keys, and Lenny Kravitz.
Steve Ziemke's Rise to Local Stardom
Monument Hill soon realized they had something truly special, and the group made it a point to practice regularly. "We got together and started practicing. I bought my own set of drums," Ziemke says. "We played at a couple of private parties first, and then we started venturing out into playing the bars."
Monument Hill mostly played in Colorado Springs, but even then, the locals couldn't get enough of their renditions of classic rock hits. Before they knew it, Monument Hill began playing in large bars across the area. "We had a local following in Monument where we lived, and it was just an amazing experience," Ziemke recalls.
As with many great bands, Monument Hill's activity and fan following slowly tapered off over time. Monument Hill was a fun project that the band really enjoyed, but the gigs became less frequent as the band members took on more responsibilities at home and work. The group no longer lived near each other in Colorado Springs, making regular practice a challenge. "The lead singer is in Vermont, the lead guitarist is in Tulsa [Oklahoma], and the bass player and I are right here in Colorado," Steve Ziemke says.
These days, even though things have been chill for Monument Hill, the quartet still gets together a few times a year to practice and learn new songs. "We just had a gig in July at a local Monument bar. It's one of our friend's 60th birthday, and we had a blast reminiscing and watching our old friends have fun, ," Ziemke says. "Even playing out once a year, things pick up right where we left off."
Striking the Final Chord: Steve Ziemke's Music Adventures Continue
Steve Ziemke doesn't play regularly in Monument Hill today, but he refuses to let his love of music lapse.
Playing in a band certainly isn't for the faint of heart, but he believes regular performances - and their pressures - forced him to continue growing. "Just get out there and do things, make things happen. Do things that are uncomfortable," Ziemke says. "If you don't have goals and they're not in front of you, you're not on pace to doing the best you could be. I had a goal of being good at the drums. The other band members had been in bands and played music most of their lives. I visualized keeping a strong beat, and practiced at being the best I could be."
* This is a contributed article and this content does not necessarily represent the views of musictimes.com
