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Drumming Through the Pain
By Don Doman, Jr.
 Driving
along Ruston Way in Tacoma after a couple of tall cool Diet
Cokes at Katie Downs Tavern & Eatery my wife Peg and I
were surprised to see a drummer playing with a full drum kit
by the side of the road. This was unusual. Making it even
more unusual was a sign that mentioned Woodstick 2007, which
raises money for hearing regeneration and local school music
departments. I am the chairman.
I parked and talked to George Jetson (left.) He plays for
private parties and gives drum lessons. What I expected to
be a story about raising money for Woodstick turned out to
be so much more.
In March of 2003 George suffered an industrial accident,
which has left him in chronic pain (RSDS). George's accident
happened just days before the first Woodstick. Since he had
already paid to participate in the event and had a number
of his students involved,George decided to attend regardless
of the pain. His students brought him on crutches and helped
set up his drum kit. He doesn’t remember much about the
day, but he’s still playing drums and hasn’t missed
a Woodstick event since day one. He’s usually first or
second in line when Woodstick opens and he always brings about
ten to fifteen students.
 I
asked him how he could continue drumming with all his pain
and he said, “Playing drums keeps the pain away.”
I listened as George played along with a CD. “I can’t
control my left leg. I don’t know what it’s doing,”
but somehow it finds the beat . . . very well.
George sets up his drum kit anywhere he might attract attention
as he seeks donations to Woodstick (www.woodstick2007.com),
which is scheduled for the ShowPlex in Puyallup, Washington
on October 27. He was recently playing outside a concert featuring
The Dave Mathews Band. Phil was playing along with a Dave
Mathews CD when a limo drove up and parked nearby. After about
twenty minutes the window rolled down. Dave Mathews and his
drummer Carter Beauford waved in appreciation. With a shrug
of his shoulders George said, “I should have stopped
and talked to them, but I just kept on playing.”
While attempting to control his body and the pain, George
continues to record, build custom drum sets, install L.E.D.
light kits in drums, and provide drum instructions to budding
drummers. He keeps busy, but like most musicians doesn’t
really work.
While polishing his sunglasses George confided, “Sufferers
of RSDS have a high suicide rate.” He’s thankful
that he has drumming to help him through each day allowing
him to move and keep the pain away . . . for awhile.
George said since the accident he has lost his wife and family
as well as his home. I asked about his dog and he reached
for a pen to write a country-western song. He hasn’t
lost his sense of humor, nor his love of music and drums.
George can be reached at (253-927-5253).
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