Biography

A Bit About My Journey

I was born on the coast of São Paulo, in the city of Santos, Brazil, on April 9, 1989.
At just 8 months old, my grandmother gave me a little red toy drum. Listening to the music playing at home, my parents began to notice my natural sense of rhythm.

When I turned one, I received my first toy drum set. It was white, with a bass drum, snare, tom, and cymbal. At that age, I was more fascinated with taking it apart and setting it up in different places than actually playing it.

During the 1991 Carnival, my father’s band, Agnus Dei, performed at a Catholic retreat at Maracanãzinho in Rio de Janeiro. During the break, my mother placed me at the drums, and I started playing alongside my father. A reporter from Rede Globo, Ari Peixoto, couldn’t believe his eyes—a one-year-old baby playing drums! He decided to do a feature on me.

When I turned three (1992), I got my first real drum kit. It was a “Rollstar”—not the best quality, but to me, it was everything. It was my first drum set! I spent countless hours practicing on it and even started playing during Sunday Mass at the church we attended.

At seven (1996), my father invited me to join Agnus Dei. For three years, we toured all over Brazil. I can confidently say: “If it weren’t for Agnus Dei, I wouldn’t be half the musician I am today.”

At twelve (2002), I listened to my first heavy metal albums: Angels Cry and Rebirth, both by Angra. I couldn’t make sense of what the drummer was doing, and I felt overwhelmed. That was when I decided to dedicate myself seriously to the drums.
The following year (2003), at thirteen, I made a life-changing decision and told my father, “I’m going to be a musician!” My father, a pianist, was against it—he didn’t pursue music as a career and didn’t want me to either.

At fourteen, I began taking drum lessons with drummer/vocalist Danilo Lopes (Ceremonya/Eterna). Those three months of lessons opened up a whole new world for me.
That same year, in a small studio room at my uncle’s house, I began teaching drums to my cousin. I ended up staying there for seven years, practicing and teaching countless lessons. I owe a great deal to my aunt and uncle for tolerating all the noise!

I also purchased my first piece of professional equipment—a double pedal that I still use today.
By sixteen (2005), my childhood friend Álvaro Alves and I began playing with guitarist Roberto Barros (solo). This was the perfect opportunity to put everything I had been studying into practice. It was a demanding but rewarding time, culminating in the recording of Roberto’s album in 2007.

Afterward, I started performing professionally at night. I joined the band O Candeeiro, which specialized in Brazilian and Latin rhythms. This experience inspired me to deepen my knowledge of these styles by enrolling in the Free University of Music (ULM). I couldn’t believe it when I passed the entrance exam in first place! At ULM, I studied jazz, samba, and their variations under the guidance of Toniquinho and Lilian Carmona.

That’s when I felt the urge to compose. I created “Beach Groove,” writing the drum lines entirely in my head before even sitting at the kit. The other instrument parts were composed the same way.

In 2009, I joined General Tequila (Pop/Rock), one of the most renowned and respected bands in the Santos region.

Never Give Up on Your Dream. Remember: “The Greater the Obstacle, the Greater the Victory.”

At 22 (2012), I produced my first video, Locomotive. That same year, I joined the band Parallax (Hard Rock).
In 2014, I became a part of Devils Paradise to record their album, which featured a track produced by Edu Falaschi (Almah/ex-Angra).

About a year later, Edu himself called me to ask if I was interested in auditioning for the band Almah.
I recorded two of their songs on video, performing In My Sleep and Days Of The New.
A week after sending the videos, I was teaching a class when I got the news—I was the new drummer for Almah.

The funny thing is, the first Heavy Metal band I ever listened to, the one that sparked my passion for becoming a musician, was the band where Edu Falaschi was the vocalist. What a crazy twist of fate, right?

In 2016, I was voted the second-best Heavy Metal drummer in Brazil by the readers of the country’s largest rock magazine, ROADIE CREW.

Today, I can clearly see that the paths we choose are filled with obstacles meant to challenge us. Many give up; others persevere. And when they rise, they come back stronger and more prepared for the next wall to climb.

Never give up on your dream. Remember:
“The Greater the Obstacle, the Greater the Victory.”

Best regards,
Pedro Tinello

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