Combined with his music minor in college, this background and training has allowed him to build his reputation as a very creative and uniquely passionate drummer. It has also earned him respect for his versatility. Roy Burns says, "Rick is one of the most promising, dynamic young drummers I've heard in years. Rick has received rave reviews from several other drummers who knowledge and talents will always be known for generations to come. (see commentaries below)

Since 1990, Rick has also taught other young drummers, passing down his craft and style. "Not only is teaching a good way for me to make a living", he explains, "but its great practice for me. " Having to show someone else how to play in a way they can understand forces me to really understand what I'm doing". It's not so surprising that Rick finds the understanding of music so important. In college, as well as drumming he learned to sing, compose, and arrange music. Making him a well- rounded individual to later expand & broaden his own horizons.

Rick is also notorious for his clinics, which are held all over the country. Stressing his theories of "Drums Not Drugs" to several schools he books along his clinic tours. Rick's philosophy of drumming is an outlet to take the negative thoughts & feelings & make it a positive. Rick holds some of his clinics with bassist "Tony Franklin" as they work and master a piece at each clinic they call "Music for drums and Fretless Bass".

In 1998, he performed a 30-minute drum solo in front of 1000 drummers at the Montreal Drum Festival. This was one of his biggest highlights in his life. Rick debuted his "Drum Songs" for the Canadian drummers.

He has written, directed ,& produced a cable television show called "DrumTV" which currently airs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Ohio, and New Orleans. "It's been a real sense of satisfaction and excitement for me to
do this show", He says. "My guests have been great. Being able to sit down and discuss things drummer to drummer is fun, not only for me but telling from the success of my show, for the audience as well." Producing, and directing over 80 shows, "DrumTV", has become so successful that over the past several years, other formats have appeared on other cable systems around the country, produced by people who admit to being turned onto the idea after
seeing Rick's Drum TV

With his T.V. experience, Rick also makes drumming videos. His company, DRUM T.V., has created 4 broadcast quality videos, "The Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert Video Tapes #5 and #6", "The Legends of Drumming: The Jazz Era", and "Basic Drum Set Tuning featuring Roy Burns". His success has created a buzz within the drumming industry, and he has several projects in various states of development. Currently, Rick is getting ready to shoot his latest DVD "The Footiments".

In 1999, Liberty Films began producing some of the shows. Liberty Films (also known as Chestnut Hill) was responsible for producing movies like "I Love You To Death", "Fox Fire" and the HBO movie "State of Emergency". All Drum-TV and
Liberty Films co-productions are shot and edited in digital format!

Even in Rick's spare time he is involved with drumming. He was co-founder of the "Westside Drum Club". The members include former Black Sabbath drummer, Bill Ward, Survivor's, Marc Droubay, and famous Latin drummer Chuck
Silverman. They met regularly to share knowledge and experience as well as to compare equipment and techniques. "The club came together basically because
drummers are just not that competitive by nature. These guys are here to help one another".

Bill Ward remembers the first time he saw Rick play. "Rick sat behind his rig and began to loosen up. In a matter of seconds, it was obvious to me that the man could definitely play drums. I watched him play and work out with
enjoyment. The experience was most inspiring and interesting." Bill was so impressed that he asked Rick to help him develop a clinic tour called, "Connecting the Years". Rick and Bill toured California, doing clinics to packed houses. After extensive soloing, each artist explained how drums, drummers, and drumming changed through the years. Bill has asked Rick to work on a book and video that explains the essence of the clinic information. Bill even co-wrote a song for Rick's band "Kill Van Kull" (KVK).

Rick was a special guest on the latest "Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert Tape" filmed in Las Vegas. Rick paid tribute to Buddy Rich along with Chester Thompson (Genesis), Chad Wackerman (Zappa), Chad Morris (Arsenio Hall Show), Nick Menza (Megadeth), and Bill Ward (Black Sabbath).

Rick was one of the first drummers to have graced the cover of L.A. Rock Magazine: "Rock City News" (October 1997) He has later gone on to be featured in several Drum Magazines. (See articles for details). Rick is a successful drummer with a unique style and quality of music. He's an artist, clinician, entertainer, and educator. Rick can also be found working extensively on his latest project & all time feat " Drum Songs ", following the footsteps of the great Terry Bozzio. This is the passion & heart of Rick Steel this is his "mind". Rick Steel in my honest opinion is one of the most passionate, compassionate creatures God has created. His love for his music speaks as poetry flowing directly from his heart to yours.

To sum up his passion Rick says, ""Most musicians make choices about how to live their lives," explains Rick. "They can starve and take a boring day job, or they can concentrate all their time and efforts on music." The latter is exactly what he has chosen to do and he's done it so successfully that he has managed to create a number of vast & lucrative careers.

In 2000, Rick formed the new school metal band "30 Round Clip", in which he is still a member. Rick is getting ready to put DrumTV on the internet. Also, Steel will be starting the "LA Drum Club" in 2005. He has also written his first book "The Footiments".