Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitar Amps
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • "Worst rap album in history"
  • Superbooth 2025
  • Eilish vs Radiohead
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Drums
  2. Drum Kits

Marmozets' Josh McIntyre on his setup, recording, writing and more

News
By Chris Burke published 14 July 2014

Yorkshire math-rock stars in the making

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Marmozets' Josh McIntyre

Marmozets' Josh McIntyre

Fusing math-rock with Paramore-esque melodic emo and energetic punk-pop, West Yorkshire’s Marmozets blew the roof off the Pepsi Max tent at this year’s Download. Rhythm photographer Adam Gasson was also at their recent Bristol gig to document one of the band’s incredible, spontaneous live shows which involved drummer Josh McIntyre taking his kit out into the moshpit and playing from there.

McIntyre, whose sister Becca fronts the band while brother Sam plays guitar, was one of Rhythm’s 10 British Drumming Newcomers in the May 2014 Great British issue, and with an album due out soon, it’s looking like we were right to back his considerable drumming talent.

We caught up with Josh backstage at Download…

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Josh on his Gretsch set-up…

Josh on his Gretsch set-up…

“The first three years of my drumming was pots and pans – I could never afford a kit. So pretty much when we’ve been gigging it’s just turn up with some sticks and just play the kit that’s there. I remember I won a kit when I was younger, it was a Mapex kit – but that wasn’t actually the kit I’d dreamed of having. But then I did get a Tama kit for my 18th birthday, which was just at the price I could get. Tama are good, but Gretsch and Ludwig are my favourite drums – they’re the best out there for me personally. So I have a Gretsch now.”

“My set-up is a Gretsch Catalina, 12 rack, 16 floor, 24 by 16 kick drum, it’s really wide so it’s got that really massive boom but because it’s short it’s also got that punch, and then I’ve got myself a 6.5”x14” brass Gretsch snare, 22” Zildjian K Ride and Avedis 20” crash ride, 15” New Beat hi-hats. It’s really simple for me, I usually just use a ride and a hi-hat, a pretty simple set-up. But I will add some stuff like a tambourine or cowbell which we have on the recording, but I like to keep it simple.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Giving an energetic performance behind the kit…

Giving an energetic performance behind the kit…

“When I’m going crazy that’s just me – there have been some shows where I’ll be sick straight afterwards because I’ve been going so hard. It’s actually not something I’m trying to do, it’s just my brain told me… I’m just in my own little world. I have started to get myself healthier like drinking lots of water and exercise… to be honest I wont say that, I don’t normally exercise before shows – I just roll up and play. But if you’re into that, exercise but don’t wear yourself out. And don’t do any energy drinks before because you think, ‘Oh it gets you hyped up,’ but then sometimes you’re clicking too fast and then you’ll get a massive comedown afterwards. So stick to water.”

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Recording with Marmozets…

Recording with Marmozets…

“Now we’re getting our own sound, we do try out different stuff like different cymbals and snares for each track, like we used a Ludwig snare which was originally owned by John Bonham, and that sounded incredible. So it’s always been the same stuff for me, ’cos I’m just comfortable.

“For me I’m always learning and finding stuff, ’cos I just drum and that’s it. But Larry Hibbert who used to be in Hundred Reasons was our producer, and he gave so many good tips, like I usd to sit really low and now I have myself sat up quite high, and now I hardly ever do rim shots anymore. I keep it at the same tone and when you hear the record, literally all the snare hits are as it is, there’s no overdubbing. Rimshots are great but for a sound guy, if you keep away from the rim shots and hit the head nicely you’ll get the same punch every time, the same tone.”

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Getting the best out of the kit you have…

Getting the best out of the kit you have…

“It depends where you are with budget or what you’re doing but this is how I see it, it’s not the kit you have – it helps – but it’s the drummer behind it. You could have the worst, crappy, falling-apart kit in the world but focus more on what you’re playing. Then when you get better and more budget, reskin the drums, tune up and make it sound good, but just focus on what you’re doing, the drumming mainly.”

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Josh's drumming influences…

Josh's drumming influences…

“Taylor Hawkins Dave Grohl, they’re cool, there’s a guy Darren King from Mutemath, I love him ’cos of his feel, he’s really cool. There’s not many drummers…

"It’s weird, I’ve always been in my own little world because I’ve wanted to do the best that I can do. I don’t know any drummers’ names, I’ll just know the band and if I like the drummer I’ll know because of the groove. But mainly my uncle, he’s the main one – he’s the one that showed me drumming, and brought me up, so he’s my biggest influence.”

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Writing with Marmozets…

Writing with Marmozets…

“With our writing it’s crazy every time. Mainly Sam [McIntyre] or Jack [Bottomley] will have riffs they’ve been writing at home or on iPads and they’ll bring it to the rehearsal, then we’ll structure it there.

"Sometimes I’ll play a beat and then maybe they’ll have a riff that will go with it. It’s different every time. They’ll come up with a riff and initially I’ll just close my eyes and like feel it. I don’t ever think, ‘Oh should I play this beat,’ I just let my hands and my feet go with how the rhythm’s going and then I’ll know, because I feel it right. The guitars and the bass are clicking together then I’ll open my eyes and see the guys like, ‘Yeah, that’s the one.’ For me when I’m putting down beats it’s always the feel of it.”

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
Chris Burke
More about drum kits

Alesis’ popular Crimson e-kit just got an upgrade with version III sporting new heads and a new BFD-powered drum brain

“Boasts an array of features, many of which punch impressively above its relatively low price-point”: Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set review

Latest

“Prince was really excited and kept pumping us up, saying ‘We’re making history tonight’”: How Prince summoned one of the greatest guitar solos of all time from thin air

See more latest
More about drum kits

Alesis’ popular Crimson e-kit just got an upgrade with version III sporting new heads and a new BFD-powered drum brain

“Boasts an array of features, many of which punch impressively above its relatively low price-point”: Millenium MPS-850 E-Drum set review

Latest

“Prince was really excited and kept pumping us up, saying ‘We’re making history tonight’”: How Prince summoned one of the greatest guitar solos of all time from thin air

See more latest
Most Popular
Paul Di'Anno in 1981
“If you’re a singer, you’re totally reliant on your body. You can't put a bit more distortion on your amp or use effects. You can’t compensate. You’re very exposed”: Why Iron Maiden had to change their singer to reach the next level
Guitars on a shop wall
“The effects of these sudden and unpredictable tariff actions will have a long-term effect on musicians worldwide”: Guitar industry leaders to meet with Trump in a bid to avert “devastating” impact of tariffs
PinkPantheress
“The only difference for me between me calling it an album and a mixtape is what I went into it thinking it was”: PinkPantheress on why her new project, Fancy That, is a mixtape rather than an album
The Beatles in 1967
“John said, ‘I don’t know where to go from here.’ So Paul said, ‘Well, I’ve got this other song I’ve been working on.’ They joined the two bits together to make one song”: The story of the greatest thing The Beatles ever recorded
Metallica
"While being dubbed the ‘Metallica Quake’ online, it actually posed no danger": Metallica’s Enter Sandman triggers mini earthquake on its American Football ‘homecoming’
Trevor Horn
“I had a bit of a shock because I’d just come from working with Yes, who had done 1,000s of live shows and were all brilliant players. Frankie Goes To Hollywood had done 5 shows and they could barely play”: Trevor Horn on the making of Relax
The Who announce final US tour
“I was hypnotised when I was a little boy - by my dentist who was experimenting with hypnotism”: Pete Townshend reveals why he always does his best on stage, as The Who announce final US tour
Deals of the week
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score an impressive £400 off a Rickenbacker 330, £200 off PRS, and up to 80% off a host of synth gear
Gene Simmons
“We may jump up on stage and jam. It's very loose”: Gene Simmons tells Kiss fans to expect the unexpected at the band’s upcoming Las Vegas event
Lose Yourself in movies
“You sir, are an absolute madman. I can't imagine how long this took”: You have to see this astonishing Lose Yourself movie mash-up

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...