It’s time for another installment of “My First Time,” an interview series that asks some of my favorite bands to recall some of their musical firsts. This time we’re joined by Julian Dorio, drummer for the Athens, GA band the Whigs. They’re playing with Wax Fang tonight at the Dame, so don’t miss it!

MP3: The Whigs – Right Hand on My Heart

My First Time … with Julian Dorio of the Whigs

First record you bought
I was spoiled because I had my father’s record collection to listen to before buying any cds. I think the first cd I purchased myself was Metallica’s “Black Album.” I was 9.

First record that changed your life
Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy. I realized a young age that this band has the four best of each position…guitar, drums, bass and vocals. It was unfair and amazing.

First concert you attended
With my family I saw the Rolling Stones!!

First concert that blew you away
Same show, 1989, Steel Wheels tour. During Honky Tonk Woman, two 100 foot tall blow up women inflated on each side of the stage. Seeing a performance of that magnitude was incredible. I was 8.

First time playing live
My brother and father are musicians so we had a family band when we were very young. My parents owned and ran a couple restaurants and had a talent show Christmas party every year. Sure enough, my father volunteered us to perform in front of the entire staff. I don’t think people could even see me behind the drum set because I was so short.

First tour (horror stories, unexpectedly great shows, etc)
We started touring while we were finishing school. Our first show in NYC were difficult because we had to drive straight from Athens (14 hours), play the show, pack up and drive straight home to Athens overnight in order to make it back to class.

First instrument you learned and/or first piece of equipment you loved
Drums is my first instrument. For Christmas my father got me a Pearl “Export Series” drum set. I was pumped!

First band you were a part of
The Whigs

First time getting press and/or being interviewed
Creative Loafing in Atlanta, GA. Nikhil Swaminathan was the writer.

First song you wrote and/or recorded
“Violet Furs”, which is on our first album, is the first song we demoed.

First awesome thing that happened solely because you were in a band
Last year, two incredibly generous fans in Arkansas gave us a vintage bass and guitar for nothing!! We refused to accept these gifts but they insisted that we were destined to play these guitars and that we must have them. After two days of going back and forth we finally accepted.

First horrible thing that happened solely because you were in a band
About one week before we were given those guitars in Arkansas, we were touring through California and robbed in San Francisco. Our van window was bashed in and three guitars were stolen. That is a terrible feeling.

First reactions from your family when you played them your music
They liked it!! My parents are the ones who encouraged this whole music career thing from a young age so they were very receptive. My father, being the music critic he is, saw potential but knew that it needed some work. I think he was right.

First musical obsession (band, song, singer, genre or otherwise)
I was obsessed with Led Zeppelin. My father has all of their albums on vinyl. I would play them over and over and over again. The recording quality and the songs were like nothing I’d ever heard (probably because I was 7 years old). Oh, and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” When I heard that for the first time I found “Night At The Opera” by Queen and put that song on repeat!!! I knew every word.