Tonight, I'm gonna rock ya, tonight!

John Dolmayan's Drum Kit @ Super-Con 2007

We all need time to ourselves.

Some of us listen to calming ocean music, using the sound of the waves lapping gently against the shore as a prelude for deep sleep. Others read a book, delving deep into stories of romance and danger for hours at a time.

My pastime is a little more 'upbeat' (You'll see how that's a fantastic pun in a bit). Being a drummer, one would say my methods are not what you'd call 'relaxing'. My idea of chilling out is to sit at my kit and play.

Not some cool jazz, or laid back ballad.

When I've had a stressful day at the office, the perfect remedy is to blast through the latest track from heavy metal stalwarts such as Metallica and Iron Maiden. Others would call this a cacophony. But to me? It's heaven.

Let's rock!

The most of fire I've ever been?

Well, when I was in my early teens, I was in the kitchen cooking breakfast for myself on the gas hob. I think it was of the first time that I had used such a contraption as when I was trying to turn on the hob I wanted, I opened the gas valve on ANOTHER hob.

So, here we have extremely burny gas leaking out of the hob and I didn't even realise. Leaning over the get some salt to add to my culinary masterpiece I unknowingly put my arm over the gas that was coming out of the cooker. My arm was now loaded.

I added the salt and suddenly the arm of my dressing gown came in contact with the flame and ignited in a huge fireball...well, it seemed huge at the time. I then danced around the kitchen trying to put my arm out until I almost fell into the sink which was thankfully full of water.

Phew...that was close, I said.