NATHAN ABELA

NATHAN ABELA was born 3 weeks early on the 18th September 1985. He was raised by his parents Jean and Steven Abela in Peterborough and Malta and has one older brother, Shaun Abela.

At just 3 years old he was given his first drum. “My brother had a toy guitar and one day the nylon strings broke” He remembers. “He threw a massive tantrum and put his foot through my drum, even though I was just sitting there playing nicely, because he didn’t want me to be able to play with my toy if he couldn’t play with his anymore. I was gutted.”

The quieter, more laid back of the two brothers, Nathan is very much the comedian of Respond, well known for his trademark one liners and witticisms.

Aged just 11 he began to take drum lessons and was soon addicted. He was given his first full-size drum kit-the black Premier kit he still uses onstage- a year later, and joined his first band before he even hit his teenage years. Throughout the next decade he and his brother performed in numerous rock bands before Respond was formed.

Nathan’s musical influences are as diverse as he is himself, ranging from Iron Maiden, Dream Theatre and Living Colour to Salsa and R and B music.
“I think it’s important to appreciate all different kinds of music so that you can be the best musician possible. Music is about being creative and open minded-how can you be either of those things if you shut yourself off from a whole genre of music?”

As well as providing half of Responds rhythm section, Nathan is also in charge of Responds hugely popular myspace page, often spending hours personally replying to each message and comment the band receive.

A full map of Nathan’s drum kit can be viewed on Responds myspace here .