Jason Bowld (Bullet for My Valentine) Interview: Joining the Band, Touring Life, & Studio Craft

We sat down with Jason at the Europe Drum Show 2026 to dig into 11 years behind the kit with Bullet for My Valentine, the reality of touring at that scale, and the lessons he's picked up writing and recording across eight albums. From honouring a song versus putting his own stamp on it, to the mindset shift of going full-time, to the underrated skills he thinks every drummer should be working on, Jason breaks down the craft side of being a working metal drummer with refreshing honesty. If you've ever wondered what it takes to step into an established band and make it your own, this one's packed with insight.00:00 – Intro01:45 – Joining an Established Band03:11 – Restriction in the Creative Process07:59 – Painting & Art on Tour11:36 – Meeting Your Heroes15:58 – Why Jason Plays Barefoot18:21 – Going Full-Time with Bullet23:42 – Staying Fit for Touring26:37 – The Dark Side of Touring Life29:46 – Quickfire Drumming Questions33:39 – The New Bullet Album & What's Next#jasonbowld #bulletformyvalentine #drumdog🥁Jason's website - https://jasonbowld.com/Drum Dog is a membership built for drummers — gear discounts, members-only flash offers, artist sessions and interviews, prize draws, event and ticket perks (including free Drum Show tickets), and full access to the lesson library. Want to try it? 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. → https://link.drum.dog/join🎧 Listen to the Drum Dog Podcast wherever you get your podcasts:Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2s8IAlRWNnu3SGOZo0BxTWApple → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drum-dog-podcast/id1806605706Amazon → https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/b859c830-c051-46c6-a094-cc9b92973e4a/drum-dog-podcast🔔 Subscribe for interviews, lessons, gear and performances from world-class drummers.Follow us:Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/drumdoguk/Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/drumdogukTikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@drumdogukSupport the show