To those familiar with the Quad Cities music scene, the name Saber is synonymous with furious double-bass thunder rolls and ear-splitting cymbal attacks. But when the veteran heavy-handed drummer isn’t pummelling his kit with the metal group StraightJacket, he also makes time to kick back and enjoy the stars.
So much so that Saber, nee Stephen James Saber, was recently awarded the Master Observer’s certificate by the Astronomical League. The certificate, of which only 50 have been awarded nationwide, is reserved for amateur astronomers who have demonstrated exceptional proficiency in observational astronomy. He is also namesake of the lunar phenomenon known as Saber’s Beads.
“The two passions- music and exploring the night skies- work well together for me.” said Saber, who first made his mark in local clubs touring with his ‘90s speed-metal band Priapism. The band released two CDs, 1990’s “Prepare To Qualify’, and 1993’s ‘218 Hell St.’.
“Bangin’ on the drums pumps me up, and relaxing under the stars is a great way to mellow out. Stargazing is a peaceful yin to the furious yang of banging on the drums in a metal band”.
So how did a heavy metal drummer and former powerlifter who could squat and deadlift over 700 pounds get into such a sedate hobby as stargazing? “A while back, I bought a star for my girlfriend while visiting the Adler Planetarium in Chicago. It was just a novelty gift, but hunting down that star and seeing the other celestial treasures up there really helped trigger my interest in the night sky.”
His interest in drumming began much earlier. Ironically, his parents never allowed him to keep drums in the house, which only served to perpetuate his passion. His favorite bands include a who’s who of famous metal acts like Pantera, Anthrax, Metallica, Testament, Slayer, and Type O Negative.
In 2002, Saber said a local radio station sponsored StraightJacket’s first gig, which including a limo ride and live broadcast. “The crowd was spilled out onto the street, greeting us with posters, cheering, the works. It was wild”, he said. “like the Beatles coming to America. I was signing drumsticks for an hour after that show. It was great exposure.” Saber named the band StraightJacket after a ‘90s Love/Hate song and used that opportunity to get back to clubbing.
His new metal trio, SSX, is currently in the studio working on their first demo, after which the guys will hit the clubs again.
As for Saber, his goals for the future include more songwriting, touring, and possibly some drum and cymbal endorsements. “And then I’d like to ride the space shuttle and retire as a sheik,” he said, laughing, ”Nothing too outrageous”.
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