BIOGRAPHY & PHOTOS

Theresa Bean!
(drums)

Photo of Theresa Drda. Kids are generally fascinated by the drums, and it's funny — they find it fascinating for a woman who looks like 'Mom' to be playing the drums!

As a kid, I loved The Monkees, and my favorite drummer was Mickey Dolenz. So when it was time to choose an instrument in school, I chose the drums, to be just like him. It wasn't common for a girl to choose the drums. I was fortunate that my mom was willing to put up with the noise in the basement. I've been drumming ever since.

I've been in the Chicago music scene since the early '80s, playing rock, pop, surf, and rockabilly in such bands as The Moodswingers, The Greaseballs, The Mummies, and The Fireflies. My other current band, The Honeybees, which Lisa (The Jelly Beans' bassist) and I co-founded, plays rockabilly and vintage rock/pop music in clubs and festivals throughout the United States. But it's a whole new scene with The Jelly Beans.

Never before have I played children's music. Musically, it's not that different from playing adult music, but the audience and the actual performance, is REALLY different. It's amazing how open and responsive the kids are to the whole experience. There is a lot of pure fun and joy in it. The adults have fun just watching their kids have fun. And that makes it an incredible experience for us musicians as well.

— Theresa Drda

BIOGRAPHY & PHOTOS

Theresa Bean! (drums)

Theresa Bean!
(drums)