BILLY SUTER chats to Durban drummer PAUL CASSELLS about his achievements, favourite songs and artists, and his appearing in the exciting new Alanis Morissette tribute show to be staged this weekend at Durban’s Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo. It stars vocalist Marion Loudon and features Paul’s sister, Tory du Plessis, on bass and keyboardist, and guitarist Colin Peddie. Catch the show in Umbilo at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 24; and 2pm on Sunday, October 25. Then it will be staged at the Rhumbelow stage at Durban North’s Northlands Bowling Club, at 7.30pm on Saturday, November 14. Tickets cost R220 each (R200 for pensioners). Book via Webtickets or by mailing roland@stansell.co.net
WHAT do you most enjoy about the new Alanis Morissette tribute show, Titled Jagged Little Tribute?
As a teenager, I had Jagged Little Pill in my Sony Discman, and I knew every song inside and out. I just love being able to express the nostalgia and energy when drumming to these songs. This is one of the best shows I’ve ever had the pleasure of drumming for.
The Rhumbelow shows will be even better than the earlier performances of this show at Durban’s Seabrooke Theatre and the Hilton Arts Festival, as not only are we even more rehearsed and tight, but we have also added more songs to expand the show – and really give Alanis fans an incredible experience.
Where and when were you born – and at what age did you start drumming? Also,what other musical instrumentals can you play?
I was born in Durban in 1980. My first drumming performance was at age three, in church. I also play the guitar, the bass guitar, a little bit of keyboard, and perform vocals (rock vocals are now currently my specialty).
Have you been in any pop/rock bands over the years?
I have been in too many bands to remember. I joined my first band in 1998 in my matric year. The singer had heard me playing drums in my house when he was walking past and rang the bell, asking if I wanted to join their pop-rock band (Myrrh). The group lasted for about two or three years, and we played many gigs around KZN. At one stage we had a song featured on 5fm for the Fanta Top 40 something or other.
We recorded a few of our tunes and still have the MP3s to this day (terrible quality!), but now that I am a music producer running my own music studio, I recently “rebooted” some of our earlier songs, and even extracted and used the original 1999 vocals and inserted them into my modern 2026 mix.
What marked your first ‘tribute show’ performance as a drummer and vocalist? How many did you do at the Durban’s now-defunct Dockyard Theatre, run by Stuart Mey?
My first tribute show was actually for Colin Sumner in 2004 (The Beatles – A Cellar Full of Noise), but it was produced by Stuart Mey for the Playhouse Cellar. I played John Lennon.
After that, I believe my first proper Dockyard show for Stuart might have been an Abba or Bee Gees tribute? Can’t remember. I probably did about 10 to 15 Dockyard shows over the next seven or eight years.
What more recent shows have you appeared in?
My early show days saw me singing and dancing in the front, but these days I prefer being behind the drums as that is my comfort zone. I’ve done shows for the Pumpkin Theatre, Rockwood Theatre at Sibaya, Barnyard Theatre at Suncoast, Lyric Lounge, and others.
How many Barnyard shows have you appeared in to date and what has been your favourite (and why)?
Back in 2015 or 2016 I got a Whatsapp from my sister telling me that Duck Chowles was in Durban auditioning musicians for a Barnyard show at Gateway, but no bassists had turned up. Even though bass is not my main instrument I rushed over there with my bass just to get my foot in the door and I apparently impressed Duck enough to get the job.
I had mentioned to him that I had been a drummer for theatres like the Dockyard and the Pumpkin Supper Theatre in the past. Then, two weeks after learning every bass part for the show, I got a call from Duck telling me that the drummer had pulled out of the gig, and would I be happy to switch to drums? I was both annoyed and delighted at the same time.
This began my drumming career with the Barnyard. I can’t remember how many shows I’ve gone, but I was the drummer for the Barnyard at Gateway for every show from 2016 until the time it closed. I then re-joined Barnyard at Suncoast in 2022 when I was offered the position by the drummer at the time (my mate, Dylan van de Linde) who wanted to leave. I played every show till the end of 2023.
My favourite show at Suncoast was probably 90s vs Naughties. I loved those songs (am I showing my age?).
What do you do for a living, away from drumming?
I am the director of a Pty that runs two businesses. One is a metal and welding testing company called UltraScan Inspection. We use ultrasonics, x-rays and magnetic particle inspection to test to see if metal is corroding or cracking. Also, we make sure that welding has been done to international standards before being approved.
The other business is Oakwood Music, which has a few branches of service. I arrange musicians and entertainment for companies (restaurants, year-end events, hotels etc), and also have a recording studio in Glenashley.
I record solo vocalists, choirs, bands, voice-over artists, and more. Also. because of my background with teaching music (guitar, drums, chord theory), as well as being able to play every instrument, I take song ideas from solo artists and turn them into full, world-class quality productions. Also, I work with a visual effects artist to create cinematic social media reels for businesses.
How many shows have you done with sister, Tory? And how often do you two collaborate, in general?
In the past, Tory and I only very occasionally worked together, maybe once every year or two. These days, we’re doing every other show, and I think we’ve done about five or six shows in the last year or two.
Any other shows – or other musical plans – in the pipeline?
Funny you should ask that. After seeing the response to the Alanis show, I had an epiphany and moment of realisation… that in 2026, the demographic is very different to what it was when I first started in this industry. The average 40-year-old doesn’t want to pay for a show tributing an artist from the ’70s or ‘80s. It’s the ’90s that is the hot topic right now. This is why Alanis has had such a crazy response.
I am now workshopping shows for tribute shows like Green Day and No Doubt for later this year or early next year, Nineties pop-rock is definitely where it’s at, right now. Watch this space!
What has been your most amusing and/or embarrassing moment on stage?
I’ve had quite a few quirky moments over the years: There was the time when the pyrotechnics didn’t quite go off at the right time for the Live and Let Die moment when I was playing Paul McCartney. Then there was a time when an audience member was called on stage to dance during a song but their forehead inexplicably started bleeding profusely
Also, I once felt faint during an Abba performance of Fernando and just walked off stage in the middle of the song… to the bewilderment of the rest of the cast. Then there was the time, our keyboardist’s chair broke and he fell down but continued playing from the ground invisibly, one arm just high enough to play the keys
When I was a Bee Gee we had to shout out a birthday at table 7, and I interrupted on the mic and said it’s a pity it wasn’t table 5. The MC asked why and I said, “because we could have sung “Ha, ha, ha, ha, table 5, table 5”.
Two of your favourite songs of all time?
This is possibly one of the most difficult questions I’ve ever been asked. The answer will definitely not be any popular songs. I am into complicated music with attitude, so let’s go with Native Construct – Your Familiar Face and Disperse – Enigma of Abode. My apologies.
Three of the finest albums ever – and why?
Ok so whoever reads this is gonna be baffled, but hear me out: Smash Mouth – Astro Lounge; The Rasmus – Dead Letters. And you know what, I have too many other (weird) albums that influenced me in my youth to mention, so I’ll just mention The Prodigy – Experience and Thank you Scientist – Maps of Non-Existent Places.
Song you hate the most right now?
Any modern ‘mumble’ or ‘trap’ rap. I have a guilty pleasure for really well-written lyrical rap (Eminem / Logic / Tech9 etc) and when I hear today’s “popular” rap I want to die.
Worst song in history?
As a performer in a band I would say Sweet Caroline, but I have personal intense dislikes for other songs, such as Brass in Pocket and Sultans of Swing, due to the vocal inflections and/or lyrics that just really rub me the wrong way for some reason.
Song you most associate with your teens?
Radiohead’s Paranoid Android.
Song you most associate with your early childhood years?
Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl.
The size of your music collection and the artists represented most there?
My music collection is massive, because I have thousands of songs on Spotify and YouTube music. Don’t judge me, but as a drummer I really love and appreciate polyrhythmic metal. So many good artists.
Artists you most admire?
Dirty Loops (Sweden), Tesseract (UK), Snarky Puppy (US) and Animals as Leaders (US).
Most over-rated things in the recording business?
Allowing an artist to think that a recording session is like a live performance session. It’s not. Also, those same damn four chords that made a million bands famous. Come on be a little bit more creative than that, please.
The one music act you would give the world to see perform live?
Devin Townsend.
Best singing star ever?
Craig David has/had insane control over his voice.
Best band in history?
Ah man, that’s a really difficult question, so I’m gonna take the easy way out and just say
the band I listened to most and was influenced by as a young teen: Nirvana
The styles of music you most enjoy – and least enjoy?
This is not what people want to hear, but my favourite genre of music is (highly technical and polyrhythmic) metal. And my least favourite is anything that has only three or four chords, like country, most pop, Afrikaans, or just basically music for the masses.
The most embarrassing artist represented in your music collection – and why is it there?
What a great question. The answer is definitely Weird Al Yancovic. I have been a fan of his since the early ’90s.
Your choice of karaoke song?
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody: Because I do it really well (I won a karaoke competition singing it).
Worst decade for music?
The 2010s. Nothing original at all in my opinion, but please feel free to correct me!
The song you find the saddest?
Allies – Walk with Me Silent. Reminds me of my grandmother, who passed.
Two dead music icons you’d most like to invite to dinner?
Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix.
