My name is Mario Lackner, and I was born in November 1973 in Grieskirchen, Austria. My father was my first contact with music and drumming. He was a drummer himself in Bands, of which one of them rehearsed frequently in the basement of our house in a little village called Wallern an der Trattnach in Upper Austria. I do not remember my first concert with my dad´s band „the fenders“, but there are some pictures in the family photo album, I was about 6-7 years old.

First musical training at the age of 7 or 8 with Max Murauer, my first drumteacher at the music school in Wels. Straight after music gymnasium Grieskirchen I joined the armed forces in Vienna (corps of army music) for 20 month. I had the opportunity to start my studies at the University of music and arts right away in 1992 with Walter Schiefer, Manfred Krenmair and Professor Fritz Ozmec.
I graduated summa cum laude in 1997 (IGP 1 & Instrumental studies Jazz drums), and kept studying for Mag art. In addition I had the great opportunity to study with Walter Grassmann (Drums) and Anton Mühlhofer (Percussion) at the Conservatory of the City of Vienna for about 3 years. Nummerous visits in the United States opened up the chance for private studies and masterclasses with Thomas Lang (A/GB), Jeff Hamilton (LA), James Gadson (USA), Joseph Heredia (LA), Jimmy Branly (Cuba), Kirk Covington (LA), Poncho Sanchez (LA), Chuck Silverman (LA), just to name a few… Final exams at the University of music and arts in 2001.

Since 1992 I was working with many different bands and artist such as Sumitra, Hansi Lang, MeloX, Axel Wolph, Dkay, Georg Danzer, Zabine, etc.. Around that time I played support shows for Workshops of Terry Bozzio & Macro Minnemann together with Stephan Maass (percussion) I got to get to know Mr. Stephan Hänisch of Meinl Cymbals & Percussion Germany. Since 2001 – I am Endorser for Meinl Cymbals and very proud of that.

My first Solo album Stiletto 6.5 I finished in 2005 and released in 2006. In 2006 I applied for the Artist Visa for United States of America where I lived from end of 2006 till may 2010.Working in different music related fields, not just as a drummer like the „Fantasy camp“ opened up my perspective of many aspects in the field of live concerts and studio sessions. Here I had the great opportunity to work close together with Eddie Kramer, an amazing sound engineer who worked with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin etc.. Drummers & other intrumentalists I worked with on the camp were Alan White, Danny Seraphine, Sandy Gennaro, Danny Nikko McBrain, Glenn Hughes, Kip Winger, Mark Hudson, Elliot Easton, Jack Bruce and others.

Bands I worked with while in LA were: Kat Bailess, Candyman 187 & The Havenotz, Dr. steel, the Rock Opera, Jesse Sarr, Jacqmoov, Melinda Miller, Justyna Kelley who was produced by David Kershenbaum. I formed a Band named „No Second Thought“ together with Chris Albers, and Jason Paulsen, and recorded the album „monster“, released in 2010. After returning in 2010 I started working as a teacher in different music schools all over lower and upper Austria. I am very thankful for the experience and indepth view I got on the system here.

In 2013 I was invited to the celection process (audition) for Professor of the drums & percussion department at the University of music and arts in vienna. I started my teaching duties in 2015 as Professor for Drums & Percussion at the University of music and arts, Vienna. Besides that I am working as a freelancer with different bands and music projects.

Currently I am finishing my next Solo album – It will be released as vinyl and digital download in 2018. Further I hope we can release the first album of FUR with two of my very dear friends: Johannes Specht & Stefan Fallmann

to be continued…..

thanks for your interest,
Mario