George Dimanov


Location: Chicago, IL

Challenge: Deformed Hands

Website: perfectchange.rocks

George Dimanov started playing drums when he was around six or seven. Initially in the first grade, George took piano lessons and played his first recital at Cutting Hall in 1995.

George says "Around that time I had finished with three skin grafting surgeries to gain more mobility in my fingers".

George adds "I had a great mentor from my church by the name of Bob Aalund who is still to this day one of the best drummers I have ever come across. I was involved in concert band in the fourth grade through high school".

George's greatest influences are Neil Peart and John Bonham.

In the fifth grade George moved to Jamnagar India where he had the privilege of learning from in his opinion, one of the best hand percussionist he had ever met.

His name as we as students called him Mr. Mota. George adds "I never new what his first name was. He played probably 15 different instruments including Guitar, vocals drums and bass".

George returned to the United States in 2001. A year later, he picked up an Ibanez Art core 73 guitar which he still has today.

In 2002, George auditioned and joined his church band and played with them until 2007. He adds "I was also a founding member of our youth band where I played for for 5 years. I was in a local group called improper fraction then as well. We played a few shows and then disbanded".

Ever since then George has played for numerous bands and artists including the Harper College Symphony and worked with CLC as well.

In 2012, George joined a group called Everything Between in 2012 which disbanded in 2013.

George currently plays in a band called Leonardo's Cipher.

George adds "I had the privilege of playing at the Chicago Blues fest last year with a group called the Dexter Allen Band. Sort of an open jam type of thing on Jackson Street".

As far as his disability is concerned... George never really saw it as one. He adds "It was one of those things where I learned to work with what I have. I play to become good and to do what I love. And that is play music, my band "Perfect Change" are working on some original material. It's been difficult now as I am getting older and dealing with joint pain in my hands".

George says "Figuring out how to grip the sticks as well was tricky and took me years to master. I have been working on mastering the traditional grip as well, and even rearranging my drumset to accommodate"

George adds "The most difficult thing about my disability was the mentality I had towards it at first. It takes me half of the time to learn and understand a concept in comparison to most people it is very frustrating because it takes me twice as long if not more to figure out how to work around my disability and master the concept in a physical sense. A lot of the time my mind gets frustrated with my hands".


George Dimanov