 John Mader was born on October 22, 1963, the son of Ruth ("née" Markham), a cab dispatcher, and Norman Mader, a cab driver who was also a professional musician.While in kindergarten he attended a talent show at school and saw a young boy playing drums and was inspired to learn to play the drums and went on to play in the school orchestra, marching band, choir, jazz band, and musicals in elementary and primary school.During high school he performed and toured with the "Pepsi" sponsored music group, "Youth Of America", replacing Will Kennedy of The Yellow Jackets.