Posts from — September 2008

Modern Drummer has a new feature on their website called “Drum Gods” where they re-print older interviews and basically do a profile of the chosen drummer(s). The first installment is on Dave Grohl, they re-visit the first interview they ever conducted with him in 1992. In it, he offers plenty of insightful tips and knowledge on drumming and the way he approaches it.

Some choice excerpts are…

“The drums have to propel everything.” That’s an important element. Whether the drums stand out to people or not isn’t what’s really important. That it sounds like a big bomb going off is.” He also believed that louder is usually better, often hitting two toms or two cymbals at once and focusing his energy on powerful playing with less notes. However, he also understands how to use dynamics and does so very effectively.

Regarding “Bass Drum Technique”

Grohl’s bass drum technique is all about optimum transfer of power: “I don’t put my heel down when I play my kick drum, I kind of pounce on it with the ball of my foot. That way I can hit harder and put more weight into it. Also, by sitting very low—I sit as low as possible—I can put a lot more weight into it because I’m pushing forward.”

These are great tips but I thought the most profound excerpt was this…

Dave believes it’s very important for drummers to think like songwriters, “Composition and songwriting should be just as important to a drummer as they are to a singer,” he went on. “There are hooks in songwriting, those moments that catch you and stick in your brain. Drumming should be the same way.”

Overall a very insightful read. I’ve always been a huge fan of Dave Grohl as you can probably tell by this site, but I’ve never seen this interview before. Also, it doesn’t mention anything about the specifics of his kit at the time, but I know he was a Tama drums and Zildjian Cymbals endorsee and that his Nirvana-era kits were an Artstar Customs.

Source.

Oasis have announced a chunk of arena shows in major US cities for most of December. After a crazy fan attacked Noel Gallagher in Toronto, earlier this month, the band canceled a number of shows.

The tour also sports opener Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, who will play through the whole tour which starts in Oakland, CA on December 3rd and ends on December 20th in Fairfax, VA.

Although Oasis hasn’t really had too high of a profile in America since the mid 90’s, the band has remained huge in it’s native UK. A lot of news surrounding Noel Gallagher has brought them into the press more, and may even be helping to promote their new album. Also, while nothing complicated is ever played on their records drum-wise, Zak-Starkey (Ringo Starr’s son) can teach you a thing or two about playing for the song. He also has really nice custom DW Drums with a custom British flag paint job.

Oasis Tour Dates:

12/3, Oakland, CA (Oracle Arena)
12/4, Los Angeles, CA (Staples Center)
12/6, Las Vegas, NV (The Pearl)
12/8, Denver, CO (Broomfield Events Center)
12/10, Minneapolis, MN (Target Center)
12/12, Chicago, IL (Allstate Arena)
12/13, Detroit, MI (Palace of Auburn Hills)
12/15, London, Ontario (John LaBatt Centre)
12/17, New York, NY (Madison Square Garden)
12/19, Camden, NJ (Susquehanna Center)
12/20, Washington, DC (GMU Patriot Center)

Source.

One of the most important things to me when considering a place to live is the proximity of the practice space to the neighbors. That’s why I was stoked to find my current place of residence, a small house in Los Angeles that shares no walls with anyone else. I’ve been here for a year now, practicing almost everyday at a level where my ears are ringing even though I’m wearing my super-fancy Ear Love earplugs. Then the other day, a neighbor (who I’ve never met before) walks by and asks if we play music here. He explains that the music is just way too loud and that it’s all he can hear in his living room. I’m thinking this guy either just moved in or is incredibly patient, having waited a year to say anything about the noise factor. Either way I was happy that he was chill and not one of those freaky cat lady types.

So I decided we needed to mute the drums a bit so we can lower the volume for the rest of the instruments. I already had a Sound Off cymbal silencer laying around for the hi-hats, but I needed a way to mute the rest of the kit. So I started digging through the cabinets for old rags. I ended up stuffing a pillow and an old blanket in the bass. Then I stretched a couple of old t-shirts underneath each of the drum heads. The resonant heads are completely covered with fabric and the batter head has a strip going across the inside. And to finish off this super DIY muting project, I hung beer carriers to the crash and ride cymbals.

Mogwai has cancelled the rest of their North American tour dates after drummer Martin Bulloch’s pacemaker broke last Sunday following their final song at the All Tomorrows Parties Festival in New York. After a trip to the emergency room, Bulloch decided he must return home to Scotland immediately to see his cardiologist. Dates that have been cancelled include shows in Boston, Montreal, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Pontiac, MI (where?! yes, I am from California…). Those east of the Atlantic will not be affected by this news, as Mogwai plans to keep their dates in Europe and Japan beginning in October.

Remaining Tour Dates:
10-21 Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange
10-23 Manchester, England - Academy
10-24 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
10-27 Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Rockhal
10-28 Paris, France - Casino de Paris
10-29 Cologne, Germany - Live Music Hall
11-02 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
11-03 Lund, Sweden - Mejeriet
11-04 Stockholm, Sweden - Cirkus
11-06 Berlin, Germany - Huxleys
11-08 Hamburg, Germany - Grosse Freiheit
11-10 Frankfurt, Germany - Mousonturm
11-11 Dresden, Germany - Alter Schlachthof
11-12 Munich, Germany - Backstage-Werk
11-14 Vienna, Austria - Wuk
11-17 Fribourg, Switzerland - Fri Son
11-18 Zurich, Switzerland - Rote Fabrik

On Mogwai’s official site Bulloch tries to explain the situation to disappointed North American fans (like me):

“I’m really bummed about having to go home,” Bulloch wrote, “but I can honestly say it would be almost impossible for me to carry on at this point as my pacemaker has broken skin and the surrounding area has become infected.” Ok, ok Martin! We get the point, and we forgive you. Even though we have to wait until next year for you guys to come back to America. We hope you get better soon.

SABIAN has announced that it is an official sponsor for “The Big Beat,” an event which will be the “largest gathering of drummers ever assembled for a simultaneous drumming experience.” The company is collaborating with the Five-Star Drum Shops, an organization of 37 American independently owned drum stores, to put organize “The Big Beat,” which is set to take place on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008 and will benefit The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. SABIAN will contribute approximately $2,500 worth prizes to be raffled off, including drum related items and even artist support to each participating store.

According to the vice president of marketing at SABIAN, Stacey Montgomery-Clark, “It’s a privilege for SABIAN to be connected with ‘The Big Beat,’ this year. We relish opportunities like this in which we can support the percussion industry and in particular the drummer consumer and independent retailer.”

Their goal is to break the Guinness world record for the most drummers playing the same beat at one time and drummers of all skill-levels are encouraged to contact one of these seven participating drum stores:

• Just Drums - Toronto, Ontario, CA - justdrums.com
• Resurrection Drums - Hollywood, FL. - rezdrums.com
• Buffalo Drum Outlet - Depew, NY - buffalodrumoutlet.com
• Columbus Percussion - Columbus, OH - columbuspercussion.com
• Stebal Drums - Willowick, OH - stebaldrums.com
• Drum World - Tulsa, OK - drumdaytulsa.com
• Memphis Drum Shop - Memphis,TN - memphisdrumshop.com
• Percussion Center - Houston, TX - percussiononline.com
• Donn Bennett Drum Studio - Bellevue, WA - bennettdrums.com

What I wanna know is, why are there two in Ohio?!

For more information, check out their web site at www.sabian.com. And while you’re there, check out their report on the Modern Drummer Festival.

So Rolling Stone has a piece up about Rock Band 2, the sequel to the hugely successful Rock Band game. Of course, Rock Band upped the Guitar Hero ante by adding a full band setup with guitar, drums and a microphone.

Rock Band 2 adds more of the same as the first, with more downloadable content, more songs and new controllers. You can also play all the songs you downloaded from the first game.

The game is already out for Xbox 360 but the PS3 version and new instruments will be released on October 19th. The Wii release date is November 19th.

You’re only choice now is too decide if you want Rock Band 2 or Guitar Hero: World Tour, which is also shaping up to be an excellent game. I really wonder for drummers, if they will ever add a double bass pedal setup to  one of these games. This would a great way to work on your double pedal skills, while having fun playing a game and not making too much noise in the house.

The Smashing Pumpkins will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary with a tour of theaters around the country, where they will play “special set lists”. Billboard reports that “During multiple-night engagements, for which special ticket bundles will be available, the band promises to not repeat any song on the set lists. The first night of such runs is being dubbed “Black Sunshine,” while the second is called “White Crosses.”

So, yea…I don’t really get the reasons why the tours are named that, but Billy Corgan is pretty much insane now. Before the tour, the band will be playing Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit Concert for the first time since 1999.

I’m not really too interested in the tour, because it’s not a true anniversary since the original members are nowhere to be found. Although if you’re a fan of Chamberlain’s drumming, and don’t mind Iha and D’Arcy being gone, its a good chance to see his drumming skills live.

I know that Chamberlain is a long-time Yamaha drums endorser, but I have seen some photo’s of him playing a pearl drum set. Not exactly sure why, but it is interesting to note. The bands tour dates are as follows…

Nov. 1: Cleveland (Palace Theatre)
Nov. 3-4: Toronto (Massey Hall)
Nov. 6-7: New York (United Palace Theatre)
Nov. 8: Atlantic City, N.J. (Borgata)
Nov. 11-12: Washington, D.C. (DAR Constitution Hall)
Nov. 14-15: Boston (Wang Center)
Nov. 18-19: Chicago (Chicago Theatre)
Nov. 21-22: Chicago (Auditorium Theatre)
Nov. 26: St. Louis (Fox Theatre)
Nov. 30: San Diego (RIMAC Arena)
Dec. 2-3: Los Angeles (Gibson Amphitheatre)

Source.

With a lot of buzz still going strong after the release of the groups new album “Death Magnetic” (which I actually think is pretty good)…It has been announced that the group is being considered for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Billboard reports… “Metallica, Run-D.M.C. and the Stooges lead the list of nine acts up for induction next year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Five will be chosen in January for enshrinement during an April 4 ceremony at Cleveland’s Public Hall.”

The 2009 ceremony will be the first one open to the public since 1997 and will be held in Cleveland, Ohio the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Metallica has made a lot of missteps over the years, specifically “St. Anger” and the snare drum sound that came with it. Regardless, the band is arguably one of the most important metal bands of all time and also one of the most successful. Also, contrary to what most people say about Lars Ulrich’s drumming, he definitely knows his way around a kit and how to perfectly compliment James Hetfield’s rhythm guitar.

Source.

This past weekend a lot happened, the All Tomorrow’s Parties New York festival took place and while Stereogum has great coverage of it, most of it doesn’t feature any drummers. More importantly, I thought I would  report on the Travis Barker, DJ AM plane crash that occured this past weekend as some new details have emerged.

It is now being reported that a blown tire was the cause of the crash, which killed four people and injured and burned drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM. According to Billboard, “Barker and DJ AM remained in critical but stable condition yesterday; one of their doctors said he expected them to fully recover. Two of the musicians’ close friends and the plane’s pilot and co-pilot were killed when it shot off the end of the runway, ripped through a fence and crossed a highway. It came to rest on an embankment a quarter-mile from the end of the runway, engulfed in flames.”

“Barker was burned on his torso and lower body and DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, was burned on an arm and a portion of his scalp, according to a statement from the musicians’ families released by the hospital. Such injuries can take a year to fully heal, however Mullins said he didn’t think it would take that long.”

It seems like they will be back to normal in a year or so, but after having been involved in something like this I can only imagine its pretty hard to get over.  Both Barker and DJ AM are very lucky to have survived.

Foo Fighters frontman and former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl is one of the featured musician in an upcoming holiday compilation entitled “We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year.” The album which is being released by Eagle Rock Records on October 14^th, will include metal renditions of 12 classic Christmas songs like “Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer.”

This album features many unique collaborations such as Dave Grohl, Lemmy and Billy Gibbons on “Run Rudolph Run,” a song made popular by Chuck Berry in the 1950’s. You can here a sample clip of it on their myspace page. Grohl’s drumming is awesome as always. Other awesome drummers on the album include Korn touring drummer Ray Luzier, former White Zombie drummer John Tempesta and Alice Cooper.

And if that doesn’t have you excited, how about “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” performed by Black Sabbath vocalist Ronnie James Dio and Tony Iommi! You’ve never heard this song played right until you’ve heard played by the original riff-master himself.

Get all of the details about the performers on each track here.