You are browsing the archive for 2008 June.

Drum Corps to Allow Electronics

June 18, 2008 in News, Videos by Dave Kropf

Source: StarTribune.com

Starting in 2009, the activity’s governing organization, Drum Corps International (DCI), will allow not only electronic instruments such as keyboards to augment the marching performances, but it also will let more performers be amplified by microphones. Brass soloists and ensembles may be miked beginning next year, in addition to the vocalists (narrators and singers) and sideline percussionists who can already be amplified.

The changes have led to heated debates in online forums such as Drum Corps Planet among those who see the expansion of electronics as a necessary and inevitable change in modern drum corps and those who long for the tradition of “the glory days.”

I don’t know how I feel about this. On one hand, this will open the door to whole new possibilities in terms of texture and sound, but there’s just something artificial about it. So we won’t allow clarinets and flutes, but a Korg Triton is just fine??

I guess DCI went through the same kind of debate when they brought the mallet instruments and timpani onto the sidelines …

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=FJeZtf7UBrs]

Matt Sorum Gives Back

June 17, 2008 in Artists, Events, News by Dave Kropf

Source: 93x.com

One wouldn’t normally associate MATT SORUM with charity events in Third World countries. But on July 6th, the notoriously hard-partying drummer for THE CULT, GUNS N’ ROSES and most recently VELVET REVOLVER will take part in a special all-star benefit concert in Kenya, Africa. The concert will close out a weekend-long event organized by the Kenya Believe It Committee, which distributes funds to various community projects focused on maintaining sustainability. Sorum says, “This is an experience I am truly honored to be a part of. I feel at this time in my life, I want to give back and help people in need.”

Read more here …

Jason Bonham Talks Zep

June 17, 2008 in Artists, News by Dave Kropf

Source: MusicRadar.com

Many kids dream of following in their fathers’s footsteps, but for 41-year-old Jason Bonham, the imagery is more literal than figurative. His late dad, John “Bonzo” Bonham, is generally regarded as the ultimate drummer for the world’s ultimate rock band, Led Zeppelin. And last year, Jason had a unique opportunity to step in for Bonzo when Zeppelin performed their rapturous reunion at London’s O2 Arena.

“It was like the penalty shoot-out at the World Cup, but you’re taking everyone one,”Bonham tells the Musician’s Union Musician magazine. “I had to shoot 16 times and get the goal every time.”

Read the full story …

Tool Drummer, Danny Carey, a Victim of a Sea Urchin

June 13, 2008 in Artists, News, Randomness by Dave Kropf

Source: MusicRadar.com

This past February, while vacationing in Hawaii, Tool drummer Danny Carey was attacked by a sea creature while swimming in the ocean. The result was two surgeries, the cancellation of Tool dates, and a nasty-looking scar.

A blog on the band’s website gives this account: “It seems that Danny tangled with an unruly marine hazard, venomous and… dangerous… while vacationing in Hawaii (BACK IN FEBRUARY!).

Read the full story …

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=5KBHewk6CD0]

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by JABB

DVD – Review: Learn Drums With Six Great Masters!

June 12, 2008 in Music/DVDs, Reviews by JABB

This presentation by Hotlicks is reminiscent of Frankenstein’s monster. The idea being to take the best sections of six different Hotlicks features and blend them together in one monster presentation. Most of the movies that are sampled in this video have a full length of about sixty minutes. While this movie itself is only 41 minuets long. My point being that you getting less by watching this then you would by watching one of the videos sampled in this feature.

Now to be fair, I’m pretty sure that about half of these videos aren’t in production anymore so this might be the only way you have to get a glimpse into what those videos contained. I’ve searched for the videos by Kenwood Denard, Tico Torres, and Tommy Aldridge but I can’t find them anywhere. If you were desperate to see these things, you might find one at a Goodwill somewhere in Nebraska in VHS format. Read the rest of this entry →

Zac Hanson Spawns

June 6, 2008 in Artists, News, Randomness by Dave Kropf

Ok, ok, ok. Any regular listenr of Drummer Talk knows the grief we’ve given drummer, Zac Hanson over the years, but it appears that the drummer is now a proud father.

Source: SouthCoastToday.com | bigdrumthump.com

John Ira Shepherd Hanson was born Tuesday to Zac Hanson and his wife, Kate, in Hanson’s hometown of Tulsa. The baby boy weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

“I am so overjoyed to meet Shepherd,” Zac Hanson said. “There is not an audience or concert that could ever stand up to the feeling of meeting your baby for the first time.”

Slapstik Contest Open for Subimissions

June 5, 2008 in Events, News, Videos by Dave Kropf

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMg9Fxe8AEk]

Click here for more details.

Here is Paul Wertico playing the Slapstik …

[youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=grs4H04s43s]