Posted on August 16th, 2008 by Dave
Source: Rockband.com
If ever a band was tailor-made for Rock Band, it’s the progressive metal outfit Dream Theater. And if ever a Dream Theater song was made for us, it’s their current single “Constant Motion”—a full seven minutes’ worth of monster riffs and tricky changeups, representing this hyper-proficient band at its most aggressive.
Turns out that Dream Theater’s drummer Mike Portnoy (who wrote “Constant Motion” about his experience with obsessive-compulsive disorder) is a Rock Band player himself, and was looking forward to giving the song a runthrough. The genial Portnoy also talked to us about the band’s formation at Berklee, their evolution over the years, and the current status of Portnoy’s second band Transatlantic (a particular favorite of your interviewer’s). And since the cat’s out of the bag by now, we also talked a bit about the earlier DT classic “Panic Attack,” which will be hittng as an in-game track for Rock Band 2
Read the full article and listen to the interview here …
Filed under: Artists, Books/Mags/Web, Interviews | 2 Comments »
Posted on August 14th, 2008 by Dave
Source: AllAboutJazz.com
AAJ: Are you still planning a documentary on the history of fusion in jazz?
LW: Yes, that is my intention. I’m compiling interviews, viewpoints, footage. I want to start with Miles and Bitches Brew and go from there.
AAJ: Any plans after the RTF tour?
LW: I plan on recording a new project of my own to be released maybe next year or sooner depending on whether I can finish it in time. I also have a few pop projects I’d like to try to get out. I’m renovating my laboratory so that’s going to take some time. And I’m just going to take some time to breathe…
AAJ: Any words of advice for other innovative artists compelled to search new forms and ideas?
LW: Like the Nike ad…Just Do It.
Click here to read the full interview …
Filed under: Artists, Books/Mags/Web, Interviews, Musicianship | No Comments »
Posted on August 3rd, 2008 by Dave
Our friends across the pond at Mike Dolbear have just posted a cool interview with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ drummer, Chad Smith. The interview covers his roots, his origins in the RHCP, and moving to California.
What we’re trying to do, is move the whole thing away from ‘what drum sticks do you use?’ type of question. So… what drum sticks do you use?
It’s not working Bob!
Ok, I’ll try again. What got you into drumming?
I started being interested in drums when I was 7, so it would have been the late 60s. I had an older brother who played guitar, he was two years older than me, and seeing as you look up to your older siblings, I wanted to play too. I didn’t have that moment lots of Americans had of ‘ooh, I want to be them’, or ‘ooh I saw Ringo’. So I don’t know why it was the drums themselves, I liked hitting things, normal kids stuff I guess and I just wanted to be able to play along with my brother. So that’s when I started.
Click here for the full interview.
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Posted on July 31st, 2008 by Dave
Living Legends Music has posted a cool 8 part interview with Dream Theater drummer, Mike Portnoy, on their YouTube channel. The interviews discuss the beginnings of Dream Theater, to the creative process, to artistic fulfillment.
Here’s Part 1. For more, check out their channel.
Filed under: Artists, Interviews, Videos | No Comments »
Posted on May 9th, 2008 by Dave
Source: ConnectSavannah.com
THOUGH BEST KNOWN AS THE INVENTIVE TRAP DRUMMER in the groundbreaking fusion band Living Colour (whose aggressive and noisy metallic funk helped shape the sonic landscape of late ’80s and early ’90s hard rock), two-time Grammy Award-winner Will Calhoun is also a respected jazz percussionist who continues to play and record with a diverse roster of major artists.
He recently wrapped four shows at NYC’s Performance Space 122 that found Calhoun integrating his loves of poetry, sound and photography into a mixed-media event drawing on his studies of global ethnic music.
He returns to Savannah nearly two decades after his last visit for a special clinic at Portman’s Music Superstore. I caught up with Calhoun by phone.
How did the shows at PS122 go?
Will Calhoun: Tremendous. It allowed me to play dulcimer and interesting indigenous flutes handmade for me during my travels abroad. It was called Black Holes because those are missing spaces in the middle of universes. No one knows how big or deep they are — just like our lives.
Read the full story …
Filed under: Education, Events, Interviews, News | No Comments »
Posted on May 1st, 2008 by Dave
Source: PressDemocrat.com
“It’s not about drums,” says Mickey Hart. “It’s not about drumming. It’s about raising energy and transmuting it. You know, changing that spirit that you get - into something you can work with, something empowering.”
You might know him as the fiery, charismatic Grateful Dead drummer who toured the world for what seemed like eons. But at home, he’s just Dad, doing all the little things - recycling, changing the light bulbs, making the move to hybrid cars.
Or maybe it has more to do with his wife Caryl, the devoted environmental activist, and their 14-year-old daughter Reya who’s “been a hugging trees since she was 3.”
Read the full article hear …
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Posted on April 30th, 2008 by Dave
The folks over at Drum! Magazine have just updated their site with loads of interviews and videos from the recent Vans Warped Tour. Check it out!
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Posted on April 27th, 2008 by Dave
Source: RollingStone.com
Rolling Stone recently caught up with Metallica drummer, Lars Ulrich, at a recent record signing. He talks quite candidly about the state of music today an the digital music revolution.
RS: You were one of the first artists to sue over copyright infringement and voice concerns over aspects of downloading. Eight years later, with bands like Radiohead embracing the Net and yet charting, how has your stance changed, if at all?
Lars: We have FLACs and MP3s for sale. It was never about downloading per se. We have the Vault where you can download shows from twenty years ago for free, full-on and it’s been there for years. You can download recent shows days after they happen for cost. Back in the day there was a much bigger question about “on whose terms?” We said, “Wait a minute, it should be about the artist.” Then all hell broke loose and we sat on the sidelines for a while. We’ve always been fiercely independent and controlling; sometimes to a fault. That’s why we exist and why all these people show up.
Read the full article …
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Posted on March 24th, 2008 by Dave
Source: AllAboutJazz.com
Chris Comer has a candid conversation with jazz-rock drummer Bill Bruford in the spring of 2001. Bill Bruford played in progressive rock juggernauts Yes and King Crimson and fronts his own British jazz group Earthworks. Chris and Bill discuss the continuing progression of the Earthworks group and the British jazz scene, his status with King Crimson and frank comments about why he quit Yes. Of special note is a discussion of Bruford’s drum-duet B’BOOM with Pat Mastelotto, a high point in the King Crimson live set and inspired by Max Roach.
Hear the interview here …
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Posted on March 18th, 2008 by Dave
Yesterday, we reported that you could catch a slideshow of Drum! Magazine’s coverage of the Jam Cruise 6. They’ve now updated their site with accompanying videos!
Jam Cruise (featured in DRUM!’s April, 2008 issue) follows the lives of a half-dozen drummers on the annual jam cruise. DRUM! Associate Editor also found time for video interviews with several top players on the cruise, taking time from his sunbathing duties to meet with Galactic’s Stanton Moore (stantonmoore.com), New Orleans legend Russell Batiste (russellbatiste.com), Rob Koritz and Dino English of Dark Star Orchestra (darkstarorchestra.net), Dave Watts of Motet fame (themotet.net), and Alan Evans of Soulive (soulive.com).
So far, it’s just Stanton Moore’s interview, but more are on the way. Check out the video here …
Filed under: Events, Interviews, News | 1 Comment »
Posted on March 18th, 2008 by Dave
Jazz.com has recently posted an interview with educator and Latin/Jazz drumming great, Bobby Sanabria.
Intense. Intense. Intense. Add to this passion, dedication, encyclopedic historical references, a strong sense of professionalism and discipline, a genuine generosity of spirit, and a down-to-earth Nuyorican attitude and vocabulary and you have pretty much described multi-Grammy-nominated “Drummer of the Year” composer, arranger, producer and educator Bobby Sanabria.
Read the full interview …
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Posted on March 7th, 2008 by Dave
I dug up these old school (as in 18 years old!) Zildjian promo videos. Of special note is Weckl’s “loyalty” to Zildjian (he’s now a Sabian endorsee) and his massive rock perm-mullet! We want muscle shirt! We want muscle shirt!!
These videos are a little bit hokey, but they are informative. Also keep an eye out for Omar Hakim, Steve Gadd, Vinnie Colaiuta, Tommy Aldridge, Louis Bellson, Tony Williams, and more!
The Zildjian Secret, Part 1
Click “more” Part 2
(more…)
Filed under: Artists, Gear, Interviews, Videos | 2 Comments »
Posted on March 6th, 2008 by Dave
Source: AllAbout Jazz.com
When I was growing up, the really big jazz artist at the time was Louis Armstrong. So, it was kind of like peer pressure—but not really. If I had said that I wanted to play the drums, it would have been like a sacrilegious thing. I always knew that I wanted to be a drummer. My mom would say that I was playing the drums in the womb—always kicking.
Read the full interview.
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Posted on December 7th, 2007 by Dave
This week we conclude our PASIC 2007 coverage as we review the Billy Martin and Peter Erskine/Alex Acuña clinics. We also discuss Dave’s Master’s Recital! Show Notes
Drummer Talk 12/07/2007 - PASIC 2007 Recap (Part III):
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Posted on November 16th, 2007 by Dave
We continue our PASIC 2007 coverage with Part II (of III). We talk about Dave DiCenso, Dave Weckl, JJ Johnson, Lewis Nash, and Omar Hakim. Show Notes
PASIC 2007 Recap (Part II):
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