Cover Photos- M'Boom by Charles Stewart Eric Carr by En Stejes CONTENTS Denny Carmassi by Neal Preston FEATURES M'BOOM When Max Roach first proposed having a jazz group made up entirely of drummers, the news was greeted with a certain amount of skepticism. But Roach and his colleagues knew what they were doing, and now, 12 years later, M'Boom is recognized as an important voice in modern music. All eight members of this remarkable group sat down with MD for this informative discussion. by Rick Mattingly & Scott K. Fish 8 ERIC CARR If there is such a thing as overnight success, then Eric Carr is a perfect example—club drummer in Brooklyn one day, member of Kiss the next. When an opportunity to join a major group occurs, one has to be ready for it, and Eric describes the years of dues paying that prepared him for his shot at the top. by Michael Epstein 14 DENNY CARMASSI Although he is new to the group Heart, Denny Carmassi is not new to upper-echelon rock, having worked with such artists as Ronnie Montrose, Sammy Hagar and Michael Schenker. Here, he traces his background and comments on his current activities. by Elizabeth Shaw Green 18 INSIDE: AQUARIAN ACCESSORIES by Rick Van Horn 22 FRED BELOW Magic Maker by Scott K. Fish 26 COLUMNS DRIVER'S SEAT UP AND COMING EDUCATION Reading Off A Lead Trumpet Part Bob Gullotti ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC by Glenn Weber 102 by Tim Smith 68 An Introduction to Funk SHOW AND STUDIO by Jim Payne 52 EQUIPMENT Steve Mitchell CONCEPTS by Charles M. Bernstein 80 Trying Easy PRODUCT CLOSE-UP by Roy Burns 54 Semi-Pro Drumkits by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. 30 NEWS THE JOBBING DRUMMER The Other Guy's Set SHOP TALK UPDATE by Simon Goodwin 78 The Keplinger Snare Drum by Robyn Flans 118 by Buck Crain 38 ROCK PERSPECTIVES INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 120 Rock Coordination Studies JUST DRUMS 122 by David Garibaldi 86 PROFILES DRUM SOLOIST DEPARTMENTS Alan Dawson: "Airegin" PORTRAITS EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 2 by Tim Smith 92 Dr. Ralph LaFemina READER'S PLATFORM 4 by Charlie Perry 56 6 CLUB SCENE ASK A PRO Creature Comforts Dottie Dodgion DRUM MARKET 112 by Rick Van Horn 94 by Katherine Alleyne 57 IT'S QUESTIONABLE 116 STAFF: EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ronald Spagnardi FEATURES EDITOR Something Rick Mattingly MANAGING EDITOR Scott K. Fish for ASSOCIATE EDITORS Michael Epstein Mark Hurley Everyone ART DIRECTOR David Creamer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kevin W. Kearns ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER . Isabel Spagnardi If there's one thing I've learned after seven years as Editor of Modern ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Drummer, it's that you can't please everyone when it comes to the editorial Ann Thompson balance of each issue. ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE Deciding what goes into an issue of MD, and establishing an appropriate MANAGER balance of articles, is not a decision I make alone. Fortunately, I have a Ellen Urry DEALER SERVICE MANAGER fine editorial team that cares as much as I do about what goes into every Janet Gola issue. Each month, the entire group files into my office for a lengthy con- CIRCULATION ference to plan out the issues you'll be reading five or six months down the Leo L. Spagnardi road. Proper balance is our prime objective, and though balance revolves Robin De Paul around the choice of feature material for the most part, it also includes a Lori-Jean Syintsakos department format and selection of articles, graphics, musical examples, SALES PROMOTION MANAGER and more, in an attempt to weave the varied subject matter into one, cohe- Evelyn Urry sive product. However, it's rare when all of the readership agrees with our decision. MD ADVISORY BOARD For example, an issue containing feature interviews with two rock drum- Henry Adler, Carmine Appice, Louie Bellson, mers and one jazz player is apt to bring mail from the jazz purists. Too Bill Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Billy Cobham, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie much emphasis on jazz drumming, and we invariably hear from those Donnelly, Saul Goodman, Danny Gottlieb, readers who only want to read about their favorite rock drummers. Amidst Sonny Igoe, Jaimoe Johanson, Jim Keltner, these conflicting interests, we also hear from the heavy metal, symphonic, Don Lamond, Mel Lewis, Peter Magadini, Latin and drum corps oriented players who demand to see their interests George Marsh, Butch Miles, Joe Morello, Neil represented. Obviously, it's close to impossible to please everyone in every Peart, Charlie Perry, Charli Persip, Arthur issue. Space limitations prohibit it. What we can do, however, is keep the Press, Paul T. Riddle, Ed Shaughnessy, Ed majority of readers satisfied, and deal with special interest groups through Thigpen, Max Weinberg. various other formats available in the magazine. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS How do we determine where the majority interests lie? Through reader- Susan Alexander, Charles M. Bernstein, Robyn ship surveys and reader mail, basically. We know, for instance, that the Flans, Simon Goodwin, Stanley Hall, Dave majority of readers are into some form of rock drumming, followed by Levine, Bob Saydlowski, Jr., Chip Stern, Robin jazz, clubdate, studio, symphonic, rudimental and Latin players, in that Tolleson, Rick Van Horn, T. Bruce Wittet. order. And though we hesitate to ignore the peripheral segments of the audience, we are forced to deal with them sparingly. Complete Percussion- MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194- ist, Driver's Seat, Club Scene, South Of The Border, Show & Studio and 4533) is published monthly by Modern Drum- Rudimental Symposium, among others, offers the opportunity to balance mer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clifton Avenue, things out on an in-depth basis for the smaller special interest groups. Clifton, N.J. 07013. Second Class Postage paid On several occasions, we've handled special interests through special at Clifton, N.J. 07015 and at additional mailing offices. Copyrighted 1983 by Modern Drummer issues. The N. Y. and L.A. Studio Scene issues, and Country/Rock Scene Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Repro- were examples of this approach. All were designed to focus on a smaller, duction without the permission of the publisher special interest segment. But, as you might have suspected, though the C/R is prohibited. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $21.95 per issue was a hit with the country fans, the jazz element was somewhat put year, $39.95, two years. Single copies $2.25. out with that particular issue, and the Latin contingent found little of great MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes interest in our studio scene specials. It gets back to what I said earlier. manuscripts, however, cannot assume responsi- When it comes to balancing editorial for such a wide group, you can't bility for them. Manuscripts must be accompa- expect to please everyone all the time. nied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please pro vide both old and new address. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clifton Avenue, Clif- ton, N.J. 07013. (201) 778-1700. POSTMAS- TER: Send Address Changes to Modern Drum- mer, 1000 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, N.J. 07013. PROS: ON BASS DRUMS MARK CRANEY ANALYZING STYLE Your article on bass drums by the pros was Thanks for the long-awaited interview "Analyzing Style" by Rick Van Horn will excellent. I tried some ideas from Danny with Mark Craney. As a friend and fellow be a great help to me. I doubt if this lesson Gottlieb, Paul T. Riddle, David Garibaldi, drummer from Mark's hometown, I'd like could have been purchased at a music Roy Burns, Mark Craney and Artimus to congratulate MD on capturing the true store. So many of us who aren't able to Pyle on my bass drums—ranging in sizes essence of an exceptional musician and fine enjoy music on a full-time basis, lack the of 20", 22" and 24"—and had good results human being. Mark's drumming and out- essential information necessary for mov- tuning them. look have long been an inspiration to me ing forward. This article opens the doors Tremblay Benoit and will continue to be throughout my ca- for further understanding. It has helped Brossard, Quebec reer and life. me a great deal. Canada Dick Bartling Charles W. Pappis Sioux Falls, SD Houston, TX BURNED UP Roy Burns' evaluation and analysis on en- MD TOO EXPENSIVE? OFF THE RECORD dorsers and artist relations in the April '83 I'm fortunate to have 42 of the 44 issues My article "Off The Record" in the Job- MD smacks as being both self-serving and MD has published to date. Your high bing Drummer column of MD June '83 cynical. To pass judgement and appear to standard of excellence was well in evidence contains an error. On page 58 there are two be so above it all is somewhat hypocritical in your June '83 edition, and honestly, it musical examples showing how hand drum from a person who has been from com- was one of your best yet. Every article and rhythms can be played with the left hand pany to company seeking his own personal interview shed another splinter of light (or on concert toms, mounted bongos, or sim- fortune at the expense of others. MD more) on the art and mystery of drum- ilar, while the right hand plays a disco beat would do best to publish real information ming. All my magazines together cost less on hi-hat and snare drum. The first exam- that would help to promote the art.