September 1986
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
in this issue . VOL. 10, NO. 9 Features Cover Photo by Glen LaFerman Columns EDUCATION ELECTRONIC INSIGHTS Electronic Percussion On Broadway by Jeff Potter 48 ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC Beat Shifting by Howard Fields 56 LISTENERS' GUIDE by Phil Ehart and Ed Thigpen 60 STRICTLY TECHNIQUE Stretching Cymbal And Double-Bass LaFerman Technique G/en by Dean Sanderson 72 by TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS A Guide To Full-Time Employment: Photo Part 1 TOMMY LEE by Michael Stevens 74 The members of Motley Crue are perhaps more infamous than IN THE STUDIO famous, preventing Tommy Lee from being taken seriously as The Changing Job Site a drummer. But behind the image is a man who is very by T. Bruce Wittet 82 dedicated to his instrument and musicianship. TEACHERS' FORUM by Simon Goodwin 16 Bob Gullotti by Tim Smith 86 DRUM SOLOIST JERRY CARRIGAN Steve Gadd: "Golf Swing" Back in the early days of Muscle Shoals and Nashville—when by James Metcalfe 94 a studio was judged by the skill of the musicians who worked CONCEPTS there, rather than by the size of the board—Jerry Carrigan Drummers And Drum Shops was providing the beat for some of the biggest hits to come out by Roy Burns 106 of those influential Southern towns. CLUB SCENE by Robyn Flans 22 On Self-Satisfaction by Rick Van Horn 108 BEN RILEY EQUIPMENT While playing with such artists as Thelonious Monk, Sonny PRODUCT CLOSE-UP Rollins, and Sphere might not make one famous, it will Budget Electronics certainly earn you the respect of your peers and a place in by Bob Saydlowski, Jr 110 history, as it has for Ben Riley. by Jeff Potter 26 JUST DRUMS 114 PROFILES BUN E. CARLOS PORTRAITS It wasn't just his fondness for vintage drums that led Cheap Noel Okimoto Trick's Bun E. Carlos to put "Acoustic Drums and Cymbals" by Ira I. Wong 38 next to his name on the group's recent album. And he's not Andre Arpino anti-electronic drums either. But he does have strong opinions by Simon Goodwin 39 about the use and misuse of electronics in the studio. by Robin Tolleson 30 NEWS UPDATE 6 SHOP HOPPIN': INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 112 REVIEWS THE LONG ISLAND ON TRACK 98 DRUM CENTER DEPARTMENTS They've grown from one store to five in nine years, so they EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 2 must be doing something right. Perhaps it's the equal READERS' PLATFORM 4 emphasis on education and equipment that has led to the ASK A PRO 10 remarkable success of the Long Island Drum Center. IT'S QUESTIONABLE 12 by William F. Miller 34 DRUM MARKET 104 SEPTEMBER 1986 Have you ever thought about what's involved in drum books, and an increasing amount of drum being a staff editor for Modern Drummer? Actu- videos that find their way to our office each month. ally, MD's editors do a great deal more than one And though much of this is channeled directly to might imagine. Just keeping up with the activities the individual editor responsible for the material, a in the drum world can often extend an editor's day significant percentage is circulated to all the editors well beyond the average, and on into evenings and for future reference. weekends. Along with 12 Modern Drummer issues What about other outside office activities? Well, a year, the editorial team also handles four Mod- first comes attendance at major trade shows, clin- ern Percussionists, a growing Book Division, ics, Percussive Arts Society percussion days, and related publications like MD's First and Second anything else remotely connected with drumming. Year reprints, the Treasury, and the new Equip- If that isn't enough to keep one busy, we can ment Annual. Believe me, there's no way all that include an occasional emceeing of a drum clinic or can be done in 40 hours a week. being present at workshops presented by MD's There are also numerous tasks the staff is almost Book Division authors. Some of our editors have Above compelled to deal with, simply to keep abreast of even been called upon to judge drum contests, the whirlwind of activity that surrounds the music myself included. And others on our staff remain And business. For example, nearly a dozen magazines active as part-time professional players, keeping covering rock, jazz, music education, and drum involved in the music scene on a personal level. corps, plus three or four trade publications dealing Along with the drum-related activities, there are Beyond with the overall music industry, reach the home the general magazine business publications that office every month. Each and every one is read and are scanned, the seminars to attend, and the busi- passed from one editor to the next. This is one way ness shows to visit. To say that MD editors must be The we keep up on the latest bands that may contain the dedicated to this business is a gross understate- hottest new drummers, plus what's new on the ment. In actuality, they really must love the work, Call charts, and who's playing where or doing what in as they literally eat, sleep, and breathe it. all the areas of drumming we deal with. I can recall once having an editor on staff who Of course, other publications are not our only phoned my home at 1:00 A.M. one weeknight. He source of information. Much of it also comes from was in a state of panic over a fast-approaching attending rock concerts in the evening or on week- deadline on a story he was working on at that very ends, hitting jazz clubs or drum corps competi- moment. The project had been giving him some tions to survey the activity, continually monitoring difficulty, and he needed my thoughts. Talk about the top radio stations, and viewing a considerable above and beyond the call of duty! My sleepy sug- amount of MTV. There are also network music gestion? "How 'bout you put it to bed for tonight, programs and a host of music award shows to deal and let's deal with it in the morning." He agreed. with each year. On top of this, there are the stag- Sometimes, enough is enough! gering amount of new album releases, the latest PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Spagnardi Isabel Spagnardi Susan Alexander, Chip Deffaa, Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Jeff Potter, Teri Saccone, ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Robert Santelli, Bob Saydlowski, Jr., Robin Ellen Corsi Isabel Spagnardi Tolleson, T. Bruce Wittet. ASSISTANT EDITOR ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194- Tracy Kearney 4533) is published monthly by MODERN Ronald Spagnardi DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton DEALER SERVICE MANAGER Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class FEATURES EDITOR Angela Hogan Postage paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at Rick Mattingly additional mailing offices. Copyright 1986 by CIRCULATION Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All rights MANAGING EDITOR Leo Spagnardi reserved. Reproduction without the permission of Rick Van Horn Sharon M. Leary the publisher is prohibited. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $22.95 per year; $41.95, two Crystal W. Van Horn years. Single copies $2.75. ASSOCIATE EDITORS MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes Susan Hannum SALES PROMOTION MANAGER manuscripts, however, cannot assume responsi- William F. Miller Evelyn Urry bility for them. Manuscripts must be accompa- nied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at least six EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Henry Adler, Carmine Appice, Louie Bellson, weeks for a change. Please provide both old and Elaine Cannizzaro Bill Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Les new address. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is avail- DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter able for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspon- ARTDIRECTO R Erskine, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim dence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Service, 870 David H. Creamer Keltner, Mel Lewis, Larrie Londin, Peter Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: 800- Magadini, George Marsh, Butch Miles, Joe 221-1988 or 201-239-4140. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mod- Morello, Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie ern Drummer, P.O. Box 469, Cedar Grove, NJ ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Perry, Paul T. Riddle, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve 07009. Kevin W. Kearns Smith, Ed Thigpen. KENNY ARONOFF place the rubber lid on one end, and you've drummers face acoustical problems night I'd like to thank Rick Mattingly and MD got a whole new sound. Of course, I after night. (By the way, I was surprised to for the illuminating interview with Kenny wouldn't expect anyone to set up a "Hills learn that the drums and cymbals that Aronoff in the June '86 issue. Although I Brothers drumset" with pot lids and bat- sounded awful when the drummer warmed had enjoyed Kenny's playing with John tered cymbals to accompany it. But that's up alone sounded great with the band!) Cougar Mellencamp, I had no idea that he a small example of tone for the sake of Alan Gill was as diverse and experienced a player as tone—whether it comes from a sophisti- Philadelphia, PA the article proved him to be. I also appreci- cated electronic chip, a standard-sized jazz Editor's note: Watch for an article on the ated his "workingman's ethic" approach acoustic setup, or even from so-called drummers—past and present—of the to doing his job for his band. And I'd like "junk." Woody Herman band, which will appear to especially thank Kenny for outlining his Dan VandeWiele later this year in MD. use of acoustically triggered electronic Bark River, MI sounds so clearly.