October 1990
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VOLUME 14, NUMBER 10 ERIC SINGER A hard rock specialist if ever there was one, Eric Singer has played with some of the heaviest of the heavies: Black Sabbath, Badlands, FEATURES Gary Moore, and now Alice Cooper. So how come Singer says he could just have easily ended up playing big band music? DRUMMING: • by Teri Saccone 30 How Risky Is It THE ALEX To Your Hearing? DRUMMERS ACUNA Without the right protection, and OF NEW ORLEANS over a period of time—some say it could be quite risky. In this special As percussionist and drummer Major record companies might report, top drummers chip away at with Weather Report, with his not be flocking to New Orleans the stigma surrounding hearing own band, Koinonia, and these days, but that doesn't keep problems, and experts in the field through a career as the first-call the Crescent City from still being explain what you can studio percussionist, Alex Acuna one of the most potent wellsprings do to avoid this very has added his talents to an of music on the globe. MD real malady. incredible body of music. In this tracked down four of the city's exclusive interview, Alex dis- •by Peter Cohen 24 hottest drummers—the Neville cusses his unique place in music, Brothers' Willie Green, the and in a special Sidebar, Radiators' Frank Bua, and free- shares his insights on lancers Herman Ernest and Latin rhythms. Johnny Vidacovich—to •by Robyn Flans 18 get the insider's view. • by Robert Santelli 34 MD TRIVIA CONTEST Win an LP Timbale/Conga setup! 58 Cover Photo: Jack White Education 48 ROCK PERSPECTIVES Applying Double Strokes To The Equipment Drumset BY BOBBY ROCK Departments 50 CONCEPTS 40 PRODUCT Put The Music First CLOSE-UP Paiste Sound Formula News BY ROY BURNS Cymbals 4 EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 54 STRICTLY BY RICK VAN HORN 8 UPDATE TECHNIQUE 41 Yamaha Rock Tour 6 READERS' Lenny White, Walfredo Rhythmic Rudimental Custom Kit de los Reyes, Sr., Progressions: Part 5 PLATFORM BY ADAM BUDOFSKY Tommy Goss, and BY JOE MORELLO 12 ASK A PRO Billy Carmassi, 43 The Original plus News 60 THE JOBBING Drum Screen 122 INDUSTRY DRUMMER BY ED URIBE 14 IT'S Surviving QUESTIONABLE HAPPENINGS The Society Gig 56 SHOP TALK BY RUSS LEWELLEN Shell-Shocked 92 LIAISON BY JOHN CLARKE Profiles 68 DRUM SOLOIST 102 CRITIQUE Philly Joe Jones: 114 NEW AND "Nica's Dream" 62 UP & COMING TRANSCRIBED BY NOTABLE 124 DRUM MARKET DEXTER G. STORY Coverage from Kevin Haskins Chicago of the 128 PHOTO GALLERY BY TERI SACCONE Summer '90 Danny Richmond 74 BASICS NAMM Show Setting Goals: BY JOOST LEIJEN A Five-Part Plan BY MARK DENESHA 78 JAZZ DRUMMERS' WORKSHOP Fanning The Hi-Hats BY WILL DOWER EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ronald Spagnardi ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Isabel Spagnardi MANAGING EDITOR Rick Van Horn An Occupational Hazard FEATURES EDITOR William F. Miller ASSOCIATE EDITOR Adam Budofsky CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Rick Mattingly EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Karen Walsh Hearing loss. Auditory nerve damage. Tinnitus. Lately it seems we're hearing more and more about ART DIRECTOR Scott G. Bienstock these problems and their relation to drumming and ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Tracy A. Kearns high volume music. Drummers Joey Kramer, Lars Ulrich, Jimmy Copley, and Rod Morgenstein are ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Joan C. Stickel just a few of many who've reported either some ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bob Berenson hearing loss, or the onset of tinnitus. SALES AND MARKETING Crystal W Van Horn Basically, nerve damage indicates that a portion DIRECTOR of one's delicate hearing mechanism has been abused to the point where some degree of hearing loss occurs. Tinnitus is the medical MAIL ROOM SUPERVISOR Leo Spagnardi term for a continuous ringing in the ears. It can range from a mod- CONSULTANT TO THE Arnold E. Abramson erately high-pitched squeal, to a downright roar for those with PUBLISHER severe cases. I used to think that hearing damage induced by high-volume MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, Kenny music was a potential danger just for rock drummers performing Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie under incredibly high decibel conditions. I was wrong. Even the Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim typical club band that cranks it up beyond the comfort level late in Keltner, Larrie Londin, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, the evening can be loud enough to cause problems in time. My own Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, Dave Samuels, John Santos, case of tinnitus was not so much the result of playing under Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen. extremely loud conditions as it was a case of moderately high vol- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Susan Alexander, Robyn Flans, Simon ume—night after night—over an extended period of time. We now Goodwin, Jeff Potter, Teri Saccone, Robert Santelli, Robin Tolleson, know that too many years in a few too many relatively loud situations Lauren Vogel, T. Bruce Wittet. can be just as much of a threat. Unfortunately, there isn't much you MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is published can do about hearing damage after it occurs. You simply learn to live monthly with an additional issue in July by MODERN DRUMMER with it, which can be somewhat difficult for a musician. Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Postage paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional It's not our purpose here to unduly frighten anyone who's ever mailing offices. Copyright 1990 by MODERN DRUMMER picked up a drumstick or performed with a band. It's quite true that Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the per- some of us may be more genetically prone to auditory problems. mission of the publisher is prohibited. And we know that drumming and high volume music aren't the EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: MODERN only things that can cause hearing damage. But there's no denying DRUMMER Publications, 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ the fact that whether on the concert stage or club bandstand, sur- 07009. Tel.: (201) 239-4140. rounded by high-powered sound systems, on an instrument with MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photographic mate- potentially dangerous frequencies itself, we drummers certainly do rial, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Such items must fall into the high-risk category. be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. This month we're presenting an article by drummer/author Peter MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk Cohen entitled "Drumming: How Risky Is It To Your Hearing?" In rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Service, PO. it you'll learn just how hearing damage occurs, and about the warn- Box 389, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Tel.: (800) 334-DRUM or (815) 734- ing signs that may indicate you're in the danger zone. You'll also 6013. hear from several name players who are experiencing hearing prob- SUBSCRIPTIONS: $27.95 per year; $49.95, two years. Single copies lems, and others—now aware of the risks involved—who are taking $3.95. the necessary precautions. Finally, we'll examine just what's being SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, PO. Box done in the area of hearing protection. And we'll look at some of the 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Allow at least six devices available from companies that are continually at work weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new address. Toll Free designing and improving hearing protection for musicians. Tel.: (800) 435-0715. We hope you'll take a moment to think about the information offered here. Hearing damage is a potential occupational hazard we all face, and a problem too serious to ignore. But fortunately, it's Audit Bureau Of Circulations one of those problems we can do something about. Membership applied for. READERS' PLATFORM Rod Morgenstein Andy Narell. I've always loved steel might be able to help me with a copy. If It's refreshing to find out that not every drums and admired the musicians who so, please contact me at the address superstar of drumming got where he is in made such lovely music on such unlikely shown below. Thanks! a cakewalk! I feel a lot closer to Rod instruments. But I never realized the Bob Marken Morgenstein knowing that he went range of music that could be performed 6319 llth St., ct. e. through some scuffling before he got his on the pans; I've always figured them for Bradenton FL 34203 current high-profile gig, despite his awe- just the calypso kind of thing. On the some talent. I've had one or two hum- strength of your story on Andy, I bought bling experiences such as Rod went his Little Secrets album, and was simply through with Zeno; I only hope that I blown away! Thanks for the revelation. Exhaustive Practicing came out of mine with the same positive Anthony Quilato My husband, Carl, is always telling peo- attitude that Rod maintained throughout Portland OR ple how much he practices. One day I his. Rick Mattingly's interview with Rod came home from shopping and caught really revealed a lot of what the rock him "practicing" on the patio. I just had music business is all about, and left me to take a photo and send it to you. with an even greater admiration for Rod The Clone Syndrome than I already had. Thanks for the good Bravo to Mr. Spagnardi for his Editor's work. Overview in the June MD entitled "The Bill Wheeler Clone Syndrome." Developing a musical Schenectady NY identity is almost unheard of these days because of power toms and power heads Yea, Rod! A real drummer talks about real and super double bass drums, etc.