October 1983
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
VOL. 7, NO. 10 Cover Photo by Rick Malkin FEATURES ALEX VAN HALEN Rock musicians are often accused of being more concerned with the rock 'n' roll lifestyle than with the music. That lifestyle is very much a part of Alex Van Halen's image, but underneath that image is a serious musician who has a lot to say about drums and drumming, and he says it here in this MD exclusive. by Robyn Flans 8 PHILLIP WILSON For a drummer to have played with such diverse groups as The Art Ensemble of Chicago and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band indicates that his musicianship is not limited in any way, and that is certainly true of Phillip Wilson, who has a knack for weaving seemingly contrasting influences together into one unique style. by Chip Stern 16 DRUMS AROUND THE WORLD Japan's Stomu Yamash'ta; England's Ronnie Verrell; Brazil's Ivan Conti; Canada's Steve Negus; Israel's Aron Kaminski; Den- mark's Alex Riel. 20 FRANK BEARD In this revealing interview, Frank Beard, the unpretentious, self-taught drummer for ZZ Top, discusses his career from his early emulations of '60s British rock bands, to his later involvement with a psychedelic group, and his present position as a member of the highly successful, Texas-based rock trio. by Susan Alexander 26 ROCK CHARTS COLUMNS "Lowdown In the Street" PROFILES 74 by James Morton ON THE MOVE Nelson Montana 30 ROCK PERSPECTIVES A Left-Handed Perspective REVIEWS EDUCATION by Robert Doyle 92 ON TRACK 94 CLUB SCENE STRICTLY TECHNIQUE PRINTED PAGE 96 Handling the Ups and Downs Triplets With Buzz Rolls 46 by Joe Morello by Rick Van Horn 100 NEWS COMPLETE PERCUSSIONIST UPDATE Junkanoo EQUIPMENT by Robyn Flans 110 by Neil M. Symonette 64 INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 112 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP CONCEPTS Migirian Bass Drums/DW5002 Double Pedal Practicing and Boredom DEPARTMENTS 68 by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. 44 by Roy Burns EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 2 JUST DRUMS READER'S PLATFORM 4 ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC Percussion '83—MD Visits ASK A PRO 6 Variations for Cymbal & Hi-Hat NAMM in Chicago DRUM MARKET 104 72 by John Xepoleas by Rick Mattingly 114 IT'S QUESTIONABLE 108 STAFF: EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ronald Spagnardi FEATURES EDITOR Rick Mattingly MANAGING EDITOR A Positive Outlook Scott K. Fish ASSOCIATE EDITORS Susan Hannum Mark Hurley Every year, The American Music Conference (AMC) issues a report on ART DIRECTOR musical instrument sales in the United States based on manufacturers' David Creamer shipments. The sales figures, which track both domestic manufacture and ADVERTISING DIRECTOR imported equipment, have recently been released for 1982. Kevin W. Kearns ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER A close-up look at the percussion statistics tells us that total sales for Isabel Spagnardi drumsets, marching band equipment, mallet instruments and cymbals were ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER down from 1981's record-breaking 82.9 million dollars, to 78.5, a decrease Ann Thompson of 5%. AMC attributes the slight decrease to the ongoing impact of the re- ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE cession on traditional percussion instrument consumers, and the continual MANAGER tightening of school budgets across the nation. The graph below shows Ellen Urry sales volume over the past five years and reflects imported as well as domes- DEALER SERVICE MANAGER tically manufactured percussion equipment. Janet Gola CIRCULATION Leo L. Spagnardi Robin De Paul Lori-Jean Syintsakos SALES PROMOTION MANAGER Evelyn Urry MD ADVISORY BOARD Henry Adler, Carmine Appice, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Billy Cobham, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Saul Goodman, Danny Gottlieb, Obviously, even a slight decrease in volume is mildly disappointing, Sonny Igoe, Jaimoe Johanson, Jim Keltner, however, I think we might agree that our industry is certainly holding its Don Lamond, Mel Lewis, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Butch Miles, Joe Morello, Neil own, particularly when we compare it to the keyboard and fretted instru- Peart, Charlie Perry, Charli Persip, Arthur ment categories who experienced decreases of 23%. Press, Paul T. Riddle, Ed Shaughnessy, Ed Further investigation of AMC's figures shows that imported drums were Thigpen, Max Weinberg. off considerably from 1981's all-time high of 12.5 million dollars, to 9.6, with most of the equipment coming in from Taiwan. In the area of exports, however, the percussion industry bucked the trend followed by every other CONTRIBUTING WRITERS major musical instrument category with sales volume of 12.5 million dol- Susan Alexander, Charles M. Bernstein, Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Stanley Hall, Dave lars, an increase of 5%. Interestingly, all other musical instruments re- Levine, Bob Saydlowski, Jr., Chip Stern, Robin ported declines in exports ranging from 5%, to as high as 56%. Tolleson, Rick Van Horn, T. Bruce Wittet. Along with the above information, AMC also tells us that there are 2,748,000 drummers in the United States (94% male, 6% female; median age 19), placing percussion instruments fifth on the list of the nation's most MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194- popular instrumental categories. 4533) is published monthly by Modern Drum- And what about the next generation of drummers coming up? Is compe- mer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clifton Avenue, tition from radio, TV, sports and video games preventing young people Clifton, N.J. 07013. Second Class Postage paid from actively studying music? Absolutely not, according to a special sur- at Clifton, N.J. 07015 and at additional mailing vey conducted for the AMC this year. Surprisingly, over a third of the na- offices. Copyrighted 1983 by Modern Drummer tion's 13- to 19-year-olds are actively involved in the study of a musical in- Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Repro- strument, and of that third, 13% are studying drums and/or percussion, duction without the permission of the publisher again, placing drumming fifth in popularity among today's American teen- is prohibited. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $21.95 per year, $39.95, two years. Single copies $2.25. age musicians. MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes All things considered, the overall percussion industry's vital signs appear manuscripts, however, cannot assume responsi- healthy, despite the anticipated decrease, and one can find no reason to bility for them. Manuscripts must be accompa- doubt the continuation of a healthy environment over the long haul, and as nied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. the economy improves. For those who doubt, take a gander at MD's cover- CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at least six age of percussion activity at the NAMM '83 Expo in the Just Drums de- weeks for a change. Please provide both old and partment of this issue, and judge for yourself. 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. SAM SPEAKS experimentation. When you play commer- ON THE MOVE I refer to a line Louie Bellson used in Ask A cial music for a living, you play what the I'd like to suggest a monthly salute on one Pro in the July '83 issue. Louie and many producers want. You don't constantly solo or more of the up-and-coming drummers other pros have said the same thing, that like Peart. How do we know what a drum- in various cities around the country. Not rudiments are scales. Rudiments are not mer can do if he's in a basic commercial only would it be interesting to hear about scales. I think Louie was trying to say that band? some new, unknown talent, but it would be they are to drums what scales are to mel- Why not add categories like new wave, a real benefit, career-wise, to those partic- ody players. Scales tell the melodic player pop, electronic pop, funk and black music, ular drummers profiled. There are a lot of the key signature he's playing in. The rudi- reggae, etc? The drummers who win are incredible drummers out there going unno- ments do not. They have done more to dis- super musicians but they aren't as limited ticed! rupt the drummer than any one factor in as others. Candace Avery all of drumming. I think they should be People who vote need to add variety to Boston, MA outlawed as an important study of the their musical entertainment. Don't just go Editor's Note: We agree with you. In fact, drummer. It's one area that has held the by a name. Go by performance, and take we started the On The Move column just new, older players, and educators from be- into consideration if you've seen them live. for this purpose. See page 30. coming musical players at the outset of The world is sick of biased attitudes. Let's their studies. not put them in MD. A THING OR TWO ABOUT MD The rudiments do not tell us what key David C. Johnson the band is playing in. They tell us nothing, Nashville, TN Why waste eight pages on a non-musician except they tie the drummer down to drum like Myron Grombacher, who doesn't slavery of hours upon hours of practice of even know how to tune his own drums, and an outdated tool that really holds us back SNARE VARIATIONS then use only two pages on J.C. Heard, from thinking musically, just as I and I found Rick Van Horn's "Achieving Va- who after 50 years of playing with the many other drummers were held back in riety" (July MD) quite interesting and in- world's greatest musicians could definitely 1936, when I first started playing this in- formative.