Cover Photo by Ebet Roberts EDUCATION IN THE STUDIO Roberts An Introduction 42 Ebet by Craig Krampf by ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC Emphasizing Beats Photo by Rod Morgenstein 44 TEACHERS' FORUM Motivation by Ron Jordan 48 JAZZ DRUMMERS' WORKSHOP Basic Independence by Peter Erskine 72 ELECTRONIC INSIGHTS Marching To The MIDI Drummer by Bruce Nazarian 82 ROCK PERSPECTIVES Ringo Starr: The Early Period by Kenny Aronoff 102 ROCK CHARTS Ian Paice: "Perfect Strangers" by James Morton 106 CONCEPTS Listening NARADA MICHAEL by Roy Burns 120 CLUB SCENE WALDEN Selling Yourself On Tape In recent months, he has had great success as a producer for by Rick Van Horn 122 such artists as Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, but EQUIPMENT Narada Michael Walden isn't about to abandon his SHOP TALK drumming, and here he tells why. Snare Drum Options by Rick Mattingly 16 by John Clarke 76 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP More New Cymbals AL JACKSON by Rick Van Horn and Rick Until his untimely death, Al Jackson provided the backbeat Mattingly 126 for classic Memphis recordings by Booker T. & The MGs, Al ELECTRONIC REVIEW Greene, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, and all the artists on Stax Pearl SC-40 Syncussion-X records. He is remembered by such friends and colleagues as by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. 128 Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, Al Greene, and Jim Keltner. JUST DRUMS 132 by T. Bruce Wittet 22 REVIEWS PRINTED PAGE 104 PAUL LEIM PROFILES Since moving to L.A. from Dallas, Paul Leim has recorded PORTRAITS with an impressive array of artists, including Lionel Richie, Sherman Ferguson: Fire, Groove, Peter Cetera, and Kenny Rogers. But it's his work with Amy And Taste Grant that is especially rewarding for him and that most by Ed Thigpen 62 people seem to know him for. UP AND COMING by Robyn Flans 28 The Pretenders' Blair Cunningham by Teri Saccone 98 NEWS SOUND SUPPLEMENT: UPDATE 6 NEIL PEART DRUMSET "SPUR OF THE MOMENT" GIVEAWAY RESULTS 36 INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 130 This Sound Supplement recording features Dave Weckl demonstrating how he interprets charts and plays with DEPARTMENTS sequencers, followed by a track that you can play along with EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 2 yourself. READERS' PLATFORM 4 ASK A PRO 10 by Dave Weckl 32 IT'S QUESTIONABLE 12 IN MEMORIAM MD TRIVIA CONTEST Mickey Sheen, Carlton Barrett, and Yogi Horton 46 Win a Tama Swingstar drumset 40 DRUM MARKET 118 We think this particular issue of Modern Drum- No sooner does one contest end than another mer may be one of the most exciting issues of 1987. begins. Information on MD's brand-new Drum Included here is the long-awaited results of the Neil Trivia Contest can be found on page 40. All you Peart drum solo contest, the debut of MD's all- need to do to enter is answer a simple trivia ques- new Drum Trivia Contest, and a Sound Supple- tion, and mail us that answer on a postcard with ment by Dave Weckl guaranteed to knock your your name, address, and phone number. The first socks off! entry drawn at random with the correct answer will The Neil Peart contest was first introduced in be the winner of that month's prize. We've March of this year. Contestants were required to recruited a number of participating manufactur- submit a two-minute drum solo performance on ers, each of whom will be offering some really great cassette tape. Any style of drumming was accept- equipment as prizes. Our first Drum Trivia contest able. Neil based his winning selections on original- prize is a Tama Swingstar drumset, so be sure to ity, technique, structure, imagination, and musi- enter. A cality. The winners have each been awarded As I've mentioned before, the response to MD's one of Neil's drumsets, which were actually used Sound Supplements has been most satisfying. on concert tours and on recordings Neil has made Apparently, a large number of readers are learning Special with Rush. It was not surprising that the response a great deal from this recorded material by leading to this contest was overwhelming. drum artists. My thanks to all who've written to Tapes began pouring into our office back in the tell us how much you've enjoyed the Sound Sup- Issue early spring, when we began the initial screening plements. process. The finalists, determined by a screening This month, MD poll winner Dave Weckl has committee of MD drummer/editors, were then prepared a dynamic Sound Suppplement, with a forwarded to Neil for his selection of the win- drum chart and the added opportunity to experi- ners—not an easy task for sure. Well, Neil has cho- ment with your own ideas. We think you'll find this sen the winners, and the valuable prizes are on one particularly enjoyable. Special thanks to Dave their way to these fine young drummers. You'll for sharing his talent and making this material find it all on page 36 of this issue. Our congratula- available for all Modern Drummer readers. tions to the talented winners. EDITOR/PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Spagnardi Tracy Kearney Susan Alexander, Chip Deffaa, Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Jeff Potter, Teri ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Saccone, Robert Santelli, Bob Saydlowski, Isabel Spagnardi Joan C. Stickel Jr., T.Bruce Wittet. MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194- SENIOR EDITOR DEALER SERVICE MANAGER 4533) is published monthly by MODERN Rick Mattingly Sharon M. Leary DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class MANAGING EDITOR CIRCULATION Postage paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at Rick Van Horn additional mailing offices. Copyright 1987 by Leo Spagnardi Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All rights ASSOCIATE EDITORS Crystal W. Van Horn reserved. Reproduction without the permission of Susan Hannum Tara Shah the publisher is prohibited. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $22.95 per year; $41.95, two William F. Miller years. Single copies $2.95. SALES PROMOTION MANAGER MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Evelyn Urry manuscripts, however, cannot assume responsi- Cynthia Huang bility for them. Manuscripts must be accompa- nied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at least six BOARD weeks for a change. Please provide both old and ART DIRECTOR Henry Adler, Carmine Appice, Louie new address. David H. Creamer Bellson, Bill Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is avail- Chapin, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, able for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspon- Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Danny dence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Service, 870 Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Mel Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: 800- 522-DRUM or 201-239-4140. Lewis, Larrie Londin, Peter Magadini, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mod- ADVERTISING DIRECTOR George Marsh, Butch Miles, Joe Morello, ern Drummer, P.O. Box 469, Cedar Grove, NJ Kevin W. Kearns Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, 07009. Paul T. Riddle, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen. ISSUE DATE: October 1987 tion for my tendency to accidentally throw drums, but I am sure the results would be MARK CRANEY sticks while playing. I bought two leather similar. Maybe this is an old idea. I'd be SUPPORT FUND batting gloves, which were able to help me interested in knowing whether others have As we went to press for this issue, we were retain control of the stick. The pain disap- tried it and would back up my theory that informed that drummer Mark Craney was peared. you get a better sound without significant seriously ill, suffering from kidney failure The problem occurred again more loss of volume. Also, the desired sound is as a result of diabetes. We understand that recently, for a different reason. While infinitely adjustable. Mark requires a kidney transplant in order backstage at a show, I was talking to M. Masters to have any positive hope for recovery. A another drummer, and complaining that I St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands group of Mark's friends, led by Gregg Bis- often break sticks. I have been using a par- sonette and Myron Grombacher, have ticular brand's 5B stick for almost all of established a support fund to help offset my 12 years of drumming. This other WILL LEE the tremendous cost of such a procedure. drummer recommended that I try a differ- I just received your May issue and am A benefit clinic/concert was held in Los ent brand's 5B model because these sticks absolutely thrilled with the Different View Angeles on July 19 to help establish the last much longer. So I purchased a pair of article on Will Lee, the bass player. I have fund. that brand. But the first time I sat down to been looking for something like this for a Mark is an outstanding player whose tal- play with them, I developed sharp cramps long time. I believe it is very important that ents have been heard with such diverse art- in my hands after only ten or 15 minutes of instrumentalists do not limit themselves to ists as Jethro Tull, Gino Vanelli, Jean-Luc playing. Later, using a caliper, I found seeing the music only from the viewpoint Ponty, Headpins, Jeff Beck, and Tower of that there was almost a one-millimeter dif- of their own instrument. It is, in fact, a Power. The June 1983 issue of Modern ference in the diameters of the two sticks. great help to the drummer to be aware of Drummer included a feature interview Although the idea that this was the cause how other band members approach the with Mark. of the problem seemed ridiculous, a music played by the band.