Drum Talk by Tony

he explained, " try them constantly on a practice pad w ith a pair of heavy sticks, -and they come out all right. "A word of warning t hough, .don't get too technical. You DRUM may find a brilliant fi ll-in but don't use it unless it will sound exactly right in the piece you're playing. Every one is guilty of t his an d it's a bad mistake because nine TALK times out of ten it doesn't swing. Save it for the practice pad." FLAT OUT BY He spoke about some of the people he has played with, and how they differ. "We were with Little Richard on his last visit here", he said , "and with him it's TONY flat out all the way. There's no let up- and he really works hard. "With Jerry Lee Lewis it's By MIKE CROFTS much the same. You're laying it out pretty hard and on the last chorus he'll give you a wicked look and you know ONY NEWMAN is 23 years old and a veter an of to someone who'll teach them you're in for it. That's when the pop scene. In less than six years he's turned a style, because that's some he really takes off. T professional and played with a whole string of thing they should develop for "It's totally d ifferent with famous artists, yet his name has never hit the headlines, themselves, but someone who Cilla. The drum phrases Kenny and it probably never will. will teach them the rudiments Clare uses on her numbers Nonetheless, he is a highly respected member of a of music, and reading. are so right, so tasteful, you group which has one of the most enviable reputations in couldn't think of anything the business- Sounds Incorporated. RIGHT-HANDED better." Tony is a self - taught When Sounds Inc. toured drummer whose technique "When I first started I the Stat es a little time back, makes him as muc h at exciting, and jazz seemed to leaned a great deal on my Tony sat in on drums with home with frantic skin give it to me," he says. right hand. This is an easy several artists. It d id him a lot splitting Little Richard ac "My earliest recollection of mistake to make if you're of good, and he returned to companiments as it does a drum solo was Louis Bell right-handed, and you think Britain with a lot of id eas. with the sweeter, more son's 'Skin Deep' with the you're doing something really "There isn't the same ex subtle rhythms used for Duke Ellington band. That amazing. You're not, and you citement in Britain as there backing the strident sing record was never off the should concentrate on the Is In America. The scene over ing of " Miss Glitter Girl" gram. and I still think it's one other hand because to get t he there is fantastic and we don't Cilla Black. of the finest drum solos ever. best fi ll-Ins It is essential to have such a groove. It all started back in the "Bue to say that jazz is king use both hands properly." "I'd like to make long visits washboard days of sklffle. Is small-minded. The dif Tony uses a T rixon kit, but to the States but I don't think That's when he began ham ference between jazz and it's not just the straight I'd like to live there." mering out the various sounds rock 'n' roll Is waier thin, and forward line-up. There's a which led to a rock group, it's the front line which very large bass drum measur EARNED REPUTATION through a dance band and makes them seem apart." ing 24 in. x 17 in .. two trad outfit, to the more Tony didn't learn to read regular kit tom-toms, a normal Tony Newman has crammed ambitious attempts at modern music until shortly before floor tom-tom, a 20 in. x an enormous amount of ex jazz. join ing "Sounds", and he 24 in. floor tom-tom, snares perience into a very few At that time he used to visit recollects that he could only and cymbals. years. He's seen the world all t he London jazz clubs to just about get th rough the He sets it up so t hat the scene, he's drummed wit h the see the top drummers, and he audition. snare and tom-toms tilt in "Greats" and he has earned a even got a few tips from Phi l "Technically I was noth wards. By doing this he finds reputation w ith everyone who Seamen. ing", he admitted, "And the that the stick is at its maxi has worked with Sounds In In fact it was jazz that led to on Iy reason I got in was be mum st roke when it actually corporated. him picking up st icks for the cause I could swing, and that's hits the skin. He'll be w ith Sounds for a first time, although he is not what they wanted. Tony is also a firm believer long t ime yet, putting down a jazz fan and never has been. "I'd always advise anyone in using a practice pad. the hard swing, and pleasing " I just wanted to listen to interested in playing drums to "If the things you're trying audiences all over the world music that swung and that was go to a teacher, t hough. Not to do aren't working out", .. and artists, too. 18 .

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