• WECKL’S NEW SABIAN CYMBALS • MORE BILLY WARD • LLETTERMANETTERMAN’’SS ANTANTONON FIGFIG June 2002 BBRANCHESRANCHES OOUTUT AALIENLIEN AANTNT FFARMARM’’SS MMIKEIKE CCOSGROVEOSGROVE BBUTCHUTCH VVIGIG OOFF GGARBAGEARBAGE JJOHNOHN DDOLMAOLMAYYANAN “C“CHOPHOP SSUEYUEY”” DDANNYANNY CCAREYAREY’’SS TTOOLOOL GGROOVESROOVES MD’MD’SS MMASSIVEASSIVE NEW PRODUCT PREVIEW! $4.99US $6.99CAN NEW PRODUCT PREVIEW! 06 0 74808 01203 9 Contents ContentsVolume 26, Number 6 David Letterman’s ANTON FIG Obscure South African drummer becomes first-call drummer for New York’s most prestigious gigs. Read all about it. by Robyn Flans 38 Paul La Raia Alien Ant Farm’s UPDATE 20 MIKE COSGROVE Sveti’s Marko Djordjevic The AAF formula for heavy-rock success? Ghetto beats, a Michael 52 CPR’s Stevie Di Stanislao Jackson cover, and work, work, Willie Nelson’s Paul & Billy English Alex Solca and more work. by David John Farinella Japanese Tabla Synthesist Asa-Chang Warrant’s Mike Fasano Garbage’s Lamb Of God’s Chris Adler BUTCH VIG That rare artist with platinum experi- ROM HE AST ence on both sides of the glass, 62 F T P 132 Butch Vig knows of what he speaks. WEST COAST BEBOP PIONEER Alex Solca by Adam Budofsky ROY PORTER He carried first-hand knowledge from Charlie Parker to the West Coast, and helped MD’S PRODUCT EXTRAVAGANZA usher in a new chapter in jazz history. by Burt Korall Gearheads of the world, this is your issue! WOODSHED 138 76 CHRIS VRENNA Running on caffeine and plenty of ROM, ex–Nine Inch Nails drummer Chris Vrenna creates sonic scenarios unlike anything you’ve heard. by Dave Hill Jr. MD Giveaway 158 Win One Of Five Fantastic Prizes From Pearl. Prizes Include A Seven-Piece Masters Custom MMX Kit, Signature Snare Drums, And A Remote Hi-Hat. A Contest Valued At Over $12,500! Education 96 OFF THE RECORD 110 STRICTLY TECHNIQUE Tool’s Danny Carey: Lateralus Accent Control, Part 1: 8th Notes by Ed Breckenfeld by Ron Spagnardi 98 THE MUSICAL DRUMMER 124 CONCEPTS Understanding The Language Fantasy And Truthfulness Of Music, Part 9: by Billy Ward Roman Numerals And The Circle Of 5ths 126 FIRST PERSON by Ron Spagnardi The Joy Of The Journey by Steen Jorgensen 102 ROCK ‘N’ JAZZ CLINIC More Mirror-Image Exercises 128 THE JOBBING DRUMMER by Rod Morgenstein Drumming And Burnout by Chris Lee 104 ROCK CHARTS System Of A Down’s John Dolmayan: “Chop Suey” Transcribed by Joe Bergamini Departments Page 116 8AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW 16 IT’S QUESTIONABLE 152 DRUM MARKET More On Automatic Renewal Including Vintage Showcase by Ron Spagnardi 116 CRITIQUE 160 DRUMKIT OF THE MONTH 10 READERS’ PLATFORM 122 ON THE MOVE 12 ASK A PRO ACKBEATS Peter Erskine and Aaron Comess 140 B NAMM Show Concerts and more Equipment 28 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP Sabian HHX Evolution Series Cymbals by Will Romano 30 Headliner By Meinl Darbukas And Doumbeks by Norman Arnold 31 Quick Looks: Kaces 3 Drum Bag Pre-Packs by Russ Barbone Page 28 32 Istanbul Mehmet Pop And Rock Models by Chap Ostrander 34 Taye StudioMaple And Page 34 RockPro Drumkits by Mark Parsons IAN PAICE Masters is the only drum series offering artists a choice of shells. Should all music sound the same? Of course not. The choice is truly yours. Masters Custom MMX, 4 ply, aged Maple. warm, resonant, endless sustain, classic. Masters Custom MRX, 6 ply, aged Maple. powerful, well rounded, explosive focus. Masters Studio BRX, 6 ply, premium Birch. naturally equalized, stunning attack, punch. www.pearldrum.com Masters Mahogany Classic MHX, 4 ply, African Mahogany. extremely deep, round, vintage. Masters It’s the sound. London, 4:30 p.m., the band is jetting out in just a few hours for yet another tour. Just enough time for one last call, one last loose end to handle. This could have been just another day at the office, just another tour. But not this time. The new kit was burning at rehearsals... and It’s gonna sound incredible on stage. Ian’s choice is Pearl’s Masters Custom MRX, with a 6 ply Aged Maple Shell, shown here in platinum Mist. an editor’s overview Volume 26, Number 6 The World’s Most Widely Read Drum Magazine EDITOR/PUBLISHER RONALD SPAGNARDI CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ISABEL SPAGNARDI ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER TRACY A. KEARNS SENIOR EDITOR RICK VAN HORN EDITORIAL DIRECTOR WILLIAM F. MILLER MANAGING EDITOR ADAM J. BUDOFSKY EDITORIAL ASSISTANT SUZANNE HURRING SENIOR ART DIRECTOR SCOTT G. BIENSTOCK ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR MICHELE M. NEWHOUSE ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR JOSEPH KING ADVERTISING DIRECTOR BOB BERENSON ADVERTISING ASSISTANT JOAN C. STICKEL EDITORIAL/ADV. ASSISTANT BILLY AMENDOLA MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DIANA LITTLE More On Automatic Renewal WEB SITE DIRECTOR KEVIN W. KEARNS OFFICE ASSISTANT ROSLYN MADIA ack in November of last year, I spoke in depth in this column on the Bsubject of automatic renewal for Modern Drummer subscribers. I also MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, requested that readers drop me a note with their thoughts on the matter. Kenny Aronoff, Eddie Bayers, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Harry Cangany, Jim Chapin, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len After that editorial appeared, I was bombarded with emails from sub- DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Bob Gatzen, scribers overwhelmingly in favor of the automatic renewal system. For Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Andy those who may have missed my initial remarks, let me again explain how Newmark, Neil Peart, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed it works. Thigpen, Billy Ward, Dave Weckl, Paul Wertico. Simply put, rather than receiving an extensive series of renewal notices CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Michael Bettine, Robyn Flans, Burt Korall, Rick Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Mark Parsons, Mike to remind you that your subscription is about to expire, your subscription Haid, Robin Tolleson, Lauren Vogel Weiss, T. Bruce Wittet. would automatically continue, unless, of course, you choose to cancel it. MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is pub- lished monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., You would be given no less than thirty days’ advance notice that your 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. PERIODICALS subscription is up for renewal, and the option to renew or cancel would MAIL POSTAGE paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at addi- tional mailing offices. Copyright 2002 by MODERN DRUM- be offered at that time. Should you decide to renew, you’d be sent a bill, MER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction and upon payment, your subscription would continue uninterrupted. without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Should you decide to cancel, no further bills would be sent, and your EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: MOD- ERN DRUMMER Publications, 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, request would be promptly honored. It’s as simple as that. NJ 07009. Tel: (973) 239-4140. Fax: (973) 239-7139. Email: [email protected] Automatic renewal is beneficial for us at MD, and for you as well. It’s MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photographic expensive for us to design, print, and mail out a series of up to five material, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Such renewal notices to thousands of subscribers. This money could better be items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped enve- lope. used to expand the magazine’s size, quality, and editorial coverage. From SUBSCRIPTIONS: US, Canada, and Mexico $34.97 per year; a subscriber’s viewpoint, the annoyance of repetitive renewal notices, $56.97, two years. Other international $41.97 per year, $79.97, two duplicate reminders, phone calls, and the confusion of payments crossing years. Single copies $4.99. in the mail could all be eliminated. The entire process would become SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, PO Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Allow at more cost-effective, and much more efficient for everyone. least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new Though an increasing number of publications are gradually converting address. Toll free tel: (800) 551-3786. to automatic renewal due to its obvious efficiency, we’re also aware that MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer Retail Vision, 2 many subscribers may not wish to make the conversion. Therefore, auto- Maple Street, Suite 6, Middlebury, VT 05753, (800) 381-1288. matic renewal will be offered as an option only. In essence, it’s your REPRINTS: For Reprints contact Diana Little (973) 239-4140. choice. Look for an announcement of our new “Preferred Subscriber Email: [email protected] Service” option on the next renewal notice you receive. If you wish to INTERNATIONAL LICENSING REPRESENTATIVE: Robert Abramson & Associates, Inc. Libby Abramson, President, 700 Post take advantage of the program, simply agree to the offer on the notice Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583, (914) 723-4700. provided, and drop it in the mail. We’ll handle the rest. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, PO My thanks to all of you who wrote in favor of the automatic renewal Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. system. We think it will make life simpler for everyone, and we’re hopeful MEMBER: Magazine Publishers Of America, National Association Of Music Merchants, American Music Conference, Percussive that many of you will choose to take advantage of it. Arts Society, Music Educators National Conference, Percussion Marketing Council, Music Magazine Publishers Association MODERN DRUMMER ONLINE: www.moderndrummer.com PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES 8 Modern Drummer June 2002 readers’ platform SCOTT PHILLIPS I’ve been read- CAUGHT IN THE WEB reuse old heads. I’m happy to say that the ing MD since its Your Web site rules.