November 1992
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VOLUME 16, NUMBER 11 THE DRUMMERS FEATURES OF STEELY DAN NICK Steely Dan's music was simply TRILOK unique—very cool, very popular, MENZA and VERY well performed. The GURTU drummers who took part in the Megadeth's Nick Menza has proceedings—players like Purdie, By melding Indian rhythms and proven that perseverance and Porcaro, Gadd, Keltner, Gordon, instruments with those of jazz drive—plus a good dose of Marotta—were indisputably at and funk drumming, Trilok ability—can lead to the path of the top of their craft. Learn Gurtu has become one of the glory. Take an up-close look at about the history and most unusual and carefully Menza in this exclusive significance of the watched drummers today. interview, and check out Dan's music and Recently Gurtu has taken his Nick's bombastic setup. 28 drummers in this 32 magic in the studio and on • by Matt Peiken special MD feature. the road with John McLaughlin. • by Ken Micallef Find out what makes this unique talent tick in this insightful interview. 22 • by Rick Mattingly DRUM WORKSHOP REVISITED Since the last time we dropped by, DW has made a change or two beyond simply making hard- ware—like expanding their opera- tion and becoming a respected and important force in the drum industry. Catch up on the inner workings of this unusual company. 36 • by Rick Van Horn COVER PHOTO BY EBET ROBERTS COLUMNS Education 60 ROCK 'N' Equipment JAZZ CLINIC Drummers Recycle! 42 PRODUCT BY DAVID GARIBALDI Departments CLOSE-UP News 76 ROCK Consumers Poll Results 4 EDITOR'S BY RICK VAN HORN OVERVIEW PERSPECTIVES 43 Paiste Alpha Cymbals 8 UPDATE Half-Time BY RICK VAN HORN Frank Sinatra's Shuffle Grooves 6 READERS' Gregg Field, Ron Wikso BY MARK HURLEY 44 Kenner Snare Drums PLATFORM of the Storm, and Denny BY RICK VAN HORN Seiwell, plus News 98 LATIN 45 Cannon Dead Heads 12 ASK A PRO SYMPOSIUM BY RICK VAN HORN 128 INDUSTRY 6/8 Rhythms And 46 Slappers HAPPENINGS Variations BY RICK VAN HORN 16 IT'S BY CHUCK SILVERMAN QUESTIONABLE Power Wrist Builders BY RICK VAN HORN 123 TEACHERS' 20 IMPRESSIONS Profiles FORUM 50 NEW AND Will Kennedy On... Five Student Types NOTABLE 54 UP & COMING Teachers Dread 110 CRITIQUE Tosh Freese BY DAN BRODERICK 96 SHOP TALK BY ROBYN FLANS Slingerland Radio 130 DRUM MARKET Kings: Part 2 80 A DIFFERENT VIEW BY JOHN M. ALDRIDGE Adrian Belew 134 DRUMKIT OF BY ROBYN FLANS THE MONTH 114 SLIGHTLY OFFBEAT Spinal Tap's Ric Shrimpton BY ROBIN TOLLESON 125 FROM THE PAST Gus Johnson BY BURT KORALL EDITOR'S OVERVIEW EDITOR/PUBLISHER Ronald Spagnardi International Drum Month ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Isabel Spagnardi MANAGING EDITOR Rick Van Horn FEATURES EDITOR William F. Miller I'm happy to report to all drummers that the month ASSOCIATE EDITOR Adam J. Budofsky of November has officially been designated EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Justin J. Cordes International Drum Month. Needless to say, this ART DIRECTOR November promises to be a very exciting month for Scott G. Bienstock drum manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and con- ART ASSISTANT Lori Spagnardi sumers. First, allow me to supply a bit of back- ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Tracy A. Kearns ground on IDM. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bob Berenson Roughly two years ago, I contacted Mr. Jerome Hershman, a key figure in both the formation and ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Joan C. Stickel operation of the Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association, which SALES AND MARKETING Crystal W. Van Horn DIRECTOR celebrates International Guitar Month every April. My suggestion was CONSULTANT TO THE Arnold E. Abramson for a similarly structured International Drum Month, which would PUBLISHER create a greater interest in drumming and invite new participation MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, Kenny among all age levels. Finally, after much thought and preparation, Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis IDM has become official—thanks to the efforts of Mr. Hershman and DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Larrie Londin, Peter Lloyd McCausland of Remo, sponsorship from the Percussive Arts Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Andy Society, and funding from NAMM (the National Association of Music Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, Dave Samuels, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen, Dave Weckl. Merchants). At present, Mr. Hershman is Executive Secretary of IDM, and Lloyd McCausland is acting as Chairman. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Rick Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Matt Peiken, Teri Saccone, Robert Santelli. So what exactly does International Drum Month mean to all of us? Well, first, we're counting heavily on the support of drum industry MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is published monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton manufacturers, who, through their dealer networks, may offer any one Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Postage paid at Cedar of a number of possible promotions in November. For example, deal- Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 1992 by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. ers might offer very special sales on drums, cymbals, and accessories, Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. more clinics by name artists throughout the month of November, spe- EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: MODERN cial IDM giveaways, and guest appearances and autograph sessions DRUMMER Publications, 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ with top-level product endorsors. 07009. Tel.: (201) 239-4140. You're also likely to see IDM logo buttons, posters, sales tags, T-- MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photographic mate- shirts, special dealer ads, door prizes, and the official International rial, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Such items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Drum Month logo at participating dealers through all of November. Special events will be publicized in and other leading trade and MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk MD rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Service, P.O. consumer music magazines, and through national radio network Box 389, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Tel.: (800) 334-DRUM or (815) 734- spots. Robert Rosenblatt Associates of New York has been enlisted to 6013. handle the promotional campaign. MD will also be contributing pub- SUBSCRIPTIONS: $27.95 per year; $49.95, two years. Single copies lications from the Book Division, items from Modern Drummerware, $3.95. gift subscriptions, and a special dealer program to promote drum SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, P.O. Box education. 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new address. Toll Free November should be a very special month for drummers—and the Tel.: (800) 551-3786. start of another exciting annual event for the entire drumming com- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, P.O. Box munity. So don't forget to mark your calender and look for participat- 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. ing dealers in your area. We're anticipating that International Drum Month will be quite a success the first time out, and you certainly A Member Of: don't want to miss out on what it may offer Audit Bureau Of Circulations you. Membership applied for. Mickey Curry foundation that Carmine had given him Grauso bring up Mr. Morena’s involve- Thank you for the encouraging and most years before. I know that I am not the ment with the company. As a result, Bob honest story on Mickey Curry in your only drummer who has learned much Owen was unaware of Mr. Morena’s role August issue. He doesn't just tell all the from Mr. Appice, and what Ozzy thinks of in the history of Fibes and unknowingly good experiences of his career, but also him personally does not lessen my omitted him from the story. the bad experiences he's come up respect for this great drummer. To use against. Hats off to a real professional the interview as a forum to insult Mr. and an honest person. Appice in print was a new low for Ozzy, Mike DiGeronimo and I am sorry that it appeared in your Sonor Force 1000 Review Selden NY magazine. Let us adhere to the old say- Rick Mattingly's review of our Force 1000 ing, "If you have nothing nice to say, say kit in your October issue was very posi- nothing at all." tive on the whole, and we certainly appre- Mike Pasternack ciate it. However, Rick's comment that Consumer Poll Brooklyn NY there was no drumkey or felt muffling Not that you want to get caught up in a strip for the bass drum with the kit might grievance campaign, but is there not lead your readers to think that these some way you can implement poll ques- items had been omitted due to negli- tions dealing with inferior aspects? What The Rest Of The Story gence. The fact is, Rick received the first company had the longest delays...most Your June '92 story on the history of Force 1000 kit to arrive in the U.S. We manufacturing defects...least impressive Fibes drums omitted all the real details showed it at the NAMM show in January, ad campaigns...lack of innovative and reasons for the success of such a and it made several different stops during progress? When so much money is "short lifespan and unusual drum com- the ensuing months. Apparently, the key involved, manufacturers—as well as con- pany." You neglected to mention that and felt strips were lost by the time the sumers—should be aware of what is tak- there were two inventors and developers kit made it to Rick.