December 1983
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Cover Photo by Ebet Roberts FEATURES CARL PALMER Despite his many years in the business, Carl Palmer has managed to remain enthusiastic and innovative in his approach to music. Here, he discusses such topics as the differences between being a member of Asia and being the drummer with Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and his approach to drum solos. b y R i c k M a t t i n g l y 8 Photo by Ebet Roberts SIMON KIRKE e t R o b e r t s First coming to prominence with the group Free, and then moving on to Bad Company, Simon Kirke has established himself as one of those drummers who has been a role model for other drummers. He talks about his background, his drumming, and his current P h o t o b y E b activities. by Simon Goodwin 14 ANTHONY J.CIRONE A percussionist with the San Francisco Symphony, a teacher at San Jose State College, and a composer of percussion music, Cirone discusses his classical training at Juilliard, his teaching methods, careers in music today, and his personal philosophy for leading a well-integrated and diverse life-style. by Rick Mattingly 18 DRUM COMPUTERS A Comparative Look by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. 24 r e g T o l a n d d n a l o T g e r J.R. MITCHELL Creative Survival P h o t o b y G G y b o t o h P by Scott K. Fish 28 STRICTLY TECHNIQUE PORTRAITS COLUMNS Focus on Bass Drum Kwaku Dadey 94 by Paul R. Albrecht by Charles M. Bernstein. 112 DRIVER'S SEAT Francis Clay EDUCATION Foundation Studies for Big Band Fills 113 by Charles M. Bernstein ROCK PERSPECTIVES by Ed Soph 96 The Art Of Soloing ROCK'N'JAZZ CLINIC REVIEWS by Neil Peart 32 Fusion Independence 60 ON TRACK 104 CONCEPTS by James Morton 1 0 8 Do Big Name Drummers Really Play SOUTH OF THE BORDER ON TAPE Better? The Samba NEWS by Roy Burns 34 106 by Norbert Goldberg UPDATE COMPLETE PERCUSSIONIST 126 Transferring African Rhythms EQUIPMENT by Robyn Flans by George Marsh 36 EQUIPMENT REFERENCE INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 128 THE JOBBING DRUMMER Snare Drum Stands Dressing for Drumming 64 by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. DEPARTMENTS by Simon Goodwin 56 2 CLUB SCENE JUST DRUMS. 1 3 0 EDITOR'S OVERVIEW Unlimiting Yourself READER'S PLATFORM 4 ASK A PRO 6 by Rick Van Horn 68 PROFILES 38 ROCK CHARTS SHOW AND STUDIO SLIGHTLY OFFBEAT Rick Allen: "Rock of Ages" Cubby O'Brien DRUM MARKET 120 84 124 IT'S QUESTIONABLE by Robyn Flans by James Morton 90 STAFF: EDITOR/PUBLISH ER Ronald Spagnardi FEATURES EDITOR Our Rick Mattingly MANAGING EDITOR 5Oth Rick Van Horn ASSOCIATE EDITORS Anniversary Susan Hannum Mark Hurley Issue ART DIRECTOR David Creamer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kevin W. Kearns ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER The issue you're now reading is somewhat special for us in that it's the 50th Isabel Spagnardi issue of Modern Drummer Magazine. Recently, I devoted the better part of ADMINISTRATIVE: MANAGER a lazy Sunday afternoon to leisurely browsing through all seven volumes of Ann Thompson MDpage by page, and was actually amazed myself at the wealth of infor- ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE mation contained within those 50 issues. MANAGER We've interviewed an impressive list of drummers from every phase of Ellen Urry the music business, and published articles by hundreds of respected drum- DEALER SERVICE MANAGER ming authorities. We have looked in on dozens of manufacturers, drum Janet Gola CIRCULATION shops, and percussion schools, and provided insight into the care and selec- Leo L. Spagnardi tion of all types of equipment. We found out about everything from the Robin De Paul drums of Africa and Trinidad, to what arrangers, bandleaders and bassists Lori-Jean Syintsakos expect from a drummer. We've glimpsed at the vintage drum products of SALES PROMOTION MANAGER the past, and examined the trends of the future. We have paid tribute to the Evelyn Urry legends in the drumming field, and balanced these tributes with practical advice for the young, up-and-coming drummer trying to survive on the MD ADVISORY BOARD club bandstand and on the road. We've delved into the history of rock and Henry Adler, Carmine Appice, Louie Bellson, jazz drumming, studied the evolution of the modern-day drumset, and Bill Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Billy printed thousands of bars of rhythms, exercises and transcriptions. We Cobham, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie have presented ideas on how to open a drum shop, publish a book, and get Donnelly, Saul Goodman, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jaimoe Johanson, Jim Keltner, a product on the market, and investigated the controversial relationships Don Lamond, Mel Lewis, Peter Magadini, between drumming and weight lifting, drinking, hearing loss, personal George Marsh, Butch Miles, Joe Morello, Neil management, higher education and smoke-filled nightclubs. Peart, Charlie Perry, Charli Persip, Arthur We've had issues that were a delight to prepare, and others which caused Press, Paul T. Riddle, Ed Shaughnessy, Ed us incredible grief. There were those which we felt somewhat extra special Thigpen, Max Weinberg. about, and others which didn't turn out exactly as we had hoped. We've made a lot of friends in the industry and, as one might expect, a few ene- mies along the way as well. We've grown from a staff of one to fifteen; CONTRIBUTING WRITERS from 300 square feet of office space to 3,000; from four, 32-page issues a Susan Alexander, Charles M. Bernstein, Scott K. Fish, Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Stanley year to 12 at 120 pages each. Hall, Dave Levine, Bob Saydlowski, Jr., Chip But, perhaps the greatest satisfaction of all has come from watching MD Stern, Robin Tolleson, T. Bruce Wittet. strengthen the sense of camaraderie among drummers. It's unfortunate that for many years young drummers found it necessary to challenge one another rather than learn from each other; to compete with one another MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194- 4533) is published monthly by Modern Drum- rather than inspire each other. It's an attitude that is definitely changing. mer Publications, Inc., 1000 Clifton Avenue, Vic Firth, in a 1982 interview noted, "Among the young students today, Clifton, N.J. 07013. Second Class Postage paid I see much less hostility, and more friendliness . more admiration for at Clifton, N.J. 07015 and at additional mailing someone who does something well. Instead of getting mad or envious, they offices. Copyrighted 1983 by Modern Drummer accept that as a challenge to go out and practice more." Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Repro- It's very true. The young drummers of today are much more open with duction without the permission of the publisher other players, more honest with themselves, and very much into the shar- is prohibited. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $21.95 per ing of ideas, techniques and concepts. And it's precisely this new attitude year, $39.95, two years. Single copies $2.25. which is helping them reach their full potential as musicians. MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes manuscripts, however, cannot assume responsi- 1 like to think Modern Drummer had a little something to do with that. bility for them. Manuscripts must be accompa- In truth, it's what we're really all about, and the reason we were created in nied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. the first place. If we've made any contribution at all, I'm hopeful that's CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at least six what stands out amidst the thousands of words and pictures which consti- weeks for a change. Please provide both old and tute our first 50 issues. *~. new address. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk rates. <s 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. GADD: UP CLOSE ROY'S REPLY DRUMS AD NAUSEUM We were very disappointed in your review In response to Mr. McCarthy's criticism of Let us hope that Bill Bruford's views on of our videotape, "Steve Gadd: Up my article on endorsements, I would like to equipment vs. execution/inspiration touch Close," in your August issue. set the record straight. The editorial staff home with your readers. I'm constantly While we recognize that a question like, of MD asked me to do the article because amazed at the amount of space in MD de- "Why did you want to be a drummer?" of a number of letters written to MD con- voted to running arguments on the relative may seem trite to some, in the context of cerning endorsements. merits of medium-weight heads, double our tape it is not. The reviewer completely As to the comment that I am the type of bass drums, etc., etc., ad nauseum. Come missed the purpose of the tape. It is not person "who has been from company to on, campers, let's grow up a bit. It doesn't simply a lesson in "how-to-play-like Steve company seeking his own personal fortune matter a damn what kind of equipment the Gadd," but rather a one-hour insight into at the expense of others," these are the other guy is using. What matters is what the man, his playing experiences, his influ- facts! you are using, and whether or not you're ences and his overall musical concepts. From 1957 to 1974 I endorsed Zildjian comfortable with it. If you've decided that We do agree with the review on one Cymbals.