Cover Photo by Lynn Goldsmith FEATURES 18 JON FARRISS As the drummer for the popular Australian group INXS, Jon Farriss is more concerned with groove than flash, and he is a master at using electronics to enhance his sound. by Teri Saccone CHARLIE 24 MORGAN Well-known in the London studios for many years, Charlie Morgan became visible to the public as a result of his recording and live work with Elton John. He discusses the demands of the studio and recalls memorable sessions. by Simon Goodwin Photo by Jaeger Smith Kotos ALBERT 28 BOUCHARD His drumming with Blue Oyster Cult helped define the heavy metal style, but these days, Albert Bouchard is as likely to be writing or producing as he is to be playing drums. Here, he traces his career and offers numerous tips about hard rock drumming. by Deborah Frost 32 INSIDE UFIP Since 1929, a small group of craftsmen have been producing cymbals in a small town in Italy. We visit the factory for a look at the U.F.I.P. manufacturing process and to learn the history of Italian cymbal making. by Jon Mclnnes Photo by Michael P. McLaughlin COLUMNS VOLUME 12, NUMBER 10 EDUCATION TEACHERS' JAZZ DRUMMERS' EQUIPMENT FORUM WORKSHOP Books And Lessons: Samba Variations ELECTRONIC NEWS "Do I Really Need by Peter Erskine REVIEW Them?" 74 The Alesis HR-16 UPDATE by Daniel J. Lauby Drum Machine 8 38 ROCK CHARTS by lim Fiore Alan White: "Rhythm 56 INDUSTRY of Love" HAPPENINGS THE JOBBING 104 DRUMMER by James Morton PRODUCT Making People Dance 80 CLOSE-UP by Simon Goodwin Piccolo Snare Drums 40 ELECTRONIC by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. INSIGHTS 70 MIDI CORNER Choosing A Mic' For DEPARTMENTS Playing Drum Acoustic Drums NEW AND Machines With by Bob Lowig NOTABLE EDITOR'S Drumsticks 82 108 OVERVIEW by Jim Fiore 4 42 CORPS SCENE From The Drumset To READERS' BASICS The Drum Corps: PLATFORM Heavy Metal Power Part 1 PROFILES 6 Fills: Part 2 by Dennis Delucia by Jim Pfeifer 86 PORTRAITS ASK A PRO 46 Barbara Merjan 12 CONCEPTS by Robyn Flans TRACKING Limitations 48 IT'S The Academy Awards by Roy Burns QUESTIONABLE 14 by Emil Richards 96 UP AND COMING 64 Kurt Wortman by Robert Santelli DRUM MARKET CLUB SCENE 94 ROCK 'N' JAZZ How Much Do You 76 CLINIC Know? Style & Analysis: Omar by Rick Van Horn Hakim 100 by Kelly Paletta 68 EDITOR'S OVERVIEW Reader input is something I've commented on in like to see dealt with in greater depth? Are you this column several times over the years. It's a learning something from MD's interviews and col- matter of such great importance that it always umn departments—ideas that are helping you bears repeating. achieve your personal goals as a player? If so, tell us The success of any special-interest publication what seems to be working well. If not, where do hinges on how thoroughly it serves its readership. you feel things might be improved? Is there some- Staying abreast of the needs and wants of readers thing specific you'd like to see more of in MD? Or is something magazine editors must deal with on less of? Many feature stories have been assigned, a daily basis. Keeping up on trends in the drum and many new departments introduced, as a result world and searching out players who are making of readers who have expressed a sincere need for contributions we feel you should know more about more in-depth information. is a big part of the job. What about the look of MD? Here again, let us The input you supply is given greater consid- know what you like or don't like. The manner in eration than you might think. How a reader actu- which the magazine is received from a graphic ally feels about a magazine is very important to standpoint is of great importance to us. And truth- the people who put it together month after month. fully, we'll never know what appeals to you and Essential Reader input keeps us attuned to new areas of what doesn't unless you take the time to tell us interest, supplies us with specific column ideas, about it. and alerts us to areas where we've tended to lean Open communication is the essential ingredi- Input too heavily, or perhaps not enough. ent necessary for us to continually deliver the type The point is simple: It's essential that we con- of magazine you want and need. Modern Drum- tinue to hear from you as often as you care to mer was conceived and designed to help you in write. Though time prevents us from responding your effort to be a better drummer. We try to do personally to everyone, rest assured that every that by making MD as informative, educational, letter is read. Many of the ideas expressed in your and entertaining as we possibly can each month. letters are given careful consideration at monthly We may not be all those things for every reader 12 editorial planning meetings. times each year, but if we fail more often than we What exactly do we want to know? Well, every- succeed, then we're simply missing the mark. And thing really! Are there any artists you'd like to you're the only one who can supply us with the read about who haven't been covered in MD? Is answers. I look forward to hearing from you. there some particular facet of drumming you'd EDITOR/PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ronald Spagnardi Tracy Kearney Susan Alexander, Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Karen Ervin Pershing, Jeff Potter, Teri Saccone, Robert Santelli, Bob Saydlow- ski, Jr., Robin Tolleson, Lauren Vogel, T. Bruce Wittet. ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Isabel Spagnardi Joan C. Stickel MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is pub- lished monthly with an additional issue in July by MODERN SENIOR EDITOR ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Rick Mattingly Kevin W. Kearns Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Postage paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 1988 by Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Repro- MANAGING EDITOR DEALER SERVICE MANAGER duction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. Rick Van Horn Josie Cuaycong EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: Mod ern Drummer Publications, 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, ASSOCIATE EDITORS SALES PROMOTION NJ 07009. William F. Miller Crystal W. Van Horn MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes manuscripts, Adam Budofsky however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Manuscripts MAIL ROOM SUPERVISOR must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Leo Spagnardi bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Cynthia Huang Service, 870 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: 800- Alyssa Klein CONSULTANT TO THE PUBLISHER 522-DRUM or 201-239-4140. Arnold E. Abramson SUBSCRIPTIONS: $24.95 per year; $44.95, two years. Single ART DIRECTOR copies $2.95. David H. Creamer MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, PO Henry Adler, Kenny Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Box 480, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Al- low at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and A Member Of: Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Don- new address. Toll Free Phone: 1-800-435-0715. nelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, P.O. Igoe, Jim Keltner, Mel Lewis, Larrie Londin, Peter Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Andy New- mark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, Dave Samuels, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen. READERS' PLATFORM TAMA RESPONDS has been seriously considered and noted. sic is the fact that it presents characteristics Editor's note: A Tama advertisement featur- Our intention is not to change deeply held that are less than inviting to many. To try to ing Lars Ulrich ran in the March '88 issue views, but to show that the creation of this tame or domesticate this or make it out to of MD, and generated quite a bit of contro- ad was not done for capricious or cavalier be something else, especially when that versy. Several responses from readers were reasons. It certainly was not to promote the would conflict with the view of the per- printed in the Readers' Platform departments use of drugs or alcohol, or to portray all former, is not being fair or honest—to any- of the June and July issues, and several drummers as coarse, unthinking individu- one! (For those who wrote that this ad was more were forwarded directly to Tama. als. Our apologies to those who interpreted an inaccurate portrayal, we invite you to Many readers objected to the negative it in this fashion or felt that that was the inspect Metallica's 1987 Tour Book.) impression they felt the ad gave in regard end result. We have seriously considered everyone's to drummers in general. Some felt that MD This ad should be seen in light of the opinion, and, as the opinions of the drum demonstrated poor judgment in allowing other ads Tama has presented. While we community are very important to us, these the ad to run at all. Since we presented don't deny having engendered controversy views will not be without influence in fu- these opinions in Readers' Platform, we when the subject warranted, a careful re- ture presentations. However, we do reserve deemed it fair that Tama be allowed to view of our many advertising contributions the right to express ourselves, our artists' present its own comments regarding the will show advertising that was not only personalities, and our products in ways we ad.