Features PAUL WERTICO Pat Metheny's Paul Wertico is a bundle of contradictions: a highly exploratory drummer whose solo album is far from a chops-fest; a sophisticated accompanist who never took a lesson; a mainstream musician with avant-garde tendencies. Just who is this guy? Bill Milkowski 36 METAL DRUMMERS ROUND TABLE Away from the arenas and MTV cameras, today's top metal drummers have some serious issues to contend with—about the instrument they play and the business they're entangled in. Mike Portnoy, Deen Castronovo, Mark Zonder, Bobby Rock, Eric Singer, and John Tempesta cut to the chase. Matt Peiken 56 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? So you thought you'd never hear from the drummer in the Archies again—well, think again! Actually...we couldn't track him down.. .but we did get a hold of lots of your old faves— twenty-three of 'em, in fact. We think you might be surprised—and enlightened—by the stories they have to tell. Robyn Flans 76 Volume 19, Number 1 Cover Photo By Ebet Roberts Columns EDUCATION NEWS EQUIPMENT 100 ROCK 10 UPDATE 22 NEW AND PERSPECTIVES Black Sabbath's Bobby NOTABLE The Peart/Bozzio Rondinelli, Jay Schellen of Combination Challenge Sircle of Silence, BYRO B LEYTHAM Latin master Ignacio Berroa, and Jawbox's 102 ROCK 'N' Zach Barocas, plus News JAZZ CLINIC Hi-Hat Barks 133 INDUSTRY BY JOHN XEPOLEAS HAPPENINGS 1994 DCI World 104 LATIN Championship Results SYMPOSIUM BY LAUREN VOGELWEIS S The Soca BY RICH RYCHEL DEPARTMENTS 28 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP 106 UNDERSTANDING 4 EDITOR'S Yamaha Club RHYTHM OVERVIEW Custom Drumkit BY RICK VAN HORN Basic Reading: Part 2 BY HAL HOWLAND 6 READERS' 30 New Sabian Cymbals 110 STRICTLY PLATFORM BY RICK MATTINGLY TECHNIQUE 33 Evans Genera G2 The Sure-Fire 3:1 Cure 14 ASK A PRO Drumheads BY ED SHAUGHNESSY William Calhoun, BY RICK MATTINGLY David Garibaldi, 124 ARTIST ON and Blas Elias 114 SHOP TALK TRACK A Look At The GMS 16 IT'S Drum Company Jack DeJohnette BY ADAM BUDOFSKY BY MARK GRIFFITH QUESTIONABLE 126 CONCEPTS 120 CRITIQUE One Drummer's Psyche Vinnie Colaiuta and 112 SABIAN DREAM BY GLENN E. JOST Dream Theater CDs, CYMBAL SETUP Ginger Baker video, GIVEAWAY and more PROFILES 136 DRUM MARKET Including 94 PORTRAITS Vintage Showcase Del Gray of Little Texas BY ROBYN FLANS 142 DRUMKIT OF THE MONTH 130 FROM THE PAST Maurice Purtill BY BURT KORALL A New Look For '95 A few months ago, I reported on the results of request. You'll notice the difference when you get into the a reader survey conducted for us by an inde- feature section of this issue. pendent research organization. Over fifty In other areas, you'll note that most of our educational questions were asked on that survey, including departments are now more towards the back section of the what readers enjoyed most and least about magazine. Having all in-depth study material in one specif- MD. What we learned has prompted us to ic area should make things simpler for instructors who uti- make a few alterations in the layout of the magazine begin- lize the magazine in their teaching, and for those who just ning with this, the first issue of the new year. enjoy putting MD up on a music stand and woodshedding For starters, we've moved some departments to different the music columns. places in the magazine. For example, you'll now find Throughout the coming year you'll also note a more fre- equipment columns like Product Close-Up, Electronic quent appearance of certain departments like Off The Review, and New And Notable more towards the front of Record, Drum Soloist, Rock Charts, and Drumline, all of the magazine. Response to these particular departments was which received very positive response from readers. And extremely favorable, so we're giving them a more promi- finally, we'll be presenting more feature stories, along with nent position in the magazine. more playing tips, practical advice, and musical examples Perhaps one of the most noticeable changes we've made from the name artists we feature each month. is the breakup of our "feature story well," where all feature We hope you're pleased with the changes we're making, articles were placed in one section of the magazine, undis- and that you'll find MD even more helpful and entertaining rupted by advertising, and then continued on back pages. A in the months ahead. I'd certainly like to hear your thoughts substantial number of readers stated their preference to on the subject, so please don't hesitate to write me with have all feature articles run in their entirety, without the your comments. need to jump to back pages to complete the article. So we've re-formatted the magazine to accomodate this The World's Most Widely Read Drum Magazine MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, Printed in The United States EDITOR/PUBLISHER RONALD SPAGNARDI Kenny Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Harry Cangany, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len MODERN DRUMMER wel- ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ISABEL SPAGNARDI DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Filth, Bob Gatzen, comes manuscripts and photo- Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Peter Magadini, George graphic material, however, cannot assume responsibility for MANAGING EDITOR RICK VAN HORN Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Neil them. Such items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, Peart, Charlie Perry, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, stamped envelope. FEATURES EDITOR WILLIAM F. MILLER Ed Thigpen, Dave Weckl. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale ASSOCIATE EDITOR ADAM J. BUDOFSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Robyn Flans, Burt Korall, at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer, Rick Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Matt Peiken, Teri Saccone, Dealer Service, P.O. Box 389, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Tel.: (800) EDITORIAL ASSISTANT SUZANNE HURRING Robert Santelli, Robin Tolleson. 334-DRUM or (815) 734-1214. ART DIRECTOR SCOTT G. BIENSTOCK MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is pub- SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, lished monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., P.O. Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: ART ASSISTANT LORI SPAGNARDI 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER TRACY A. KEARNS Postage paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mail- and new address. Toll Free Tel.: (800) 551-3786. ing offices. Copyright 1995 by MODERN DRUMMER ADVERTISING DIRECTOR BOB BERENSON Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, permission of the publisher is prohibited. P.O. Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. ADVERTISING ASSISTANT JOAN C. STICKEL EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE MEMBER: Magazine Publishers Of America MARKETING AND PATRICIA DONNELLY OFFICES: MODERN DRUMMER Publications, 870 National Association Of Music Merchants Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel.: (201) 239- American Music Conference PUBLIC RELATIONS 4140. Percussive Arts Society OFFICE ASSISTANT DIANA LITTLE Music Educators National Conference SUBSCRIPTIONS: $29.95 per year; $51.95, two years. National Drum Association Single copies $3.95. AARON COMESS of underplaying get all the press? Why are recording, the history of the band, and I just got my October '94 MD with the pop drummers—traditionally the least industry babble. And too often the choice Aaron Comess cover story and I feel com- respected—being touted by the magazine of metal drummer is too obvious. pelled to write and tell you what a great and corporations as the new heroes and The story on Mikkey Dee ["Unsung job you did on that article. Three days ago "stars" of drumming? Why is the myth Heroes," May '94 MD] doesn't even men- I was lucky enough to see Aaron play live that playing a simple, repetitive beat is dif- tion that he plays the drums. But Mikkey with the Spin Doctors in Milwaukee, and ficult or challenging being perpetuated? is a monster player, and after all, that is I'm still suffering from a not-so-mild case Playing in a band is not supposed to be a what garnered him the recognition in your of awe. Aaron's incredibly smooth drum- limiting, constricting experience, but magazine. And Vinnie Paul is crowned ming left my jaw hanging on the floor. I rather one of wide-open, expansive inter- "king of thrash-metal drumming"? I chal- was even more impressed when he stayed action. Don't let the underplaying, limited, lenge anyone who believes this to humor on stage to greet people in the audience— money-oriented, Top-40-adoring writers me and hear Gene Hoglan on Individual even after the rest of the band had left. and players discourage you and make you Thought Patterns by Death. Also, the cri- Drummers like Aaron who are humble— feel foolish. They are wrong. Avoid musi- tique of Entombed's Wolverine Blues in besides being great players—are truly an cians who try to make you simplify your the same issue was obviously written with- inspiration to the drumming community. playing. Play music that has room for all out hearing Entombed's other material. So a big thank-you to both MD for a story of your abilities—music that is bigger than In the future, I'd like to see MD actually well done and to Aaron Comess for being you are. For true musical satisfaction and do some research in selecting and inter- such an inspiration. artistic development, play your heart out. viewing drummers of this genre—and Kyle Swan Ralph LaFemina, Ph.D. have enough respect for their skill and Ashwaubenon, WI Patchogue, NY playing to ask them about how and what they actually play.