Cover Photo by Rick Malkin 18 DON HENLEY As a budding musician, Don Henley may not have planned on someday elevating the world's respect for the word "drummer." But his role as singer/songwriter/drummer for the Eagles, and the success of his subsequent solo albums, have done just that. In this exclusive interview, Don discusses what's involved when words are as important as rhythms to today's drummer. by Robert Santelli Malkin Rick by JASON Photo 24 BONHAM Having a famous parent can be as damaging to one's own career as it can be beneficial. Not so for Jason Bonham, though, simply because he can play. In this feature, Jason describes how he regards—and disregards—timekeeping with his hot new band, Bonham. by Robyn Flans TERRY CLARKE 28 LaFerman As a key creative rhythmic force in the bands of guitarist Jim Hall, big band leaders Joe Roccisano, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Glenn by Rob McConnell, and mallet master Dave Samuels, Terry Photo Clarke has proven himself one of the most sympathetic and flexible drummers on the jazz circuit. Here Clarke discusses the whys and hows of such a diverse career. by Adam Budofsky WINTER NAMM '90 32 New and exciting drum and percussion gear from January's NAMM show. photo-essay by Rick Van Horn Mauro Aldo by MD TRIVIA CONTEST 108 Photo Win a DW hi-hat stand and bass drum pedals! COLUMNS VOLUME 14, NUMBER 5 EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENTS ROCK THE JOBBING PRODUCT EDITOR'S PERSPECTIVES DRUMMER CLOSE-UP OVERVIEW Combining Drums And The Wedding Gig Ludwig Sticks And 4 Percussion by Earl and Heads by Kenny Aronoff Stephanie Bennett by Rick Van Horn READERS' 46 62 40 PLATFORM 6 ROCK 'N' JAZZ TAKING CARE Yamaha YX330 CLINIC OF BUSINESS Xylophone ASK A PRO by Norman Weinberg Ghost Strokes: Part 1 The Independent 12 42 by Rod Morgenstein Drummer 52 by Michael Lee Briggs IT'S ELECTRONIC 64 QUESTIONABLE Auditioning REVIEW CONCEPTS 14 Luck by Vinnie Appice sYbil by Roy Burns 65 by Norman Weinberg DRUM MARKET 56 44 MASTER CLASS 116 DRUM SOLOIST Portraits In Rhythm: PROFILES Etude #22 PHOTO GALLERY Roy Haynes: UP & COMING by Anthony J. Cirone Elvin Jones "Peau Douce" 68 Johnny Dee by Joost Leijen Transcribed by by Teri Saccone 120 Dave Holland 48 58 SHOW REVIEWS NEWS DRUMMERS' ON TAPE UPDATE INDUSTRY SEMINAR 66 Giant's David Lyndon HAPPENINGS Wesley Pryor Huff, Bob Dalton of It Skidmore Jazz Scholar- by Rick Van Horn Bites, John Stacy, and ship, MD Trivia Win- 54 Hans Perrson of Flesh ner, plus other Indy For Lulu, plus News News A DIFFERENT VIEW 8 112 Jean-Luc Ponty by William F. Miller 60 MODERN DRUMMER EDITOR/PUBLISHER ADVISORY BOARD Ronald Spagnardi Henry Adler, Kenny Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Roy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Burns, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Isabel Spagnardi Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny MANAGING EDITOR Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Rick Van Horn Mel Lewis, Larrie Londin, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Andy Newmark, Neil FEATURES EDITOR Peart, Charlie Perry, Dave Samuels, William F. Miller John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen. On Paying Dues ASSOCIATE EDITOR CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Alexander, Robyn Flans, Adam Budofsky We often hear musicians refer to working your way up from the Simon Goodwin, Karen Ervin depths of the music business as "paying your dues." Most Pershing, Jeff Potter, Teri Saccone, established players, at some point, have had to endure the trials CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Robert Santelli, Robin Tolleson, Lauren Vogel, T. Bruce Wittet. and tribulations of the dues-paying years. Few musicians progress Rick Mattingly on a straight line from their practice rooms to record deals, MODERN DRUMMER Magazine headline status, or the security of studio work. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT (ISSN 0194-4533) is published Dues paying is about those less-than-favorable musical Karen Walsh monthly with an additional issue experiences we seem to encounter along the way, particularly at in July by MODERN DRUMMER the early stages of a musical career. Long, hard nights in the worst Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton ART DIRECTOR Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. rooms imaginable (usually owned by a musical genius named Terry Kennedy Second-Class Postage paid at Vito), is just one classic example. Poorly managed tour itineraries, Cedar Grove, N) 07009 and at with questionable accommodations and pay, is another. For some, ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR additional mailing offices. Copy- the real meaning of paying dues lies in working with bands that right 1990 by Modern Drummer fall beneath their own musical level. A pretty frustrating situation, Scott G. Bienstock Publications, Inc. All rights indeed. reserved. Reproduction without the The successful musician rarely looks back upon all this with ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER permission of the publisher is any great affection. These aren't exactly the fun years of a Tracy A. Kearns prohibited. musician's life. But what about the positive aspects of paying EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ dues? Are there any to speak of? It's difficult to find much favorable ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: to say about a time most would prefer to forget, but I do think we Joan C. Stickel Modern Drummer Publications, gain a lot more than we realize from the experience. 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar These are the years in which we gain that all-important playing Grove, NJ 07009. Tel.: (201) 239- ADVERTISING DIRECTOR experience. It's a perfect opportunity to fine-tune our abilities 4140. Bob Berenson over a period of time. From a musical standpoint, we actually learn as much from the bad experiences as we do from the good. MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer SALES AND MARKETING welcomes manuscripts, however, The dues-paying years are a training ground for the musician, cannot assume responsibility for DIRECTOR comparable to baseball's minor leagues or football's rookie camp. them. Manuscripts must be accom- It's a chance to learn about the real meaning of discipline, Crystal W. Van Horn panied by a self-addressed, musicianship, and professionalism, and develop the character stamped envelope. and maturity we need to progress to the next level. MAIL ROOM SUPERVISOR MUSIC DEALERS: Modern For some, this painful period becomes just too much to bear, Leo Spagnardi and many throw in the towel. But the truly dedicated and talented Drummer is available for resale at players among us rarely opt for that alternative. They somehow bulk rates. Direct correspondence CONSULTANT to Modern Drummer, Dealer find the strength to make it through. The determined ones search TO THE PUBLISHER Service, PO Box 389, Mt. Morris, IL out the positive aspects of every situation, hard as they might be Arnold E. Abramson 61054. Tel.: (800)-334-DRUM or to find at times. They absorb much from the rough years, and 815-734-6013. when things get particularly bleak, they think about what else they might do that could be any better than playing music and SUBSCRIPTIONS: $25.95 per year; $46.95, two years. getting paid for it. Those who make it through also have a much Single copies $2.95. greater appreciation for the upside of the business when the dues SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, P.O. Box paying ends. And it does end sooner or later. 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Allow at least six Think of paying dues as a personal testing ground, a sacrifice weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new address. Toll Free you need to make before you're given the privilege of doing what Phone: 1-800-435-0715. you want to do most with your life. Look for the benefits you're POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, P.O. Box deriving from whatever musical situation you find yourself in, 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. and then do the very best you can with it. You're probably gaining a lot more ground than you realize. Do this, and I'm sure you'll find those dues-paying years that much easier to endure. A Member Of: Audit Bureau Of Circulations membership applied for. ISSUE DATE: May 1990 Magazine Publishers of America CHARLIE WATTS fortunate reality is that the jazz message was shown as using such a set in the I am writing in regards to your February hasn't been able to project with the impact catalog's "Artist" section. cover article by Rick Mattingly on long- that the pop and rock messages have car- John Perry Penn time Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. ried. As a result, the message-carriers like Houma LA I found it to be both insightful and educa- Frederick have needed vehicles like Modern tional. Charlie is a drummer I have always Drummer to get the word out to the masses. Regarding a letter from M.J., of Stockholm, admired, because of his serious, open- I would have loved having the opportunity Sweden, in your February It's Questionable minded approach to both his drumming to correspond with Frederick, and would department, I thought it should be added and to other drummers. He really seemed have loved even more hearing him play in to the record that Sonor also produced "see- to hold the band together. I was also pleas- person. I'm deeply sorry that neither of those through" drums during the mid '70s into antly surprised to learn that his musical possibilities exists now, but I'm going to do the early '80s. Sonor's acrylic shells were roots are in jazz, and found his knowledge my damndest to get as much of his mes- 6mm thick, with a double-V weld, which on the subject to be very helpful.