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• SPEED • POWER • CONTROL • ENDURANCE • SPECIAL TECHNIQUE ISSUE STEVESTEVE SMITHSMITH VVITALITAL TTECHECH TTALKALK BBUILDUILD SSUPERUPER CCHOPSHOPS!! BBOZZIOOZZIO,, PPHILLIPSHILLIPS,, BBISSONETTEISSONETTE,, BBELLSONELLSON,, WWECKLECKL,, AANDND MMOREORE TTHEHE TTECHNICALECHNICAL EEDGEDGE HHUNDREDSUNDREDS OOFF GGREATREAT EEXERCISESXERCISES FFOROR YYOUROUR HHANDSANDS AANDND FFEETEET WIN JJOHNOHN DDOLMAYANOLMAYAN Exciting Sights OOFFFF TTHEHE RRECORDECORD And Sounds From Sabian & Hudson Music TTHEHE MMANYANY KKITSITS OOFF BBILLILL BBRUFORDRUFORD $4.99US $6.99CAN 05 WIN A Drum Lesson With Tico Torres 0 74808 01203 9 Contents ContentsVolume 27, Number 5 Cover photo by Alex Solca STEVE SMITH You can’t expect to be a future drum star if you haven’t studied the past. As a self-proclaimed “US ethnic drummer,” Steve Smith has made it his life’s work to explore the uniquely American drumset— and the way it has shaped our music. by Bill Milkowski 38 Alex Solca BUILDING SUPER CHOPS 54 UPDATE 24 There’s more than one way to look at technique. Just ask Terry Bozzio, Thomas Lang, Kenny Aronoff, Bill Bruford, Dave Weckl, Paul Doucette Gregg Bissonette, Tommy Aldridge, Mike Mangini, Louie Bellson, of Matchbox Twenty Horacio Hernandez, Simon Phillips, David Garibaldi, Virgil Donati, and Carl Palmer. Gavin Harrison by Mike Haid of Porcupine Tree George Rebelo of Hot Water Music THE TECHNICAL EDGE 73 Duduka Da Fonseca An unprecedented gathering of serious chops-increasing exercises, samba sensation MD’s exclusive Technical Edge feature aims to do no less than make you a significantly better drummer. Work out your hands, feet, and around-the-drums chops like you’ve never worked ’em before. A DIFFERENT VIEW 126 TOM SCOTT You’d need a strongman just to lift his com- plete résumé—that’s how invaluable top musicians have found saxophonist Tom Scott’s playing over the past three decades. You’d be HE EFERENCE HELF right to guess he knows a thing or two T R S 112 about drums. So, where to go after you work through all of this month’s amazing by Billy Amendola exercises? How about some of the best educational materials recently published? MD runs down the latest and greatest in drumming books, videos, DVDs, and CD-Roms. by Adam Budofsky THROUGH THE YEARS 132 BILL BRUFORD From the symphonic prog rock of Yes, to the evil atmospheric thunder of King Crimson, Paul La Raia to the unique jazz explorations of Earthworks, Bill Bruford has always let the music—and his healthy imagination—dictate the drums WIN! WIN! WIN! he uses. Win John Blackwell and Mike Portnoy DVDs from 100 by Adam Budofsky Hudson Music, and exciting cymbal setups from Sabian! Win a drum lesson from Bon Jovi’s Tico Torres, and a trip for two to Los Angeles to see Bon Jovi live in concert! 157 Education 118 OFF THE RECORD System Of A Down’s John Dolmayan: Steal This Album! by Ed Breckenfeld 122 THE JOBBING DRUMMER The Inside Skinny On Club Dates Part 2: On The Bandstand by Steve DeLuca Departments Page 144 8AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW 20 ASK A PRO 158 SPECIALTY PRODUCTS Into The Woodshed Jim Keltner, Terry Santiel, SHOWCASE by Ron Spagnardi and Walfredo Reyes Jr. 144 CRITIQUE 161 DRUM MARKET 10 READERS’ PLATFORM Including Vintage Showcase 14 IT’S QUESTIONABLE 148 BACKBEATS 168 DRUMKIT OF THE MONTH ProgPower USA III Festival and more Equipment 28 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP Meinl MCS Cymbals by Chap Ostrander 30 Kitano Titanium And Aluminum Snare Drums by Chap Ostrander 32 Clark Synthesis Tactile Sound Monitors by Rick Van Horn 34 DrumFrame VX-EZ by Will Romano 138 NEW AND NOTABLE Page 138 Page 28 AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW Volume 27, Number 5 The World’s Most Widely Read Drum Magazine EDITOR/PUBLISHER RONALD SPAGNARDI CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER ISABEL SPAGNARDI ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER TRACY A. KEARNS SENIOR EDITOR RICK VAN HORN EDITORIAL DIRECTOR WILLIAM F. MILLER MANAGING EDITOR ADAM J. BUDOFSKY EDITORIAL ASSISTANT SUZANNE HURRING SENIOR ART DIRECTOR SCOTT G. BIENSTOCK Into The Woodshed ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR MICHELE M. NEWHOUSE f you’ve ever considered doing some serious woodshedding to get your ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR JOSEPH KING ADVERTISING DIRECTOR BOB BERENSON Ichops back in shape (or take them to the next level), this month’s MD ADVERTISING ASSISTANT JOAN C. STICKEL should get you motivated and moving in the right direction. The meat of EDITOR/ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE BILLY AMENDOLA our special technique issue is divided into three key areas: hand exercises, WEB SITE DIRECTOR KEVIN W. KEARNS OFFICE ASSISTANT ROSLYN MADIA foot development, and ideas to improve facility around the kit. OFFICE ASSISTANT ROSEMARY BLAHA For starters, we’ve placed strong emphasis on hand development, specifically control, endurance, power, and speed. Here you’ll find a chal- MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, lenging 20-minute warmup, a series of accented roll studies to build Kenny Aronoff, Eddie Bayers, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Harry Cangany, Jim Chapin, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len endurance, Joe Morello’s insight on finger control, and plenty more to DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Bob Gatzen, keep you busy for months. Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Andy Bass drum technique is an area that often gets ignored. We begin here Newmark, Neil Peart, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed with some thoughts from Colin Bailey, famed author of Bass Drum Control, Thigpen, Billy Ward, Dave Weckl, Paul Wertico. followed by several more articles designed to improve foot speed and con- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Michael Bettine, Robyn Flans, Burt Korall, Rick Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Mark Parsons, Mike trol. And double bass players will find that the patterns we’ve excerpted Haid, Robin Tolleson, Lauren Vogel Weiss, T. Bruce Wittet. from Bobby Rondinelli and Mike Lauren’s Encyclopedia Of Double Bass MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is pub- lished monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., will offer a terrific workout. 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. PERIODICALS Obviously, all the hand and foot technique in the world doesn’t mean MAIL POSTAGE paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at addi- tional mailing offices. Copyright 2003 by MODERN DRUM- much if you can’t apply it to the kit. Our “around the drums” section MER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction includes a speed workout from Ed Breckenfeld, some cross-sticking pat- without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. terns by yours truly, a group of exercises using flat flams around the kit by EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: MOD- ERN DRUMMER Publications, 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, Rod Morgenstein, and more. NJ 07009. Tel: (973) 239-4140. Fax: (973) 239-7139. Email: [email protected] For further input on the subject, MD’s Mike Haid spoke with an assort- MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photographic ment of leading artists for their take on warmups, practice routines, and material, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Such mastering many of the technical difficulties we’ve all had to confront. items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Finally, you’ll find a helpful reference library of technically oriented educa- SUBSCRIPTIONS: US, Canada, and Mexico $34.97 per year; $56.97, two years. Other international $41.97 per year, $79.97, two tional material, as well as Bill Milkowski’s enlightening interview with years. Single copies $4.99. Steve Smith, one of the most technically proficient artists performing SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, PO today. Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new One final thought. If you’re concerned that we’re focusing on technique address. Toll free tel: (800) 551-3786. at the expense of other equally important aspects of drumming this month, MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk please keep firmly in mind MD’s long-standing philosophy: Though good rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer Retail Vision, 2 Maple Street, Suite 6, Middlebury, VT 05753, (800) 381-1288. technique is certainly a valuable attribute, it should be viewed simply as a REPRINTS: For reprints contact Heather Osborne at PARS means to an end. It allows us to better execute our ideas, add to the musi- International Corp., tel: (212) 221-9595, ext. 333, fax: (212) 221-1468, cal situation at hand, and more effectively express our creativity. Being [email protected], www.magreprints.com. musical on the drums should be the ultimate goal. INTERNATIONAL LICENSING REPRESENTATIVE: Robert Abramson & Associates, Inc. Libby Abramson, President, 700 Post Retain this perspective as you woodshed your way through this issue. Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583, (914) 723-4700. Now get busy working on all those great technique builders! POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, PO Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. MEMBER: Magazine Publishers Of America, National Association Of Music Merchants, American Music Conference, Percussive Arts Society, Music Educators National Conference, Percussion Marketing Council, Music Magazine Publishers Association MODERN DRUMMER ONLINE: www.moderndrummer.com PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES 8 Modern Drummer May 2003 READERS’ PLATFORM SPÜG consider him or her own self a drummer, shouldn’t be open to new music and I deeply respect Spüg as a drummer and do not do a cover story on that person in a thoughts. Perhaps some of those bemoan- Mudvayne as a band of musicians rather drumming magazine. ing the Spüg article are closed-minded than entrepreneurs. More and more people Adam Garcia about the craft of drumming, which may today seem to be in music for money, via Internet explain why Spüg was interviewed and fame, and other perks associated with they were not. I hope MD will continue to being a so-called “rock star.” Fewer and I’m glad the interview with Spüg eschewed keep an open mind when considering fewer people seem to consider making the usual “What’re future interviews.