• APEX THEORY • YAMAHA OAK CUSTOM KIT • GGOOOO GGOOOO DDOLLSOLLS’’ MIKEMIKE MALININ MALININ MMAXIMUMAXIMUM PPOPOP JJEFFEFF PPORCAROORCARO TTRIBUTERIBUTE TTOO AA SSTUDIOTUDIO GGIANTIANT MMATTATT WWILSONILSON’’SS IIMPROVMPROV PPLAYHOUSELAYHOUSE HHOTOT LLATINATIN JJAZZAZZ:: MMETHENYETHENY’’SS AANTONIONTONIO SSANCHEZANCHEZ TTHREADGILLHREADGILL’’SS DDAFNISAFNIS PPRIETORIETO BBRAZILRAZIL’’SS VVERAERA FFIGUEIREDOIGUEIREDO $4.99US $6.99CAN 08 SSHOPHOP TTALKALK:: BBUILDINGUILDING YYOUROUR OOWNWN DDRUMSETRUMSET!! 0 74808 01203 9 Redefining “Drum Machine” Ever wonder why Evans heads are so consistent and easy to tune? Designed and built in-house by our staff of engineers, this robotic “Drum Machine,” called the Gluing Gantry, ensures that every Evans head has a true collar. A series of vacuum fixtures holds the film in place for each head while the robotic gluing arm circles above the hoop and dispenses epoxy. The result is a drumhead that tunes both easily and consistently. At Evans, we do it right the first time. And every time. Check out what Peter Erskine has to say about Evans drumheads at www.evansdrumheads.com PO Box 290 • Farmingdale, NY 11735 We’ve been making the world’s finest sticks for years. And experience tells us that there are no shortcuts when it comes to making a stick. There is, however a very good short- cut when choosing one. The journey from wooden dowel to finished drumstick is a tough one. Each stick makes its way through the hands of several craftsmen before it leaves us. And at every test, there’s always the chance of getting turned into firewood. But it does get easier when our sticks reach the store. Because once you feel a pair in your hands, you’ll appreciate the time it spent in ours. TM © 2002 Pro-Mark Corporation. We use only non-endangered wood. promark-stix.com 15" Signature Sound Edge Hi-Hat 22" Signature Full Ride (custom) 18" & 20" Signature Full Crash 19" & 20" Signature Power Crash For free literature and stickers please contact us: call 800.472-4783 or +714.529-2222, email [email protected], visit our web site www.paiste.com or write Paiste America, Inc., 460 Atlas Street, Brea, CA 92821, USA www.paiste.com Contents ContentsVolume 26, Number 8 Cover photo by Alex Solca Inset photo by Rick Malkin THE GOO GOO DOLLS’ MIKE MALININ “Mike clams so rarely,” exclaims Goo Goo Dolls’ John Rzeznik, “when it happens, I almost crap my pants!” Personal hygiene issues aside, the band’s new smash hit, Gutterflower, certainly verifies Malinin’s rock-solid rep. by Waleed Rashidi 54 Alex Solca A TRIBUTE TO UPDATE 28 JEFF PORCARO 68 British Studio Heavy Geoff Dugmore Ten years on, the drumming The Ramones’ Marky Ramone world has yet to replicate the taste, groove, and personality The Apex Theory’s Sammy J. Watson Jeff Porcaro contributed to many NYC Jazzer of the greatest albums of the Scott Neumann ’70s and ’80s. NRBQ’s Tom Ardolino by Robyn Flans Percussion Today 110 PHIL BEALE DCI MULTI-PERCUSSION CHAMP by Lauren Vogel Weiss CALIENTE! 124 WOODSHED 114 HOT LATIN JAZZERS KEN COOMER After knockin’ out y’alternative classics with The global village has given birth to some fasci- Uncle Tupelo and Wilco, Ken Coomer now nating musical figures in recent years. Few are slams some serious power pop with Swag. We more blazing with potential than Pat Metheny’s check in with Ken at his vintage Nashville digs. Antonio Sanchez, Palmieri/Hancock/Threadgill by Robin Tolleson skinsman Dafnis Prieto, and Brazilian powerhouse Vera Figueiredo. by Ken Micallef Education 86 ROCK PERSPECTIVES 92 OFF THE RECORD 98 CONCEPTS Jeff Porcaro: Style & Analysis Nickelback’s Ryan Vikedal: My Toolbox: More Mechanisms... by Ed Breckenfeld Silver Side Up And A Little Studio Experience by Ed Breckenfeld by Billy Ward 88 ROCK ’N’ JAZZ CLINIC Dynamic Independence 94 JAZZ DRUMMERS’ 118 IN THE STUDIO by Art Thompson WORKSHOP The Humble Home Studio Improv Playhouse: Tips For by Rick Long and Alan Weisman 90 THE MUSICAL DRUMMER Developing Your Creative Side Understanding The Language Of by Matt Wilson Music, Part 11: Chord Voicings by Ron Spagnardi Departments Page 142 8 AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW 20 IT’S QUESTIONABLE 152 DRUM MARKET A Teacher Remembered Including Vintage Showcase by Ron Spagnardi 122 ON THE MOVE 160 DRUMKIT OF THE MONTH 10 READERS’ PLATFORM 142 CRITIQUE 16 ASK A PRO 146 BACKBEATS Dean Butterworth Claudio Slon, Ronnie Verrell In and John Riley Memoriam, Metal Meltdown 2002, and more Equipment 34 NEW AND NOTABLE Frankfurt Musik Messe Report and more Page 34 44 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP Yamaha Oak Custom Drums by Mark Parsons 47 Quick Looks: E-Pad! Practice Pads by Rick Mattingly 102 SHOP TALK 48 New Sabian Models Building Your Own Drumset: by Mike Haid What Every Amateur Needs To Know Part 1: Decisions, Decisions 50 Toca Premiere Series by Paul Bielewicz Congas And Bongos by Norman Arnold 52 Quick Looks: Kaces Gregg Bissonette Seat Stick Bag Page 44 by William F. Miller JOHN “JAB’O” STARKS ✦ FUNKMASTERS ✦ DAVID GARIBALDI TOWER OF POWER CLYDE STUBBLEFIELD ✦FUNKMASTERS L.L.P. AHMIR ?UESTLOVE THOMPSON ✦ THE ROOTS ZORO GERALD HEYWARD ✦ MARY J. MYLIOUS JOHNSON ✦ PINK STANTON MOORE ✦ GALACTIC ERIK TRIBBETT ✦ JILL WWW.VICFIRTH.COM THE NUMBER ONE STICK IN THE WORLD. 43 “At first I didn't think they were, ommend the Rockstars to anyone because of the new suspended just starting out. Hell, toms. Twelve years ago, when I might get a kit for my studio I was doing my first gigs, I played to practice on while my other a Rockstar set. It was my first drums are loaded up.” new kit and I loved it. A great kit for the money. But I was honestly shocked at these new ones. They really have come a long way.” “For two hours, I just banged the crap out of them and I play pretty hard. They're definitely still durable drums. And they with 2002 Model Rockstar at Center sounded great—warm, like birch Staging Studios, Burbank, CA. March 29, or maple drums, not like a starter 2002. Special thanks to kit, or whatever you call it.” Johnny Lord. Hear Kris Kohl and “Tama Starclassics are what his Tama Drums on I use live and in the studio. the self-titled Adema They're obviously the best album and their new drums in the world. But I would rec- release, Giving In. www.tama.com an editor’s overview Volume 26, Number 8 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 ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR MICHELE M. NEWHOUSE ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR JOSEPH KING ADVERTISING DIRECTOR BOB BERENSON ADVERTISING ASSISTANT JOAN C. STICKEL EDITORIAL/ADV. ASSISTANT BILLY AMENDOLA MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DIANA LITTLE A Teacher Remembered WEB SITE DIRECTOR KEVIN W. KEARNS OFFICE ASSISTANT ROSLYN MADIA ot long ago, one of the finest drum teachers I’ve ever known passed Naway. His name was Carl Wolf, and though relatively unknown out- MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, side of the northeast, he was an inspiration to all who studied with him Kenny Aronoff, Eddie Bayers, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Harry Cangany, Jim Chapin, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len during a teaching career that spanned over forty years. DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Bob Gatzen, My association with Carl began in the mid-’50s as an eight-year-old Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Andy beginning drum student. During the ensuing five years I spent under his Newmark, Neil Peart, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed expert guidance, Carl supplied me with a foundation I’ve been grateful for Thigpen, Billy Ward, Dave Weckl, Paul Wertico. throughout my career. That foundation included not only the essentials of CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Michael Bettine, Robyn Flans, Burt Korall, Rick Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Mark Parsons, Mike proper technique, rudiments, reading, and independence, but discipline, Haid, Robin Tolleson, Lauren Vogel Weiss, T. Bruce Wittet. musicianship, and professionalism as well. MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is pub- lished monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., Along with his knowledge of all facets of drumming, Carl was one of 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. PERIODICALS the most skillful motivators I’ve ever known. I can clearly recall being so MAIL POSTAGE paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at addi- tional mailing offices. Copyright 2002 by MODERN DRUM- inspired by his approach during a lesson that I’d willingly spend hours MER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction practicing what I’d been shown. His sincere concern for all of his students, without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. and his level of enthusiasm as you progressed, were exhilarating. It was EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: MOD- ERN DRUMMER Publications, 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, his natural ability to expertly instruct and motivate that resulted in an NJ 07009. Tel: (973) 239-4140. Fax: (973) 239-7139. Email: [email protected] astounding number of students who later went on to have lengthy careers MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photographic as professionals. material, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Such I also recall that Carl could be quite a taskmaster. When you finally items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped enve- lope. made it to the top of his student waiting list, you played by his rules. We’d SUBSCRIPTIONS: US, Canada, and Mexico $34.97 per year; be told not to bother coming back for another lesson if we hadn’t mas- $56.97, two years.