While lead singer Scott Wieland gets his act together off the bandstand, Stone Temple Pilots' latest, Tiny Music, hits the charts without a touring band to sup- port it. Drummer Eric Kretz isn't one to twiddle his thumbs, though, and an STP side project might end up being the new canvas for his powerful and tasty playing, by Matt Peiken 44 Toto, I don't think we're in the Opry anymore, These days Garth Brooks' drummer is slamming under an acrylic "pod" to fifty thousand screaming fans a night, Mike Palmer tells tales of high-tech honky tonkin' on the new by Robyn Flans 64 Soundgarden's Matt Cameron and the Foo Fighters' Will Goldsmith have been appearing all A staunch refusal to conform may have kept over MTV behind a strange new drumkit with Fishbone off the charts for years, but it's also provid- wooden hoops. It's no surprise people have ed tons of crazy, cookin', funky, freaky music for fans been asking lots of questions about the drums' who know where to look and listen. Now a new origin. Answer: Vancouver, where custom Ayotte album and lineup have reenergized drummer Philip kits have been pumped out—one at a time—for "Fish" Fisher, who's still adding his ever-powerful and longer than you might think. creative percussives to the Fishy stew. by Rick Van Horn by Matt Peiken 80 98 photo by John Eder Volume 2O, Number 12 Cover photo by John Eder education equipment 112 ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC 24 NEW AND NOTABLE A Different Slant For The Hi-Hat, Part 1 New From Nashville NAMM by Rod Morgenstein 32 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP 114 ROCK PERSPECTIVES Fibes Crystalite Drumkit Stewart Copeland: by Rick Van Horn Style & Analysis, Part 2 by John Xepoleas 35 Main Line Drumsticks by Chap Ostrander 116 DRUM SOLOIST Bill Stewart: "Sister Sadie" 38 ELECTRONIC REVIEW Transcribed by Phil Smith Concept One Percussion Undercover Drum Pads 124 ELECTRONIC INSIGHTS by Rich Watson Drum Triggering Part 4: Sound Systems by Mark Parsons news 136 IN THE STUDIO 12 UPDATE Ricky Lawson, Kalani, Victor DeLorenzo, Making The Transition and Mike Mainieri plus News From Street To Studio by Jeffrey Hupp 162 INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 148 SLIGHTLY OFFBEAT My First Gig Compiled by Cheech Iero departments profiles 4 EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 118 PORTRAITS 6 READERS' PLATFORM Sticks McDonald by Chet Falzerano 16 ASK A PRO Tommy Aldridge and Lonnie Wilson 122 ON THE MOVE 20 IT'S QUESTIONABLE 140 UP & COMING Scott Amendola by Eric Deggans 132 CRITIQUE Michael Carvin, Carl Allen, and Steve Berrios CDs, 74 Billy Cobham book, Making Of Burning For Buddy video, and more MD GIVEAWAY 152 MD's 1996 Index Update Win one of twenty-five Neil Peart video box sets from DCI, one of two Neil Peart 164 DRUM MARKET cymbal setups from Zildjian, or the Including Vintage Showcase grand prize: a duplicate of Neil's new DW drumkit and Zildjian cymbal setup, along with Neil's new videos, It's a prize 168 DRUMKIT OF THE MONTH package worth over $20,000! Drums In The Studio Starting with the you want to gain the knowledge necessary with a wealth of studio experience, dis- April '95 issue of to speak more intelligently with an engi- cuss matters ranging from prepping MD and ending neer in a large commercial studio—or drums for recording, preferences in in April '96, we work in a home recording environment rooms, and mic' selection to working ran a thirteen- where your sound is in your own hands— with a click and communicating properly part series in our this book will aid you in obtaining the in the studio. There's also input from In The Studio best possible results. Everything from leading drum experts Ross Garfield and department equipment preparation, mic's, equaliza- Bob Gatzen, and from recording engi- called "The tion, and mixing to compression, limiters, neers Ed Thacker and Mike Fraser, who Drummer's gates, digital effects, and more is covered between them have recorded the music of Studio Survival in this comprehensive text. As a bonus, 10,000 Maniacs, Bruce Hornsby, Guide." This excellent series was written the material from the original series has Aerosmith, and AC/DC, among others. by Mark Parsons, and included some of been extensively upgraded with additional If you're about to head into the record- the most popular and informative articles text, photos, and graphics—all in one ing studio for the very first time, have a ever run in MD. I'm happy to report that handy reference source. little experience but could use more all the information from that series is now Along with the vast amount of techni- insight, or simply have aspirations of set- available in book form, aptly titled The cal information, The Survival Guide fea- ting foot in a recording studio, the infor- Drummer's Studio Survival Guide. tures "Ask The Pros" sections, which mation in The Drummer's Studio Survival Mr. Parsons, who has worked as a include comments from Kenny Aronoff, Guide is an absolute must-read. Look for drummer and owner of his own recording Gregg Bissonette, Jim Keltner, Rod it advertised on page 141 in this issue. studio, has written the definitive book on Morgenstein, Simon Phillips, and John the subject of recording drums. Whether "J.R." Robinson. These gentlemen, each 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, Dennis DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S., Canada, and Mexico $34.97 per ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER ISABEL SPAGNARDI Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Bob Gatzen, Danny Gottlieb, year; $56.97, two years. Other international $41.97 per year, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Joe $63.97, two years. Single copies $4.95. MANAGING EDITOR RICK VAN HORN Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie Perry, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen, SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, FEATURES EDITOR WILLIAM F. MILLER Dave Weckl. P.O. Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old ASSOCIATE EDITOR ADAM J. BUDOFSKY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Robyn Flans, Burt Korall, and new address. Toll free tel: (800) 551-3786. Rick Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Mark Parsons, Matt Peiken, Teri ASSOCIATE EDITOR RICH WATSON Saccone, Robin Tolleson. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale EDITORIAL ASSISTANT SUZANNE HURRING at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer; MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is pub- Dealer Service, P.O. Box 389, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Tel: (800) SENIOR ART DIRECTOR SCOTT G. BIENSTOCK lished monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 334-DRUM or (815) 734-1214. 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. PERIODICALS ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR LORI SPAGNARDI MAIL POSTAGE paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at addi- INTERNATIONAL LICENSING REPRESENTATIVE: tional mailing offices. Copyright 1996 by MODERN DRUM- Robert Abramson & Associates, Inc., Libby Abramson, ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR JAVIER L. JIMENEZ MER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction President, 720 Post Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER TRACY A. KEARNS POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE P.O. Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR BOB BERENSON OFFICES: MODERN DRUMMER Publications, 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: (201) 239-4140. MEMBER: Magazine Publishers Of America ADVERTISING ASSISTANT JOAN C. STICKEL Fax: (201) 239-7139. E-mail: [email protected]. National Association Of Music Merchants DIANA LITTLE American Music Conference MARKETING AND MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photo- Percussive Arts Society PUBLIC RELATIONS graphic material, however, cannot assume responsibility for Music Educators National Conference them. Such items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, National Drum Association OFFICE ASSISTANT ROSLYN MADIA stamped envelope. Percussion Marketing Council WEB SITE DIRECTOR KEVIN W. KEARNS Music Magazine Publishers Association STEPHEN PERKINS BUTCH VIG PHIL RUDD Thanks so much for A sincere thanks on the long-overdue inter- I can't tell you how the article on Stephen view with Butch Vig! I truly admire much I enjoyed your Perkins [September Butch's playing style; his drumkit ability article on Phil Rudd '96 MD]. I've been should never be discounted. It's obvious [August '96 MD], an a huge fan of his that he subscribes to the "less is more" the- extremely underrated ever since I heard ory. Heard live, Butch and Garbage are and unsung drummer. Nothing's Shocking. I diabolically powerful and accurate. With I enjoy a wide variety knew he was a great Vig's masterful production ingenuity and of music, and some of drummer, but your drumming prowess, Garbage is undeniably my friends are sur- article showed me that a drummer with a the future. Thanks for putting Butch in the prised when I say that Phil is one of my lot of success can also have a conscience spotlight, along with focusing much of the favorite drummers and that AC/DC is one about the earth. It's also cool that Stephen rest of the September issue on some of my favorite bands. What they don't wants to share his love for the drums with extremely creative alternative rock drum- understand is that it's hard to play that needy children. He's a true inspiration. mers. restrained, simple, and basic while main- Steve Moore Madison Lucas taining power and groove. Some drummers Novato, CA Englewood, CO overplay, but Phil always plays for the music; he doesn't step on his bandmem- I greatly enjoyed your story on Stephen bers' lines.