VOL. 10, NO. 1 FEATURES THE STATE OF THE ART MD Hall Of Fame members Buddy Rich, Neil Peart, Steve Gadd, and Louie Bellson, as well as Readers Poll winners Larrie Londin, Danny Gottlieb, Omar Hakim, Sly Dunbar, Alan Dawson, and David Garibaldi discuss past, present, and future trends in drumming. 13 Photo by Veryl Oakland EQUIPMENT IN MD: AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW A survey of drum equipment over the past ten years, taken from the pages Photo by Dimo Safari of MD. 34 MD SOUND SUPPLEMENT: STUDIO DRUM SOUNDS To find out how today's drum sounds are being created in the studio, we took drummer Andy Newmark and electronics expert Jimmy Bralower into the Power Station, and we've put the results onto our first Soundsheet. 50 Photo by Ebet Roberts Photo by Deborah Stuer COLUMNS EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS 126 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP MD's Drum Product Consumers Poll DEPARTMENTS by Bob Saydlowski, Jr. 62 EDUCATION EDITOR'S OVERVIEW 2 JUST DRUMS 128 STRICTLY TECHNIQUE READER'S PLATFORM 4 South Indian Rhythmic System ASK A PRO 6 by Jamey Haddad 76 PROFILES SLIGHTLY OFFBEAT PORTRAITS CLUB SCENE MD Trivia 118 On The Rise: Part 1 Jules Moss: Prepared For The Unusual by Rick Van Horn 110 by Rick Van Horn 96 DRUM MARKET 120 IT'S QUESTIONABLE 124 ROCK PERSPECTIVES NEWS Jim Gordon: Style & Analysis IN MEMORIAM by Bradley Branscum 114 UPDATE 8 Gone But Not Forgotten 130 PUBLISHER Ronald Spagnardi 10th Anniversary Issue ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Modern Drummer enters its 10th year of publication with this issue. At Isabel Spagnardi the risk of sounding a bit immodest, I must say that I’m extremely proud of what the magazine has accomplished over the past decade and what it EDITOR Ronald Spagnardi has come to represent in our industry. FEATURES EDITOR We’ve done our absolute best to bring you the finest drum periodical we Rick Mattingly could possibly produce month after month. We’ve made an awful lot of MANAGING EDITOR Rick Van Horn friends, seen a great many changes, and have come a very long way since ASSOCIATE EDITORS our 32-page premier issue, with all of its five advertisers and 3,000 hopeful Susan Hannum readers. William F. Miller This special anniversary issue represents a celebration for those of us at EDITORIAL ASSISTANT MD, and for everyone closely associated with the success of the magazine. Elaine Cannizzaro We hope you enjoy what we’ve done here. To start things off, I thought I ART DIRECTOR might make a personal contribution through the column I’ve been author- David H. Creamer ing since the onset, by reprinting the very first Editor’s Overview, which introduced the magazine to the drum world. It read . ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kevin W. Kearns If you’re a drum student, an aspiring pro, a teacher, professional player, or just a plain old drum enthusiast from eight to eighty, Modern Drummer ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR is meant for you. Welcome to our inaugural issue. Isabel Spagnardi Drummers have long needed a voice in the form of an intelligent publica- ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Ellen Corsi tion encompassing all phases of the art, and we hope to establish ourselves ASSISTANT in this and future issues, as a significant force in the field of drum educa- ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER tion, and as a platform for the exchange of ideas. Tracy Kearney We’re basically for the drummer who’s interested in growing as a musi- cian and in search of a source from which he might draw some intelligent DEALER SERVICE MANAGER conclusions. We hope to be that source by staying abreast of the latest in Debbie Worden styles, artists, and equipment; by keeping the pages of Modern Drummer as relevant to the needs of today’s drummers as possible, and by keeping CIRCULATION our fingers firmly placed on the pulse of our fast growing, ever-changing Leo Spagnardi industry. Our publication will be free in spirit and content, and since we Susan A. Kretschmar have no stake in any particular line or its endorsers, we can afford to be SALES PROMOTION MANAGER completely representative and unbiased in our presentation of artists and Evelyn Urry equipment. The diversity of our column titles is indicative of the scope of our maga- MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD zine: Jazz Drummers Workshop, Rock Perspectives, Driver’s Seat, The Henry Adler, Carmine Appice, Louie Bellson, Bill Complete Percussionist, Rudimental Symposium, Show & Studio, etc. It is Bruford, Roy Burns, Jim Chapin, Les DeMerle, Len our hope and belief that all drummers will find something of interest, and DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Danny perhaps inspiration, through the pages of any one issue. We will continue Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jaimoe Johanson, Jim Keltner, to publish the educational thoughts of some of the most respected and Mel Lewis, Larrie Londin, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Butch Miles, Joe Morello, Andy Newmark, Neil esteemed authorities of our era, along with in-depth, enlightening inter- Peart, Charlie Perry, Paul T. Riddle, Ed Shaughnessy, views with some of the most influential players, teachers and experts in the Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen. field. We hope to represent all drum related organizations in our advertising pages, press releases, and special feature sections. We openly invite corre- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS spondence from all. We’d also like to hear from .you, the reader. Please, Susan Alexander, Charles M. Bernstein, Scott K. Fish, let’s have your comments and suggestions. We think this issue contains Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Jeff Potter, Teri some meaty reading for drummers, and we hope you’ll find it entertaining Saccone, Robert Santelli, Bob Saydlowski, Jr., Chip and informative. Stern, Robin Tolleson, T. Bruce Wittet. One final note. The path MD has followed from original concept through the research, planning and preparation stages, has involved a great deal of time and effort on the part of many individuals who truly believed MODERN DRUMMER Magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is that drummers, like other instrumentalists, wanted and needed a publica- published monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publica- tion of their own. To all our many dear friends whose kind words, enthusi- tions, Inc., 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ asm, and firm belief in this project over the past year helped us over those 07009. Second-Class Postage paid at Cedar Grove, NJ inevitable obstacles to reach the reality of this, our first issue, we particu- 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 1986 larly thank you and welcome you to MD. We have arrived. Enjoy. by Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the permission of the As I reflect on that initial editorial, I doubt very much if I would change publisher is prohibited. it or attempt to improve upon it. The words are as true today as they were SUBSCRIPTIONS: $22.95 per year; $41.95, two years. Single copies $2.50. back then, with the possible exception of the fact that there are now a great MANUSCRIPTS: Modern Drummer welcomes manu- deal many more people to thank. scripts, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. And so, my deepest gratitude to the thousands of loyal MD readers Manuscripts must be accompanied by a self-addressed, around the world, the music dealers who have carried the magazine in their stamped envelope. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Allow at least six weeks for a shops, and the industry advertisers who have supported our efforts all change. Please provide both old and new address. along. To all the advisers, the writers, the photographers, my staff, and the MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for many friends of the magazine, I thank you for helping make a 10th Anni- resale at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern versary issue of Modern Drummer Magazine a reality, and for making the Drummer, Dealer Service, 870 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: 800-221-1988. entire experience a joy for me, personally. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, P.O. Box 469, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Editor’s Note: Following our announce- Drummers on the whole are both fickle and Nice to hear that you are ten years old. ment of this special issue of Modern factional. They know what they want Happy Birthday! Good luck for the next Drummer to mark the beginning of our while they want it, but reserve the right to ten years. I would like to say that MD has tenth year, we received letters from many change their minds. I’ve seen several drum been fantastic for me. Just Drums has prominent drummers and teachers. The magazines briefly flourish, only to wither helped me a lot, not having as much time as following are excerpts from some of those on the dry bedrock of factionalismto— o I would like to go around to stores to look letters. much jazz, too much rock, not enough at new products. And Ask A Pro is excel- classical, etc., etc. Not only has Modern lent for young drummers. I have always As one who enjoys all kinds of music, I Drummer managed to survive this, but it been well presented when I have been inter- appreciate the fact that MD features drum- has actually helped bring the different fac- viewed, and I would think that many pro mers from varied backgrounds and musi- tions together in a genuine and lasting way. drummers would say the same. cal worlds. This, combined with equally Part guide book, part consumer guide, Carl Palmer diversified departments and educational part religious text, part gossip column, material, makes MD a valid musical source part prim school teacher and social I have enjoyed reading Modern Drummer for every drummer.