'$1( &/$5. Interview and Photos by Sayre Berman ItIt waswas earlyearly inin DaneDane Clark’sClark’s professionalprofessional careercareer thatthat hehe gotgot “the“the nod”nod” fromfrom oneone ofof thethe mostmost legendarylegendary innovatorsinnovators ofof music...themusic...the “Sound“Sound ofof Surprise”Surprise” himself,himself, DizzyDizzy Gillespie.Gillespie. ThatThat waswas inin 1983,1983, shortlyshortly afterafter DaneDane graduatedgraduated fromfrom AndersonAnderson UniversityUniversity withwith aa degreedegree inin percussionpercussion performance.performance. DaneDane hashas beenbeen gettinggetting thethe nodsnods everever since.since. WhileWhile stillstill inin college,college, DaneDane waswas ableable toto developdevelop aa solidsolid reputationreputation withwith thethe locallocal recordingrecording studios.studios. UponUpon graduation,graduation, hehe quicklyquickly roserose toto thethe positionposition ofof firstfirst callcall drummerdrummer inin hishis homehome state,state, Indiana.Indiana. HeHe waswas workingworking onon jinglesjingles inin Indianapolis,Indianapolis, recordingrecording onon thethe acclaimedacclaimed syndicatedsyndicated radioradio showshow “The“The BobBob andand TomTom Show,”Show,” doingdoing sessionsession workwork withwith popularpopular artistsartists andand touring,touring, allall whilewhile continuingcontinuing toto writewrite songssongs andand playplay hishis ownown music.music. InIn 19961996 DaneDane gotgot anotheranother oneone ofof thosethose pivotalpivotal nods.nods. ThisThis timetime itit waswas fromfrom America’sAmerica’s favoritefavorite heartlandheartland rocker,rocker, JohnJohn Mellencamp.Mellencamp. DaneDane hashas beenbeen withwith MellencampMellencamp everever since,since, touringtouring andand recording.recording. HisHis impressiveimpressive discographydiscography withwith MellencampMellencamp includesincludes JohnJohn Mellencamp, Mellencamp, TroubleTrouble No No More, More, Freedom’s Freedom’s Road Road and and Life, Life, Death,Death, LoveLove and and Freedom. Freedom. In In spite spite of of Dane’s Dane’s busybusy scheduleschedule withwith Mellencamp,Mellencamp, hehe stillstill isis ableable toto maintainmaintain aa fullfull plateplate ofof sideside projects...projects... studiostudio work,work, recordrecord producing,producing, songwritingsongwriting andand locallocal touringtouring withwith hishis ownown band,band, thethe DaneDane ClarkClark Band.Band. music. Just from being the main drummer was done, Dizzy Gillespie turned around, “Love and Happiness” was the first song at Anderson, the doors for me were opened he gave me this subtle nod, smiled at I was to play, there were to be three songs to get into the studio thing. That gave me me...and then turned back around to the total for the audition. After just the first entry into the jingle thing. One thing led audience and continued to play...I knew song John said, “Hey, come up here for to another and I was a first call drummer that meant he dug it...the man dug my a second.” So the two of us are standing here in Indiana. I stayed involved with the solo. That nod, that smile, gave me such a there and he said, “I think you’d look university, too. I taught there for about 12 good feeling. That single nod made me try pretty good with all that hair shaved off years before I joined John’s band. that much harder to be successful. I got the (I had a long mop of curly hair). I said, nod of approval from a legend. That was “Yeah? I’ll shave my whole body if that CD: Describe something that happened to the heaviest moment ever for me. what it takes.” I think John liked my you that had a most profound impact on answer, my sense of humor. A big part your career as a drummer. CD: You’ve been with Mellencamp since of being in a band is getting along with Dane: In 1983, I had just graduated from 1996. How did you get that gig? others. You need to pick people that can Anderson, they invited me to play drums Dane: Yes, I started in 1996. By that time, get along not just while the performance is in a concert featuring guest performer I had been the main studio guy in Indiana going on, but also hang with back stage... Dizzy Gillespie. Imagine that, I’m getting for at least 10 years. I already knew all the on the bus. Anyway, I got called the very to play with the guy who invented bebop! guys in the band. I had played in a side next day and they told me I was in. At this point, even though I was already project with Larry Crane, Mellencamp’s out of my jazz snob phase, I appreciated original guitar player. I had played with CD: Can you tell us a little bit about the fully how important this opportunity was. Toby Myers in another side project. I knew dynamics of the band. For example, when I remember it all so clearly, here we all are Mike Wanchic from seeing him at sessions, a new song is being developed, in what at this straight-laced Christian University and I knew Kenny Aronoff, we’d trade way do you all, particularly you, as the and here comes Dizzy wearing a Jim licks...we were friends. I think it was just drummer, participate? Morrison type outfit...leather pants and a one other guy from Indiana, and me, plus Dane: All our albums have taken different wild black shirt, smoking a cigar...on our about 20 guys from all over the world, for approaches. The last record that we did, non-smoking campus...just great! the audition. I felt good about my chances, Life, Death, Love and Freedom, we did with I felt prepared. I knew the music cold, I T-Bone Burnett. We cut all of those tracks Classic Drummer: Tell us a little more about CD: When you During the show there was a spot for a knew the guys, and heck, I’m an Indiana in two weeks...most of them within seven yourself...where are you from, when did were growing brief drum solo, maybe eight bars. When I native...I know where it all comes from! days. That record was painless to make, you get interested in music? up, who were Dane Clark: I was born in Anderson, Indiana your drum in 1959. I always was attracted to music. heroes? I started playing the piano in third grade. Dane: My first That’s when I learned how to read music, drum hero which, by the way, I will be ever grateful to was definitely my parents for pushing me in that direction. Ginger Baker I started playing the guitar in fourth grade from Cream. and the drums when I was in fifth grade. At I would listen first it was just a snare drum and I loved it! I to the live got my own drum set when I was in eighth version of “Toad” on the family stereo in CD: You went to college on a music grade. I took lessons all through high school. the living room...what my parents had scholarship. What advantages do you think I remember that I had my share of garage to endure! My other drum heroes would a continuing education provided you that bands, made a lot of noise and got in trouble be Charlie Watts, without question John other musicians without that same benefit for it on occasion.(laughs) Bonham, Keith Moon, and Ringo. don’t have? Dane: Yes, I have a degree in Percussion Early on, I realized that I had natural ability While I was in college I started getting Performance from Anderson University. For on the drums, and let’s face it, who wouldn’t into jazz. At that point I got turned on to me, I think the primary benefit was that I want to play something that lets them get Steve Gadd for a while. I also got to be a got the chance to play a lot. The university all their aggression and frustrations out. big fan of Vinnie Colaiuta. During college was small; I was a big fish in a small pond. I I was most passionate about the drums. I became immersed in fusion. I tried to be played all sorts of music and played in just I knew I was going to be a musician, I’ve as technical as I could. I think that it was about all the different bands on campus. been writing songs since I was in the sixth during that phase that I really honed my Also, going to that school provided me grade. In high school, my classmates all chops...when I heard Gadd and Colaiuta with the opportunity to meet people. I agreed that I was destined to be the back-up play things that I had no idea how to do. wanted to get into studio work and at this drummer for The Who. Funny, they weren’t That’s when I got serious...I figured out university I got to meet all the folks who really that far off. Here I am now with the what they were doing, learned it and were affiliated with the main studios in the local superstar in Indiana...I’m talking about then tried to put my own spin on it and area. At the time, we had three main studios Mellencamp, of course. developed my own thing from there. that recorded contemporary Christian 62 CLASSIC DRUMMER think it is all for the good? What are we, the studio. I also play guitar and sing with the consumer, really listening to? Dane Clark band...we play my songs and Dane: Even when I first got in to this band, some covers. I’ve had that band for about on the 1998 record, John Mellencamp, we 10 years now. were still going for the same kind of drum sounds that were around in the 1990s. We CD: Who are you listening to now...who Vintage & Custom Drums • Repair used as many tracks as we could. I think inspires you these days? Interviews • News • Reviews that record was done on two-inch tape.