BRANFORD MARSALIS'S JEFF "TAIN" WATTS A new solo disc proves this amazing skinsman has a world of ideas up his sleeve. by Ken Micallef 52 MD's GUIDE TO DRUMSET TUNING It's a lot more important than you think, and with our pro tips, probably a lot easier, too! by Rich Watson 66 La Raia SANTANA'S Paul RODNEY HOLMES Even Santana's rhythmic wonderland can't UPDATE contain this monster. Tom Petty's Steve Ferrone by T. Bruce Wittet Ricky Martin's Jonathan Joseph 92 Ed Toth of Vertical Horizon Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips Brett Michaels' Brett Chassen SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' 20 BROOKS WACKERMAN What's a nice guy like you doing in a band like this? REFLECTIONS by Matt Peiken VINNIE COLAIUTA 106 The distinguished Mr. C shares some deep thoughts on drumming's giants. by Robyn Flans ARTIST ON TRACK 26 ART BLAKEY, PART 2 Wherein the jazz giant draws the maps so many UP & COMING would follow. BYRON McMACKIN by Mark Griffith OF PENNYWISE 136 Pushin' punk's parameters. by Matt Schild 122 Volume 23, Number 11 Cover photo by Paul La Raia departments education 112 STRICTLY TECHNIQUE 4 AN EDITOR'S OVERVIEW Musical Accents, Part 3 Learning To Schmooze by Ted Bonar and Ed Breckenfeld by William F. Miller 116 ROCK 'N' JAZZ CLINIC 6 READERS' PLATFORM Implied Metric Modulation by Steve Smith 14 ASK A PRO 118 ROCK PERSPECTIVES Graham Lear, Vinnie Paul, and Ian Paice The Double Bass Challenge by Ken Vogel 16 IT'S QUESTIONABLE 142 PERCUSSION TODAY 130 ON THE MOVE Street Beats by Robin Tolleson 132 CRITIQUE 148 THE MUSICAL DRUMMER The Benefits Of Learning A Second Instrument by Ted Bonar 152 INDUSTRY HAPPENINGS New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and more, including Taking The Stage equipment 160 DRUM MARKET Including Vintage Showcase 32 NEW AND NOTABLE 168 INSIDE TRACK Dave Mattacks 38 PRODUCT CLOSE-UP by T. Bruce Wittet Paiste/New Millennium Spirit Of 2002 Snare Drums by Rick Van Horn 41 Paiste Cymbals "Mixed Bag" by Rich Watson 42 Quick Looks: Rhythm Tech Laptop and Drumspan Drum Covers 44 Yamaha DP Series Drumkit by Rick Mattingly 46 ELECTRONIC REVIEW Yamaha DTXPRESS by Mark Parsons 144 MD GIVEAWAY Win Joey Kramer's Armageddon drumkit including DW drums, Zildjian cymbals and sticks, and Joey's It's About Time video. Learning To Schmooze ood drummers work a lot. But really, what makes a good son he works so much is because he knows how to schmooze. drummer? Blazing chops? A great-feeling pocket? Lots of He's good on the phone, he knows how to "hang" with musicians G endurance? Beautiful brush technique? Owning a high-end (he can talk about topics other than drumming), and he makes drumkit and a van to haul your (or a prospective band's) gear? Of sure to get out to clubs, jam sessions, and any recording dates he course, all of these can determine how much you work. But don't can get invited to. (If he hears about a date and knows somebody forget one of the most important factors: how well you get along involved, he tags along.) He's also positive without being annoy- with people. ing, and he keeps things lighthearted. Most importantly, he's great Knowing the right way to "schmooze"—how to talk to other at "reading" people: knowing how hard to push and when to back musicians to network for gigs—is a big part of our business. (It's off. Even though he's not a gifted player, I have no doubt that this a big part of most businesses.) People who know how to do it guy is going to land a major gig one of these days. work a lot. People who don't...well, they're in their basements On the other hand, I've run into a lot of drummers who don't playing to imaginary audiences. have a clue how to deal with people. (At MD we're contacted all Over the years I've met several musicians who don't have great the time by such drummers.) They're either too pushy, or they personal skills. Sure, it's easier for some people than for others. have big egos that get in the way, or—amazingly—they're just (Extroverted types have an easier time with this.) But I've also plain rude. After talking to someone like that you wonder how met guys who simply don't think about this aspect of the business. good of a musician they really are. If they play the way they talk, I guess they feel that once they develop their drumming skills forget about it. enough they'll start getting calls. Frankly, developing your "peo- So the moral of this story is simple: If you're not working as ple skills" is just as important as developing your playing skills. much as you'd like or you're not playing with the musicians I know a young local drummer who works all the time—gigs, you'd like to be playing with, take a good look at yourself not session work, a couple of national tours. Honestly, he's not an only as a drummer, but as a person. It's worth considering. amazing player, simply a good, competent drummer. But the rea- Volume 23, Number 11 The World's Most Widely Read Drum Magazine EDITOR/PUBLISHER RONALD SPAGNARDI MODERN DRUMMER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photo- BOARD: Henry Adler, Kenny Aronoff, Eddie Bayers, Louie graphic material, however, cannot assume responsibility for CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ISABEL SPAGNARDI Bellson, Bill Bruford, Harry Cangany, Jim Chapin, Dennis them. Such items must be accompanied by a self-addressed, DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter stamped envelope. ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER TRACY A. KEARNS Erskine, Vic Firth, Bob Gatzen, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Joe Morello, SUBSCRIPTIONS: US, Canada, and Mexico $34.97 per year; SENIOR EDITOR RICK VAN HORN Rod Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, Ed Shaughnessy, $59.94, two years. Other international $41.97 per year, $79.94, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR WILLIAM F. MILLER Steve Smith, Ed Thigpen, Dave Weckl, Paul Wertico. two years. Single copies $4.99. MANAGING EDITOR ADAM J. BUDOFSKY MODERN DRUMMER READER ADVISORY BOARD: SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, Bob Albright, Benjamin Arnold, Josh Cellan, Roger Cohen, Tom PO Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: ASSOCIATE EDITOR RICH WATSON Corea, David Drubin, Dana Fitzsimons, Jim King, Rick Lans, Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old Maury Levine, Michael Powers, Michael Reilly, Richard Rychel, and new address. Toll free tel: (800) 551-3786. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT SUZANNE HURRING Shawn Stewart, Andy Weis. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at SENIOR ART DIRECTOR SCOTT G. BIENSTOCK CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Robyn Flans, Burt Korall, Rick bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer Retail Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Mark Parsons, Matt Peiken, Robin Vision, 2 Maple Street, Suite 6, Middlebury, VT 05753, (800) ART DIRECTOR TOM LYON Tolleson, Lauren Vogel Weiss, T. Bruce Wittet. 381-1288. ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR MICHELE M. NEWHOUSE MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is pub- INTERNATIONAL LICENSING REPRESENTATIVE: ADVERTISING DIRECTOR BOB BERENSON lished monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., Robert Abramson & Associates, Inc. Libby Abramson, 12 Old Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. PERIODICALS President, 720 Post Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. ADVERTISING ASSISTANT JOAN C. STICKEL MAIL POSTAGE paid at Cedar Grove, NJ 07009 and at addi- tional mailing offices. Copyright 1999 by MODERN DRUM- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, EDITORIAL/ADV. ASSISTANT BILLY AMENDOLA MER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction with- PO Box 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. out the permission of the publisher is prohibited. MARKETING AND DIANA LITTLE MEMBER: Magazine Publishers Of America, National PUBLIC RELATIONS EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE Association Of Music Merchants, American Music Conference, OFFICES: MODERN DRUMMER Publications, 12 Old Percussive Arts Society, Music Educators National Conference, WEB SITE DIRECTOR KEVIN W. KEARNS Bridge Road, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Tel: (973) 239-4140. Percussion Marketing Council, Music Magazine Publishers OFFICE ASSISTANT ROSLYN MADIA Fax: (973) 239-7139. Email: [email protected] Association MODERN DRUMMER ONLINE: www.moderndrummer.com Printed in The United States C HAD SMITH Thanks to Robyn Kudos to your photography staff for cap- and values prior to publishing such a pic- Flans for her turing the missing voodoo madman, as fea- ture. I look forward to reading a racially great interview tured on your August cover. Hopefully, balanced and sensitive Modern Drummer. with Chad Smith many drumkits will now be spared from Shirley Sommers in the August the torturing "red hot brew" also depicted. via Internet '99 issue. Chad I'm wondering if Modern Drummer is makes it a habit going to add a drumstick nose ring (like M IKE MANGINI to short-change the one the madman is wearing) to the MD Thanks for featuring Mike Mangini in your himself in print, merchandise list. If I was ever interested in August issue. I had the pleasure of taking but it's an getting my nose pierced, that's the one I'd lessons from Mike several years ago. He unwarranted wear. Thanks again for catching the opened many doors for me. In fact, I'm modesty. I had to voodoo madman, and for the excellent arti- still using his approach today. This letter is chuckle when he mentioned Keith Moon cle on him! an opportunity for me to thank Mike for and others as huge influences, saying, "I'm T.J.