Contents Features PETER ERSKINE Steely Dan's music visited every corner of the musical map. Now jazzer Peter Erskine's worldly...heck...universal influences have been summoned for the Dan's reunion tour. Rick Mattingly 20 VIKKI FOXX Vikki Foxx was in a band called Enuff Z'Nuff. Vince Neil was in a band called Motley Crue. A couple of axes fell, Vikki now lays down the beat for Neil, and everybody's happy. Matt Peiken 26 PIERRE FAVRE Fearlessly exploring the nether regions of avant-garde music, Pierre Favre challenges common notions of what drummers can and should do. The elite of Europe's musical risk-takers have known this for years. Get hip. Michael Bettine 31 Volume 17, Number 11 Cover Photo by Karen Miller Columns EDUCATION NEWS EQUIPMENT 64 ROCK 'N' 8 UPDATE JAZZ CLINIC Zach Danziger, The Christmas Larry Crockett, Card Beats Steve Miller's BY DAVID GARIBALDI Gordy Knudtsen, and Chris Mars, plus News 78 DRUM COUNTRY Variations On The 120 INDUSTRY Train Beat HAPPENINGS BY TOM VAN SCHAIK 80 ROCK PERSPECTIVES DEPARTMENTS 36 PRODUCT Double Bass Grooves: CLOSE-UP Part 2 4 EDITOR'S Mapex Mars BY JOE FRANCO OVERVIEW Professional Drumkit BY RICK MATTINGLY 82 STRICTLY EADERS 38 Beyerdynamic M54 TECHNIQUE 6 R ' Clip-On Microphone Cross-Sticking PLATFORM BY RICK VAN HORN BY JOE MORELLO PureCussion Bags 12 ASK A PRO BY RICK VAN HORN 94 DRUM SOLOIST Tony Williams: 39 Protechtor Compact "Touch Me" 16 IT'S Accessory Case TRANSCRIBED BY QUESTIONABLE BY RICK VAN HORN FRANK YOUNG Etymotic Research 62 DRUMLINE ER-4 Canal Phones 114 TAKING CARE BY RICK VAN HORN OF BUSINESS 86 CRITIQUE 40 Abel S.T. Series The Air Force Band Practice/Triggerable Program Cymbals BY STAFF SGT. 122 DRUM MARKET BY RICK VAN HORN RICHARD FITZ AND RICH WATSON 127 DRUMKIT OF THE MONTH 42 NEW AND PROFILES NOTABLE 102 UP & COMING ROM HE AST Kofi Baker and 90 F T P Remembering Rogers Erin Davis BY WOODY THOMPSON BY ROBYN FLANS 116 SHOW 96 SHOP TALK DRUMMERS' Selecting Cymbals BY HUGO PINKSTERBOER SEMINAR Tommy's Luther Rix BY WILLIAM F. MILLER Editor/Publisher Ronald Spagnardi Drum Business Associate Publisher Isabel Spagnardi Managing Editor Rick Van Horn Features Editor William F. Miller Associate Editor Adam J. Budofsky This November, we'll be premiering a bi-monthly Editorial Assistant Justin J. Cordes trade publication for the owners, managers, and sales Art Director Scott G. Bienstock personnel of specialty drum shops, as well as full- Art Assistant Lori Spagnardi line music dealers who carry drums and percussion Administrative Manager Tracy A. Kearns equipment. We're calling it Drum Business, and its editorial objective is to help drum dealers operate Advertising Director Bob Berenson more effectively and efficiently. Why announce the Advertising Assistant Joan C. Stickel release of a trade magazine for drum dealers to MD readers? Well, Marketing And Susanne Losquadro simply because the information we plan to pass along to dealers will Public Relations indirectly benefit you—the consumers of drum equipment. Along with interviews with successful retailers, manufacturer MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: Henry Adler, Kenny close-ups, and insightful discussions with key industry leaders, Drum Aronoff, Louie Bellson, Bill Bruford, Jim Chapin, Alan Dawson, Dennis Business will offer a series of departments designed to enlighten deal- DeLucia, Les DeMerle, Len DiMuzio, Charlie Donnelly, Peter Erskine, Vic Firth, Danny Gottlieb, Sonny Igoe, Jim Keltner, Peter Magadini, George ers on ways in which they can serve you better. For example, we'll Marsh, Joe Morello, Rod Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, Charlie investigate things like the proper maintenance of inventory, shop lay- Perry, Dave Samuels, John Santos, Ed Shaughnessy, Steve Smith, Ed outs, and how full-line dealers can make their drum departments Thigpen, Dave Weckl. more inviting by offering easier access to drums, cymbals, and acces- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Robyn Flans, Simon Goodwin, Rick sory items. In essence, we'll be presenting many ideas on how Mattingly, Ken Micallef, Matt Peiken, Teri Saccone, Robert Santelli. today's drum dealer can make the entire purchasing process a more MODERN DRUMMER magazine (ISSN 0194-4533) is published monthly by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc., 870 Pompton enjoyable experience for the consumer. Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ 07009. Second-Class Postage paid at Cedar Since education is such an important aspect of a dealer's operation, Grove, NJ 07009 and at additional mailing offices. Copyright 1993 by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. we'll also be supplying thoughts on how dealers can better qualify Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited. their teachers, offer programs that enable student-musicians to per- EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: form in a band environment, and organize drum clinics. Hopefully, MODERN DRUMMER Publications, 870 Pompton Avenue, Cedar we'll make more dealers aware of the importance of clinics and Grove, NJ 07009. Tel.: (201) 239-4140. workshops, and thereby encourage greater participation. MODERN DRUMMER welcomes manuscripts and photographic mater- Unfortunately, only a small percentage of dealers actually offer clin- ial, however, cannot assume responsibility for them. Such items must be ics. Truthfully, we'd like to see more of it—particularly for young accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. drummers who live in remote areas and don't get the opportunity to MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is available for resale at bulk rates. Direct correspondence to Modern Drummer, Dealer Service, P.O. witness these inspiring events. Box 389, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. Tel: (800) 334-DRUM or (815) 734- One other extremely important function of Drum Business will be 6013. to keep dealers fully abreast of the latest drum gear. Regular updates SUBSCRIPTIONS: $29.95 per year; $51.95, two years. Single copies on drums, hardware, cymbals, electronics, percussion, and accessory $3.95. items will ensure that drum dealers are kept well-aware of all new SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: Modern Drummer, P.O. Box equipment from the various manufacturers as that equipment 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-0480. Change of address: Allow at least six weeks for a change. Please provide both old and new address. Toll Free becomes available. Tel: (800) 551-3786. Drum Business has been established primarily to develop a better POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Modern Drummer, P.O. Box line of communication between the manufacturer and dealer. And 480, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. we're certain it will do just that. However, the real benefit of any industry trade publication always seeps on down to the consumer level—where it tends to do the most good for the entire industry it represents. MAX ROACH and energy that these guys have. For a Sorry guys, the correct title is "Love Is On I just want to thank you for the excellent solid two hours they played some of the The Way." I've always read MD and will article on Mr. Max Roach in your August most original, complex, and powerful continue to do so in the future. But I issue. Max's Bud Powell story on "screw- music on the market today. I'm convinced couldn't let this mistake slip by. ing up the song" had me laughing, and his that I've now seen one of the true "upcom- Tony Zangoli story about redoing the Roach/Rich drum ing giants" in the rock world. Thanks, MD, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada battle during Buddy's last days had me for letting me in on them. crying. Dan Messinger Timothy Cromer Toledo OH Orlando FL AND THE WINNER IS... If there ever were an event in my life I will FRANCO ON BONHAM cherish nearly as much as I do the day I MIKE PORTNOY Thank you for Joe Franco's article on married my wife, it has to be the day I was I'd like to wholeheartedly thank Modern "Classic Bonham Licks" in your August called on stage to receive a "Long Distance Drummer for your excellent feature on issue. He cleared up what was always a big Traveler Award" at MD's Festival Mike Portnoy [Aug. '93 MD]. I have been mystery to me and my drummer buddies: Weekend '93. Here it is, almost twenty-one desperately searching for information how the intro to "Rock And Roll" was years since I first touched a drumkit, and at about Mike ever since I first heard Images played. It was also great to see some of the thirty-seven years old I'm virtually starting And Words about a year ago. I have, as more obscure Zeppelin songs like over again. I began my "comeback" in your article suggests, been talking con- "Achilles Last Stand" and "In My Time Of March of this year with the purchase of a stantly with other drummers I know, and Dying" transcribed. Many thanks to Joe for new kit, and I've played that kit (or a prac- regardless of our musical tastes or back- an excellent article. tice pad) one to two hours a day, seven grounds, we all agree that Mike possesses a Ken Adrian days a week, since then. My goal is that in talent for the drumset unlike anything seen Clifton NJ one year I will be ready to go out in public or heard since Neil Peart came on the scene and demonstrate my skill. God knows how quite a few years ago. the sound of a skillfully applied set of rudi- A friend of mine was lucky enough to UPDATE: MCBROOM ments can make people stop and listen. meet Mike at a show a few weeks ago— I just wanted to express my thanks for Thanks again for the award, including and he told me what a great guy Mike is.