(Editor's note; There have been many infamous local bands that should have been famous. I was in several that should have had hits on the radio but just didn't see the stars align. To get these bands together fifty years later for a reunion is quite an undertaking. Here is the story of one of them, whose members separately and together went on to greater heights in the music business, including playing in Steppenwolf.)
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom #13
David Garibaldi and Mike Clark
I know a guy who said for $75.00 dollars, I won't trade fours, or solo. But for a $100.00 dollars- I will. The gig paid $75.00 - So when they gave him fours there was silence. The leader forgot and gave him a chorus.... Silence for 32 bars then he came back in at the top.
Read moreBe Kind To Your Support System
I had an interesting time playing a “back line” set. It was a high quality set – very complete – but with a few weak points. The main issues were the hi-hat, snare and bass pedal. Wait a minute ... aren't those the most important tools for a drummer? With a part missing from the hi-hat, a jammed snare release and a bass pedal badly in need of some grease, I had to be vigilant just to 'TCB' which, of course, takes away from playing music and my mental health.
Read moreYamato Taiko Group - UK Premiere and tour
Drummers of Japan return to The Peacock from Tuesday 14 – Saturday 25 March with the UK premiere of Chousensha - The Challengers bringing with them the ancient art of Japanese Taiko drumming, which is used traditionally in Japanese Shinto rituals.
Yamato brings new life to this ancient art form with their innovative shows whilst paying respect to its rich history. In a display of strength and ferocious skill Chousensha takes inspiration from the drummers’ own lives and experiences, challenging their bodies and pushing them to their physical limits, using their entire bodies to produce thunderous music.
Read moreRich Russo: Drum Tech Stories and Insights
I had no experience as a drum tech or even what my duties would be other than setting up a drum kit. So, our touring began late January 2002 and ran the entire year with only a few days off in between tours. We toured the world, performing in Japan, Australia, US, Canada, UK and Europe also doing TV shows which included The Carson Daly Show, Conan O’Brien Show and Saturday Night Live and festivals such as Ozzfest and the Vans Warped Tour (Ozzfest was the first time I had to fill in for Donald on a show, due to unforeseen circumstances).
Read more1980s Slingerland Foil Badge 100 Series snare drum, cardboard shell
"Slingerland shells reached a new low in the early 1980s when they actually sold drums which were little more than cardboard tubes with pearl covering and some hardware slapped on. The tubes were sturdier than the mailing-tube type, as they were actually made from Sonatube. (Sonatube is used for telescopes and as forms for casting concrete pillars.) The basic material was nevertheless cardboard, and the bearing edges quickly lost their integrity."
Read moreLeedy Autographs of the Stars Drum Set and Snare Drum
I am not a drumset collector but when this drumset was offered to me -- a second time -- I went for it. I usually don’t buy snare drums as an investment, I love to collect them so if they are worth more money in the future that’s a good thing but if the value stays the same or goes down I honestly don’t care as it has always been more important to me to own the snare for the collection rather than worry if the drum will eventually be worth more money. This drumset was purchased as an investment, especially since the snare drum alone is worth as much as I paid for the entire drumset. Don’t misinterpret this, I paid Mike’s asking price and he was happy with our deal.
Read more1950s WFL Chrome Over Brass No. 400 snare drum
This snare drum is a 1950s WFL COB No.400. For those unfamiliar, COB is chrome over brass. What makes this drum so special is this drum is the earliest version with the WFL badge. You don’t see many with this badge as very few were produced. It is the first metal snare drum cataloged by the Ludwig Company after the family purchased the name back from Conn in 1955. I have read that this snare drum was seen as early as 1956 but introduced somewhere between 1957 to 1958. It is called the “Super Ludwig” and can be seen in the 1959 catalog included in the pictures below.
Read moreFrench Brand: 1932 Campanella "Paramount" model snare
There is no badge or brand stamp on this snare, as often on the French snares, which are sometimes difficult to identify. This snare drum appears in Campanella catalog of 1932. The "Paramount" model snare of Campanella was a luxury snare drum in the thirties ! It cost 700 francs en 1932, that is to say 5 months of french average salary of the era or approximatively 500$ nowadays.
Read moreA 1961 Rogers Dynasonic finds its way back home!
This particular drum is stamped #1308 which puts it towards the later side of production in 1961.The drum currently belongs to former Rogers employee, Jerry Shields. Jerry was an expert in tuning and setting up these beautiful drums prior to their shipping from the factory. In September of 2016, a group of Rogers enthusiasts set up a Kickstarter campaign to purchase this drum for Jerry’s birthday. We were fortunate to have Jerry share some words on his days with the Rogers Company.
Read more1960 Rogers Mardi Gras Set and AK snare drum
my Rogers Mardi Gras 3ply set c.1960 in 20, 12, 14 and [not shown] 5x14 snare drum. NO cracked lugs. The snare drum shown is by Adrian Kirchler [AK Drums and is the 7x14, 2 piece brass 24k gold plated Bob Meyer model made in 2012.I have Gretsch RB and Camco sets in the coveted jazz sizes, but this is my very favorite kit to play. the toms are so pure in tone. the bass drum so deep and warm. and of course looking at it is pure joy!
Read more1925-28 LUDWIG & LUDWIG 6.5 x 14 12 PT. FLOWER-ENGRAVED DeLUXE MODEL
This snare drum is very well-preserved mainly because of the fact that there were only two previous owners before I purchased the drum. The shell is very clean and the DeLuxe plated hardware is also in very good-plus condition. All that was needed was a light dusting. I did clean out the tension rod threads just because I am picky. There are not many of these 6.5 x 14s around, maybe 4 or 5 that I know of.
Read moreReview: Remo Classic Fit Drum Heads For Vintage Drums
The Remo Classic Fit Drumheads feature a slightly narrower flesh hoop and step design to address oversized drums made prior to the mid 60s. They are also ideal for older vintage drums that are out of round with thick overlapping drum coverings.
Read moreBook Review: "Charlie Watts' Favorite Drummers", by Chet Falzerano
There are twenty six very famous drummers profiled in this book who span the twentieth century and the entire history of modern drum set drumming: Chico Hamilton, Phil Seamen, Kenny Clark, Davey Tough, Big Sid Catlett, Papa Jo Jones, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, shelly Manne, Jake Hanna, Mickey Roker, Billy Higgins, Art Taylor, Elvin Jones, Joe Morello, Paul Motion, Dannie Richmond, Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, Ginger Baker, Jerry Allison, Earl Phillips, Al Jackson JR. and Jim Keltner. Thanks for writing such a comprehensive, educational and very entertaining book, Chet.
Read moreWin a $2000 “drum tracking weekend” at THE destination recording studio in Macon, Georgia
Win a weekend get away at Shadow Sound Studio in Macon Georgia
Read moreRecollections: Buddy Rich - Chapter Three
In the time before YouTube and VHS/DVD concert and instructional videos, it was very difficult to find any music to watch. If you couldn’t go see concerts, there were only a handful of TV shows that had bands, especially during the daytime when kids could watch. The Muppet Show with Buddy was the first real chance I had to watch a drummer and to understand how it is possible to make the sounds you hear on a record. This was monumental at that age—Buddy on The Muppet Show basically connected the dots for me about how to potentially achieve these sounds from hitting drums and what it LOOKED like to play drums.
Read moreBill Ray, Seattle Washington
Bill Ray is an American drummer most known for his work with the late Ike Turner on the Grammy Award winning "Risin' With The Blues" and is also featured prominently in the Smithsonian Channel series "Sound Revolution". He is a hard working drummer in the healthy Seattle, Washington music scene. Bill teaches at his home and via Skype.
Read moreGeorge Lawrence, Nashville TN
George Lawrence is a professional drummer from Nashville Tennessee whose career highlights include:
-Recording sessions on major label rock, pop, country and jazz albums in Nashville, L.A. and Muscle Shoals.
- From 2004 to 2015, Recording and Touring drummer for legendary country rock pioneer band POCO
-Owner of George’s Drum Shop, Not So Modern Drummer Magazine and the Nashville Drum Show.
-Teacher of many high profile pro drummers including Keith Carlock, Gregg Lohman and Seth Rausch.
Remo Classic Fit Drumheads for vintage oversized drums prior to mid 60s
Looking for drumheads to fit your vintage kit? Remo listened and has developed the Classic Fit Drumhead for oversized drums made prior to the mid 60’s. The Classic Fit batter drumheads have a slightly narrower flesh hoop and step design yet maintains a standard outside diameter that does not interfere with the counter hoop. Available with Ambassador® Coated, Clear or Fiberskyn® film and sizes 12”, 13”, 14”, 16”, and 18”. Also available in a Snare Side Ambassador® Hazy, sizes 13” and 14”. The Classic Fit Drumheads will give you the classic sound and ease of head replacement you‘ve been looking for.
Read moreClyde Stubblefield Dead at 73. Famous as drummer for James Brown.
Clyde Stubblefield, James Brown's one-time drummer and the creator of one of hip-hop's most popular samples, has died at the age of 73. Stubblefield's wife, Jody Hannon, confirmed the drummer's death to Rolling Stone. The cause of death was kidney failure.
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