Almost all musicians play cover tunes … it's where the majority of music comes from. And almost all bands are cover bands, at least in the beginning. Artists depend on the tunes and the tunes depend on other artists. But sadly, the term cover seems to have morphed into almost an insult. Nobody is offended when they remake a movie, such as Godzilla (not once but twice!) And no way would anyone protest, “It’s just a cover of the Ishiro Honda movie” or suggest that the film-maker had cheated or copped out.
Read moreDRUM! Magazine interview with George Lawrence - DrumSellers.com, NSMD, Poco, Memphis and other stuff.
Republished from DRUM! Weekly. Thanks, Phil.
During the past three years Reverb.com has become the key outlet for serious musicians to sell their gear. It now bills itself as “The world’ largest marketplace for buying and selling music gear.” But now it has a competitor that has set its sights on being a marketplace for drums.
Drumsellers.com is the brainchild of George Lawrence, a professional drummer whose career highlights include recording sessions on major label rock, pop, country and jazz albums in Nashville and Los Angeles, and recording and touring with the band Poco from 2004 to 2015. Along the way he also found time to teach many high profile drummers, and own his own drum shop (George’s). And, some of you will know George as the publisher of Not So Modern Drummer Magazine, which he purchased in 2009 and converted to digital in 2012. Recently, we’ve noticed the growth at Drumsellers and wanted to learn more about the plans for the site. We interviewed Lawrence last month.
Read moreBob Parker - A Different Drummer - with the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp in President John Kennedy's Funeral Procession
The only drum pattern that was played during the entire 3-4 days was a cadence that our Head Drummer came up with. It was a simple pattern as a way for all the drummers that participated could learn in a short amount of time. The pattern was Flam, Flam, Flam, 7 Stroke Roll-Flam, Flam, Flam, 7 Stroke Roll- Flam, Flam, Flam, 7 Stroke Roll - Flam, Flam, Flam Tap! The drums were covered in that shroud that my mother had sewn, and the snares were turned off. This cadence was played at a very slow tempo [approx. 78 B.P.M.] using 3s sticks. One interesting side note was that only Drummers participated in the funeral. There were no other instruments used during the entire 3-4 days of ceremonies! Quite an honor!
Read moreCarmine Appice: Rockin' with the Rascals
“We went to SST to rehearse for our tour last year. We worked there for five days. We recorded all the songs we did on the multi-track at SST, as well. It was great to work there. We had food every day. The room was great. The sound system was great. The sound of the room was great. We were there every day from like, ten to six. It was a very pleasurable experience.”
Read more1937-39 SLINGERLAND 8 x 14 BLACK DIAMOND PEARL BERNIE MATTISON RADIO KING MODEL
The Bernie Mattison Radio King Model was first introduced in 1936 and had the tapped (no insert) lugs. I’ve dated the drum in this article at 1937-39 because the lugs have inserts. The 1937-39 Slingerland catalogs list this drum as the Band Model Radio King.
Read moreThe Drum Engravers, Part 1: John Aldridge
The first of these is the best-known drum engraver of our time, John Aldridge. Some years ago, John Aldridge wanted a hand engraved drum. When he discovered he couldn't afford it, John learned how to do it himself, and brought this lost art form back to the drum industry.
Read moreFamous Drums 2x4 Snare
Famous Drums “2x4” Snare - available by order - contact George Lawrence
Read moreDrumWrapper machine for applying wrap finishes to shells
DrumWrapper manufactured by Famous Drums/Not So Modern Drummer
Read moreFrom The Editor
No February or March Issues.
Email subscriber list cleaned of those who don’t open the emails
Chicago Drum Show - No NSMD booth this year but DrumWrapper will be there
Looking for volunteers to help with NSMD tech and writing….
Read moreCD Review - "The Shadow of the Sun" by Joey Stuckey
Click here to order Joey’s music and for free downloads.
When the veteran blues rocker booked his trio into the legendary Sun Studio for a three hour session on an off day from their tour, he had no specific plan except to record a few originals and covers. Letting the legendary spirits in the room (Roy Orbison,Johnny Cash, Elvis, et al), the vintage 50s-60s equipment and the refreshing spontaneity of a “live in the studio” opportunity take over, Stuckey created InTheShadow of the Sun, the most unexpected full length album of his career
Read moreMike Clark: Words of Wisdom - Chapter 21
Another new chapter in our ongoing series of quotes, conversations, commentary, and updates with jazz drumming legend Mike Clark. Mike’s keen observations provide numerous insights into “all things music”. Mike tells it like it is…The good, the bad, and everything else in between:
Read moreYou Don't Know Jack: Chapter 4
As a young man, Jack Scarangella became a lifelong New York Yankees fan - Soon becoming a permanent fixture at Yankee Stadium. Most of the players and management already knew Jack by name. Ironically, much earlier at the age of nine, a kind police officer let him sneak in to see Buddy Rich in concert. It wasn’t very long before Yankees owner George Steinbrenner gave Jack permission to attend all of their home games for free. On numerous occasions, he found himself in the owner’s box, dugout, or seated next to the legendary Yankee broadcasters Phil Rizzuto, and Bill White. Jack has said that it was Mr. Steinbrenner who changed his life by allowing him full access to Yankee Stadium as his personal guest.
Read more1939 CARLTON 6.5 x 14 GREENWOOD PEARL, THE “PRINCE” MODEL
This one just came in from my good friend Mark Cooper of coopersvintagedrums@verizon.net I usually don’t collect European snares but this one is a very rare and cool drum.
Read moreLet's Get Married
Perhaps you're teamed with a bass player who doesn't lay down a solid line. Or maybe someone in the band just doesn't connect. In either case my recommendation is to work with the strongest or the weakest player.
Read moreJoe Corsello - Timing is Everything
When given the opportunity to spend a few hours with Joe Corsello in his Stamford, Connecticut studio, I immediately jumped at the chance. Being in close proximity to one of the world’s most renowned jazz drummers was definitely a rare ‘WOW!!’ moment.
Read moreConnecticut Drum Show - Sunday, April 14th, 2019
Connecticut Drum Show, April 14, 2019
Read more1968 Walberg & Auge Perfection Jazz Outfit in Blue Stata Pearl
These non mass-produced drums sets were made by the company that provided the metal hardware and hardware designs for the big drum companies in the 1900's. Based in Worcester MA, Walberg and Auge is considered to be, "the biggest unknown name in the history of twentieth-century American percussion" Check out the unique mix of hardware. This drum kit was hand built to 'Perfection' by Robert George Bernard (RGB) in December 1968. The shells are the early 60's 6 ply Gretsch Jasper shells with the COOLEST MIX of Gretsch, Ludwig, Rogers and W&A hardware. Whatever RGB had near him when he decided to build a set. So unique and one of a kind.
Read more1939-41 SLINGERLAND 6.5 x 14 GENE KRUPA *SEA GREEN RADIO KING MODEL
Sea Green was in the Slingerland catalog from 1928-1938. Mark has dated this drum from 1939 to 1941. Mark has also mentioned this is the only Sea Green Radio King that he has ever seen...there is another...more on that later.
Read moreBrush with greatness - an afternoon with drummer Fred Young of the Kentucky Headhunters
It is fun just to hear Fred talk with his thick Kentucky accent. He is a fantastic storyteller with a lot of knowledge about music, musicians, and gear. Fred took us inside the venue to see his iconic drum set. As you know, it is an eclectic set of vintage drums from the 1940s to the present. The drums are dusty, crusty, and beautiful. Scott told me no one is allowed to clean them or monkey with them in any way. Fred didn't want the "Mojo" disturbed. I was able to sit behind them. Fred sits very low on his stool. I did not so much as tap on the heads, but it was tempting to thump the big double bass drums.
Read moreHal Blaine, legendary "Wrecking Crew" L.A. studio drummer, dies at age 90
Hal Blaine, playing his “Monster Set”.
One element that characterized Blaine’s drum sound was the lower tuning he used, which became the standard drum sound on rock recordings. “I came along at a time when drummers tuned their drums real high in pitch—real tight,” Blaine said in an April 1981 Modern Drummer cover story. “A lot of that was for technique so they could get a lot of ‘bounce to the ounce,’ so to speak. I tuned drums down to a normal, mid-range. I worked for many singers who liked the sound of my drums. When I started in the studios, some engineers would say, ‘You better tighten those drums up,” but the producers would say, ‘Don’t tell him what to do. We’re going for a different sound here.’”
Blaine also expanded his kit beyond the standard four- or five-piece drumsets that everyone was using at the time. “My set had 12 drums, which no one had ever heard of,” Blaine told Modern Drummer. “It really was a major change, which makes me very proud. I wanted a full, bigger spectrum of sound to be able to do more with drums.” He worked with Howard Oliver to build a larger set, which was soon marketed by Ludwig as the Octaplus. One of many songs on which that kit was featured was “Cherokee People” by Paul Revere & the Raiders.
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