"All drummers are crazy, aren't they?" -- Charlie Watts

YES, I'VE HEARD ALL THE DRUMMER JOKES EVER CREATED

On the one hand, I'm a big fan of the notion that the one most important piece of drumming knowledge I have is that I don't actually know very much. On the other, I feel like I have picked some things up on the way to that particular worldview that are worth sharing. Those things tend to fall into the categories listed on your right.

February 09, 2010

[main] Critiquing RollingStone.com's "Best Rock Drummers" List

My former employer just posted a crowd-sourced list of the best rock drummers. The most glaring omission is Bill Bruford (Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, U.K.).

As you would expect, I've got a whole bunch of quibbles -- although Bonham vs. Peart at the top of the list is largely a stylistic choice in my book, and I'll concede Ringo Starr and Keith Moon on their contribution to rock drumming as a whole. You can argue that Buddy Rich doesn't really count as a "rock" drummer, and/or that Tony Williams has more crossover potential. And Vinnie Colaiuta arguably belongs on the list, except that he doesn't have the name recognition as primarily a studio guy.

The three guys I would have liked to have seen included -- other than Bruford -- would be Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam), Phil Selway (Radiohead) and ?uestlove (The Roots). I'd be willing to drop Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell and probably Alex Van Halen to make room for them. Probably the only other guy I've seen mentioned in the comments so far that I'd agree with is Josh Freese.

The question then is whether or not getting 10 or 11 good picks out of 15 makes for a good list. I'm not sure, but I seem to think so. I'm just happy that neither Mo Tucker (Velvet Underground) nor Meg White (White Stripes) snuck on to the list, because then there'd be hell to pay.

Incidentally, the web page won't let me post a comment on the site, which is irritating, especially since it's been at least eight years since I could just yell over a cubicle wall to complain about it.

April 12, 2009

[drumming diary] No News Is...No News

Jim DeRogatis re-posted Billy Corgan's latest web manifesto, and while I haven't been contacted in any way regarding the drummer auditions that are apparently starting on Tuesday, that apparently doesn't mean the end:

We've received a staggering amount of submissions so far (over 1,000!), so let me say to everyone who has submitted thank you and God Bless you for having the courage to throw your name out there. The auditions on the 14th are just the first round of trying people out. There is no 'hurry' at the moment, as I'm not quite ready to record yet, and it's possible I may need more than one drummer for what my plans are. So for someone who may think they would never get a chance there is still time in the months ahead to keep trying. I view it as a process to find the right person(s) and it's important that the right consideration is given.

That first sentence is exactly what I expected from this process -- a statement that could read as a thinly veiled message to Jimmy Chamberlin about how many other people DO want to be in Billy's band, thankyouverymuch.

Now that I have such copious amounts of free time, it would be in my best interests to maybe make some inquiries and see if I have any sort of musical networking mojo left.

April 03, 2009

[drumming diary] Here Goes Nothin'

As some of you may have heard, Billy Corgan put out an open call to replace Jimmy Chamberlin in Smashing Pumpkins now that Chamberlin has left the band.

Part of me thinks this is a PR stunt so Billy can validate his rock star status by citing the number of e-mails he receives from potential drummers. Part of me thinks I'm way too old for this shit.

But at this point, it would be stupid not to at least throw my hat in the very large ring Billy has put out there. I sent an e-mail with my musical history and links to MP3s and all that yesterday. For all the well-wishing -- which I definitely appreciate -- this doesn't really strike me as all that bold. If I'm selected to audition in Los Angeles next week, then this is for real, but until then, it's just a crazy notion.

Still, why the hell not? I still feel like I bring something to the table, musically, and suffice it to say, this would be pretty much a perfect answer to the midlife crisis I've been mired in for the last year or so, provided Corgan isn't going through his own that necessitates a younger model backing him up. And it's got me listening to old recordings I've made, which has been a fun, nostalgic exercise.

RECENTLY

03/12/2009: [drumming diary] More Cowbell!
05/20/2008: [main] He Knows Of What He Speaks
05/18/2008: [drumming diary] Finding His Way
05/07/2008: [drumming diary] Just Missed Him
04/10/2008: [drumming diary] Words Of Wisdom
02/24/2008: [equipment] Sitting Pretty
01/05/2008: [drumming diary] The Lure Of The Large Kit
12/04/2007: [drumming diary] Back In The Saddle
11/07/2007: [drumming diary] Thirty Years
09/29/2007: [equipment] Long Overdue

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