Big Drum Thump

Drum and Drummer News and Photos

Month: December 2008

  • Grover Pro Percussion Won’t Raise Prices in 2009

    [Press Release]

    Grover Pro Percussion announces that they will have no price increases for their Grover line of concert percussion products in 2009, despite rising material costs and the state of the U.S. economy.

    “I know that our retail partners and customers are feeling the pinch due to economic conditions,” states Neil Grover, President and Founder of Grover Pro Percussion. “We’ve made the investment in efficiency improvements that allow us to hold 2008 pricing,” continues Grover. “As we enter 2009, I know that our customers will really appreciate our holding 2008 pricing. They will know that Grover Pro Percussion is not only sensitive to the market condition, but that we value the shared interests of our retail partners. Holding 2008 pricing is a great way to show our commitment to the percussion marketplace,” comments Grover.

    “Our ability to hold pricing really shows our customers that we care about them,” states Jim Simonian, Worldwide Director of Sales. “It’s important that our customers know that we not only make the world’s finest percussion products, but that we understand the retail side of the business,” continues Simonian. “The fact is that we actually are lowering pricing on two of our products; woodblocks and chime mallets, how many companies can claim that?” Simonian queried.

  • Top 5 Drum Albums of 2008

    The end of the year is upon us, and that means one thing for media sites the world over: best-of lists. Bazillions and bazillions of best-of lists. We here at BDT are by no means immune to this journalistic cancer, and so have put together our five favorite drum albums from 2008. We compiled the winners by checking our iTunes playlists for the songs that got the most spins. After eliminating tracks released before 2008 and ignoring stuff that would surely undermine our badass reputation (e.g., Sara Bareilles and Katy Perry), we came up with the discs you’ll find below. Mind you, these aren’t necessarily the best drumming performances the year had to offer; they are simply the ones that we listened to most often….which, actually, is pretty much the best testament one can offer.

    5. Dafnis Prieto, Taking the Soul for a Walk

    We downloaded this gem of a disc back in March, and it quickly became our Latin-infused jazz standard for 2008. Nothing else new in that vein came even remotely close in terms of number of listens. That’s all due of course to Prieto’s drumming and compositional instincts—textured and nuanced without being intrusive or masturbatory. We love this dude and can’t wait for a 2009 release, hopefully a live recording with his sextet.

    4. Army Navy, Army Navy

    We have so much affection for this indie pop debut and have played it so often that Army Navy managed to bust into the top 5 even though it was released just a few months ago. The drumming here is a masterful lesson in tune-conscious playing, so we weren’t shocked at all to discover that Pete Thomas, the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello, cut the tracks.

    3. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend

    Hipster darlings, and deservedly so for clever lyrics and catchy rhythms, the band Vampire Weekend made college kids everywhere in 2008 feel the white-washed African beat in their feet. We’ll give drummer Chris Tomson all the credit.

    2. The Mars Volta, The Bedlam in Goliath

    This is perhaps the one true drummy drum album on our list, but even it is primarily an example of what real musicians do with sophisticated, daring compositions. Very few drummers can play as many necessary notes as Thomas Pridgen does here, and the result is stunningly beautiful and monstrous and perfect.

    1. Stanton Moore, Emphasis! (On Parenthesis)

    Can we be any more emphatic about our love for Moore? Creative, grooving, and deliciously chop-laden all at the same time, this album has been on almost permanent repeat since it was released in April.

  • Kip Winger Doesn’t Think Lars Is Very Talented

    Remember Winger, that much derided eyeliner band from the ’80s who scored big with “Seventeen” and had the awesome Rod Morgenstein on drums? Well, Kip Winger, the band’s ballet-dancing front man, recently gave an interview to Metal Sludge in which he spoke quite candidly to a dude dressed in a banana suit. When asked the last time he threw darts at a photo of Lars Ulrich (a reference to Lars chucking pointy projectiles at a photo of Kip in a scene from A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica), the Kipster said:

    I’ve never done that. I really never had anything against the guy. In fact, when I first heard Metallica’s Black Album, I thought it was a really cool record… and then they just started taking shots at me, for whatever reason. But it’s okay, Lars is not really that talented. He’s got a lot of fucking money, though, so I’m sure he’s happy. I actually felt sorry for him when I saw that Some Kind of Monster documentary. He was sitting there next to his dad, just seething with unmoved emotion over things that were still unresolved. It was really kind of sad to watch. But I do like Metallica, they’re a good band.

    Old dude fight! Old dude fight!

    [via Metal Sucks]

  • American Classic Vic Grip Hickory Drumsticks

    A bunch of Vic Firth’s American Classic models now come outfitted with a Vic Grip, a new antislip drumstick coating made from an ecofriendly, water-based urethane. It provides a comfortable and slip resistant grip that is specially formulated to be extremely durable. You can grab a pair at your local drum shop, or just click here for some “Buy Now” options on Vic Firth’s site.

  • Cindy Blackman and Power-Jazz

    Bill Leikam over at All About Jazz has reviewed a recent Cindy Blackman show and coined a perfectly genius phrase to describe her playing: power-jazz. It’s a style marked by energy and passion, of course, but it’s also one in which the “drums become the lead instrument of the band and the other instruments most often support the drummer as a working unit, together.”

    Awesome. Now we just need power-reggae, power-country, and (why not?) power-polka.

  • If Santa Were a Drummer…

    …he would have left us this.

  • Bill Zildjian Wins Lawsuit Against Sabian Cymbals

    Bill Zildjian, son of Sabian founder Robert Zildjian, filed a lawsuit against his family and the cymbal company back in April, claiming that as a shareholder he was owed dividends. At the time, there was some talk that Sabian would be required to “wind up, dissolve and liquidate the company and assets as a whole” if necessary to pay up. That thankfully hasn’t come to pass, but a judge did recently rule against Sabian and award Bill $517,575 for dividends owed plus another $2,500 for court costs. No word yet on whether Sabian will appeal the judgment…or if Bill was invited over for Christmas dinner.

    Update: Bill Zildjian was also awarded five percent interest on the outstanding dividend payments, which amounts to another $200,000. Sabian is definitely appealing the ruling. The lawsuit will likely drag deep into next year and get much uglier because Bill is alleging that “his father Robert misuses company funds for personal expenses and that his brother Andy actively undermines his position and influence on the business. He also claims his father has ignored established business regulations and protocols so as to maintain complete control of Sabian Ltd.”

  • Top 5 Stocking Stuffers for Drummers

    There are just a few hours left before the jolly fat fellow stuffs himself down chimneys the world over. Because you’re just now getting to your xmas shopping (don’t even try to pretend otherwise), we’ve put together a handy list of stocking stuffers for the drummers in your life. Forget the candy canes, underwear, socks, and photos of fat Aunt Bertha’s 30 cats. This is the stuff that drummers really want to find swinging from a mantle. We’ve listed our choices from roughly the least to the most pricey.

    5. Drumsticks. Every drummer uses them, and every drummer goes through enough pairs to level a rain forest. If the thumper in your life already has a bag full of virgin wood, just buy another pair anyway. Trust us. Depending on the brand and model, you’ll only have to shell out somewhere between $6 and $16. And in case you are interested in giving gifts to absolute strangers, I am hoping for a pair of Vic Firth’s new and hot black 5As.

    4. Subscription to a Drumming Magazine. What?! We’re recommending an actual, old-school magazine? Yep, print is not dead quite yet, and that’s particularly true of drumming magazines, which still are the main source for extended interviews with pro drummers. The great granddaddy of drumming mags is of course Modern Drummer. A one-year subscription to this stalwart publication costs $29.97. The more hip DRUM! magazine and its superb sister publication TRAPS cost $19.95 and $15, respectively, for a one-year subscription. Drumhead, the new and quite good-looking kid on the block, can be had for $24.95 for a one-year subscription. Those are the biggest and best print drum mags published in America. For international magazines written in English, check out Drummer, Rhythm, and Drumscene.

    3. Bass Drum Beater. If your drummer uses felt, pick up a wood model so that s/he can experiment with the differences in sound and feel. Though many current pedals, like Taye’s awesome Metalworks, already come with a multisided beater (e.g., wood, felt, and plastic), having a spare is still essential for every gigging drummer, and it never hurts to give an extra to all garage warriors as well. A good beater will set you back somewhere between $15 and $40.

    2. Metronome. Timing is everything for drummers, and most of us will spend our lives trying to get it just right. Help us out a little by slipping a metronome our way. There’s an enormous variety available, ranging from about 30 bucks right up to a couple of hundred.

    1. In-Ear Monitors. So you’re a big Cheddy Johnston with plenty o’ bucks to spare? Spend some of them on the ultimate stocking stuffer for drummers: in-ear monitors. They allow us to hear what the hell our bassist is playing on all those stadium gigs, but more important they allow us just to hear period. In-ear monitors protect our delicate tympanic membranes from harmful volumes and frequencies so that we’ll have a long lifetime of thumping bliss. In-ears range from $200 to over $1,000, but if you gift a pair, you’ll forever have a club-wielding bruiser as a best buddy.

  • Zildjian Releases Two New Signature Sticks

    Two of our favorite drummers, the incomparably funky John Blackwell and the understatedly awesome Ronnie Vannucci, have released some new wood with Zildjian. Blackwell’s whacker is 100% hickory, measures in at 16 1/8″ long with a 0.57″ diameter, and features a beefy neck, short taper, and a wood barrel tip. Vannucci has opted for a 16″ maple stick with a diameter of 0.610″. It features an oversized barrel tip and some artwork sketched by Ronnie himself.

  • Felonies of Drumming: Singing

    “I could stand out front and sing Eagles songs that I sing in my set, but I think people enjoy watching me sing and play the drums. It seems to fascinate people.”
    —Don Henley, liar

    Listen, I don’t care if you have the voice of the fucking Angel Gabriel himself. If you are a drummer, you should not sing. Ever. Seriously, not ever. Ok, maybe (maybe) if you really need to do backups because your bass player is too busy slapping/popping during the chorus I guess there are worse things in the world….Those things are: The Holocaust, 9/11, Darfur, and a drummer who is also the lead singer.

    First of all, what is even remotely cool about sitting down while singing? Obviously absolutely fucking nothing. Second, let’s keep a drummer’s job in perspective. Regardless of your finesse, you are the caveman of the band. You hit things with pieces of wood. That is awesome; that means by default you are also the badass. But when you’re worried about correct enunciation during the bridge, you’re just the fucking nerd who takes forever to set up his complicated instrument.

    It’s not like Phil Collins is really ever cool unless he’s a puppet, but even he knew enough to let Bill Bruford take over live drums in Genesis (…though Phil later decided to use drumsticks as a mic in “Invisible Touch” and it was real sad).

    I know there are some exceptions such as Low, Lightning Bolt, and The Beatles, but these bands are or were known for high levels of experimentation…which your Thin Lizzy cover band is not, even if you do a sweet rototom solo during “Jailbreak.”

    I was going to go on this giant rant about drummers using headsets, but instead I’m just going to link to this kid getting caught jerking off to World of Warcraft to illustrate my point.

    And finally, if you’re one of those drummers who doesn’t need a mic but has a song in mind that you wouldn’t mind performing maybe during the mellow part of the set, get over there in line with the tiny kitty man who used to have a job.

    Give us your opinion on drummers that sing:

    1. I would rather see all of my loved ones sold into slavery than see a drummer sing.
    2. Drummers can be allowed to sing, but should be fined heavily. With groin kicks.
    3. I only hate drummers who sing because my stepdad was in Night Ranger.
    4. I think drummers singing is a bad idea unless it’s this super annoying video of me playing Rock Band.
    5. I have zero shame and expect the same from all drummers.

  • New Soundcasters From Meinl

    Made from a B12 bronze alloy, the new line of Soundcaster Fusion cymbals from Meinl features two types of lathing to produce a sound described as “rich, full, and warm with enhanced wash and a relatively short sustain.”

    Available models and prices are below:

    • 10″ Splash: $204
    • 14″ Medium Hi-Hat: $570
    • 16″ Medium Crash: $370
    • 18″ Medium Crash: $440
    • 18″ China: $440
    • 20″ Medium Ride: $510
    • 20″ Powerful Ride: $510
    • 22″ Powerful Ride: $640

  • Stanton Moore’s Signature Snare

    [Press Release]

    Renowned drummer Stanton Moore is pleased to announce the release of his long-awaited signature Titanium snare drum. Stanton is set to unveil the drum at this year’s Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, CA.

    “The whole idea started about 6 or 7 seven years ago when I met drumsmith Ronn Dunnett for the first time and started to become familiar with his incredible drums.” said Moore. “I saw some of his titanium drums and I was intrigued. He explained the sound characteristics of titanium and I became very interested in the sonic possibilities. I asked Ronn if he could make one as a 4″ x 14”. His reply was something along the lines of ‘I’ll give it a shot.’ A few months later Ronn presented me with the 1st prototype. Immediately fell in love with the drum—its sound, its tone and its feel. As I was playing to larger rooms with Galactic, I needed a drum that would be sensitive and buttery enough for the intricate buzz roll work that I do with some of the New Orleans second line grooves, but would also cut through a loud funk band when I smacked a back beat. This drum had what I was looking for. Over the years Ronn and I experimented with various depths (the drum is now 4.5″ in depth), thickness of the shell, depth of the snare bed, lugs, strainers, snare wires, rims, claws and other details, but more than anything we agonized over the badge. Finally over lunch one day I showed Ronn an image of the New Orleans water meter cover (not sewer or man-hole, but water meter!). The New Orleans water meter cover is one of the most beloved and iconic images in New Orleans culture. We were very excited with the idea of modifying the meter cover into the badge for my snare and ultimately I feel like the badge pays homage to the city that my fellow citizens and I are fighting to protect and rebuild.” Although Moore is a Gretsch endorser, he received the company’s blessing for his drum as Gretsch has no plans to offer a Titanium snare drum. “My intentions are to maintain my great working relationship with Gretsch while making this particular snare drum available to the public so other drummers can enjoy this drum as much as I have.”

    The aesthetics of Stanton’s drum were inspired by a 20s era snare drum that was given to him by his friend and mentor Johnny Vidacovich. Unfortunately that drum was stolen. “It was 4″ x 14″ with tube lugs and single flange hoops and claws. I always dug the look and feel of that drum. In deciding on the look of my drum I kept recalling the drum that Johnny had given me. I thought it would be cool to incorporate the metal hoop and claw look of an older drum with the modern titanium shell. I’m always trying to blend the old with the new…to modernize tradition. Everywhere I play this drum, drummers, engineers, producers and fans of music alike approach me and ask me ‘what is that drum?’ I feel Ronn and I have created a drum that is special and deserves to be out in the market. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I have.”

    The Stanton Moore Spirit of New Orleans Titanium snare drum features a polished titanium shell, beautifully minted badge in antique pewter finish, traditional brass tube lugs, Single flange hoops with clips or regular triple flange hoops, the Dunnett R2 snare throw off system with keyless snare wire release, Dunnett Hypervent! adjustable air vent, and Puresound Metrix 20 strand snare wires. The drum will be distributed exclusively through the Bosphorus cymbal company. Price TBA.

  • Dave Grohl’s Top 10 Drummer Jokes

    A little self-effacing drummer humor, courtesy of a very old Dave Grohl article, to get us in the holiday spirit:

    10. What’s the last thing a drummer says in a band?
    “Hey guys, why don’t we try one of my songs?”

    9. How many drummers does it take to change a light bulb?
    None: they have a machine to do that now.

    8. What do you call a drummer that breaks up with his girlfriend?
    Homeless.

    7. How can you tell when the drum riser is level?
    Drool comes out of both sides of the drummer’s mouth.

    6. How can you tell a drummer’s at the door?
    He doesn’t know when to come in.

    5. How can you tell a drummer’s at the door?
    The knocking speeds up.

    4. How many drummers does it take to change a lightbulb?
    Five: One to screw the bulb in, and four to talk about how much better Neil Peart would have done it.

    3. What is the difference between a chiropodist and Ginger Baker?
    A chiropodist bucks up your feet.

    2. How many drummers does it take to change a lightbulb?
    Just one, so long as the roadie gets the ladder, sets it up and puts the bulb in the socket for him.

    1. What do Ginger Baker and canteen coffee have in common?
    They both suck without Cream.

  • Taye Unveils New Website Design

    Click on over and check out Taye’s new site. Product info is easier to find now, and at the bottom of the homepage are some sweet audio files that demonstrate Taye’s drum lines. We have the GoKit groove on permanent repeat.

  • Dixon’s “Drum Your Way to Hollywood” on TV

    Remember that Dixon drum contest we reported on way back in July? Lou Mars came out on top, and besides getting a new Demon drum kit from Dixon, he won the chance to play for a panel of music insiders and pros. The entire event was taped for the A&R channel and will be showing until January 31, 2009. If you don’t have OnDemand, we’ve embedded a video of the program below, courtesy of Dixon’s blog. It’s fun watching Lou get his groove on (and it’s even more fun watching his leg spasms), but frankly the video is most notable for whipping out some of the best homespun drumming advice we’ve heard in quite a while.

    Near the beginning, producer Ken Deans says this in response to the question, “What does it take to be a great drummer?”

    You just want to play honest. If you’re a great Ringo Starr-type player, don’t try and be Neil Peart. And if you’re a Neil Peart player, don’t pretend that you’re going to be Charlie Watts. Do what you do.