「あなたが初めて曲にカウントしたのはいつですか？どこで、誰の為に、そしてその時どのように感じましたか？」

中学校の文化祭でGREEN DAYのコピーバンドをやりました。当時、僕の地元ではGREEN DAYはそこまで知名度はなく、同級生が演奏していたヘタクソなPUFFYのコピーバンドが凄く人気で、むかついた。

「ドラムをやっていない人に、ドラムを叩いている時どんな感じがするか、どのように説明しますか？」

自分が作りだすリズムでオーディエンスが気持ち良さそうにしてるのを見るのは至福の時だよ。

「いつもリハーサル（練習）の前に何をしますか？」

イメージトレーニングを常にしてる。

「いつもやっているウォーミングアップはありますか？」

手首と足首のストレッチ。

「これはリハーサルには異常だ、というものを何かリハーサルの時に持っていきますか？それは何ですか？」

特になし。

「あなたにとって典型的なリハーサルとは、どのようなリハーサルですか？」

本番を意識し、常に本気。

「あなたのドラム生活を簡単にするために、何を発明しますか？」

もっと視覚的に見られる機会がもっとあるとよい。その為には面白いクリニックを開くドラマーがいる必要がある。

「どのように完璧なキットを設計しますか？」

自らの体を鍛えるのみ。完璧などないので自分の精神力と肉体に向き合う事が一番大事。

「もし1つの事を指のスナップで直す事ができたら、あなたは何を直しますか？」

自分の精神力の弱さ。

「もしドラムを始めたばかりの日に戻ったら、何を変えますか？」

もっと練習

「あなたは、バンドでの自分の役割として何が見えますか？」

人間でいうと骨。ベースが肉でギターが表情。ボーカルは服。そんなイメージ

「特に難しい曲に直面した時、練習のテクニックを変えますか？その時、その障害をどのように克服しますか？ 」

ひたすら練習。

「過小評価しているドラマーは誰ですか？」

自分

「最近のお気に入りのドラマーは誰ですか？」

常に自分。

「あなたがドラムを始めるにあたって、インスパイアされた曲または人はいますか？

「その曲は何ですか？または、その人は誰ですか？」

BON JOVIのTico Torresには中学時代凄く影響を受けた。

「演奏していないとき、最近はどんな種類の音楽を聴いていますか？」

J-POPからハードコアまで

「どんな時に、曲を台無しにしそうになりますか？」

あっ。と思ったらその時はもう台無しになっている。 本能に忠実で、常に無心でやり続ける事が大事。

「ドラムセットの中でどの部分をいつも持ってくるのを忘れますか？」

忘れる事はない。

「ライブの時に一番傷つけてしまうものは何ですか？」

左手

「差し支えなければ、ライブで恥ずかしかった出来事を教えてください。 」

進行を間違える

「いつかやってみたい、あなたの理想・夢のライブはどんなライブですか？」

野外フェス。

「もしタイムマシンがあったら、何年に行って、どのバンドを見たいですか?」

バンドではなく歴史を感じたい。

感性を磨く事で音楽に生きてくると思っているので。

「他のドラマーにいつも聞いてみたいと思っている事は何ですか？」

何を基準に機材選びをしているのか。

If you are looking to play drums along with your favorite songs on your phone, Epic Drum Set from Chime Superior you might be an application want to check out. You can choose songs from your iPhone and tap along on a 6-piece drum set. It comes with two sets to choose from plus two more sets you can purchase.

There is also a recording feature that even allows you to record your self with your favorite songs. I liked that feature but there is no way to adjust the drum or song volumes. The drum kit kind of buried the songs. It is easy to name and delete songs but there is no way to export what you have recorded.

The free version of Epic Drum Set is ad supported. This wouldn’t be a big deal except a couple times, an ad had floated down and covered half the drum set when I was playing. For $0.99, you can get the ad free version if the ads are bothering your playing.

Give Epic Drum Set a download and see if you can play along with bands you like. It is harder than it seems and it is pretty fun to hear how off you were the whole song.

The space over your kickdrum pedal and inbetween your snare and toms is prime real estate. You can tuck all sorts of things to hit there with something like a LP Bass Drum Cowbell Holder.

If you are feeling generous though, you can put the holder on the other side of the kick drum. Let your band mate play the stinkin’ cowbell. Make them have to face you, while you are sweating your ass off of a hot stage because you are under some hot light and you can’t move to find a cooler spot to be.

I digress.

When did you realize you wanted to be an engineer?

Initially I wanted to play music and be in bands, but had no real interest in recording, other than the fact that it was a necessary step in getting your music across to the outside world. I had learned about most of the music I loved through records, and it was clear that some records just sounded way better than others, but I had always associated this with the artist, and never really considered the effect of the recording process on the sound of the record. When I eventually started playing in bands that made recordings in studios, the sound was usually pretty lousy. Comparing a recording that my band had just done to a record I knew and liked was usually a pretty large disappointment. Without the technical skill or the vocabulary to communicate substantively to the engineer about what was going on, there wasn’t much to be done about it. This frustration is what inspired me to start getting more involved with the recordings of bands that I was in, and eventually working on records of other bands/artists.

Where do you do most of your work lately?

The Terrarium studio, or the Sound Gallery studio here in Minneapolis. The Seedy Underbelly studio, which moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles a few years ago is an all time favorite.

Who are some of the artists you have recorded?

Recent years: Off With Their Heads, Banner Pilot, The Gateway District, Buildings, Gay Witch Abortion, Blood ‘n’ Stuff, Nato Coles, The New Standards, Still Pacific, Birthday Suits, Pink Mink

Ancient history: Dillinger Four, The Soviettes, Sweet JAP, Peaches, The Dollyrots, Ear Candy, Ouija Radio

What equipment issues seem to come up with drummers in the studio that hold up a recording session?

The most time consuming equipment issues often involve a piece of equipment (usually a snare drum or a cymbal) that has sentimental value to the drummer, but might not necessarily be the best sounding. It can be difficult, but it’s important to keep an open mind and let the sounds decide which equipment is best for the recording.

What is something you wish drummers would do more to prepare musically for a recording?

• If the recording will involve playing to a click track, practice with a click a LOT leading up to the session. Also finding a click tone that works best for you.
• Bring some decent cymbals, more than might seem necessary. Cymbal options are always helpful.

Who do you like to see drummers do while they are in the studio that they might overlook?

A drum set always sound better if the player considers the levels of the individual drums and cymbals, and creates a good mix of everything acoustically in the room. Often with loud headphone mixes, its easy to focus on individual close mic’d tracks instead of the natural balance of the set. The balance can be compensated for at the mixing console, but the result is never as strong or clear as when drummers mix themselves during the performance.

How does a drummer make or break a recording?

Of all the instrumentalists, the drummer has the most power to make or break a recording! In a rock band arrangement, the drums create a rhythmic lattice that all other instruments are subject to. Also, the tone of the drums and cymbals affect the overall sound of a recording more than any other single instrument. Sonically, the drum set is the only instrument that occupies everything from the very lowest to the very highest frequencies. Another reason why equipment choices and technique are so important.

It isn’t a fair question because there are so many kinds of drummers but do you have any favorite drummers?

Most every great, classic rock band has an equally great drummer. I like the ones that everyone likes: Ringo Star, John Bonham, Charlie Watts, Keith Moon, etc. They all brought personality and sound that helped their bands be as great as they were.

Alan Myers from Devo is an amazing, under celebrated drummer. Their music wouldn’t have been possible without a drummer like that! Clem Burke from Blondie is another great one. Some other favorites are: Topper Headon (The Clash), Phil Rudd (AC/DC), Mick Fleetwood, Bruce Gary (The Knack), David Robinson (The Cars), Roger Taylor (Queen), Bun E Carlos (Cheap Trick). These guys all sound awesome, and held much of the sound of their bands in the palms of their hands!

What do you like to listen to when you aren’t at work?

ALMOST anything available that was recorded before 1980. The ragtime and dixieland stuff from the early ’20s, country and pop from the ’40s and ’50s, bebop jazz from the ’50s and into the early ’60s, ’50s and ’60s rock/pop (vocal and instrumental), ’70s “album oriented rock”, ’70s “AM radio” or “mellow gold” pop, early ’70s jazz fusion, ’70s and early ’80s punk and new wave, ’80s indie music: anything on the SST label!

My favorite drum recordings are from the late ’70s - early ’80s. Recording technology reached its zenith for the first time. The Clash records, the first two Pretenders records, the first couple Cars records, Cheap Trick records. Blondie Parallel lines. The drums on ’70s disco records usually sound great. This is killing me, I’m leaving everybody out!

Whenever I am bored with my drum set setup, I have to admit I always forget woodblocks as an option to break up the monotony. They have a really nice warm yet loud, sharp sound. They really go well with driving, danceable beats. Replace a couple hi-hat hits with a wood block and you can really get musical.

Whether you go with wood or plastic is a matter of personal preference. A wood stick on a wood woodblock is going to give you a really sharp, cracking sound. If you go with plastic blocks like this large high pitched plastic block and this large low pitch plastic block, you’ll get a less sharp but still loud sound. The bright colors might be beneficial for you to see while you are in the middle of one of your frantic beats.

Me personally, I would be a fan of people hitting a wood block at the same time as the snare to add more flavor to a regular snare hit. Regardless of how you decide to use them, they are light, loud, and easy to mount in the unused spaces on your kit.

If you are thinking about purchasing a Mapex drum kit in the next couple months, you might want to check out this deal. From 2012–04–01 until 2012–06–30, Mapex is offering a free P500TW Double Bass Drum Pedal or a free T755A Drum Throne when you purchase a Mapex Meridian Maple or Meridian Birch drum kit. If you go the drum throne route, it come with a free PMK-M113 Hardware Bag.