$6 447 PEARL/V-CLASSIC LAST CHANCE TO WIN! , PRIZE PACKAGE! THE WORLD’S #1 DRUM MAGAZINE SSNNAARRKKYY PPUUPPPPYY’’SS RROOBBEERRTT ““SSPPUUTT”” SSEEAARRIIGGHHTT,, JJAASSOONN ““JJTT”” TTHHOOMMAASS,, aanndd LLAARRNNEELLLL LLEEWWIISS BBEEYYOONNDD C CHHOOPPSS! 21 ENCORE: STEVEN TYLER’S EXERCISES TO IMPROVE METALLICA’s SARAH TOMEK YOUR PULSE RIDE THE LIGHTNING SEPTEMBER 2016 + PLUS + INSIDE METHODS: AARON STERLING’S NEW VIDEO SERIES GEARING UP: WHITESNAKE’S TOMMY ALDRIDGE PRODUCT CLOSE-UP: C&C’S MAPLE GUM KIT SEPTEMBER 2016 Cover FINAL.indd 1 6/24/16 8:51 AM A Tribute to a Truly Remarkable Recording Mick Fleetwood and company immortalized in wood: Introducing the Collector’s Series® Rumours Icon snare drum. Meticulously crafted at the California Custom Shop from select North American Hard Rock Maple and finished in laser-cut, exotic wood inlays portraying Fleetwood Mac’s most iconic album cover. Only 250 will be made. To learn more and see Mick talk about his “new baby”, visit: dwdrums.com. 1©22016 MDRUoMd WeOrRnK SDHOrPu, mINCm. ALeL rR I G H JTuS nREeS E2R0V1ED4. DW Mick Icon - Icon Ad (MD).indd 1 5/16/16 9:04 AM Jason McGerr | DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE ny pa m Co h Vic Firt 6 01 ©2 unbeatable sound. VicKick Beaters® from Vic The first time Jason McGerr of Death Cab for Cutie tried out his VicKick Beaters®, his sound engineer said, “Hey man, what did you do? Your kick drum sounds amazing!” That’s because the VicKick Beaters® were designed from the ground up with sound quality as our absolute #1 priority. Check them out for youself. From the first beat, you’ll hear a difference. felt WOOD FLEECE Dual Position Dual Position 001_005_SEPTEMBER 2016.indd 4 6/22/16 2:57 PM Begins with Audix DD66 Audix pioneered application—specific microphones for drums and percussion. Designed for the kick drum, the D6 offers the perfect balance of ground- shaking lows along with clarity and attack. Lightweight and easy to set up, the Audix D6 sounds great in just about any position making it the mic of choice among top drummers as well as live and studio engineers all over the world. Audix is proud to have served the professional music and sound market for over 30 years. From our state-of- the-art manufacturing facility located in Wilsonville, Oregon, we design, machine, assemble and test our products. We strive to bring you high performance, innovative products —the kind that keep our customers coming back for more. Innovation. Excellence. Performance. www.audixusa.com 503.682.6933 ©2016 Audix Corporation All Rights Reserved. Audix and the Audix Logo are trademarks of Audix Corporation. 001_005_SEPTEMBER 2016.indd 3 6/22/16 2:57 PM Begins with Audix DD66 Audix pioneered application—specific microphones for drums and percussion. Designed for the kick drum, the D6 offers the perfect balance of ground- shaking lows along with clarity and attack. Lightweight and easy to set up, the Audix D6 sounds great in just about any position making it the mic of choice among top drummers as well as live and studio engineers all over the world. Audix is proud to have served the professional music and sound market for over 30 years. From our state-of- the-art manufacturing facility located in Wilsonville, Oregon, we design, machine, assemble and test our products. We strive to bring you high performance, innovative products —the kind that keep our customers coming back for more. Innovation. Excellence. Performance. www.audixusa.com 503.682.6933 ©2016 Audix Corporation All Rights Reserved. Audix and the Audix Logo are trademarks of Audix Corporation. 001_005_SEPTEMBER 2016.indd 2 6/22/16 2:57 PM I N T R O D U C I N G CHOOSE A CAM AND REDLINE YOUR PERFORMANCE. The all new Eliminator Redline offers you the perfect combination of speed, smoothness, power and finesse, exactly tailored to the way you play. No other pedal in the world even comes close to this level of personal tunability. With all new features borrowed from our renown Demon Drive pedal, Eliminator Redline is the perfect evolution of a pedal that set a standard others have yet to obtain. See it now- Pearldrum.com 4 unique cams allow you to customize the power and finesse for any situation. ALL NEW FEATURES All New Translucent Cams New Lightweight Receiver Cam High Performance Ninja Bearings Independent Traction Grips Control Core Quadbeater Zero Play Hinge Roller Hoop Clamp Click Lock Spring Adjustment Uni-Lock Beater Angle Cam CONTENTS Volume 40 • Number 9 30 On the Cover Snarky Puppy’s Robert “Sput” Searight, Larnell Lewis, and Jason “JT” Thomas . “The music was diff erent this time. The band has evolved. We’re trying to combine diff erent K a elements together. That’s why this record is groove based.” l tel S As senior Snarky drummer Robert Searight suggests, the band’s fi rst studio album in eight years, Culcha Vulcha, is all about the bigger picture—a grand tapestry of sound resulting from multiple drummers and percussionists carefully picking their parts and contributing to grooves of great depth. by Willie Rose Cover photos by Andy LaViolette and Christian Thomas Hynes FEATURES 20 Catching Up With…Flotsam and Jetsam’s 56 VICTOR DELORENZO. He established a sound and JASON BITTNER and Good Tiger’s ALEX RÜDINGER personality with alt-rock icons the Violent Femmes that remains long after his departure. But he’s not standing 40 SARAH TOMEK. Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler still, drumming-wise or otherwise. by Will Romano recently moved to Nashville to fi nd his solo voice, and the players he found there—including this barn-burning 60 UP & COMING: CHRIS WOOLLISON. If it’s not Jersey transplant—knew exactly what he needed. about chops, can it really be called prog? Poly-Math’s by Adam Budofsky texture-obsessed drummer unequivocally says yes— and backs it up brilliantly at the kit. by Ilya Stemkovsky 50 PAAL NILSSEN-LOVE. This Norwegian drummer’s worldview seemingly recognizes no borders whatsoever. 88 IN MEMORIAM: REMO BELLI by Ken Micallef Players and peers off er insight into one of the drum industry’s indisputable giants. EDUCATION EQUIPMENT DEPARTMENTS 64 Basics 22 Product Close-Up 8 An Editor’s Overview Fundamental Fills Tama Superstar Classic Drumset Competition Part 2: Solid 16th-Note Triplets Zildjian S Family Cymbals by Willie Rose by Donny Gruendler C&C Maple Gum Drumset 10 Readers’ Platform Promark ActiveGrip Forward 5A 66 Strictly Technique Drumsticks Treating, managing, and Hearing the Click on the “E” preventing blisters Shifting the Metronome to Improve Time 62 Gearing Up by Powell Randolph Whitesnake’s Tommy Aldridge 14 News Alex Shelnutt on A Day to Remember’s 68 Rock ’n’ Jazz Clinic 76 Shop Talk Bad Vibrations, Chris Turner on tour with Groove Construction, Part 5 Ludwig & Ludwig Super-Ludwig and Oceans Ate Alaska Ghost Notes Using an Ostinato Approach Super-Sensitive Snare Drums by Jost Nickel by Mark Cooper 18 It’s Questionable Humidity and Drums 70 Around the World 77 Collector’s Corner African Pop Meets American Funk Walberg and Auge 80 Showcase Exploring the Mangambe Rhythm The Forgotten Brand Lives Again featuring Drum Market by Steve Rucker by Harry Cangany 84 Critique 72 Rock Perspectives 78 New and Notable Beyond Turbines with Virgil Donati, a Groove Contraction quartet of Pat Mastelotto recordings. Creating Tension and Release by Aaron Edgar 86 Inside Methods Aaron Sterling’s Sound of Sterloid Vol. 1 74 Jazz Drummer’s Workshop Five-Note Patterns Win an Incredible Prize Package 87 Encore Analyzing and Exploring an Odd Grouping Metallica’s Ride the Lightning From Pearl Drums and V-Classic Cymbals! by Greg Sundel Page 83 94 Backbeats 75 Concepts Woodstick Groove 2016 Playing From the Inside Out Remove the Unintentional 96 Kit of the Month by Russ Miller Katrina Restoration AN EDITOR’S OVERVIEW Competition Founder Senior Art Director Ronald Spagnardi Scott G. Bienstock 1943–2003 Editorial Director Iw as recently asked to do Publisher/CEO Adam J. Budofsky a recording session that I Isabel Spagnardi couldn’t make due to scheduling Managing Editor confl icts. While going through Senior Vice President Michael Dawson Lori Spagnardi contacts to fi nd a sub, I was Associate Editor reminded of an unprompted Vice President Willie Rose comment that Robert “Sput” Kevin W. Kearns Searight made during our con- Editor at Large versation for this month’s feature Associate Publisher Billy Amendola on Snarky Puppy’s drummers. Tracy A. Kearns l Business and “The thing about Snarky il Advertising Director Content Development Puppy,” Searight said, “is that H e Bob Berenson Miguel Monroy everybody always asks or gets v a some notion that this is a bad Advertising Assistant Digital Media Director D thing—like there’s supposed LaShanda Gibson EJ DeCoske to be tension between three guys playing for one band. I’ve done The MD Pro Panel: Chris Adler, Gregg Bissonette, Jason Bittner, Will Calhoun, interviews where that’s been the underlying tone—How do you feel Terri Lyne Carrington, Matt Chamberlain, Jeff Davis, Peter Erskine, Bob Gatzen, about someone else playing your gig? From promoters to fans to YouTube Daniel Glass, Benny Greb, Matt Halpern, Horacio Hernandez, Gerald Heyward, comments—I’d have to tell JT to stop getting on there to defend our Taku Hirano, Susie Ibarra, Jim Keltner, Pat Mastelotto, Allison Miller, Rod Morgenstein, Chris Pennie, Stephen Perkins, Dafnis Prieto, Rich Redmond, Brian Reitzell, Jim Riley, rights, because he’s such a passionate guy. You can really get caught up Antonio Sanchez, Gil Sharone, Chad Smith, Steve Smith, Todd Sucherman, Billy Ward, in that. But we’re all really brothers and friends.” Kenny Washington, Paul Wertico Searight made the comment toward the end of my conversations with MODERN DRUMMER ADVISORY BOARD: SUBSCRIPTIONS: U.S. $29.95, Canada the three drummers, and at that point any idea that there was tension Kenny Aronoff, Eddie Bayers, Bill Bruford, $33.95, other international $44.95 per between them couldn’t have been more remote in my mind. Each of Harry Cangany, Dennis DeLucia, Les year. For two- and three-year subscription them possesses a tremendous admiration for the others’ playing, and DeMerle, Peter Erskine, Bob Gatzen, prices go to www.moderndrummer.com. Danny Gottlieb, Jim Keltner, Paul Leim, Single copies $5.99. on the newest Snarky Puppy album, Culcha Vulcha, they’ve crafted Peter Magadini, George Marsh, Rod tasteful and powerful music together. After all, these three drummers Morgenstein, Andy Newmark, Neil Peart, SUBSCRIPTION CORRESPONDENCE: were called to play on the same album because they’ve all subbed for Steve Smith, Billy Ward, Dave Weckl, Modern Drummer, PO Box 274, Oregon, Paul Wertico. IL 61061-9920. Change of address: each other in the past. If the relationship was tense, would those calls Allow at least six weeks for a change. have been made? CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Please provide both old and new Competition often emerges within the music and drumming Patrick Berkery, David Ciauro, address. Call 800-551-3786 John Emrich, Bob Girouard, Mike Haid, or 815-732-5283. Phone hours, community, and in some cases, it can have positive effects. A student Dr. Asif Khan, Rick Mattingly, Ken Micallef, 8AM–4:30PM Monday–Friday CST, striving to fi ll the captain role in a drum line might spend an extra hour Mark Parsons, Martin Patmos, Jeff Potter, or visit Subscriber Services at or so each day practicing—as opposed to something more distracting— Will Romano, Bernie Schallehn, www.moderndrummer.com. while improving and learning how to invest his or her time toward an Ilya Stemkovsky, Robin Tolleson, Lauren Vogel Weiss, Paul Wells. MUSIC DEALERS: Modern Drummer is end goal. distributed by Hal Leonard Corp., But when accompanied by a certain attitude, competition can derail MODERN DRUMMER magazine 800-554-0626, [email protected], opportunities. Going back through my list of recommendations for (ISSN 0194-4533) is published monthly www.halleonard.com/dealers by MODERN DRUMMER Publications, the session I couldn’t make, I ended up calling a friend I fi rst met while Inc., 271 Route 46 West, Suite H-212, INTERNATIONAL LICENSING attending a performing arts high school more than ten years ago. Fairfi eld, NJ 07004. PERIODICALS REPRESENTATIVE: Robert J. Abramson Admittedly, back then I harbored a somewhat negative competitive MAIL POSTAGE paid at Fairfi eld, NJ & Associates, Inc., Libby Abramson, 07004 and at additional mailing offi ces. President, 7915 Via Grande, Boyton nature. If someone else got the gig I wanted, or their band was given Copyright 2016 by MODERN DRUMMER Beach, FL 33437, [email protected]. a better spot on a bill, or I simply lacked another drummer’s talent, I Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. sometimes became naively envious and resentful, and some friendships, Reproduction without the permission of the POSTMASTER: Send address changes to publisher is prohibited. Modern Drummer, PO Box 274, Oregon, including one with the drummer I was now recommending, became IL 61061-9920. strained—no doubt due to my own faults. It felt like I was at war with EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING/ other drummers, and we certainly weren’t sharing gigs. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: Canadian Publications Mail Agreement MODERN DRUMMER Publications, No. 41480017 Return undeliverable After recently speaking with my friend about subbing, the 271 Route 46 West, Suite H-212, Canadian addresses to: PO Box 875, Stn A, conversation turned to competition among drummers, and we realized Fairfi eld, NJ 07004. Tel: 973-239- Windsor ON N9A 6P2 we both shared the same attitude years ago. Over time, perspectives 4140. Fax: 973-239-7139. shifted, and we started relying on each other for certain gigs and work. Email: [email protected]. MEMBER: National Association for Music Development, National Association of But how many opportunities to play with new musicians in different MODERN DRUMMER welcomes Music Merchants, Percussive Arts Society styles did I miss out on in the past because of the wrong attitude? manuscripts and photographic material Searight didn’t have to go out of his way to clarify the relationship but cannot assume responsibility for MODERN DRUMMER ONLINE: them. www.moderndrummer.com he has with Snarky Puppy’s drummers—it’s evident in their attitudes toward each other and the music they’ve created. Yet there’s a valuable PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES lesson there, and this drummer could’ve used it years ago. Music Key 8 Modern Drummer September 2016