Drum Channel Podcast: Recent Episodes
Drum Channel
The Drum Channel Podcast is where you will hear conversations with the world's greatest drummers and percussionists. Hear their stories and be inspired to take your drumming to the next level.
Hello everyone, welcome to Billy’s Bubble! This episode features a behind-the-scenes look into Def Leppard’s Rick Allen and singer/songwriter Lauren Monroe’s organization Raven Drum Foundation. The organization was started twenty years ago by Rick & Lauren to raise awareness of healing through music, with drum circles, (with many top drummers & musicians) and raising funds for Veterans, First Responders, and people suffering from trauma. This show features a conversation between a few Raven drummers, Styx’s Todd Sucherman, Godsmack’s Shannon Larkin, Widespread Panics Duane Trucks, Allman/Betts John Lum, Ace Frehley/Mr.Big Matt Starr, session legend Alvin Taylor, myself, and Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe. We dig in deep on this one! Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here. My guest today Fred Coury is mostly known as the drummer from the eighties MTV-multi-platinum-band Cinderella. Coury and Cinderella parted ways in 1991 and Fred joined Stephen Pearcy of Ratt to form the band Arcade and record two albums. Fred also briefly substituted for GnR’s drummer Steven Adler in 1987 when health issues forced Adler off the road. At age five, Coury started taking violin lessons and by age six, studied at the Beirut Conservatory of Music in Beirut, Lebanon. At age ten, he added the trumpet to his repertoire, and at age twelve he started playing the drums. Shortly after, as a teen, Coury was accepted to Berklee School of Music in Boston, for violin. These days Coury spends most of his time in his Los Angeles recording studio, Double Forte Music, composing as an Emmy multi-award-winning composer for top television shows and sports teams.
In 2021, Coury also co-produced pop sensation and singer/songwriter Debbie Gibson’s “The Body Remembers”
An avid hockey fan, Coury combined his love of the sport with his musical skills to create the “Goal Song” theme for the LA Kings hockey team.
Let’s welcome Fred. Enjoy!
Hello everyone! Billy A. here with my guest Cole Marcus, who is no stranger to our Drum Channel audience.
I remember meeting and seeing Cole mesmerize a crowd at a NAMM SHOW when he was four years old, which doesn’t sound odd these days, but over two decades ago, it wasn’t as common as now.
These days, now twenty-five years old, Cole has released a new single “Cause & Effect,” which he wrote, recorded, sang, as well as playing all the instruments.
In this segment, we talk about recording, songwriting, his early years appearing in movies, and TV commercials, and transitioning into composing for films.
Let’s welcome Cole back to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here on Drum Channel with my long-time friend and R&B/Soul legend Earl Young. Earl, known as the founder and singer of the group The Trammps, (and recording drummer) took the disco world to the mainstream pop charts with their smash hit “Disco Inferno” among others. Always having success as both a vocalist as well as a drummer, many didn’t realize that Earl, along with the rhythm section, of the late, Ronnie Baker and Norman Harris, created what’s known as TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) Along with producers/songwriters Gamble & Huff, the trio went on to record classic R&B/Soul hits throughout the 70s. Creating a sound all their own. When the Baker, Harris, and Young hit-making machine stretched out to form MFSB and Salsoul Orchestra, the trio took their trademark sound with them. Let’s listen in on how Earl’s career started from his early childhood to his teens, to an adult, to a now young 84-year-old, who’s still out playing and touring with his version of Earl Young and The Trammps. This show is a history lesson for sure. Enjoy!
Hello everyone! John Cowsill is back, and this time he brought his beautiful wife Vicki. Most of you on Drum Channel should be familiar with John’s career, he’s been drumming almost as long as he’s been walking. We’re going to talk about his appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show at age eight years old with his family band The Cowsills, and their hit song, “The Rain The Park and Other Things” (which most people know as “The Flower Girl” song.) and also the inspiration for the popular TV show The Partridge Family and more. We speak to Vikki about her group The Bangles, featuring Debbi Peterson (Vicki’s sister) on drums & vocals, Susanna Hoffs on guitar & vocals, and bassist Micki Steele (who before joining in 1983, was in The Runaways for a minute) replacing original and now current bassist Annette Zilinaskas. The female foursome went on to become one of the most popular bands of the eighties with hits, “Manic Monday,” Walk Like an Egyptian,” Eternal Flame,” and “Hazy Shade of Winter,” along with sold-out tours all over the world. Vicki’s sister Debbi also joins us, via Zoom, to talk about her experience as the drummer/singer in the Bangles, getting started, a few of her influences, and more. Happy New Year! Let's enjoy!
Hello, my Drum Channel family! Billy Amendola here in my “Bubble” with, our special guest, superstar Rick Astley. Before exploding on the pop charts in the 1980s, Astley was playing drums in bands and singing from behind the kit. Once he stepped out front, a new calling began. He was labeled one of the best singers to come out of the U.K. and take America by storm with his powerhouse vocal style with his two number-one hits, “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever.” Working for songwriters/producers Stock, Aitken, and Waterman, the most successful songwriting and producing teams of the 80s, scoring more than 100 UK top 40 hits and selling over 40 million records, Rick became an international star. In 1993, Rick took a six-year hiatus to take a break from stardom to raise a family. He was itching to return after seeing how much he was missed and respected in the industry by writing, recording, and playing all the instruments in his home studio as a present to himself, turning 50 years old. He has since released new music, played huge shows, and found out Dave Grohl and one of his favorite bands, the Foo Fighters, were huge fans. Rick talks about his insight into the songwriting and recording process, as well as his continued passion for playing drums. Listen to this one with your family and friends. Enjoy the words & music.
Hello Hello! Billy Amendola in my “Bubble” with today’s guest, who is not only one of the most respected musicians/producers on the planet, but he’s also been a mentor, an inspiration, and a dear friend to me for decades.
He appeared on the scene in NYC from Michigan as a drummer and teacher. A few of his students include Omar Hakim, the late Tony Thompson, and many others who launched successful careers.
At 21, he joined the Mahavishnu Orchestra on the recommendation of their previous drummer (who was at the top of his game with the title “greatest drummer”), the one and only Billy Cobham.
Now a band-member, he goes from the road into the studio to work on the next Mahavishnu album with John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, and legendary Beatles producer George Martin. A few years later, he took the world by storm on the dance floor by releasing his solo album; singing, writing, producing, and playing, and he became a star in his own right. If that wasn’t enough, a few years later, he became one of the world’s Top Ten producers of all time, crafting number-one hits for Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Cindy Blackman, the list goes on and on. With Multiple hit records, Grammy after Grammy, as a band leader, solo artist, producer, singer/songwriter, spiritual leader, and drummer, touring with Jeff Beck, Journey, and his band, there’s nothing the man can’t do. We catch up to discuss his latest album “Euphoria” and more. Please welcome Narada Michael Walden back to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello Everyone, welcome to “Billy’s Bubble” on Drum Channel.
Today’s show features my co-host, longtime friend, and the beat on every Billy Joel hit, Liberty DeVitto.
Lib & I got together to honor and pay tribute to the late great Hall of Fame drummer Dino Danelli.
The legendary drummer best known as an innovator, inspiration, and influence to thousands of musicians, first with the 60/70s band The Rascals, featuring Gene Cornish, Felix Cavaliere, and Eddie Bragati (managed by Sid Bernstein), and then as a band member of Bulldog, FotoMaker, and Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul.
The day this podcast is airing is the one-year date Danelli passed away on December 15, 2022, at age 78.
Billy & Lib, along with a little help from a few fellow admires, and friends, to talk all things Dino, The Rascals, and more. Enjoy this special episode.
Hello everyone! This is a “Billy's Bubble” segment here on Drum Channel, and my guest today is a friend and drummer/bandmate for one of the most popular pop/rock bands on the planet, The Struts.
The new album “Pretty Vicious” is the band's fourth album, and each gets better and better. The band is ending the 2023 tour and already getting prepared for 2024.
Gethin and I talk about a few tracks from the latest album, advice on keeping a band together, keeping egos in check, and what it’s like to be a “Rock Star.”
I’m happy to welcome Gethin back. It’s always a pleasure. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy A. and my guest today on Drum Channel is Rick Springfield’s Jorge Palacios. Jorge has been touring and recording with Springfield since 2010. The gig was originally scheduled for three days as a fill-in for drummer Roger Carter, who was going through health issues at the time and it became the start of a long music relationship with Rick and the band. In the nineties, Jorge was playing in the Mustard Seeds with two members who also went on to be part of Springfield’s band, guitarist George Bernhardt and bassist Matt Bissonette. Let’s find out about touring with Rick, Jorge’s early days, his personal family sacrifices, and more. Let’s welcome Jorge Palacios to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello everyone! Billy Amendola here, and my show today is one of my “Billy’s Bubble” segments, featuring Marshall Chess, the son of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess. Chess, a Polish/Jewish immigrant, and his brother Phil created what many describe as “America’s Greatest Blues label.” You’ve heard of Willie Dixon, Howlin Wolf, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and other legendary blues musicians from The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles. They all were pioneers on the legendary label. My guest, Marshal Chess, now 81 years young, grew up in the studio and became vice-president in 1969 before going on to become president of GRT, and then creating Rolling Stones Records, and becoming executive producer of The Rolling Stones albums “Sticky Fingers” and “Exile on Main Street. Also featured on the show is Marshal’s long-time collaborator, producer/drummer/engineer Keith Leblanc. The two met at SugarHill Records and have worked together since. They now have a new record, “The Chess Project,” featuring seasoned players and singers who reinterpret Chess gems from Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Little Walter, and Sonny Boy Williamson. The album is titled “New Moves.” Keith, both an acoustic drummer and a pioneer in programming and playing drum machines and electronic loops, became known with his band Tackhead, who were successful in Europe, where Keith lived for a few years. His solo record, “No Sell Out,” is one of the first sample-based releases. Keith kick-started his career at SugarHill Records and later Tommy Boy Records, two of the most successful labels in hip-hop and dance music. In the ’90s, Keith worked in the studio with producer Trevor Horn in the UK, programming, and playing drums with Annie Lennox, Tina Turner, and Seal’s first album, among others. Let’s dive into this historical career with two pioneers in our industry and welcome Marshal & Keith to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here with my guest today, drummer T.J. Steinwart from the upcoming independent rock band Feel.
If you’re a fan of late 60s British rock drumming and California 70s blues/rock, you will dig T.J. and the band Feel.
The vibe of the young band from St. Louis, Missouri, floats back to the sounds of Humble Pie, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, and the Black Crows combined with flavors reminiscent of newer generation bands like Rival Sons & Dirty Honey.
I am a fan of finding new music and drummers, especially bands, which we don’t have enough of. I came across a video of the band, and I liked it enough to do research to find out more about T.J. and the band.
Let’s welcome him to Drum Channel and find out the story bbehind Feel, one of the new bands keeping the rock flag flying high and proud. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here on Drum Channel with my guest, Donald Barrett. Donald recently wrapped up a Las Vegas residency with superstar artist Lady GaGa on her “Piano & Jazz” show. Over the years, Donald has toured and or performed with Toni Braxton, Seal, Tony Bennett, Sade, Pussycat Dolls, Dolly Parton, and Josh Kelly. From 2006 to 2009, Donald was the house band drummer for TV's “Last Call With Carson Daly.” DC chats with Donald about his Vegas Jazz gig with GaGa featuring a thirty-piece-orchestra, learning brushes from Ed Thigpen, playing in church, playing cruise ships, moving to California, being a music director for Colbie Caillat, and more. Let’s welcome Donald to the Drum Channel Podcast. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy Amendola and I’m in Brooklyn, New York in my bubble for this special episode. My guests today are two members of the band Mammoth WVH Garrett Whitlock and Wolfgang Van Halen.
As on the previous Mammoth debut, which started as a solo project, Van Halen writes and plays all the instruments, vocals and drums.
Band member Garrett Whitlock and leader and founder Wolfgang Van Halen both share drumming duties on the video for the bands new single “I’m Alright.”
On tour, Garrett plays drums while Wolfgang sings, plays guitar, bass and fronts the band.
DC talks to both Garrett and Wolfgang, who played together in Tremonti before joining forces for Mammoth WVH, about their playing and personal relationship, the current tour, being band members and more. Let’s welcome them to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, welcome to “Billy’s Bubble” on Drum Channel. In this segment, we talk to independent country/pop artist Jessica Lynn. Jess recently returned from a long-awaited two-month European tour that was planned to take place just as the pandemic began. We talk to Jess about the tour, her career as an independent artist/singer/songwriter, her tips, and her determination to stick to her gut feelings while maintaining passion, focus, and positive energy. And she plays drums! Jess’ first full-length record, "Lone Rider," was released in 2022. It landed on the top of the charts on Amazon Music as the only female and independent artist in the Top 5. She shortly after reached the #1 spot in both the USA and UK. On iTunes, the release also charted in the US at #5 in country music, breaking the Top 20 in Canada and the Top 50 in Belgium. “Lone Rider’s” debut went on to chart at #41 on the Top Current Country Albums Chart by Music Connect / Billboard, securing Jessica’s spot as the only independent artist in the Top 45. Let’s learn more about Jess and warmly welcome her to my bubble and the Drum Channel family.
Hello everyone! My guest today is Hooters drummer and long-time band member David Uosikkinen. David and the band recently recorded and released a new album, “Rocking & Swing,” that took the band back to their original ska/reggae sound from the early eighties. The band of forty-plus years has just wrapped up their European/US tour, their first lengthy tour in decades. David has a documentary, “Heart of The Beat,” that premiered in October 2023 at Philadelphia’s longest-running indie film festival. I’ve seen the film and for as long as I’ve been a fan of David & The Hooters, I learned more than what I knew. And, there’s cool photos and footage. I like its casual and honest narrative. Let’s welcome David to Drum Channel to talk about the incredible success of the band, the documentary, his solo project “In The Pocket” and more!
Hello, it’s me, Billy Amendola, on “Billy’s Bubble here on Drum Channel.
My guest today is music director Ray Chew. Ray was a child prodigy since the age of six, he was a first-call studio and touring musician since the mid-seventies, and he’s been on TV producing and leading house bands for over two decades.
He’s worked with Melba Moore, Ashford & Simpson, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Diana Ross, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Pharrell Williams, Justin Bieber, Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Pitbull, Queen Latifah, and Jennifer Hudson to name a few.
His TV shows as music director and performer include, Live at the Apollo, American Idol, The Grammy’s, Primetime at the Emmys, both Miss Universe and Miss USA Pageants, and Macys Thanksgiving Parade and 4th of July Celebrations. These days, since 2014, you can catch him on the hit TV show Dancing With The Stars.
Let’s welcome Ray Chew to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here in NYC on the Drum Channel Podcast.
Today, my guest, Daxx Nielsen, who joined the superstar band Cheap Trick over a decade ago, talks with us about his experience with the legendary band, sharing a tour opening with Rod Stewart, his early years with his original band Harmony Riley with his brother Miles, and more.
Let’s welcome Daxx to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Drum Channel East. The Bronx is in the house today! My guest Tony Cintron, is best known as both a percussionist and drum set player. A native New Yorker Tony has recorded and toured with many of the best in the industry playing R&B, smooth-jazz, Latin-jazz, salsa, gospel, pop and rock. One of Tony’s first big gigs out of New York City was with legendary vocalist Roberta Flack at Carnegie Hall, sharing rhythm section duties with bassist Marcus Miller and the late great percussionist Ralph MacDonald. That experience led him to gigs with R&B singers Phyllis Hyman, Angela Bofill, Audrey Wheeler, Lisa Lisa, Phil Perry, and more. In the early eighties, Tony became a band member of the group Unlimited Touch, which had a few dance hits, especially “I Hear Music in The Streets,” which hit number six on the Dance charts in 1981, and was later sampled by producer Sean Combs (Diddy) in 1999 for the Faith Evans song "All Night Long.” Let’s Welcome, Tony Cintron to Drum Channel.
Hello everyone, welcome! I’m Billy Amendola and my guest today live in the studio at Drum Channel East is Billy Idol’s Erik Eldenius.
Erik stopped by on his day off of touring with Idol to chat about his career, working with Billy for the past twelve years, (on a recommendation from producer/songwriter/drummer Keith Forsey), his first taste of success as a band member of Adam Cohen’s band Low Millions and more.
Besides Idol and Low Millions, Erik has played and or recorded with Cher, Donna Summer, Venice, LeAnn Rimes, Five For Fighting, Anastacia, Vanessa Carlton, and Mandy Moore, to name a few. Let’s welcome Erik to DC East.
Hello everyone, welcome to “Billy’s Bubble” here on Drum Channel. Joining Amendola for this week's cover story features one of the most popular hit-making young producers, musicians, and songwriters Pete Nappi.
Billy first met Pete in 2016 at an off-tour show in Brooklyn, New York for iHeart radio station Z-100. Nappi was drumming and producing his LA-based trio, Ocean Park Standoff, who had just released their self-titled EP on Hollywood Records. The band was riding the success of their hit single “Good News,” which became one of the most requested songs on the station’s playlist.
Fast forward four years later, and Nappi is on his way to becoming a hit-making machine, producing the international #1 hit “abcdefu” by Atlantic Records' newly signed teen, Gayle. From there, Pete proceeded to work with Jared Leto (30 Seconds To Mars), Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park), Kesha, Shinedown, Meghan Trainor, and Chainsmokers, to name a few.
The Berklee College of Music student who studied film scoring and classical percussion with a minor in conducting, as well as honing his production skills, scored a publishing deal with Universal Music Group under the guidance of Arthouse publisher, singer-songwriter Kara DioGuardi.
Nappi recently wrote, played, and produced the Jonas Brothers sixth studio record, The Album, containing the first two hit singles, “Waffle House” and "Wings, as well as producing and co-writing the latest Maroon Five album.
Let’s listen in as Pete tells Drum Channel his journey from touring drummer to producer/songwriter and more. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy A. here, and my guest is drummer/producer/composer Tal Bergman.
Tal has worked with Billy Idol, Chaka Khan, B.B. King, Dave Mason, Roger Daltrey, Sammy Hagar, Simple Minds, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Gibbons, Herb Alpert, Chris Botti, Terence Trent D’Arby, Peter Cetera, Heart, Belinda Carlisle, A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and LL Cool J. to name a few.
Tal is also an Associate Producer and drummer on the seven-time multi-platinum and Grammy nominated album “It Had To Be You ... The Great American Songbook by Rod Stewart.”
And if that’s not enough he’s the bandleader, producer, and drummer of his jazz-funk supergroup Rock Candy Funk Party.
Let’s welcome Tal Bergman to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello Drum Channel family! Billy A here and my guest today is Steve Rucker.
Steve is known these days as one of the most respected educators on the planet. Since 1979, Rucker has been the Director of Drum-set Studies at the University of Miami, Florida.
Steve’s also a well-known touring and recording artist, mainly as the drummer in The Bee Gees for the second part of their triumphal comeback.
We talk about both experiences and much more. Let’s welcome Steve Rucker. Enjoy!
Hello, it’s me, Billy Amendola, here at Drum Channel East with my guest Joey Cassata. I I first became aware of Joey and his band ZO2 with the Z brothers Paulie and the late David Z., from their IFC comedy TV series Z Rock. The trio recorded a few albums, and went on tour opening for their childhood idols. Joey is also a member Trans Siberian Orchestra for thirteen plus years. He’s written an Amazon top-selling biography, and performed on Broadway with Josh Groban. Let’s welcome Joey to Drum Channel.
Hello everyone, welcome to Drum Channel. I’m Billy Amendola, and my guest for this segment is Brian Dunne. Brian is currently on tour backing both Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren. Dunne is also the house drummer for the TV show “Live from Daryl’s House.” Let’s welcome Brian to Drum Channel.
Hello everyone and welcome to Drum Channel. Billy Amendola here at DC East studios with my guest Rocky Bryant.
Rocky is one of those players who has performed and or recorded with numerous amount of superstars but remains in the background, not one to rest on his laurels, his goal is to do his job and he does it well; in any genre.
He’s both a hired gun on the road as well as a recording artist, including his solo record. “The View From Here.” (featuring an excellent remake of the George Harrison track “I Want To Tell You.”)
Over his long career, Bryant has recorded and or performed with Paula Abdul, he’s been a band member of the Family Stand, and Bradford Marsalis’ Buckshot LeFonque, he recorded with Dianne Reeves (recording her grammy award winning album), Peter Frampton, Cyndi Lauper, Daryl Hall and since 2016 a member touring and recording with Average White Band, among others.
And if that wasn’t enough, he returned to the Broadway scene in 2019, to be on stage for “Tina, The Tina Turner Musical.” Let’s welcome Rocky to our Drum Channel family!
Thanks everyone, and I’ll see you next time on Drum Channel! Enjoy!
Hi, Billy Amendola here.
Welcome to Drum Channel! East Long Island is in the house today! My buddies Joe Franco (The Good Rats, Twisted Sister, Widowmaker with Dee Snider, & Beatstreet Studio owner) and Blue Oyster Cults Jules Radino, who’s been playing with the legendary band for twenty-years, came back to Brooklyn to talk drums and drumming and share career advice and more.
Let’s welcome Jules and Joe to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here on Drum Channel and I’m excited to introduce you to a drummer/multi-instrument from Israel, Yoni Madar. (whose handle on Instagram is Johnny Mathar) I’ve been watching his videos on social media for almost close to a year before I reached out to say hello, and let me tell you, if you haven’t seen him play, you must look him up after listening to this podcast. Yoni, has a style and technique all his own. Some of what he plays is complex and seems impossible, at times; and not only on drums, his approach to learning and practice is definitely “out of the box!” Let’s get to know Yoni and welcome him to our Drum Channel family. Enjoy!
Hello everyone Billy Amendola here; Welcome to Drum Channel.
Today my guest is a young up-and-coming drummer Molly Rose.
Molly, born and raised in Northern California, took an interest in drums at four years old and at eight years old got her first drum set. At sixteen, she placed 2nd in the international “Hit Like A Girl” contest and, after graduating high school, moved to Los Angeles where she studied and earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Musicians Institute.
In 2020, she took to the internet posting drumming videos on TikTok under the name “Country Drummer Girl.” Her love of country music recently brought her to Nashville where she currently resides.
In May 2023, Molly appeared on a band competition show on AXS TV titled “Banded.” (Which was created by my long-time-friend, singer/songwriter, and superstar model, Wendy Starland) The band Molly performed with won the first series competition.
Let’s find out more about the TV show and Molly Rose here on Drum Channel.
Thank you all for visiting us, see you next time! Enjoy!
Hello everyone and welcome to “Billy’s Bubble” here on Drum Channel. Today’s guest is singer-songwriter, actress, TV personality, and Broadway star Debbie Gibson.
Debbie has released eleven studio albums, six compilation albums, one box set, and forty-six singles.
Gibson’s career goes back to 1986, while still in her early teenage years, writing and recording her debut Atlantic Records album Out the Blue. The first single “Only In My Dreams,” landed in the top five on the Billboard charts and put Debbie on the map as one of the youngest artists to write and record their own material. The track featured our very own DC podcast host Billy Amendola on Simmons drums. It went on to sell five million copies to date and went gold and platinum.
Still relevant today Debbie is on “The Body Remembers Encore” U.S. summer tour for her latest album, The Body Remembers, which features former Cinderella drummer Fred Coury as one of the producers.
Debbie and Billy catch up on a phone call to talk about all things drums and more. Enjoy!
Hello everyone! Welcome to Drum Channel East in Brooklyn, NY. Today my guest (and neighbor) is Jake Slichter from the band Semisonic. The band's number-one Billboard hit “Closing Time" was released on March 10, 1998, as the first single from the trio’s second album, and for months into years, till now, you’ve heard it on mainstream radio and in every bar/club on the planet at the end of every night! Jake, stopped by the studio only three days home after a month-long tour, the band's first in twenty years, to chat about the road, teaching writing as a professor at Sarah Lawrence College, the band’s rise and successful career, and more. Let’s welcome Jake to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello everyone! Welcome to the Drum Channel podcast with Billy Amendola and his guest Van Romaine.
Van has been touring the world (and in recent years as music director) with Latin/pop superstar Enrique Iglesias for fourteen years.
In between you can find him recording and performing in a band with former Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse among others.
Let’s welcome Van to the Drum Channel east coast studio where he and Billy discuss his early years, studying with studio guru Gary Chester, bands/artists he’s worked with, playing on one of the biggest hip-hop songs and so much more. Enjoy!
Hello again! Billy Amendola here on Drum Channel with my guest Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors.
The Spin Doctors are one of America’s greatest bands. Formed over thirty-five years ago, the band still sells out shows and makes new recordings.
Let’s jump right in and welcome Aaron to the East Coast DC studio in Brooklyn, NY.
Hello everyone, and welcome to the Drum Channel east coast studio in Brooklyn, NY. I’m Billy Amendola and my guest today is drummer/co-founder, and long-time-band-member of the band Living Colour since 1984. He’s no stranger to Drum Channel, andhas been a previous guest with host Don Lombardi and is a favorite to our DC audience. Will has won two Grammy Awards, one in 1989 for Best Hard Rock Performance by a Group and again for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. Living Colour also won an international rock award in 1991 for Best Rock Band. Living Colour has released six studio albums rising to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988. Although they recorded several hits, they will always be known for their signature song, "Cult of Personality,” which won a Grammyin 1990 for Best Hard Rock Performance. The band was also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards.
Let’s check in. I’ll see you all next time on Drum Channel. Thank you for listening!
Hi everyone, welcome to this week’s Drum Podcastwith Billy Amendola and his guest Lou Santiago Jr.
Lou is another of what you could call one of Billy’s “students.” He didn’t need to teach him to play drums (he already had that down); Billy would proudly offer life/business advice over the years whenever asked. Lou went from being in the military, studying at The Collective in NYC, to winning the Undiscovered Modern Drummer contest in 2003 and performing at the prestigious MD Festival. (Billy and Lou talk about the life lesson learned from that experience) From there, Santiago made a name in the business by touring with artists that sold out shows, becoming a family man, an educator of drums, and attending school to become a medical doctor. Lou is back and ready to combine his playing, educating (with his 99-cent drum lesson program), and healing through the practice of medicine. Let’s welcome Lou Santiago Jr. to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hello everyone and welcome to the Drum Channel east coast studio in Brooklyn, NY with Billy Amendola and his two guests drummers Andrew Campanelli and PJ Howard from the eight-piece-band The Revivalists. The New Orleans band broke onto the scene in 2015 with their double platinum Billboard Hot 100 hit "Wish I Knew You." Since then, the band has had more than 800 million streams with hits such as "Change" and "All My Friends."
The band will be releasing their fifth studio album Pour It Out Into The Night on June 3rd, 2023 and are currently gearing up for summer festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and a co-headline tour with The Head and The Heart and Band of Horses this summer into early fall.
The groups latest single “Kid” and the album Pour It Out Into The Night is out TODAY as we speak. Let’s welcome Andrew Campanelli and P.J. Howard to the Drum Channel Podcast.
Thank you to Carla at Press Here Publicity for arraigning for us to get together. Thank you Andrew & PJ and all our listeners. I’ll see you next time on Drum Channel. Bye!
Hi everyone! Billy Amendola here. Welcome to the Drum Channel Podcast. Today my guest is Robin Diaz. I’ve known Robin since he was very young man and I’ve watched him grow into one of the industry’s top hired guns and ghost drummers on hits you’ve heard but didn’t know he recorded. I chat with Robin about his session and live work (He’s currently recording and touring with the band LIVE), his years as a member of Daughtry, a few of the producers and artists he’s worked with over the years, and more. Enjoy!
Hello! Welcome to Drum Channel with Billy Amendola and his guests, percussionist Danny Reyes and drummer Chris Fryar of the Zac Brown Band. Billy catches up with long-time official band members before they head out on tour for the summer and into the fall. The band has been on top of their game for ten-plus years, selling out stadiums and charting hits on both the country and pop charts. Before joining Zac Brown, de los Reyes toured with Earth, Wind, & Fire, Don Henley, Sheryl Crow, and Ricky Martin to name a few. Danny’s father, the legendary Walfredo Reyes, Sr. (who turned 90 in May, 2023) and his late grandfather Walfredo de los II were forerunners of the Cuban orchestra genre. Chris fills us in on what led him to become a member of ZBB, his short time at North State University, and the Mississippi University for Women, his early days, advice on being a band-member, and more. Let’s listen!
Hello and welcome to Drum Channel with your host Billy Amendola. For this episode, Billy chats with his long-time-pal, Rich Redmond.
Since moving to Nashville from Connecticut more than twenty-five years ago, Rich is best know touring and recording with multi platinum country rocker Jason Aldean for nearly two decades. He has recorded over 30 #1 radio hits and has performed to millions of fans in iconic venues across the globe. He’s also an actor, author and motivational speaker.
Recently, Redmond was the drummer in the super-group tribute to the late Gary Rossington, the lone remaining member of Southern Rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd. He rocked the beat at the CMT Awards show with Slash, Billy Gibbons, Warren Haynes, Paul Rodgers and Chuck Leavell; with backing vocals by Wynona Judd and LeAnn Rimes.
Let’s listen in. Enjoy.
Hello Drum Channel family! I’m Billy Amendola, and my guest today is best known as a TV star. Nate Morton has been a drummer in house bands on television for most of his twenty five plus year career. Nate and I go back almost as long. We first met when he was filming Rockstar: Supernova in 2006. That’s also when he first met drum tech and snare builder, Steve Morrison when Steevo was Tommy Lee’s tech on the show. The relationship led them to eventually work together on the popular TV show The Voice, where Nate is getting ready for its upcoming season. (Steevo is back on tour with Tommy & Motley Crue). The Voice debuted in America in 2011 and is one of the most popular shows on NBC TV. There have been a few more TV shows; “Rockstar INXS” and The Bonnie Hunt talk show. Morton also worked in the studio recording and touring with Paul Stanley and a residency in Vegas with Cher. He also found the time to record his first solo record Playground Philosophy with his band at the time Dootybug, over twenty years ago. Let’s check in with my long-time buddy Nate Morton.
Hi Everyone! Welcome to an exclusive Drum Channel Podcast with drummer/singer/songwriter/actor/and super-cool-dude John Cowsill. John visited the East Coast Drum Channel Studio to chat with his buddy Billy Amendola about his early career with his family band, The Cowsills, his years with and now without The Beach Boys, his new music projects with his wife Vikki Peterson, and more. Enjoy.
Hi everyone! Welcome to show three of “Did You Know?” This special episode of Billy’s Bubble features Liberty and Billy sharing stories, humor, and the history of session greats Panama Francis and Hall of Fame drummer Earl Palmer. Let’s listen to a few songs together that Panama & Earl recorded, the artist they recorded with on those classics, and more. Enjoy!
Hi everyone, welcome to Drum Channel. I’m Billy Amendola, and joining me at the DC east-coast studio is Brianna Sig of the Philadelphia-based rock band Soraia.
Brianna and the band were in town for a promo tour to support their new single “Bloom,” and Brianna graciously stopped in before soundcheck to chat about being a band member, her early years, and more.
Billy’s guest on Drum Channel Brian Tichy is one of rock music’s most in-demand-hired guns. Playing drums since he’s eight years old and teaching himself guitar four years later, Tichy went on to attend Berklee College of Music.
Shortly after graduating Brian went on to record and perform with Sass Jordon, Whitesnake, Foreigner, Slash’s Snakepit, Billy Idol, and front his own project BALL, in which he sang played and recorded every instrument on the album.
He has written music for television and film, and has been a rotating member of the Dead Dasies as well as running the famous “Bonzo Bash” shows at NAMM.
Tichy became a speed bag enthusiast while on tour with Foreigner and quickly got with some of the best speed baggers around to learn and increase his own skills. During the 2009–10 tour with Foreigner, Tichy hung several speed bag wall units inside the bands equipment truck and created the infamous "Speed Bag Truck.”
Let’s listen in. Enjoy!
Hi everyone! This week the Drum Channel Podcast features Stanton Moore.
The New Orleans native and founding member of the band Galactic visited Billy Amendola at DC’s east coast studio to chat with his long-time buddy about drums and drumming, how he survived the pandemic, building a business team, and the famous New Orleans music venue Tipitina and more. Happy listening!
Hello everyone! Welcome to Drum Channel. I’m Billy Amendola, and my guests in this segment are notable, versatile players and educators. Please welcome two of the finest Daniel Glass and Jason Gianni.
We talk to Daniel about his early days, his band Royal Crown Revue, his trio, and more.
Jason, a long time teacher and session musician tells us about his television and radio recordings, the Collective in NYC and so much more.
Welcome Daniel Glass & Jason Gianni to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Our guest today Corky Laing recently celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday on January 26th, 2023. The Canadian drummer is not slowing down; he’s actively busy recording and performing all over the world.
Never resting on his laurels, Laing never stopped playing, and to this day, he continues to front his new band, record and write a new album, “Finnish Sessions,” and squeeze in live performances.
Corky will always be known as a member of the 70s superstar-legendary band Mountain, which also featured guitar God Leslie West and bassist and producer Felix Papalardi. The band's hit “Mississippi Queen” (co-written by Laing) is one of the most popular songs in the history of rock music. Everyone knows it from the cowbell count-in and Leslie’s guitar riff that no one has ever forgotten.
Listen in as we discuss not only Mountain but also West, Bruce & Laing” (yes, that Jack Bruce, from Cream). We discussed the new album with his new band from Finland, where Corky has been living, traveling back and forth from there to Long Island, to Canada to NYC.
I’ve known Corky for over thirty years, and I will tell you, his energy is uplifting, and he’s enjoying a fantastic ride into his upper years.
Fans of Mountain and anyone who digs big powerful drums and hooky guitar riffs will enjoy his latest album. There are even a few ballads and guest appearances.
Thanks for listening and supporting Drum Channel. See you next week!
Hello, my friends; welcome to Drum Channel. Billy A. here with my guest Joan Jett’s Michael McDermott. In 2022, Mike was part of the most successful arena tour we’ve seen the likes of in years. We also discuss his previous band, The Bouncing Souls, and how becoming a Blackheart emerged. McDermott and Jett are currently back out on the road sharing a tour with Bryan Adams. Let’s listen in. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, welcome to the Drum Channel Podcast! I’m Billy Amendola and my guest is Tucker Rule.
You may know Tucker from the hard-rock-emo-band Thursday, formed in 1997 in New Jersey.
The band has been considered an influence on the music scene in the 2000s, and is credited as forerunners of the emo/screaming vocal sound.
But, that was then and this is now and Tucker's new project L.S. Dunes is a mix of a who's who of friends from popular bands.
L.S. Dunes debut album, Past Liveswas released in November 2022, has generated three singles. Also, joining Tucker is his bass-player Tim Payne from Thursday. So, trust me when I say “the rhythm section is solid.”
We talk about the new album, gear, touring, what’s next and more.
Let’s listen in and welcome Tucker Rule to Drum Channel.
Hello everyone, welcome to Billy’s Bubble on Drum Channel. For this segment, we're going to talk with Clubhouse Studio Owner, Paul Antonell.
Paul, no stranger to the studio, found his passion for recording at sixteen years old and has gone on to work with Parliament-Funkadelic, Shawn Mendes, Post Malone, and Natalie Merchant, to name a few.
Paul built his state-of-the- art-studio on isolated historic farm grounds a few miles outside of Rhinebeck, NY. The renovated barn has a full kitchen and five suites connected directly to the studio. It sounds like a musician’s perfect vacation spot. The list of drummers who’ve recorded there is a list of who’s who of superstars.
We also have Clubhouse in-house engineer Mark Everton Gray joining us. Mark partnered with Paul and the studio in 2022 and has engineered/recorded hundreds of projects throughout his career. A few include Norah Jones, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Maroon 5, The Killers, and Imagine Dragons.
Also joining us is Ace Frehley recording and touring drummer Matt Starr as well as legendary drum-tech, and drum maker Jeff Ocheltree. (joining us by phone)
Matt recently recorded at the Clubhouse for the first time with Jeff as his drum tech and has been raving about it ever since.
There’s something for everyone to learn from each of these experts in this segment; from running and owning a studio, to engineering, to drum-teching, and playing. Let’s listen in! Enjoy!
Hi everyone! Billy Amendola and my guest today on Drum Channel east is still feeling the excitement of his past gig less than a week ago. His phone and messages have been blowing up with congratulations and show of support non-stop and we’re excited he found the time to fill us in on what it was like to play the 2023 Super Bowl Half-Time Performance with Rihanna. We talk about his set-up, gear, and keeping emotions in check under a high-pressure gig. We also go back to his beginnings and what led him to this point in his career. A few of the artists Mike has toured and performed with besides Rihanna include, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Arianna Grande, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Smokey Robinson, Alicia Keys, Eminem and Pharrell Williams to name a few. Reid has also performed in the house band at the BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, and the Oscars. Let’s welcome Mike Reid to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hi everyone! Welcome to Drum Channel! I’m Billy Amendola, and my guest Dan LeRoy, has written what I would say is the most definitive book on the history of the drum machine and its importance to songwriting and musicians, and how that sound became acceptable to become the music heard around the world.
In this segment, we’ll discuss his book “DANCING TO THE DRUM MACHINE“ (How Electronic Percussion Conquered The World).
Dan dug deep with research, and the results are astounding! The book includes everyone from the inventors to the builders to the engineers, producers, songwriters, and musicians who made it the most popular sound since the late 60s till today. I highly recommend this book in your music library.
Thanks everyone for listening, I appreciate you all very much for your support. Billy Amendola and I’ll see you next time.
Let’s welcome Dan LeRoy to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hi everyone, Billy Amendola on Drum Channel with my guest Jim Bonfanti who is the drummer from one of my favorite bands and one of the forerunners of the 70s power pop sound, the Raspberries.
Jim and I discuss his band experience in 1967, before the Raspberries, in a band initially called The Mods and transformed into The Choir. The band enjoyed success on the radio with a song called “It’s Cold Outside,” which to many, is considered to be a forerunner of the garage rock sound era.
In 1970, Bonfanti, Eric Carmen, Dave Smalley, and Wally Bryson formed the Raspberries in Cleveland, Ohio. Together they produced three albums, eight singles, and a top ten with “Go All The Way.” More hit songs followed with “Let’s Pretend,” “I Wanna Be With You,” and “Tonight.”
Producer Jimmy Ienner (and engineer Shelly Yakus) are responsible for all four Raspberries albums. The group disbanded in 1975 after a five-year run, and Eric Carmen went on to a successful career as a solo artist. In 2004, the original quartet reunited and undertook a well-received reunion tour and live album in 2005.
Billy Amendola signing off till next time. Thank you, Jim. Thanks, everyone! Let's listen.
Hello everyone and welcome to Drum Channel. I’m Billy Amendola and my guest today is drummer/teacher/entrepreneur Ralph Rolle.
Ralph’s day job for the past seventeen years has been playing with legendary producer/artist/guitarist Nile Rodgers and Chic. For twelve years in the the mid-nineties, Rolle spent time on TV as the drummer in the house band for “Showtime at the Apollo,” with music director Ray Chew.
Ralph’s performance list includes artists: Sting, Bette Midler, Bono, Elvis Costello, Vanessa Williams, Mary J. Blige, Biggie Smalls, Queen Latifah, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, John Legend, India Arie, Roger Daltrey, Dolly Parton, Freddie Jackson, Joss Stone, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, and many more.
In 1990, Rolle ran his production company “Phat Kat” recording, writing and producing major TV commercials, and in between all this, to this day, running a very successful cookie company, “Soul Snacks.“ Let’s welcome one of the smoothest groove players on the planet to Drum Channel, Ralph Rolle.
Hello everyone! Billy Amendola here on Drum Channel with my guest Corey Coverstone. Corey shares exclusive, personal news for Dirty Honey fans; he has recently decided to part ways with the popular band. It’s not easy walking away from a situation you’ve dreamed about and then accomplishing it, perhaps a bit too quickly, and having the courage to let it go. We talk about his decision, what he’s looking forward to accomplishing being off the road, and more.
Holly Knight is one of the most successful songwriters of all time. Her top-selling book, ”I AM THE WARRIOR; MY CRAZY LIFE, WRITING THE HITS AND ROCKING THE MTV EIGHTIES,” is a tell-all personal and professional story of her incredible life.
She was inducted into the Song Writers Hall of Fame in 2013 and was voted in Rolling Stone’s Readers Poll as one of the five best songwriters and at the time, the only woman on the list.
Holly and I talk about songwriting, programming, a handful of the hundreds of songs she’s written for TV shows, movie soundtracks, and multiple Grammy winning hits for some of the world's biggest superstars.
The conversation continues about her investment in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show “Tina” and her long-time collaboration with producer and co-songwriter Mike Chapman.
Knight and Chapman worked together on the top-five hits “Better Be Good To Me (Tina Turner) and “Love is a Battlefield” (Pat Benatar), both of which won a Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. On her own and in collaboration with others, Knight’s written with Heart, Aerosmith, John Waite, Rod Stewart, Hall & Oates, Animotion, Cheap Trick and Bon Jovi, to name a few.
Tina Turner, who Holly wrote the smash hit classics “Better Be Good To Me,” “The Best,” and numerous others, wrote the forward to Holly’s book. Let’s listen in. Enjoy!
Hi everyone! Join Billy Amendola on this week's Drum Channel podcast with his guest, one of the hardest working drummers of the past few decades, a very in-demand “Hired Gun,“ and good friend Brian Frasier Moore. Billy & Brian travel back to his past years touring with superstars Madonna, and Justin Timberlake, his company BMF, his many TV appearances as part of a killer house band, his words of wisdom to our younger generation, and his current gig and upcoming 2023 tour with P!nk. Let’s tune in!
Hello everyone! Welcome to the Drum Channel Podcast with Billy Amendola and his guest Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats.
Billy and Jim’s conversation tells the origins of the band, who was credited for bringing the Rockabilly vibe back into the mainstream and then taking it to another level, the era of the MTV days, his solo music and non-music projects, how he became known as “the king of the sunset strip,” and more. Enjoy!
For more, in 2015, Jim wrote a book titled “My Life As a Rockabilly Rebel: A Stray Cat Struts,” and he’s currently hosting a radio show on Little Steven’s Underground Garage on SiriusXM. He also shares his passion for baseball on an additional show on SiriusXM called Fantasy Sports Radio.
Welcome to Drum Channels' “Billy’s Bubble” show this week. I’m Billy Amendola, and every once in a while, I like to step “out of the box” with music lovers and how they combine their love of music and their work. Most of us here play drums/music, but we also live outside of playing, and we must. We’re all so passionate about music that sometimes we forget to live our lives. I hope you find something to relate and take away with our guests for this two-part show.
We kick off part one with Schuyler “Sky” Traughber, who co-wrote a book with Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks titled Power 101: The Harvard Report, Soul Music, and The American Dream. The book has been called “A masterclass for students of Soul music.”
As a music executive, bass player, and highly regarded professor, Sky takes us into the offices and recording studios of independent labels Stax, Motown, and the majors like CBS and more to offer advice about the music business. This is something, as musicians/songwriters, we should all be aware of.
Schuyler “Sky” Traughber has developed and taught courses in Business Management, International Record Label Operations, Concert Promotion and helped negotiate a venture with Harvard Law School's Recording Artist Project. Voted into the top 15% of "Influential Professors.”
Power 101: The Harvard Report, Soul Music and The American Dream, from Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks and Schuyler Traughber, takes readers on a musical roller coaster ride through the 1970s from the perspective of the music executives who marketed and promoted the globalization of R&B and soul music.
In 1972, CBS Records commissioned Sky’s co-book writer and Harvard Business School and CBS Black Music Marketing Director, Logan Westbrooks, to develop a Study of the Soul Music Environment, which was implemented by CBS. It was intended to be a “blueprint” for soul music. Westbrooks, a veteran music industry executive who helped sell over a hundred million dollars in career sales, plus approximately 50 gold and 25 platinum records.
Let’s go to business school, with a bit of fun facts in between.
Thank you Schuyler and all our listeners for joining us here on Drum Channel. Stay tuned for a really “out of the box” part two with entrepreneur and creator Rachel Van Nortwick telling us about her unique, free popular dating app, Vinylly.
Rachel is the founder and CEO of a unique free dating app based solely on music compatibility.
We speak to Rachel about why, how and the struggles in starting the company and getting the app up and running. Her advice for woman and men who are interested in becoming an entrepreneur.
Nortwick, shares her love for music and how she has turned her passion into a successful entity in her business; and I respect the fact that she gives back by donating a portion to non-profit organizations.
So, why a non-drumming topic? Studies have shown that listening to music, releases dopamine in our brains, which in turn makes you happy. We all live outside of playing music, we spend a lot of time listening and connections made through music can be very meaningful to music lovers.
Bye everyone, Billy Amendola and I’ll see you next time on Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Welcome to Drum Channel. I’m Billy Amendola, and my two guests today are solo artists, session players, songwriters, band members, and hired guns; they’ve been working musicians for a few decades now. Please welcome drummer and recent book author Rich Scannella and a drummers dream bass player/guitarist/singer, Kasim Sultan.
We can’t run down all the credits they both have; but, a few of the main ones come up in this in-person conversation recorded at DC East Coast studio.
Rich, tells us about his recent biography book “Ghost Notes,” as well as playing in Jon Bon Jovi’s solo project as well as touring with the 90s band Tonic.
Kasim fills us in on what he’s been up to recently, his latest solo album, he reminisces recording on one of the five greatest albums of all-time, advice on staying active in the business and more.
Enjoy! Thank you to everyone listening. Billy A and I’ll see you next time, on Drum Channel!
Hi everyone, welcome to Drum Channel! This episode features Billy’s guest, drummer, and composer Antonio Sanchez.
Antonio, known for his years of work with guitarist Pat Metheny is also a composer, most notably for the score of the 2014 film Birdman. (featuring Michael Keaton) The score earned Sanchez a nomination for a Golden Globe and won a Grammy.
No stranger to our DC audience, we catch up with Antonio to talk about his early days coming from Mexico, to attending Berklee and the New England Conservatory of Music, his stellar career, and his 2022 album, SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II). Enjoy!
Hi everyone! For this weeks Drum Channel podcast, Billy Amendola speaks with a few of his friends Denny Seiwell, Josh Roosin, Matt Starr, Todd Sucherman, Wally Ingram, and Alvin Taylor, as well as Raven Drum Foundation founders Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe to talk about “12 Drummers Drumming,” and more.
Rick (Def Leppard) and his wife, singer-songwriter Lauren started the Raven Drum Foundation twenty-years ago and has raised money for veterans and people in need with the healing power of music.
This year the foundation partnered with MusicCares to film a stellar group of world class drummers, Veterans, first responders and supporters to the beautiful Amazing Grace estate of Mindy & Glenn Stearns (with the help of organizer Laurie Baker) to experience the magic of a drum circle, led by Rick and Lauren. The event was a celebration of the healing benefits of music and community.
Please visit www.12drummersdrumming.org to watch the show, donate to the auction, and more about The Raven Drum Foundation. Thank you. Enjoy!
Hi everyone, Billy A here; welcome to the Drum Channel Podcast. As drummers, time is a powerful word; In playing and especially in life.
Our guest today, the drummer/author Sandy Gennaro understands the importance of timing in life and has written an inspiring book combining his music career with life lessons titled ”Beating The Odds: In Business & Life.”
Sandy and I chat about the book, our long-time-friendship, his music career with The Monkees, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, Benny Mardones, the legendary Bo Didley and his advice breaking down the importance of B.E.A.T.S. Enjoy!
Black Friday special! Subscribe to Drum Channel with the code BILLY30 for 30% off! www.DrumChannel.com
Welcome to this week’s Drum Channel Podcast. Billy A here with my guest Rikki Rockett, co-founder, drummer, and bonafide rock star of the past three decades with the band Poison.
One of the few groups from the 80s era with all original members, Rikki and Poison, sold over 50 million records. They recently wrapped up the most extensive stadium tour of the year, with Motley Crue, Def Leppard, and Joan Jett.
Rikki and I talk about the music business, and how almost two years of the tour being postponed finally happening, his career with Poison, the best news, a clean-bill of health as a six-year cancer survivor and more.
Please welcome my good buddy Rikki Rockett to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
Hi everyone, welcome back to Drum Channel West.
Billy Amendola and DC founder Don Lombardi chat at Thomas Lang’s Westlake Studio to talk about what’s going on at DC as well as reminiscing about teacher/guru Freddie Gruber, hand technic (matched, traditional), the late John Blackwell, the Buddy Rich Tribute concert, and much more. Enjoy.
Happy 50 to Don & Chris Lombardi, John Good, and everyone at DW Drums!
Welcome to this week’s Drum Channel Podcast featuring Billy Amendola and Liberty DeVitto.
Today Liberty joins Billy in the studio for episode 2 of their “Did You Know?” Series on “Billy’s Bubble” to honor the east coast session legend, Gary Chester.
DeVitto, who’s played on over 150,000 selling albums with Billy Joel, listens and talks about all things drums and drumming with Amendola on recordings by Chester as well as their recording sessions and more.
Enjoy this casual conversation between two long-time friends about their favorite drummers.
Hello everyone! Welcome to the Drum Channel podcast with Billy Amendola.
Today’s episode features filmmaker Justin Kreutzmann (the son of The Grateful Dead’s Bill Kreutzmann - who, along with Mickey Hart, is half of the Dead’s driving rhythm section).
Justin, who grew up on the road, directed the new music documentary Let There Be Drums!released today October 28th, 2022. The film is an examination into the crucial role drumming plays in bands and how music passes down from generation to generation.
Listen in on how Justin put it all together and how after the pandemic, and a bit of luck from the universe, everything fell into place naturally.
Let There Be Drums!features (besides his dad Bill and Mickey Hart), Taylor Hawkins, Ringo Starr, Stewart Copeland, Stephen Perkins, Jason Bonham, Mandy Moon, Chad Smith, and Matt Sorum to name a few. The film consists of incredible performances and recordings, along with rare and/or never-before-seen footage.
Enjoy the show and look for “Let There Be Drums” on your favorite streaming platforms.
Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/a-pT2uq02jw
Hi everyone! Billy Amendola here on Drum Channel with my guest (from the UK) Cherisse Osei, best known for her work with the band Simple Minds.
The 80’s band, who had a massive hit with “Don’t You, Forget About Me,” sold over sixty-million records, (long before Cherisse was born-she joined in 2016).
The legendary band is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a brand-new album “Direction of the Heart,” being released today, October 21, 2022, as this podcast premieres.
Let’s welcome Cherisse to Drum Channel as we talk about her joining the band, recording the latest album, her early years growing up in the UK, getting a recording contract with The Faders, (which gave her both touring and recording experience at a young age), her gear setup and her playing and touring with Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry, Paloma Faith, Mika, Kelly Jones, and in between working at Wembley Music store, and more.
She kindly took time off to speak with us at Drum Channel in between recording for two major film soundtracks, teaching, as well as gearing up to head back out on tour with the band in 2023. Enjoy!
Welcome to Drum Channel. I’m Billy Amendola, and my guest today is “The Hermanator” Herman Matthews.
Moving from Houston, Texas to Los Angeles, CA., has put this “groove master” in the drum seat for Kenny Loggins, Richard Marx, Tom Jones, Timothy B. Schmit, Tower of Power, and more.
As a band member for four years, touring with TOP, Matthews also recorded their albums “Souled Out” and “Rhythm & Business,” along with his 2007 solo album “Home at Last.”
We also talk about his “side business” gear, what’s next, and more.
Thank you for tuning in, we’ll see you next week on the Drum Channel Podcast. Enjoy!
Hello everyone, Billy A here in the Drum Channel East studio with percussionist Jacquelene Acevedo. If that name sounds familiar and you’re unfamiliar with Jacquelene, her father is famed percussionist/drummer Memo Acevedo.
Jacquelene spent the last year on Broadway playing with Talking Heads founder David Byrne in his “American Utopia” Broadway play and concert film directed and produced by Spike Lee.
We speak with Jacquelene about Byrne’s show, winning a Grammy and Tony awards, learning from her dad, and her advice for women and men who want to work in the music business.
Hello from Drum Channel! Billy Amendola is with his guest today Jim McCarty, co-founder and original member of the 60’s English band the Yardbirds.
Not many can claim to have drummed for three early bandmates who went on to become the greatest guitarists in the world, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, who were all in the same band for a short period.
As part of the sixties British Invasion, the band had a string of hits, including the 1965 top-charting songs "For Your Love,” “Heart Full of Soul,” and “Shape of Things.”
Jim is currently on the road with a new line-up as we speak and was kind enough to take a bit of time between shows to talk about his early days and touring today. Also, popping on to say hello is Yardbirds guitarist Godfrey Townshed.
The new group also features along with Townshed and McCarty, bassist Kenny Aaronson.
Jim has been the only drummer/band member in the group for the past five decades. Let’s listen!
Hi everyone! Welcome back to “Billy’s Bubble” here on Drum Channel. My bubble show is a bit different from my regular weekly podcasts, but the lesson and message is always the same; learning words of wisdom with knowledgeable, successful guests.
This episode is a business theme with my guests Chairman (and son of Creem magazine’s co-founder Barry Kramer), JJ Kramer along with CEO/Publisher John Martin.
Anyone from my generation may recognize the magazine or be reminded; I grew up reading it as a young teenager. It was around for twenty years and then disappeared for over twenty more. Now, it’s back in both monthly digital and four issues a year of print.
Creem magazine was a ground-breaking music magazine back in the day and I’m happy to say, they’re picking up right where they left off. Let’s listen. Enjoy!
Welcome to the Drum Channel Podcast with Billy Amendola. This week Billy talks with Billie Eilish/Finneas drummer Andrew Marshall.
Andrew, currently on tour in New Zealand, talks about the stage show, gear, playing and programming drums, and more.
Marshall, born in New York, started playing drums at nine and paid his dues performing around the tri-state area by the time he was fourteen, playing professionally before moving to California in 2017. He has been touring with Eilish’s band for years and has played every festival and TV show (a few times) as Eilish and her brother Finneas grew into worldwide superstars.
In between tours, Marshall records drum tracks remotely for songwriters and artists from his home studio.
Andrew endorses Gretsch drums, Istanbul Agop cymbals, Vater sticks, Remo heads, DW pedals and hardware, 64 Audio in-ear monitors, Porter & Davies drum monitoring systems, and Big Fat Snare Drum accessories.
Let’s talk drums, touring, recording, and performing. Enjoy.
Please subscribe to Drum Channel and save 30% off your subscription with the code BILLY30.
Hello everyone, this week’s Drum Channel podcast with Billy Amendola is about starting from the beginning.
Our topics are geared as a lesson to the young generation. Still, it also reminds our older and established era of that exciting feeling as a kid just starting and dreaming of being a “rock star.”
Let’s listen in as Billy introduces Kobi Reese, an up & coming 11-year-old-drummer from New Jersey, who is kick-starting his music career with his first significant interview here on Drum Channel. The enthusiasm is charismatic and inspiring. Everyone, meet Kobi Reese.
Welcome to this week’s Drum Channel Podcast with Billy Amendola and his guest Matt Starr.
Matt, having his own solo career, has been a first-call-road and recording warrior for years, performing with Ace Frehley, Joe Lynn Turner and Mr. Big among others.
Starr shares his experiences touring and recording with KISS’ guitarist Ace Frehley and Mr.Big (filling in with and for the late Pat Torpey).
Matt also tells us how he tracked down super-producer/songwriter Mike Chapman, learning about the business side of music and more. Let’s listen in. Happy Weekend!
Welcome to the Drum Channel west coast broadcast with Billy Amendola and Don Lombardi. This episode features long-time friend and former Paul McCartney and Wings drummer Denny Seiwell.
Denny talks to Billy & Don about his New York audition with Paul & Linda and his recording of McCartney’s classic album RAM. Before he knew it, Seiwell was invited to join McCartney’s new project, Wings, where he toured and played on the albums Wild Life and Red Rose Speedway, as well as singles such as “Hi, Hi, Hi,” and more.
Never one to slow down, now at the young age of 79, in 2015, Alfred Music published his drum instructional book, What Not to Play! and you can still catch Seiwell performing with his jazz trio, his rock band, or a young group of friends paying tribute to the 50th anniversary of the ex-Beatles RAM ON project, co-produced by Fernando Perdomo. Let’s listen!
Thank you to west coast Drum Channel, Thomas Lang, and the Westlake staff. Audio edited by Butch Jones at the east coast DC studios.
Hello, it’s me, Billy Amendola. Welcome to this week’s Drum Channel Podcast. My guest today is Gethin Davies of the UK band The Struts.
The Struts are one of the newer breeds of bands, keeping the rock flag flying high since 2012.
Today, Friday, August 19th, ten years later, the bands latest single, “Fallin’ With Me,” is their first release on the label Big Machine. A singalong-anthem-rocker, the song has been a favorite in concert where the band has recently returned from a sold-out UK tour.
The British 70s/80s influenced rock band, now relocated in California, has four times the personality. The band features the magnetic showman/lead singer Luke Spiller, bassist Jed Elliot, and guitarist Adam Slack. Together, they have ranked up over 300 million streams here in the United States.
The new single “Fallin With Me” is produced by Jayson DeZuzio (Imagine Dragons)
The band is hard at work recording a new album and has previously shared the stage with the Rolling Stones, Mötley Crüe, Guns N’ Roses, the Killers, The Who, and the Foo Fighters.
Gethin says “We will be releasing our next album and we are very excited at the prospect of putting out some new music and performing the new tracks live. We will be back touring relentlessly soon in an effort to bring rock ’n’ roll music back to the mainstream! See you on the road! Thank you all for listening, and I hope you check out our music.” Enjoy the podcast!
Welcome to this week’s Drum Channel Podcast featuring Billy Amendola and Liberty DeVitto.
This week Liberty joins Billy in the studio to talk about Muscle Shoals session legend Roger Hawkins.
DeVitto, who’s played on over 150,000 selling albums with Billy Joel, listens and talks about all things drums and drumming with Amendola on recordings by Hawkins as well as their own recording sessions and more.
Enjoy this casual conversation between two long-time friends about their favorite drummers.
Welcome to Drum Channel with Billy Amendola. This week I’m speaking with not only an award-winning singer/songwriter, author, keyboardist, and A-game touring and recording drummer, he is one of my favorite people on the planet, Joe Vitale.
Vitale has been close pals with his boss of 55 years, and still tours and records with him to this day, the legendary Joe Walsh. (Vitale co-wrote “Rocky Mountain Way”), He’s written, recorded, and toured with The Eagles, (writing “Pretty Maids All in a Row,” for Hotel California, one of the biggest selling albums of all-time).
In his early days he’s toured and or recorded or both with Ted Nugent (before hooking up in Walsh’ band), Rick Derringer, Peter Frampton, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, as well as a solo Neil Young, and more. His autobiography “Backstage Pass” came out in 2008 (still available), he’s a favorite at Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp, and on November 13th, 2022, he’ll be performing on an all-star concert with Joe Walsh for Walsh’s yearly event to help raise money for the veterans in Columbus, Ohio. Let’s welcome Joe Vitale.
Welcome to this week's Drum Channel Podcast with Billy Amendola.
This podcast features Gordy Knudtson, most known as the touring drummer with the Steve Miller band for the past thirty years. Gordy, recently retired from touring to spend more time at home and taking care of his company GK-Music.com, the first company to make and market hearing protection headphones for musicians called DrumPhones. His current model called UltraPhones is the isolation headphone of choice for top professionals across the country.
Knudtson is also an educator and author of numerous drum method books. When he wasn’t on tour, he was Head of the Percussion Department he created at McNally Smith College in St.Paul, Minnesota.
Gordy took an interest in playing drums at age 15 after taking piano and clarinet lessons. By age 19 he was doing studio work in Minneapolis’ busy commercial music scene of the 1970’s. He recorded advertising jingles, radio & TV station logos, and industrial film scores during the day, while performing with regionally renown Minneapolis bands at night.
I’m 1982, he began a six year association with jazz pianist/vocalist Ben Sidran, performing in jazz clubs and festivals around the world, which led to his association with Steve Miller.
In 2002 Gordy released the first book and instructional video about Open/Close Technique, which introduced nomenclature, notation, and synchronizations, and showed how it can be used to create a family of single stroke rolls which directly parallel the double stroke rolls. *Watch for a video with a lesson on Drum Channel in the near future.
Let’s listen. Enjoy the show!
This week’s Drum Chanel Podcast with host Billy Amendola features session and touring drummer Alvin Taylor.
Taylor started his professional career at the young age of fourteen, touring with Little Richard, where he played drums for Richard, and featured Jimi Hendrix on guitar and keyboardist Billy Preston, who Alvin would have a lifetime experience both musically as well as a mentor.
Years later Preston invited George Harrison to the studio when he was working with the Burke brothers from The Five Stairsteps featuring Taylor on drums. That led to Alvin being invited to play on the Harrison debut solo album 33 and a 1/3 for his Dark Horse label debut.
Always one to stay in the background and do his job, and do it very well, Taylor recorded and or toured with The Eric Burdon Band, Billy Thorpe, Elton John, Bob Welch, Sly Stone, Leo Sayer, Billy Preston, Little Richard, George Harrison and more.
Let’s listen as Alvin shares his words of wisdom, tips, and advice on a lifetime of making it in the music business. Enjoy!
Hi and welcome to an exclusive Drum Channel podcast featuring three top-notch educators and working drummers, Frank Bellucci, Joe Bergamini, and Jim Mola.
Join me, Billy A, as three friends share their experiences and words of wisdom about being on both sides of the fence in this “drum world” we all live in.
Listen as we discuss tips on the importance of reading music, staying professional, working club dates, performing on Broadway, the challenges of teaching feel, time, and much more.
We send our love and speedy, healing wishes to our drum brother Dom Famularo; this one’s for you!
Welcome to the Drum Channel Podcast with Billy Amendola. This week’s guest is one of NYC’s first-call-session-drummers of the 70s-80s and beyond, Allan Schwartzberg.
Schwartzberg, who started playing Jazz at a young age, went on to record drums on AM/FM radio hits; “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” (Tony Orlando & Dawn), “Cats in the Cradle” (Harry Chapin), “Working My Way Back to You,” (The Spinners), “Funky President,” (James Brown) Never Can Say Goodbye,” (Gloria Gaynor), “Star Wars Theme,” (Meco), and Rod Stewart’s “Great American Songbook,” (volumes 2,3,4), to name a few.
In between his very busy session schedule, Allan was king of the jingles here in New York, as well as touring periodically with Stan Getz, Mountain, (filling in for Corky Laing), Peter Gabriel, (who first solo album after his departure from Genesis, featured Schwartz on drums), The Brecker Brothers and more. Enjoy!
Welcome to this weeks Drum Channel Podcast with host Billy Amendola and his guest Nick Gross.
Nick is a co-founder, along with his partner Travis Mills as part of the duo’s band Girlfriends. They are currently touring to promote their latest album, “(e)motion sickness,” as well as the bands previous self-titled debut album. (Which accumulated over thirty million streams)
Not only a leading band member, besides drums and production, Nick co-writes and plays just about every instrument on the record.
Starting at a very young age and inspired by Travis Barker (who appears on a song from the duo’s debut), Gross has done it all in the music business from both sides of the glass.
Nick runs his own studio-complex Noise Nest and in 2018 became a partner and owner of Big Noise Records along with former Vagrant Records head Joh Cohen and frontman and superstar producer John Feldmann (Felde started the bands Goldfinger and the Used, as well as producing Blink 182, Good Charlotte, Avril Lavigne, 5 Seconds of Summer, All Time Low and more).
Gross is one of the busiest and successful musicians/ entrepreneurs in the business. Let’s listen in for Nick’s words of wisdom as he takes us from the studio, to stage to behind the scenes of running a label and more.
Hello DC friends! This week's podcast with Billy A features one of the youngest, most talented up comers, the “Rock Angel” Brooke Colucci.
Brooke C is nineteen years old with years of life experiences since posting her first video at twelve years old. A year later, her cover of a Tool’s “Forty-Six & 2” hit over 12 million viewers.
A co-founding member of the 4-piece young rock band Plush featuring bassist/vocalist Ashley Suppa, lead guitarist Bella Perron with co-founder guitarist/singer/songwriter Moriah Formica, who also at a young age built a huge following since appearing on NBC’s TV show “The Voice, performed a video of her and Colucci covering Heart’s “Barracuda,” which exploded to seven-million views.
The band has been touring to promote their debut album for the past year. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “The future of rock bands is looking bright with Brooke and Plush. Let’s listen in!
Hello Drum Channel family!
Welcome to this week’s podcast with Billy Amendola & Sheryl Crow/session musician Fred Eltringham.
In this episode, Fred goes through his early years of paying his dues and moving between his birthplace, Philadelphia, to attending Berklee College in Boston, to gigging in NYC and California, then back to NYC, and now since 2007, residing in Nashville with his wife and children.
Listen in on how Fred’s career frustrations fell into circumstances that led him to become one of the most sought-after session drummers in Nashville, recording hit after hit, to playing, recording & touring as a band member with Sheryl Crow for the past ten years.
Eltringham has performed, and recorded with Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, the Wallflowers, Willie Nelson, Ben Kweller, and many more.
In 2018, Fred (who’s super-shy and low-key, with impeccable time and feel) was honored “Drummer of the Year,” by the ACM awards. We caught up with the busy drummer a few days before he left to hit the road touring with Sheryl. Let’s listen!
Husband, Father, Brother, Friend, Hooligan, and Smooth as Silk, Eric Hernandez is my special guest this week on Drum Channel.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, and moving to Hawaii, Eric started playing drums at four years old. Learning life lessons and working with his dad Peter’s band since he was a youngster, which also a few years later featured his five-year-old little brother Bruno, both went on to become performers at superstar levels; SNL, the Grammy’s, twice at the Super Bowl, millions of records sales and sold-out concerts all over the world.
Taking time with Drum Channel before gearing up to go back out with Silk Sonic, featuring his brother Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak, let’s stream in and listen.
Welcome to Drum Channels podcast — in this episode, we’re honored to introduce you to our guest, Tony Brock of the 70s supergroup The Baby’s. After huge success and going their separate ways, in the 80s Tony recorded and toured with Rod Stewart for close to fourteen years. Before the world shut down, Tony and this last line-up wrote new songs for a new album and planed an upcoming tour for 2022 into 2023. Let’s welcome Tony Brock.
This week’s Drum Channel podcast with Billy Amendola features Ed Greene. Those of you who may have vaguely heard his name, or don’t know much about his career, are in for a treat.
Greene, up there with all the top studio drummers of the 70s, is a session legend. He’s one of the most polite and humble musicians on the planet, and his list of number ones and top-forty records is mind-blowing. Besides playing on all of Barry White's hits, as if that wasn’t enough, he’s played on classic recordings (still relevant today) of The Jackson’s, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Sammy Davis Jr., Paul Anka, Glen Campbell, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, Andy Kim, John “Cougar” Mellencamp, Seals & Crofts, Jeff Beck, the R&B band Tavares, and more.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in California by musician parents, Greene now lives in Nashville. Let’s listen to one of “the masters” of recording. Enjoy!
Welcome to this week's Drum Channel Podcast with Billy Amendola and his special guest Jerry Shirley of Humble Pie. The band recently celebrated the release of its 50th anniversary remaster of their 1972 album “Smokin’.”
Billy and the classic rock legend discuss Jerry’s early years with the band, Steve Marriott, Peter Frampton, Fastway, Jerry’s days as a radio DJ; interviewing Paul McCartney, going shopping with Keith Moon, Shirley’s 2011 autobiography “Best Seat in the House,” and more.
Starting his career at a young age, Taylor Carroll is a Grammy nominated and critically acclaimed musician, producer, songwriter, vocalist and new member of the nineties SoCal hit band Lit. (original drummer Allen Shellenberger died from brain cancer in 2009) With a background in music spanning over two decades, Carroll’s credit as a drummer includes live and recorded work with Taylor Swift, Pillar, two time Grammy award winner Bruce Carroll, (who is Taylor’s dad) and more. Lit’s latest album “Taste Like Gold” featuring brothers Ajay [vocals] and Jeremy Popoff [guitar], Kevin Baldes [bass], and Taylor Carroll [drums]—continue to do what they do best on their seventh full-length album. The band will also be touring to support the album throughout the summer of 2022.
Zac Hanson has been a star in the music business since he was a youngster. He and his brothers Taylor and Isaac, known as Hanson, have sold over 16 million records worldwide and have had three Top 20 albums.
This week’s Drum Channel podcast with Billy Amendola features Adam Box, from the Grammy winning country band Brothers Osborne.
This week's Drum Channel Podcast Season 2 debut with Billy Amendola features the founder of Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp David Fishof, Bon Jovi’s Tico Torres, and a few special guests including bassist Tony Franklin, Apple Records alumni May Pang, and Pier’s Plasskit, with Manny’s Music Holly Goldrich, and Barry Gibb tour manager, Carlos Guzman. This special “live podcast “ from the Florida Rock and Roll Fantasy camp, recorded and filmed on March 13th, 2022 is a once-in-a-lifetime, “fly on the wall,” event. Let’s listen in!
Gary Wallis is perhaps best known as the percussionist for Pink Floyd in the post-Waters era for both their live and recorded performances.He has worked with a wide range of artists and bands, including Nik Kershaw, Pink Floyd, 10cc, Il Divo, Westlife, Girls Aloud, Atomic Kitten, Paul Carrack, Dusty Springfield, Bonnie Tyler, Mike Rutherford, Mike + The Mechanics, Tom Jones, Jean Michel Jarre, Helene Fischer and Schiller. As a young drummer/percussionist, Gary Wallis worked with a number of prominent British bands. From 1982 to 1984, he was the drummer for The Truth, working alongside Chris Skornia (Hammond organ/keyboards); Dennis Greaves (guitar); Mick Lister (guitar) and Brian Bethell (bass). After leaving The Truth, Wallis went on to perform as a percussionist with Style Council (1984–1985). He was invited by David Bowie to perform as a percussionist at the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, 13 July 1985, with Robert Palmer and Power Station, as well as Duran Duran. In the mid to late eighties, Wallis was drummer for The Krew, the backing band for Nik Kershaw (Riddle and Radio Musicola tours) and Chris Farlowe (1988). It was at a Kershaw concert where his energetic playing and elaborate percussion set-up drew the attention of key Pink Floyd musicians to Gary Wallis.
Together Don Lombardi (Drumchannel Founder) and Adam Kuns (DC Faculty) share some exciting news for 2019. There's a lot of new lessons, shows and courses coming this year from the greatest in the world that we are excited to share with you.
Together Don Lombardi and Adam Kuns talk about Adams background and share some insight onto the new and updated website. Adam Kuns plays and records professionally with various groups and artist. He has studied with Gregg Bissonette, Chad Wackerman, Dick Weller and many others. He graduated from California State University Northridge as a Jazz Studies major where he had the opportunity to perform with the Jazz “A” Band. When he isn't working on programming the website here at Drum Channel, Adam leads a very busy schedule performing, playing studio sessions, being a musical director, composing/arranging, and transcribing.
Links:
Instagram:@adamkunsdrums
Email:adamk@drumchannel.com
Jonny Scott is the drummer for the popular Scottish band Chvrches. Jonny started out playing professionally on the Glasgow indie scene with momentum quickly building in his career towards joining British-American indie rock band The Kills. In 2013 Jonny played drums on Chvrches’ first album The Bones of What You Believe, featuring on the tracks “Gun” and "Night Sky.” Jonny has been drumming live for Chvrches since March of 2018 and has been pretty much on the road with them ever since appearing at some of the world’s biggest venues and festivals. Chvrches (pronounced "churches") are a Scottish synth-pop band from Glasgow, formed in September 2011. The band consists of Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. Mostly deriving from the synth-pop genre, Chvrches also incorporate indietronica, indie pop, and electronic dance into their sound.
What is really impressive about Jonny’s addition to being the live drummer of the band is that he plays most of the programed drum parts all live on one of his two lovely touring Ludwig drum sets along with a set of four vintage Simmons electronic drum pads to his left.
This is the first Drum Channel Podcast episode with only Scottish people. We hope you can understand us! :)
Links:
Jonny’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejonnyscott
Jonny’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/thejonnyscott
Chvrches Website: https://chvrch.es
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/playcajon
Johnny "Vatos" Hernandez's professional drumming career began at age seventeen with a USO tour to South Vietnam. At nineteen, he was playing in local big bands, the LACC Studio Jazz Band and the Si Zenter Big Band. During the same time, Hernandez played in a variety of pit orchestras and backing acts, like Bob Hope, Billy Daniels and Gordon McCray. In the 1970s, he played with The Helen Reddy Band and served as the house drummer of "The Midnight Special" television show. There, he played with acts, such as Frankie Avalon, Petula Clark, Keith Carradine and Martin Mull. When Helen Reddy hosted "The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson," Hernandez had the honor of sitting in with The Doc Severinsen Band. Playing the famous opening theme song was a lifelong thrill.
After having been heard, drumming with Toni Basil's band by composer, Danny Elfman and his longtime orchestrator, Steve Bartek, Hernandez was hired as a session drummer on Elfman's first film score, "The Forbidden Zone" (which continues to have a worldwide cult following). Hernandez joined the original lineup of the famous band, Oingo Boingo, a position he held for seventeen years, until their breakup in 1995. During that time, the band released eight albums, toured the world and played thousands of concerts.
After the breakup of Oingo Boingo, Hernandez joined the band, Tito and Tarantula and was featured in the Robert Rodriguez film, "From Dusk Till Dawn." He had a rewarding time, touring Europe with Tito until 911, but at that point, he decided to return to Los Angeles to play jazz again. In the 1990s, Hernandez returned to regular session work for composers, like Jason Johnson, Steve Bartek and Bear McCreary. He was the drummer for Bear McCreary's hugely popular "Battlestar Galactica" live orchestra concerts.
For the past seven years, Hernandez has been touring with his own, Boingo Dance Party, a high energy, wild Oingo Boingo music show that features former members of Oingo Boingo. As well, Hernandez is the drummer for the Don Kubec Big Band and recently formed his own avant-garde group, Vlatko, featuring composer and arranger, Michael Vlatkovich on trombone (with whom Hernandez has played professionally for the past forty years). Vlatkovich is one of the leading talents among the Los Angeles improvisational scene. Playing unrestricted free style music always will be good for Hernandez's soul.
In November 2012, Hernandez received the esteemed "Los Angeles Certificate of Recognition Award" from the Los Angeles City Council.
Links: Website: http://www.johnnyvatos.com
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0379608/
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
Virgil Donati is one of the world’s most well known drummers and drum clinicians. He was born in Melbourne, Australia, where he also launched his career. He got his first drum set aged only two and literally hasn’t put the sticks down since. Since the mid-nineties he has been a household name. Residing in Los Angeles, Virgil is travelling the world as a international drumming superstar, as well as a composer and an educator. He has performed and toured with the likes of Tommy Emmanuel, Steve Vai and Allan Holdsworth, while maintaining a busy schedule as a band leader and member of numerous recording and touring bands over the years, most notably Loose Change, Southern Sons, On The Virg, Soul Sirkus, Planet X and various incarnations of The Virgil Donati Band and The Virgil Donati Trio.
His natural talent, combined with a herculean work-ethic and never-ending curiosity, has propelled him to an unbelievable performance level.
Links:
Website: www.virgildonati.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virgildonati
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirgildonati/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/virgil_donati
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
Drummer JP Bouvet of Lakeville, MN now based in New York is a Berklee alumni who has very much taken control of his career. JP, once won the Guitar Center Drum, beating over 4,500 contestants for the number one spot. After Berklee, JP moved to New York where he works as a session player and an educator. JP runs his own educational drumming resources called JP Bouvet Music where he now has over 400 video lessons covering a wide range of drumming topics including grooves, independence, fills, rudiments, blogs, soloing, and much more.
JP is a wonderfully insightful individual and this is a very inspiring chat.
Links:
Website: https://www.jpbouvetmusic.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpbouvet
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jpbouvet
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jpbouvetmusic
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
David Stanoch is a drummer and educator based in Minneapolis, MN. A student of masters Elliot Fine, Alan Dawson, Max Roach, Jeff Hamilton, Chad Wackerman, he has built an eclectic musical reputation performing with artists from the worlds of jazz, rock, R&B, Broadway, motion picture and television including the Airmen of Note, Jackson Browne, Hiram Bullock, Charo, George Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Richard Davis, Herb Ellis, Robert Goulet, Colonel Bruce Hampton, Scott Henderson, Freedy Johnston, Shirley Jones, Stanley Jordan, Shari Lewis, Jack McDuff, the Minnesota Orchestra, Keb’ Mo, New Kids On The Block, Bernard Purdie, Bonnie Raitt, Walfredo de Los Reyes, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers, Danny Seraphine, Doc Severinsen, Ed Shaughnessy, Martin Short, Ben Sidran, Jab’o Starks, Clyde Stubblefield, Butch Vig, Fred Wesley, and The Supremes’ Mary Wilson. He is currently musical director for Emmy-winner, Shaun Johnson’s Big Band Experience. David served on the faculty of McNally Smith College of Music for 27 years, serves on the Percussive Arts Society Drum set Committee and is a member of the Modern Drummer, Remo, and Vic Firth Educational Teams.
David has authored Mastering the Tables of Time (“#1 Edu Book,” Modern Drummer 2009 Readers Poll), co-authored The 2 in 1 Drummer (2014 Modern Drummer & DRUM! Magazine Edu Book Nominee), both available from Alfred Music Publishing, and was “Drumming History and Analysis Consultant” for Jim Berkenstadt’s book, The Beatle Who Vanished~The Unsolved Mystery of Jimmie Nicol, currently being made into a major motion picture.
David’s latest veture is the new David Stanoch School of Drumming where learners from all over the world can get live one-to-one drumming lessons directly from David.
Website: www.davidstanochschoolofdrumming.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.stanoch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drummindaddydave/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidStanoch
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
Drummer for the band Chicago, Walfredo Reyes Jr. combines the rich history of Latin, Afro-Cuban and World Percussion with the drum set. For Walfredo Reyes, Jr., fusing the two disciplines has been his driving passion. In fact, by blazing this path, Reyes has challenged the technical levels of our instrument. Born in Cuba, raised in Puerto Rico, and culminating his musical style in the U.S., Wally (Walfredo Jr.) learned the traditions from the master, his father Walfredo Sr. He married those principles with his love of the drum set, coming up with his own truly global rhythmic style. Simply put, Wally is able to sound like a drummer and a percussionist at the same time. Add blistering chops and a penchant for playing unusual patterns to the mix, and you have only a small idea of what this man can do. Not surprisingly, this “one man percussion show” has gathered an impressive list of gigs over the years, including touring and / or recording with: Carlos Santana, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jackson Browne, Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, David Lindley, Ricki Lee Jones, Richard Marx, Sergio Mendes, Smokey Robinson, Robbie Robertson, Joe Sample, Boz Scaggs, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Johnny Hallyday, Khaled, Lindsey Buckingham, Chicago and many others.
Because of his versatility, Walfredo continues to be one of the most in demand musicians in the world today.
Links: Website: http://walfredoreyesjr.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walfredoreyesjr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wreyesjr.1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wallyreyesjr
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
EP 12: Jordan West Jordan West is a drummer, vocalist, and songwriter from Indiana currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Her move to LA was largely inspired by studio legend Bob Clearmountain, who randomly stumbled upon her singing and drumming at a rock club in Indiana. He told her she should make the move out to Los Angeles and that if she did, he would love to work with her. She took his advice and they recorded their first single together, "Blueberry Smoke", featuring Andy Summers on guitar and mastered by Bob Ludwig. She is also in the process of finishing an EP with producer/engineer Mark Hornsby. The project was sponsored by Roland, Ludwig, Avid, and DPA mics, and an accompanying documentary about the process was filmed by Nigel Dick (set for release fall 2018). Jordan also works as a freelance studio and touring drummer/singer. She has recently performed and recorded with Judith Hill and Kailee Morgue. She also has her own ongoing series of Reverb.com lesson videos for drums and writes/records for television. Jordan is endorsed by Ludwig drums and Zildjian cymbals and is a clinician for Roland and BOSS.
Links:
Webiste: www.jordanwestdrums.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jordanwest
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jordan.k.west
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
Gerry Gibbs is a Grammy nominated Drummer, Producer, Band Leader, Composer & Arranger who has performed with some of the most iconic jazz artists of all time including Ron Carter, Stanley Clarke, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Parliament Funkadelic, and more. As a Solo Artist, Gibbs has released 9 Jazz Recordings. His first, back in 1996, ‘Gerry Gibbs Sextet – The Thrasher’ features Saxophonist Ravi Coltrane with Quincy Jones as Executive Producer, while his last two recordings: ‘Gerry Gibbs & The Thrasher Dream Trio’,’We’re Back’ and “Live In Studio” feature Jazz luminaries Ron Carter & Kenny Barron. In 2014 and 2015, all 3 Trio recordings topped the National Jazz Radio Charts; spending 15 weeks between the three CD’s at #1 while ‘The Thrasher Dream Trio’ received a Grammy Nomination in 2014.
Gibbs forthcoming Jazz recording: ‘Live in Studio’ also features the rhythm section of Ron Carter & Kenny Barron throughout while, this time around, added guests include: renowned Trumpeter Roy Hargrove and Award-Winning Vocalist Cassandra Wilson. In November 2015 The Gerry Gibbs “Thrasher Dream Trio” has once again returned to #1 on the JazzWeek Jazz Charts as the most played Jazz CD across the country for 2 weeks. This would be their third #1 CD in a row in less than two years for 15 weeks total. Since the first jazz radio charts started being documented going back 14 years to 2002, only two other artist in 14 years have had three or more #1 consecutive CD’s in a row.
Make sure to also check out Gerry’s lates lesson on Drum Channel called: “Finding what the music calls for” where Gerry shares some valuable experiences including dynamics and how to react and play with others musicians.
Links:
Website: www.gerrygibbsmusic.com
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
EP 10: Steve Forman
Well established in the LA recording studios, Steve Forman has long been recognized as one of the world’s most innovative and creative percussionists. His professional credentials began in Arizona as a contract member of the Phoenix Symphony, but his broader interests in music soon led him to the recording studios in Los Angeles. Interspersed with his early touring experience, Steve's personal trips to Brazil and Japan were important influences on his playing; he developed a style of "color" hand percussion and extended the on-stage instrument collection well beyond the routine Latin instrument group common at that time by utilizing found objects like hubcaps and artillery shells, sculptural artifacts and odd metal and wood constructions.
Steve’s has played on a great many recordings with some of the most influential artists of the 20th century including John Lennon, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, Pink Floyd, The Beach Boys, Lee Ritenour, and Christine Aguilara, as well as playing on a vast array of movie soundtracks that include E.T, Flipper, Bill & Ted II, Starship Troopers, Catch Me if You Can, Bambi II, and many more.
Steve now lives in Glasgow, Scotland where he gained his PHD in composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Steve now lectures and teaches his popular Pulse Relational Rhythm Theory class at the RCS which is based on insights emerging from Forman’s research of multi-dimensional polyrhythmic systems and high resolution synchronicity, semi-malleable forms, and non-standard instrumentation, and more than three decades of professional practice. He also continues to perform and record with some of the country’s top musicians.
Links:
Steve’s profile at RCS: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/staff/steve-forman/
Steve’s Website: http://www.tambourine.net
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
Lindsay Artkop is a drummer based in Los Angeles, California. She has performed with artists of Pop, Rock, Fusion and Jazz Genres at filled arenas as well as intimate venues. She also has extensive filming experience, having played drums for TV commercials, TV Show Pilots and music videos. In May 2015, Lindsay won 1st place in Hit Like a Girl , an international competition for female drummers. Judges included Kim Thompson (Beyoncé, Late Night with Seth Meyers), Venzella Joy (Beynoncé), Didi Negron (Cirque De Soleil), Hannah Welton (Prince) and more.
At six years old, Lindsay spotted a shiny drum set on display at a local music store. Her dad saw her interest, and she was lucky enough to come home that day with a snare drum and a pair of red sticks! Shortly thereafter, she started lessons and played in every band possible throughout elementary and middle school. Over the years, she picked up guitar, bass, composing, and audio recording. At 15, she enrolled in Educational Center for the Arts, in New Haven, CT. She also studied with Bernard Purdie during that time. While in High School she performed and recorded with bands throughout the New England area, especially with her own funk group, “Lindsay Artkop and Friends.”
Lindsay graduated from Berklee College of Music in May 2016 with a B.A in Professional Music, and was a featured drummer in the annual commencement ceremony concert. While at Berklee, she concentrated on Drum Set Performance and Music Business.
Lindsay is now a popular Drum Set Clinician and Music Educator, and presents masterclasses at conventions, institutions and universities. Most recently, Lindsay traveled to the cities of Dalian, Zhuhai, Macau and Beijing for her 2017 China Drum Clinic Tour, sponsored by 9 Beats Education Institution for Modern Music.created video collaborations with drummers such as Kiran Gandhi and Shariq Tucker. Lindsay also composes, records, and produces original music as a drummer.
Links:
Website: www.lindsayartkop.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lindsayartkop
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lindsayartkopdrums
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/lindsayannemusic
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
EP 8: Thomas Lang Thomas Lang is drumming legend originally from Vienna, Austria. Thomas now makes the California his home and is widely known as one of the most popular clinicians in the world. As a clinician Thomas has headlined at every major international drumming festival and has toured the world many times over as a solo performer. Before moving to California with his family, Thomas spent the 1990s in London where he recorded and toured with some of the most popular artists of the era including Tina Turner, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Williams , Kelly Clarkson, Sugababes, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, Ronan Keating, Steve Hackett, 911, and Boyzone.
Lang is also a well known and respected educator and his well known practice-regime eventually became the basis for his 2-part series of instructional videos “Ultimatives Schlagzeug Part I and II. In 2003, Lang released the instructional DVD and book “Creative Control”. In November 2006 Lang released his DVD and book “Creative Coordination And Advanced Foot Techniques”. The DVD and book are based around multi-pedal orchestrations, independence, sheer power and advanced foot technique.
In 2007, Lang launched the Thomas Lang Drumming Boot Camp, a multi-day touring educational drumming experience that he has hosted in various locations around the world including London, Los Angeles, New York, Berlin, Austria and Finland, among others. Lang has since taken this award-winning educational concept to 35 countries and has hosted more than 120 of these camps worldwide. In 2011, Lang launched the annual Los Angeles-based camp “The Big Drum Bonanza”, a five-day, multi-drummer festival which has featured various guest artists including Virgil Donati, Stanton Moore, Chris Coleman, Dave Elitch, Kenny Aronoff, George Kollias and Jeff Hamilton among others. Thomas was also one of the seven drummers who auditioned to replace Mike Portnoy in Dream Theater.
Thomas is a frequent guest tutor at universities, drum seminars and drum camps all over the world. Lang also owns an online drum school Thomas Lang's Drum Universe and is the president of the International Percussion Association (IPA).
Links
Website: www.thomaslangsdrumuniverse.com
Big Drum Bonanza Camp: www.bigdrumbonanza.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomaslangdrum
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thomaslangdrum
Paul Jennings (Host) Instagram: www.instagram.com/playcajon
EP 7: Stephen Perkins Stephen Perkins is a drummer from Los Angeles and is well known for being the drummer for Jane’s Addiction and later as the drummer for Porno for Pyros. Perkins started playing drums at eight years old and first met future Jane’s bandmate Dave Navarro in high school band where Nevarro was playing bass drum. In his early years Perkins was drawn to the Venice Beach drum circles where he first began to develop his love for drumming.
In 1985 Jane’s Addiction was formed by Perry Farrell and Eric Avery with Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins joining in 1986. They were one of the first bands from the 90’s alternative rock movement to gain large media attention and commercial success. Jane’s Addiction originally split in 1991 with a brief reunion featuring Red Hot Chili Pepper’s bassist Flea. The band have continued to reunite over the past two decades with their latest tour happening in 2016.
Perkins has also recorded with Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nine Inch Nails, and has appeared on Drum Channel a number of times, teaching lessons and appearing in interviews. He also appeared on The Chad Smith Show alongside Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins.
In this episode Stephen talks about his early Jazz influences, drumming in the marching band in high school where he met Dave Navarro, the early days of Jane’s Addiction in LA during the 80s, finding your voice as a drummer, as well as giving us many inspiring points of his wisdom.
Links: Instagram: www.instagram.com/stephenperkinsdrummer
Twitter: twitter.com/stephenperkins
Jane’s Addiction: www.janesaddiction.com
Jonathan Moffett, also known as Sugarfoot, is a drumming legend and is well known as being the drummer for Michael Jackson for over 30 years. He has also performed with Madonna, Sir Elton John, George Michael, Stevie Wonder, and many other iconic artists.
Moffett was born and raised in New Orleans and began his drumming career when his father asked him and his brothers if they wanted to start playing music. Jonathan was assigned to play the drums after everyone wanted to play guitar and his father said “you can’t all play guitar.” This path however did not turn out bad for Jonathan at all, becoming one of the most iconic drummers in history.
He began touring with The Jacksons after moving to LA from New Orleans in the late 1970s. In this episode Jonathan shares his amazing story of how he got the gig and came to play with Michael Jackson for over 30 years. Jonathan was the last drummer to audition with the Jacksons, impressing the group by playing “Shake Your Body” on the drums all by himself, a song with a three part overdub, which means it has three drum parts layered on top of one another with three separate passes of recorded individual drums parts.
Jonathan also plays a number of instruments and is both a songwriter and producer. He has influenced drummers all over the world with his groundbreaking drum techniques and style. He is notorious for his kung-fu inspired signature moves which he came up with during a marathon practice session late one evening - the "one-handed cymbal catch" and his backlash-whiplash cymbal crashes (single and/or double hand) where he places two cymbals behind him and hits them without looking.
The Sugarfoot sound is unique, fusing the feel of funk and R&B with the power of rock. He is also known for his impressive drum setups often using multiple kick drums and toms, and an array of cymbals rigged on a complex web of stands and hardware. Some of Moffett’s drumming influences include Zigaboo, Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, Tony Williams, Billy Cobham, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, among many others.
Links:
Website: www.jmdb.world
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jmoffettmjm
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jmoffettmjm
YouTube: www.youtube.com/jonathansugarfootmoffett
In 2011 International drumming competition Hit Like A Girl was conceived by David Levine of TRX Cymbals. David felt that the musical products industry was not serving the female drumming community so he wanted to create a platform that would promote and support their development. After enlisting the help of Mindy Abovitz of Tom Tom Magazine, and Phil Hood and Andy Doerschuk at DRUM! Magazine, and the Hit Like A Girl Contest was born.
Since the HLAG launched it has attracted 2000+ contestants from 50 countries and has generated tens of millions of page views and fan votes around the world. HLAG has significantly helped raise the visibility of female drummers and spotlighted the efforts of girls and women.
This special episode features Hit Like A Girl founder David Levine as well as eight female drummers and percussionists from around the world who have all been involved with the competition at various stages.
Lindsay Artkop IG @lindsayartkop
Faith Benson IG @faithndrums
Moty Baketas IG @motybaketas
Noriko Terada IG @noriko_terada_drumsume
Jordan West IG @jordanwest
Riesha Fayson IG @rieshadrums
Pau Villareal IG @thewarningrockband
Danielle Thwaites IG @soundsbydaiza
Links: Website hitlikeagirlcontest.com Instagram instagram.com/hitlikeagirlcontest Facebook facebook.com/HitLikeAGirlContest Twitter twitter.com/hlagcontest
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Peter Erskine has been playing drums at the age of four and since then his musical journey has taken him to being one of the most well respected jazz drummers of all time. Peter has performed on 700 albums and film scores, has picked up two Grammy Awards, and has an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of Music.
Peter’s professional drumming career began with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and then on to working with Maynard Ferguson. It was soon after Peter began working with Jaco Pastorius before joining Weather Report and moving to Los Angeles. Peter recorded five albums with Weather Report and toured the world many times with the band.
Peter has worked with many influential artists including Diana Krall, Joni Mitchell, Vince Mendoza, Steely Dan, plus European musicians Jan Garbarek, Kenny Wheeler, Palle Danielsson, John Taylor, Kate Bush, Nguyen Lê, Rita Marcotulli, the Norrbotten Big Band in Sweden plus Sadao Watanabe in Japan. Peter’s film work includes “Memoirs of a Geisha,” all three of the Austin Powers movies, “The Secret Life of Pets,” plus the title music of the Steven Spielberg/John Williams collaboration, “The Adventures of Tintin.” He also played the jazz drumming cues on the Academy Award-winning soundtrack for “La La Land,” and can be heard playing on the scores for “Sing,” “Logan” and “House of Cards.”
Peter produces jazz recordings for his record label, Fuzzy Music, with 4 Grammy nominations to its credit. Peter is also an active author with several books to his credit; titles include “No Beethoven (Autobiography & Chronicle of Weather Report),” “Time Awareness for All Musicians,” “Essential Drum Fills,” and his latest book (co-authored with Dave Black for Alfred Publishing), “The Drummers’ Lifeline.” He is also authoring a series of iOS Play-Along apps suitable for all instruments. Peter is also a Professor of Practice and Director of Drumset Studies at the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California.
Endorsements: Tama Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Remo Drum Heads, Meinl Percussion, and uses Shure Microphones and Zoom digital recording devices.
Links: Website: petererskine.com Facebook: facebook.com/PeterErskineDrummer Twitter: twitter.com/petererskine YouTube: youtube.com/user/erskoman
Mona Tavakoli is a drummer and percussionist based in Los Angeles whose mission is to make music that unites, elevates, and connects. Mona is widely known for her work with Jason Mraz who Mona has recorded and performed with world-wide for almost a decade.
Mona started playing drums age 11 with the high school band and began her professional music career 1999 at UCLA after forming the band Raining Jane. Raining Jane wrote and recorded YES! (Atlantic Records) with Jason Mraz and went on to tour the record internationally for almost two years.
Mona toured worldwide for Mraz’s 2012 album, Love is a Four Letter Word, and they performed together as a duo on TV shows including The Today Show, The David Letterman Show, Ellen, Dancing with the Stars, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. As the Duo Decibel System, Mona (percussion) and Mraz (guitar/vocals) have performed in Antarctica in support of climate change awareness and they were proud to help honor Ellen Degeneres as she received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at The Kennedy Center.
In other work, Mona has appeared on A&E’s Private Sessions, where she performed as a trio with Pat Benatar and her husband, Spyder Giraldo. She has been the featured percussionist with the Pasadena muse/ique orchestra (led by maestra Rachel Worby), and played with musicians such as Andy Grammer, Colbie Caillat, Keaton Simons, Lindsay Mac, Lucy Schwartz, Natalia Zukerman, Sara Bareilles, Tristan Prettyman and Willy Porter.
Mona recently traveled to Africa with the U.S. State Department as a cultural diplomat alongside Chaska Potter and Natalia Zukerman. As the Northern Lights trio they visited Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi for concerts and workshop facilitation focusing on women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment.
Mona has been featured in DRUM!, Tom Tom Magazine, judged and hosted the Hit Like A Girl drum contest and awards show and is the recipient of the 2016 She Rocks awards “Inspire Award” for her work with the Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls.
Endorsements: DW Drums and Hardware, Latin Percussion, Remo Percussion, Roland Electronic Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, Sennheiser Microphones and Vater Percussion.
Links: Website: monatavakoli.com
Instagram: instagram.com/mona_tavakoli
FaceBook: facebook.com/MONA.TAVAKOLI.DRUMMER
Twitter: twitter.com/mona_tavakoli
Curt Bisquera, also known as “Kirkee B.”, is one of the most popular studio and touring drummers in the world. Curt began playing drums at age 3 and was playing professionally by the time he was in grade school. After finishing high school Curt attended Hollywood’s Musician’s Institute. One of Curt’s teachers at MI was Joe Porcaro and eventually met the late drumming legend Jeff Porcaro. Jeff became a huge influence for Bisquera and eventually went on to recommend him for work.
While at the Musician’s Institute Curt heard that Morris Day & The Time were auditioning for a new drummer. He got the gig and Curt went on to tour with Morris Day which led on to him working with other well known artists including Shalamar and Sheena Easton. Curt went on to tour with Belinda Carlisle where he met legendary producer Don Was who hired him to play drums on Bonnie Raitt’s massive Grammy winning hit Luck Of The Draw.
Curt became one of the most in demand session drummers recording and performing with many great artists including Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John, Tina Turner, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty & The Heartbrakers, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Etta James, The Dixie Chicks, Spice Girls, Ricky Martin, and many more.
Curt Bisquera continues to be in high demand for both recordings and live work and recently developed his own signature bass guitar envelope filter pedal with West Co Pedals. Endorsements: DW Drums, Latin Percussion, Paiste Cymbals, Remo, Vater, SKB, Big Fat Snare Drum, Jerry Harvey Audio, Tunner Fish Lug Locks, Canopus, Audio-Technica.
Links: Website: curtbisquera.com Instagram: instagram.com/curtbisq Twitter: twitter.com/curtbisq
John JR Robinson is officially known as the world’s most recorded drummer. When I asked John just how many recordings he had played drums on, he told me he believed it was in the low five figures. John’s incredible drumming journey began at age 8. After learning the fundamentals and growing up on the drums, John went on to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
John’s big break came while touring with his own band 1978. After Rufus and Chaka Khan attended one of the shows John was hired as the drummer for Rufus & Chaka and moved out to LA to finish the Rufus & Chaka Khan world tour.
Later in the same year, John was introduced to Quincy Jones. Quincy asked if John was available for studio sessions outside of Rufus & Chaka. John said “yes, of course!” and a short time after John was in the studio recording drums for Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall album. Since doing Off The Wall, John’s phone has literally been ringing...off the wall!
JR went on to record on some of the most iconic albums and songs of all time including: We Are The World, All Night Long, You Are and Say You Say Me by Lionel Richie, I’m So Excited and Slow Hand by the Pointer Sisters, I’m Just A Gigolo and California Girls by David Lee Roth, Higher Love, The Finer Things and Back In The Highlife by Steve Winwood, Express Yourself by Madonna, Off The Wall, Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, The Way You Make Me Feel, Smooth Criminal, Workin Day and Night and Bad by Michael Jackson, Natalie Cole’s,”Stardust” and Change The World by Eric Clapton, Quincy Jones’ The Dude, Q’s Jook Joint and From Q With Love, Give Me The Night from George Benson just to name a few. In the 1983 John won a Grammy with Rufus and Chaka Khan for “Ain’t Nobody”.
JR has two solo CDs, Funkshui (2004) and Platinum (2010) on his own label, Homecourt Records, and another CD, Rivers Of Paradise, with his band, TRW, released through Frontiers Records.
JR continues to produce a range of projects and maintains a recording studio in Thousand Oaks, CA, where he continues to add his hit making groove and feel on numerous hits, movies and jingles.
Endorsements: DW Drums, Latin Percussion, Paiste Cymbals, Remo, Zoom, Tree Works Chimes, M-Audio, Shure.
Links:
Website: www.johnjrrobinson.com
Twitter: twitter.com/johnjrrobinson
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/JohnJRRobinson