TheBesTDrummerInTheWorld.com

Buddy Rich Solo, Damn

I’m putting this on my site because, ….Damn.

Drummer Interview: Brian St Clair of Local H

I’m going to cut to the chase on this one.

Brian St Clair is one of the best drummers alive.

The first week I moved to Chicago in, I think 92, I saw a great gig every night that first week.

I saw, Overwhelming Colorfast, Redd Kross, Guided By Voices at Lollapalooza, and a local band that had a huge influence on me. They were Triple Fast Action. And Brian St Clair was their drummer.

Over the next several years I saw every Chicago show they did and was 100% blown away every time. Amazing songs , great front man (Wes Kidd who went on to manage Local H) and a total rock god drummer in Brian St Clair.

They made 2 amazing records you can hunt down and buy. When the band faded away, Brian took over the drum spot in Local H. Really the only logical choice because….they’re a TWO piece!!!!!!!

Cool before White Stripes and Black Keys. Local H bring the full rock

Brian took time to site down with TheBestDrummerInTheWorld.com at the beginning of the 12 Angry Months tour.
Being a drummer myself, I am not the best interviewer nor am I an editing genius, so bare with me.

Drummer Interview: Andrew Scott of Sloan

You know, being from Canada is a funny thing.

I grew up in Windsor, Ontario, right across the boarder from Detroit.

When I was a kid, I didn’t even know that America was a seperate country. My best friend John’s parents worked in Detroit and I remember one day when they were talking about crossing the border each day to go to work, and how the customs officials were getting tougher. I thought “What the hell? Customs? Is America a different country??? I thought The Beatles already conquered America?” I was totally confused.

So, in a vain attempt to conquer the world myself, I moved to “The States” to be a “Rock-Starr, like Ringo Starr, get it?)

This concept of conquering America is not new for aspiring musicians. But as I age, it seems more and more misguided a goal.

How about making great music? How about having an enduring career? How about doing something you believe in?

I think I was hoodwinked by the alure of KISS Alive! Damn you Gene Simmons.

But not Sloan.

Sure, they had theire big American hit song with Underwhelmed.

But then they got called “The Nirvana of The North”. An underwhelming title in itself.

I won’t pretend to know all about what they went through or what decisions they made. Or if they ever fought about “moving to The States to become Rock-Starrs” But one thing is obvious….

They decided to continue on and make great music they were proud of.

If you’re a “typical american” (that’s what they call us up in Canada) Then you may not even know who Sloan are. Urgh. Here’s a video for the un-informed.

Plus, this song has a line about living in Canada

So it is with this confused background that I sat down with Sloan drummer Andrew Scott.

Sloan are one of my favorite bands and this is one of the best drummers you may have never heard of.

My love for Power Pop songcraft is obvious and, first and foremost Sloan write great songs. Great harmonies and every guy in the band writes.

The reason I think this band is so important is a) they write great songs b) they’re super tight and super pro live. But there’s a secret weapon in Andrew Scott and here’s why;

He makes the case for the “Keith Moon Factor”

If you’re a drummer and you love Keith Moon, you know that he is the ultimate “outside the box” drummer. He doesn’t play a hi-hat. He pretty much solos all the time. Listen to I can See For Miles if you don’t know what I’m talking about.

And, if you’ve ever played in a band where the guitar player says the famous “you’re overplaying” . Then you have an ally in Andrew Scott.

He’s the only drummer I know in the straigt ahead rock genre that secretly sneaks in Keith Moon style fills at every turn.

In this interview I get him to admit it:

For more infor check out www.sloanmusic.com

Drummer Interview: Murph of Dinosaur Jr

I cant speak for all drummers, but i can speak for myself and that myself speacking would secretly love to have the skill to front a band and shred on guitar.

I did start playing drums at an early age, but spent equal time in front of the mirror with a tennis racket playing sweet Van Halen (Eddie) riffs and dreaming of being a guitar god. I play in a Zeppelin band and worship Page.

This secret guitar god worship was continued in the 90′s when I discovered Dinosaur Jr. In the world of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, the angst filled world of grunge threw away guitar solos and traded them in for the punk rock ethic of  DIY and anti establishment, especially (Eddie)Van Halen.

For me, Dinosaur Jr (and the grunge era)  filled my Van Halen (Eddie) void and added something else to it. The idea that you COULD do it yourself. This was added to by the fact that I thought I could sing better than J. Mascis.

I love J’s vocals for the emotion they communicate (the main job of the vocal), but I think we’d all agree he’s not shooting for Freddie Mercury(who I also thought I was better than. sic.)

SOOOO, the thought of interviewing Murph was a bit of a mystery. It’s no secret that I get a bit goofy when I do these interviews. I totally respect anyone who has the balls to make a career in music.

So, I try to respect the person I’m interviewing with intelligent questions relative to the persons’ place in the world and the band they’re in.

This made Murph a special case in my mind. And his take on his role in the band and as a drummer held great lessons for anyone.

For those of you who don’t know, Dinosaur Jr guitar god J. Mascis is also a drummer (He plays drums in stoner metal band Witch) . And through the history of the band, wrote (and sometimes played) the drum parts in many of their songs.

Through my years of being a fan of this band, I honestly (and regretibly) considered them ” The J. Mascis band” And I don’t think I’m the only one. I looked through a bunch of articles on the band and most of them are slanted to the idea that “it’s J and some side guys”  Or J and Lou Barlow (who left the band to form Sebadoh, but reunited with the original line up in 2005) and an drummer named Murph.

My fear was that this observation on mine may offend my guest.

But when you talk to someone about themself and their ideas, you really get a simple truth.

Murph recognizes all of the above. And he handles his position with calm pride.

Watching the band that night I was waiting for “Feel The Pain” which has one of my favorite J Mascis guitar parts. J. played drums on the album version of the song. But I was waiting for the guitar solo. The song has 2 parts which change tempo, and the band played the slow part, real slow. And the fast part, real fast.

And in that moment I forgot about the guitar god and worshipped Murph, who with a simple and cool rework of the tempo, became thebestdrummerintheworld that night.

Here’s a live video for Feel the Pain. They did it cooler at the Fillmore. Just imagine the slow part, twice as slow and the fast part twice as fast, and you’ll worship Murph too. The Interview follows. 
Here’s the Interview with Murph:

Regarding Video Interviews

Just a note, as the site is relaunched I am busily editing the videos of the bands I’ve interviewed thus far.
Also, I’m trying to get the original site linked into the about page.
But, I’m a drummer, not a video editor or web guru.
Should have them up by end of the hoildays.
Also, If you have cool interviews you’ve done, shoot me an email and I’ll link it up
Peace
ian

Best Of List for 2009

This time of year, the coolest of the cool decide on whats cooler than cool, for the year.

For me, the standard of whats cool is pretty narrow. I’m admitedly slightly jaded. I dont watch American Idol and I dont care what Adam Lambert is wearing at the AMA’s

So thebestdrummerintheworld.com best of list for 2009 contains 2 records (I still call them records because it sounds cooler) in its top ten list.

They’re tied for first, although I listened to the first one more so far.

#1 Album of the year: HOT LEG – RED LIGHT FEVER.

If you havent heard this record, you must get it immediately. There is no mare fun a record than this. Out of the darkness of The Darkness, Justin Hawkins has assembled an amazing band and coined a much needed genre “MAN ROCK”

Stand out tracks: Ashamed and Trojan Guitar.

Bonus points for best overall use of word “Cocktail”

Hot Leg – Cocktails

HOT LEG – Exciting Music Band | MySpace Music Videos

#1-2. TINTED WINDOWS – TINTED WINDOWS.

A supergroup by any other name is not a supergroup unless it has Bun E Carlos on drums. And he is on drums in Tinted Windows.

Tinted Windows are: Taylor Hanson (lead vocals), James Iha (guitar), Adam Schlesinger (bass), and Bun E. Carlos (drums)

As many of you know, I’m a sucker for a power pop song. And this is power pop at its absolute best. Buy now and demand more touring.

Standout Tracks

Tinted Windows “Kind of a Girl”

Tinted Windows | MySpace Music Videos

Drummer Interview: Bun E Carlos of Cheap Trick

The Best Drummer In The World on Bun E. Carlos

Ian Lee loves Bun E Carlos

One of the first records I ever paid my own money for was Cheap Trick “At Budokan. I still listen to it whenever I want to remember why I started playing music.

The excitement of the crowd, the best songs, and the interplay between the band, heaven! (Tonight)

A few years ago I was in a Chicago band called Woolworthy, and we loved Cheap Trick. One day we jammed this song that was a total Cheap Trick hit. The singer, Rudy came up with a lyric, and the song was christened “The Spirit of Bun E”

When we finished the CD, Sweet Second Place, Bun E was DJ’ing at Lounge AX and Rudy and I went down to give Bun a copy of the CD. We told him about “The Spirit of Bun E.” and I admitted to him that I stole every lick he ever played to complete the song.

He took it home and listened to it. A few months later Rudy and I ran into Bun E. at a Guided By Voices after show party and he said that the band loved the song and they thought it was the best Cheap Trick tribute song that anyone had done.

Needless to say Rudy and I were floored.

 A few weeks ago I ran into Bun E. and he agreed to do an interview for www.TheBestDrummerInTheWorld.com

Bun E. Carlos Interview:

TheBestDrummerInTheWorld (TBDITW): “First of all can you give us the latest on what’s happening in the land of Cheap Trick.”

Bun E.: “We’re touring all summer.”

TBDITW: “Besides Ian, who do you consider are the best drummers in the world?”

Bun E.: “My mom’s a pretty good drummer.”

TBDITW: “Why?

Bun E.: “Because she’s my mom.”

TBDITW: “Oh, right”

TBDITW: “What qualities do you feel make a drummer a great drummer?”

Bun E.: “A great drummer doesn’t make mistakes”

TBDITW: “I made one mistake, once”

TBDITW: “As one of the few drummers who have made consistently great music over a long career, what do you feel is the most important factor in playing with other musicians?”

Bun E.: “Less is more. Serve the song.”

TBDITW: “ I knew that’s what you’d say, ‘cause that’s what you DO!”

TBDITW: “If I were to die tomorrow, what drummers around do you feel could replace me as the best?

Bun E.: “My mother, or, myself, if the pay was good.

TBDITW: “The pay sucks, I’m under appreciated”

Thanks for playing along, Bun E.

As a note I also gave Bun a copy of the latest CD from Textbook (my current band) and he said this, I swear.

“PS, Ian, I like your band, you guys are good. – BC” TBDITW says WOW!!!

 See Cheap Trick on tour this summer.

Zeppelin 2 Tour January 2010

 Led Zeppelin 2, The Ultimate Live Experience, is starting off the new year with some exciting shows, hopefully you can be a part of it.
For up to date info and new photos and new video, check out www.ledzeppelin2.com
 
Fri Jan 8 – House of Blues, CHICAGO – performing their set from “The Legendary 1977 Chicago Stadium Show” – 17 & up 9pm.
Sat Jan 9 – House of Blues, CHICAGO – performing their set from “The 1972 How the Mid-West Was Won Tour” – 17 & up 9pm.
Attend one and have fun, but attend BOTH nights for a discount when purchased together as a two-day pass at http://www.ticketmaster.com/Led-Zeppelin-II-tickets/artist/891609
 
Fri Jan 15 – House of Blues, DALLAS – deep cuts and classic hits- all ages 9pm – tickets: http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/414988
 
Sat Jan 16 – House of Blues, HOUSTON – deep cuts and classic hits- all ages 9pm – tickets: http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/415105
 
Fri Jan 22 – The Paradise rock club, BOSTON – deep cuts and classic hits- 18 & up 9pm – tickets: http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/415136
 
Sat Jan 23 – The Fillmore at Irving Plaza, New York City – deep cuts and classic hits-  16 & up 9pm – tickets: http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/415483
 
Tickets for ALL shows available thru Live Nation www.livenation.com  and Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.com search for  Led Zeppelin 2

Beatles Vs Microsoft

No, there is no lawsuit. But a public outcry. From me to you

Having a website claiming you are the best drummer in the world is bullshit because you have to learn about computers and how to type and HTML (no idea) PHP(???) Tags (huh??) and all this crap that has nothing to do with hitting things with little sticks of wood. Now thats culture!!!

But, since I’m now in the blogosphere, and before I go off on how Ringo saved my life, I pose the question of exterme social signifigance,

Who’s had more impact on our world, The Beatles or Microsoft? If its Microsoft, I might as well retire.

Whats Worse?

Here’s the game It’s called “What”s Worse”

This is the ultimate game to fuck your friends up. Me and my best friend invented it.

There are only 2 rules.

Rule #1 You must commit to an answer.

Rule #2 You cant change your answer.

To win the game, you must pose the question which cannot be answered without a worst case scnerio.

The game is won by making your friend loose sleep for comitting to their answer. It is best explained by example, so;

Example #1 The most basic example for beginners

Joe to Bill (J>B for short) “Whats worse Kenny G or Michael Bolton?

B>J, “They both suck.”

J>B “Come on, commit. Pick one, thats the rules”

B>J” Hmmmmmmmm, fine, Michael Bolton is worse”

J>B ” So you like Kenny G? Stranded on a deserted island, you’d listen to those lame alto sax riffs for the rest of your life?

B>J ” Yeah but Michael Bolton has that hair.”

J>B ” Yeah but the record cover would fade or get water logged and you’d only be left with the music, and that music would be your favorite for the rest of your life, in your case, Kenny G”

B>J ” Ok, you win that round”

Bill can admit defeat or come up with a more clever response which trumps Joe’s, thereby keeping the upper hand. However there must be a significant spread in the problem offered by Bill to Joe.

Example of a response by Bill that would put him back on top:

Bill>Joe “Ok, you won that one. Now, What’s Worse? The Beatles or your wife???

Match point goes to Bill as there is no wife who trumps the Beatles, but there is also no man with balls enough to admit it.

And so it goes.

Next round please…