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.
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:
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!!!
