Drum Syndicate Podcast

Join us for the second installment of our in-depth conversation with renowned drum historian Rob Cook, as we delve into the rich tapestry of percussion history. In this episode, Rob shares captivating stories and insights on:

• 🥁 The fierce rivalry between Ludwig and Slingerland, two titans of American drum manufacturing.
• 🐄 The traditional use of calfskin heads and their role in drum sound evolution.
• 🎛️ The inception of the mylar drumhead and its transformative impact on drum sound and durability.
• 🔥 The Slingerland reboot and Roland's strategic involvement with DW's electronic kits.
• 🎨 The evolution of drum finishes, from classic wraps to modern innovations.
• 🌲 The unique all-wood drums produced during World War II due to metal shortages.
• 🥇 Rob's personal favorite snare drum and what makes it stand out.
• 🎷 Anecdotes and stories about the legendary Buddy Rich.
• 📉 The decline of iconic American drum companies and the subsequent rise of Japanese manufacturers.
• 🥁 The legacy of WFL III drums and their place in modern drumming.
• 🌟 "Traps, The Drum Wonder" - Buddy Rich, child prodigy.
• 📚 A sneak peek into Rob's upcoming cymbal book, exploring the history and artistry of cymbal making.
• 🌳 An exploration of the Zildjian family tree and its impact on cymbal craftsmanship.

• [The Slingerland Book](https://hudsonmusic.com/product/the-s...)
• [The Rogers Drum Book](https://www.amazon.com/Rogers-Book-Ro...)
• [The Ludwig Book](https://www.namm.org/library/oral-his...)

• [Rebeats Official Website](https://rob7476.wixsite.com/rebeats)
• [Not So Modern Drummer Magazine](https://www.notsomoderndrummer.com/no...)

Rob Cook is the founder of Rebeats and the Chicago Drum Show, and the author of several definitive books on drum history, including *The Slingerland Book*, *The Rogers Drum Book*, *The Gretsch Book and *The Ludwig Book*. His extensive research and passion for percussion have made him a leading authority in the field.Don't miss this enlightening journey through the annals of drumming history with one of its most dedicated historians.📌 *Subscribe* to our channel for more deep dives into the world of drums and percussion.📖 **Explore Rob Cook's Publications**:🔗 **Connect with Rob Cook**:\#DrumHistory #RobCook #VintageDrums #PercussionLegacy #drumtalks landofdrumshttps://fireflymusicstudio.com/Intro music by FARRINGTON, drums by Marcos de la Cruz Outro music by Bill Hartel\#DrumHistory #RobCook #VintageDrums #LudwigVsSlingerland #BuddyRich #MylarDrumHeads #ElectronicDrums #ZildjianFamily #WFLIIIDrums #ChicagoDrumShow

Drum Historian Rob Cook – Part 1: Inside the Legacy of Iconic Drum Brands Join us for an enlightening journey into the world of vintage drums with esteemed author and historian Rob Cook. In this first installment, Rob delves deep into the rich histories of legendary drum companies and the pivotal moments that shaped modern drumming.📚 *Exploring Drum Company Histories:*Rob shares insights from his comprehensive works, including *The Ludwig Book*, *The Slingerland Book*, *The Rogers Book*, and *The Gretsch Drum Book*. These texts chronicle the evolution of these iconic brands, offering a detailed look at their contributions to the drumming world .🎤 *Endorsements and Iconic Drummers:*Discover the intriguing story behind Ringo Starr's association with Ludwig Drums. Despite not having a formal endorsement, Ringo's use of Ludwig drums catapulted the brand into the spotlight during the Beatles' rise to fame .🏪 *Frank's Drum Shop – A Chicago Landmark:*Rob reminisces about Frank's Drum Shop, a cornerstone of Chicago's music scene from 1938 to 1978. Under the ownership of Maurie Lishon, the shop became a haven for drummers seeking quality instruments and expert advice .🎪 *The Chicago Drum Show:*Learn about the origins of the Chicago Drum Show, founded by Rob in 1991. This event has grown into a premier gathering for drum enthusiasts, showcasing vintage and custom drum gear while fostering a sense of community among drummers .🔧 *Innovations in Drum Design:*Rob discusses significant advancements in drum construction, such as Ludwig's internal mufflers and the introduction of Vistalite acrylic drums in 1972 . He also touches on the development of the Octa-Plus kit, popularized by session drummer Hal Blaine .🏭 *Camco Drum Company's Legacy:*Explore the history of the Camco Drum Company, known for its high-quality drums and hardware. After ceasing operations in 1977, Camco's assets were acquired by Drum Workshop, influencing modern drum manufacturing .🔒 *Rogers' Memory Lock Innovation:*Understand the impact of Rogers' introduction of the memory lock system, a hardware innovation that set new standards in drum stability and has been widely adopted by other manufacturers .In a previous interview with JR Robinson https://youtu.be/dQH2CUUiA7s?si=jdJ2Jy10qFdlLgni

he revealed the DW reboot of Slingerland and shared his thoughts on DW's involvement with Gretsch. After our interview with Rob, he shared his thoughts on the DW/Gretsch situation via email.Here's his reply - " It occurred to me what JR probably meant about Gretsch going away. As I mentioned via Zoom it is a rather complicated situation and I did not explain it very well. Here is the deal:-DW had an agreement with Fred W Gretsch to build (in Savannah) and distribute the American-made Gretsch drums in the USA. DW also had an agreement with Hal Leonard to distribute Gretsch import drums in the USA.-GEWA is a large music distributor and manufacturer in Germany that had been distributing DW drums in Germany, and they began to build their own line of high-end electronic drums which were directly competing with Roland V-Drums. GEWA began to export their electronic drums in the USA shortly before Roland bought DW.-When Roland bought DW, the agreement with GEWA to distribute DW drums in Germany was terminated. This was because Roland is a competitor of GEWA.-GEWA negotiated with DW and/or Fred W Gretsch and arranged to build (in Savannah still) and distribute American-made Gretsch drums in Germany, AND in the USA. They (GEWA) also now sell the Gretsch import drums in the USA, through Hal Leonard.-DW did not mind giving up USA distribution of Gretsch, since they are developing Slingerland.

rebeats.comlandofdrums.comhttps://fireflymusicstudio.com/Intro music by FarringtonOutro music by Bill Hartel\#RobCook\#VintageDrums\#LudwigDrums\#GretschDrums\#DrumHistory\#ChicagoDrumShow\#RingoStarr\#DrumCollector\#SlingerlandDrums\#DrumGear

Alex discusses touring with Fleetwood Mac, The Kinks and the Beach Boys, re-recording Walking On Sunshine, his health regimen, his choice of sticks, and reforming The Waves with bassist Vince de la Cruz.https://katrinaandthewaves.com/landofdrums.comhttps://fireflymusicstudio.com/1. #AlexCooper 2. #KatrinaAndTheWaves 3. #WalkingOnSunshine 4. #DrummerLife 5. #ClassicRock 6. #FleetwoodMac 7. #TheKinks 8. #BeachBoys 9. #RockLegends 10. #BehindTheMusic

Alex discusses recording the smash hit "Walking On Sunshine", Nile Rodgers' involvement, overcoming back pain, co-managing a band, shooting videos and losing 3-4 lbs of sweat per gig!

In this episode Zoro discusses studio techniques, his memoir, "Maria's Scarf", attending Berklee College of Music, meeting Lenny Kravitz, playing at the Modern Drummer Festival, playing with Frankie Valli, Bobby Brown, avoiding drugs and alcohol, favorite drummers and much more.

In this episode Zoro discusses his rise out of a difficult childhood, playing with New Edition, doing clinics, the job of a drummer, his new book and much more.

Intro music: Marcos de la Cruz with Farrington

https://fireflymusicstudio.com/

Outro Drumming: Bill Hartel

https://www.landofdrums.com/

In part two James discusses Jeff Porcaro, working with Smokey Robinson and Donald Fagen, bass drum tuning, recording "Reunited" and " Got To Be Real" in one or two takes, his bout with cancer, and the one snare drum he values the most and much more...

https://fireflymusicstudio.com

landofdrums.com

In this episode James discusses his early career, recording at Motown studios, recording with the Jackson 5, The Miracles and drumming on the top 2 dance songs of all time and much more.

In this episode Tommy discusses going to Berklee College of Music, playing in odd meters, favorite drummers, getting mugged in New York City and much more...

In Part 1 New York Jazz Drummer Tommy Campbell discusses Berklee College of Music , playing with Kevin Eubanks, Dizzy Gillespie and John McLaughlin. He also talks about overcoming nerves, Zildjian Day ‘84, his set up, favorite music, and injuries.