Drummers on Drumming

This week's guest is Gunnar Olsen. Gunnar's been on the show a lot recently with "save it for the pod" segments. But I noticed his Big Fat Five episode is almost 4 years old, which is a shame. Recently, I went to the Hollywood Bowl with my friends Mike Robinson and Neal Daniels, both show alumni, to see Gunnar play with Puscifer on the Sessanta tour, celebrating Maynard James Keenan's 60th birthday. It was mind-blowing. Gunnar is an incredible drummer, one of the best out there. At this show, Josh Freese was playing with A Perfect Circle, but now that Josh is busy with Foo Fighters gigs, Gunnar is playing with both Puscifer and A Perfect Circle for the rest of the tour. It's unbelievable and well-deserved. Puscifer is a perfect fit for Gunnar. Apart from this tour, Gunnar has also recorded or toured with Big Data, Bruce Springsteen, Miley Cyrus, HOKO, Mother Feather, Fischerspooner, Goo Goo Dolls, and many others. He's possibly my favorite drummer, and I admire him a lot. He's a close friend, and I always try to catch his shows when we're in the same town. Although this conversation is from 4 years ago, I wanted to bring it back up because the information is still relevant. It's fascinating to hear Gunnar talk about Tim Alexander of Primus, who has been a big influence on him, and now see them hanging out on tour together, seeming like best buds. Anyway, Gunnar, I'm really proud of you, and I admire your career more than you know, even though I tell you all the time. I hope you enjoy the records that helped shape Gunnar Olsen into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

GUNNAR'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - ...And Justice For All

Artist - Metallica

Release Year - 1988

Key Track(s) - Harvester of Sorrow

Drummer - Lars Urich

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Album - Reggatta De Blanc

Artist - The Police

Release Year - 1979

Key Track(s) - The Bed's Too Big Without You

Drummer - Stewart Copeland

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Album - Songs for the Deaf

Artist - Queens of the Stone Age

Release Year - 2002

Key Track(s) - Song for the Dead

Drummer - Dave Grohl

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Album - Dust

Artist - Ben Monder

Release Year - 2006

Key Track(s) - Dust

Drummer - Jim Black

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Album - Largo

Artist - Brad Mehldau

Release Year - 2002

Key Track(s) - When It Rains

Drummer - Matt Chamberlain

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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This week's guest is Earl Talbot. Earl is a renowned Drummer, Composer, Producer, and Music Instructor. He wrote and produced over 90 songs broadcast regularly on the Oprah Winfrey Show. His career includes performances with house music legends Derick Carter and Mark Farina, as well as touring and recording with Master Griots Dialy Mady Cissoko, Christian Bourdon, Poi Dog Pondering, The Chicago Sinfonietta, as well as scores of other artists and clients. 

As a multi platinum recording artist, Earl has worked on songs from Maya Angelou's "Human Family Remix" with Tamarra Love, to Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy's production of "The Hush Sound" with Shawn O'Keefe. Earl wrote and produced 3 songs for Katt William’s ‘American Hustle’.  His hit song "Yakalelo" with French sensation "Nomads" earned a Diamond Record for it's success throughout Central Europe and North Africa.

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

EARL'S BIG FAT FIVE

Album - Back In Black

Artist - ACDC

Release Year - 1980

Key Track(s) - Back In Black

Drummer - Phill Rudd

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Album - Time Out

Artist - Dave Brubeck

Release Year - 1952

Key Track(s) - Pick Up Sticks

Drummer - Joe Morello

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Album - Moving Pictures

Artist - Rush

Release Year - 1981

Key Track(s) - YYZ

Drummer - Neil Peart

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Album - Glass Menagerie

Artist - Billy Cobham

Release Year - 1982

Key Track(s) - Observations and Reflections

Drummer - Billy Cobham

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Album - My Favorite Things

Artist - John Coltrane

Release Year - 1961

Key Track(s) - My Favorite Things

Drummer - Elvin Jones

HONORABLE MENTIONS

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Album - Regatta de Blanc

Artist - The Police 

Release Year - 1979

Key Track(s) - Walking on the Moon

Drummer - Stuart Copeland 

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Album - Romantic Warrior

Artist - Return to Forever 

Release Year - 1976

Key Track(s) - Medieval Overture 

Drummer - Lenny White

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Album - Van Halen

Artist - Van Halen

Release Year - 1978

Key Track(s) - Runnin with the Devil

Drummer - Alex Van Halen 

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Album - By All Means Necessary

Artist - KRS One and Boogie Down Productions

Release Year - 1988

Key Track(s) - I’m Still #1

Drummer - (Sample, All the People- Cramp Your Style)

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Album - Let’s Dance

Artist - David Bowie

Release Year - 1983

Key Track(s) - Modern Love

Drummer - Omar Hakim 

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Album - The Game

Artist - Queen

Release Year - 1980

Key Track(s) - Another One Bites the Dust

Drummer - Roger Taylor

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Album - Nightclubbing

Artist - Grace Jones

Release Year - 1981

Key Track(s) - Pull Up to the Bumper

Drummer - Sly Dunbar

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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This week, our guest is Maxwell Flanders, a close friend of mine and pseudo-neighbor based in Los Angeles, California. He's a highly sought-after touring and session drummer who recently wrapped up touring with Lizzie McAlpine and is now preparing for a world tour with Luke Hemmings. I've admired Max's drumming for a long time; he plays with such creativity, and his selections today reflect why. I hope you enjoy learning about the five records that have influenced Maxwell Flanders into becoming the drummer he is today. Cheers!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

MAX'S BIG FAT FIVE

Album - 1

Artist - The Beatles

Release Year - 2000

Key Track(s) - Ticket to Ride, Paperback Writer, The Ballad of John and Yoko

Drummer - Ringo Star

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Album - The Nightfly

Artist - Donald Fagen

Release Year - 1982

Key Track(s) - Ruby Baby, The Goodbye Look

Drummer - Jeff Porcaro

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Album - Stuff

Artist - Stuff

Release Year - 1976

Key Track(s) - Foots, (Do You) Want Some of This, Happy Farms

Drummer - Steve Gadd

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Album - Tom Scott and the L.A. Express

Artist - Tom Scott

Release Year - 1974

Key Track(s) - Bless My Soul, Sneakin' In the Back, Nunya

Drummer - John Guerin

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Album - Wrecking Ball

Artist - Emmylou Harris

Release Year - 1995

Key Track(s) - Where Will I Be

Drummer - Brian Blade

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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This week’s guest is Steve Jocz, also known as Stevo 32. Steve is a Canadian musician best known as the original drummer of the punk rock band Sum 41. Steve co-founded Sum 41 in 1996 with Deryck Whibley and played a significant role in the band's early success, contributing to their distinctive punk rock sound. He remained with Sum 41 until 2013, showcasing his drumming skills on albums like "All Killer No Filler”, “Does This Look Infected?” and Chuck." After leaving Sum 41, Steve left music behind all-but-completely...only to rekindle his relationship with the drums around 2019. We get into a lot of fun Sum 41 history and insider stories via very welcomed tangents and I was smiling the whole time. Steve was a big part of my drumming when I was younger and I was giddy as all hell to have him on the show. I hope you enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Steve Jocz into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

STEVE'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Nevermind

Artist - Nirvana

Release Year - 1991

Key Track(s) - In Bloom

Drummer - Dave Grohl

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Album - Dookie

Artist - Green Day

Release Year - 1994

Key Track(s) - Burnout (1:12 - 1:38)

Drummer - Tre Cool

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Album - Master Of Puppets

Artist - Metallica

Release Year - 1985

Key Track(s) - Master Of Puppets

Drummer - Lars Ulrich

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Album - Live Fast, Diarhea

Artist - The Vandals

Release Year - 1995

Key Track(s) - And Now We Dance (00:40 - 01:15)

Drummer - Josh Freese

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Album - Milestones

Artist - Miles Davis

Release Year - 1958

Key Track(s) - Two Bass Hit (00:00 - 01:00)

Drummer - Philly Joe Jones

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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This week's guest is JohnnyBgood. I've been following his Instagram account for a while now and I'm really impressed by his nostalgic, retro-futuristic synth sounds and vintage video game vibe. Paired with a clean, opaque colored-infused aesthetic, it's beautiful in its minimalist approach. He's committed to his branding so strongly that he chooses to remain anonymous, creating a character and a whole world to convey his art. It's great – he's a great guy. I love his choices. While he may not consider himself a drummer's drummer, he sees himself more as a producer, which I think is fabulous and a perspective we should all tap into more often. I hope you enjoy learning about the 5 records that shaped JohnnyBgood into the musician he is today.

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

JOHNNYBGOOD'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Where the Light is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles

Artist - John Mayer

Release Year - 2008

Key Track(s) - I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You)

Drummer - J.J. Johnson

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Album - Songs About Jane

Artist - Maroon 5

Release Year - 2002

Key Track(s) - The Sun

Drummer - Ryan Dusick

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Album - Come to Daddy

Artist - Aphex Twin

Release Year - 1997

Key Track(s) - Flim

Drummer - Aphex Twin

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Album - Single Release on YouTube

Artist - Shawn Wasabi

Release Year - 2015

Key Track(s) - Marble Soda

Drummer - Shawn Wasabi

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Album - Small Plates

Artist - J3PO

Release Year - 2019

Key Track(s) - Intensor (Feat. Ateller)

Drummer - Ateller

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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This week’s guest is Nick Adams … a Los Angeles-based touring and recording drummer whose passion for music and live performance has led him to work with an array of well-known artists such as Rivers Cuomo,Noah Cyrus, Fifth Harmony, Aly & Aj, Liz Phair, and Take That among others. I am obsessed with his Instagram; he gets such amazing sounds and is a nerd when it comes to engineering himself out of his own studio. If you want to watch a drummer who plays deceivingly hard parts with absolute conviction….please go check him out. I'm stoked to introduce a bunch of you to Nick! So please enjoy the 5 records that helped shape Nick Adams into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

NICK'S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Steve Miller Band: Greatest Hits 1974-78

Artist - Steve Miller Band

Release Year - 1974-78

Key Track(s) - Take The Money And Run, Swingtown

Drummer - Gary Mallaber

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Album - Take Off Your Pants And Jacket

Artist - Blink 182

Release Year - 2001

Key Track(s) - Story of a Lonely Guy

Drummer - Travis Barker

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Album - Lateralus

Artist - Tool

Release Year - 2001

Key Track(s) - The Grudge, Ticks & Leeches

Drummer - Danny Carey

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Album - Sawdust

Artist - The Killers

Release Year - 2007

Key Track(s) - Sam's Town

Drummer - Ronnie Vannucci Jr.

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Album - Hotel California

Artist - The Eagles

Release Year - 1976

Key Track(s) - Life in the Fast Lane

Drummer - Don Henley

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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This week’s topic on our "Save It For the Pod" segment with Mr. Gunnar Olsen is the timeless and seemingly underrated drummer of Radiohead, Phil Selway. Gunnar and I each choose our top 5 Phil beats and go a dissectin’!

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

GUNNAR'S CHOICES:

Track - Morning Bell (Live in Oxford)

Album - I Might Be Wrong

Release Year - 2001

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Track - There, There

Album - Hail To the Thief

Release Year - 2003

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Track - Pyramid Song

Album - Amnesiac

Release Year - 2001

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Track - Where I End and You Begin

Album - In Rainbows From the Basement

Release Year - 2008

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Track - Bodysnatchers

Album - In Rainbows

Release Year - 2007

BEN'S CHOICES:

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Track - All I Need

Album - In Rainbows

Release Year - 2007

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Track - Dollars and Cents

Album - Amnesiac

Release Year - 2001

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Track - 15 Step

Album - In Rainbows

Release Year - 2007

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Track - Myxomatosis

Album - Hail To the Thief

Release Year - 2003

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Track - Rekoner

Album - In Rainbows

Release Year - 2007

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Track - I Might Be Wrong

Album - Amnesiac

Release Year - 2007

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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This week's guest is drummer and producer Russel Holzman (@starpowerdrummer). Russell received his education in Jazz and Classical music at the New England Conservatory. Currently, he tours with artists such as Caroline Polachek and, known for his captivating drumming videos, Russell has garnered a substantial following on social media. Based in NYC, he adeptly juggles in-studio recording sessions with global live performances. I hope you enjoy the top 5 recordings that helped shape Russell Holzman into the drummer he is today. Cheers!

Be sure to scope Russell's finely crafted DnB style drum loops & sample pack HERE. These unique and original drum loops were played-live by Russell, not programmed, and are 100% royalty-free.

There are 3 different mix styles for each loop: Clean (highly usable, standard studio mix), Comp (over compressed, modern breakcore style mix) and Vintage (old school, classic Amen Break style mix).

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Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today!

🎯 Click here to order now!

Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

RUSSELL’S BIG FAT FIVE:

Album - Zeppelin 1

Artist - Led Zeppelin

Release Year - 1969

Key Track(s) - Dazed and Confused

Drummer - John Bonham

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Album - Nil Recurring

Artist - Porcupine Tree

Release Year - 2007

Key Track(s) - Cheating The Polygraph

Drummer - Gavin Harrison

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Performance - Live At Cafe Bohemia

Artist - Miles Davis

Release Year - 1957

Key Track(s) - Walkin

Drummer - Philly Joe Jones

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Album - Break Stuff

Artist - Vijay Iyer Trio

Release Year - 2015

Key Track(s) - Taking Flight

Drummer - Marcus Gilmore

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Album - Secret Liaison

Artist - Source Direct

Release Year - 1996

Key Track(s) - Secret Liaison

Drummer - Source Direct

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Any Honorable Mentions?

Performance - Coltrane Live @ Half Note, NYC

Artist - John Coltrane

Release Year - 1965

Track - I Want To Talk About You

Drummer - Elvin Jones

For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out www.bigfatsnaredrum.com and follow us on Instagram.

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