Percussion Discussion Podcast

Percussion Discussion - Episode 78 - Roman Roth

Joining me today is the wonderful Swiss drummer Roman Roth.

For pretty much the last decade Roman has been playing for Mick Hucknall as a solo artist and for the mangnificent Simply Red

Join Roman and myself as we chat about his career so far, from the beginning of his musical path which started out with the violin, how he switched to drums aged 9 after hearing Art Blakey being played by his music loving father. 

 We talk about his incredible journey from studying drums at universtity in Zurich through to getting the Simply Red gig, and how the gig requires competence in so many diverse styles to get through it!

Roman really is all about the groove and the feel, he has some lovely organic drum sounds both live and on recordings, this is of course made easier by having some top quality equipment, we talk about Paiste Cymbals(also Swiss of course)and Gretsch Drums.

 Roman, many thanks for giving up your time so generously. its much appreciated!

 Special thanks to our mutual friend and top class UK touring/session drummer Steve Barney - Drummer for putting us in touch!

Percussion Discussion - Episode 77 - Dom Famularo

Joining me today is the wonderful Dom Famularo.

 Dom is a fantastic Drummer, Educator, Author and Motivational speaker.

If you are looking for motivation and inspiration then this is the one for you to watch / listen to. 

 Join Dom and myself as we talk about his remarkable and lengthy career, life as a youngster in the Famularo household when on one cold Sunday evening on February 9th in 1964 Dom witnessed the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, this was the key moment for Dom when he knew that the drums were going to be the instrument for him!

 Dom talks about the remarkable drummers he has been lucky enough to study with along his journey including Papa Jo Jones, Joe Morello, Jim Chapin, Shelly Manne and Louis Bellson to name but a few.

 We also chat about The Sessions Panel, where Dom comprehensively interviews the finest musicians in the world, passing on knowledge to a new generation of musicians. There is also a really interesting story of how this materialised.

 This was a wonderful conversation to be part of, Dom tells some very funny and some equally poignant stories throughout our chat, i hope you enjoy it as much as did.

Dom - Thank you for giving me the time from your incredibly hectic schedule!

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Percussion Discussion - Episode 67 - Max Beesley

Joining me today is super talented Actor & Musician Max Beesley.

You may have seen Max acting in many programmes such as Suits, Bodies, Mad Dogs, Homeland ,The History of Tom Jones and many many more.....However, we are here to talk about Max' remarkable talent as a Percussionist, Drummer, Pianist, Song Writer, Producer etc....Max has played for the likes of Incognito, TheBrand NewHeavies, Take That, Paul Weller, Omar, Robbie Williams and many more!

Join Max and myself as we talk about Max's incredible career so far, from his early days attending the prestigious Cheethams School of music as a Chorister, onto getting the gig with Paul Weller on Keyboards & Percussion after a chance meeting with Paul's drummer Steve White.

 We also chat about Max's latest solo album featuring a heavyweight rhythm section featuring 2 former Percussion Discussion guests Dr. Steve Gadd and Luis Conte on Drums and Percussion respectively. As well as Max on Vibraphone.

 We had a fantastic conversation that is full of little gems, including a very late, and very last minute jam session with Omar and Stevie Wonder no less!

 I hope you enjoy this chat as much as i enjoyed doing it!

Max, i cant thank you enough for giving up your valuable time so generously!

Percussion Discussion - Episode 75 - Sarah Thawer

Joining me today is the wonderful Sarah Thawer

Sarah has played with some incredible artists such as Steve Vai, Sheila E., Jacob Collier George Watsky and many more!

Join Sarah and i as we talk about her incredible career so far, including her recent move to LA from her native Toronto, she tells us how she has been playing since the age of 2, we talk about how Indian and Western music influenced her to become the remarkable drummer she is today.

 We also chat about about her stunning performance at Zildjian Live and her presence on Social Media and how she cleverly used this to get her name and talent out around the world in the early part of her career.

 i dont think there is a drummer on the planet who hasnt seen one of her fabulous online videos. 

It was a real thrill chatting to Sarah and i thank her for giving up her time so generously.
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Percussion Discussion - Episode 74 John JR Robinson.

Firmly back in the legends lounge today!

Joining me is session legend and one of the most recorded drummers in history John JR Robinson.

Non drummers may not be too familiar with his name BUT, you will have heard his beautiful drumming on so many hit songs that you will hear everytime you switch your radio on - Higher Love - Steve Winwood, Give me the Night - George Benson, Rock With You - Michael Jackson, Aint Nobody - Rufus & Chaka Khan, All Night Long - Lionel Richie, the list goes on and on....

 Join JR and myself as we talk about his amazing career so far, including how he likes to record at his own studio facility, this of course has been incredibly useful over the last two 'Covid" years!

 We chat about his long time friendship with legendary musician, composer, song writer and producer David Foster, of course we had to touch on his musical relationship with the iconic Quincy Jones, Jones openly states that JR is his favourite drummer, some accolade!

 Jr Talks about some of his current projects including The JR Robinson Experience - a star studded band performing some of the many hits that JR has played on or been involved with. 

Also JR's Hands for Drummers Foundation that is doing great work helping underprivileged musicians create music.

Many thanks to JR for giving his time so generously to talk to me, it was an absoloute thrill!

Percussion Discussion Episode - 73 - Jeff Rich

Joining me today is british drummer Jeff Rich.

Jeff has played for some incredible bands and artists including Judy Tzuke, Climax Blues Band Stretch, Def Leppard and of course the mighty Status Quo

Join Jeff and myself as we chat about his amazing career, starting from his humble beginnings havent to scrimp and save to put a drum kit together, through to his early gigging life.

 We couldnt not talk about when Jeff played alongside Rick Allenof Def Leppard as he was getting to grips with playing his new Electronic Drum Kit after losing an arm in a horriffic accident.

 And of course, this leads us on to his time with the mighty Status Quo and his debut album with the band - In th Army Now.

 Jeff also shows us in the video a beautiful 1979 engraved Ludwig Drums Black Beauty Snare Drum, this was gifted to him by Rick Allen and was the snare drum used by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich on their classic Ride The Lightening Album!!

Jeff - Thank you so much for giving your time up so generously, it was a fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable conversation.

Percussion Discussion - Episode 72 - Pete Riley

Joining me today is Pete Riley 

For as long as i can remember Pete has been scrambling our brains as a monthly contributor for Rhythm Magazine with his incredible Technical Difficulties feature, i am pretty certain he has kept me and many others busy over the years trying to master some of these excercises!

 Aside from this Pete is a very busy and in demand drummer over in the UK having p,ayed for the likes of Republica, Phil Hilborne, Fast Eddie Clarke, KEITH EMERSON, ABC, Tony Hadley & Guthrie Govan to name but a few!

 We have a great chat about his career, including lessons with the late great Bob Armstrong, Rhythm Magazine, Gigging, Playing and life in general!

 Pete is a quite remarkable drummer and a very nice guy, it was a real pleasure to spend an hour chatting to him and i hope you enjoy our conversation!

Joining me today is Bill Ludwig III, a man with the most famous surname in drums and percussion!

 Join Bill and myself as we talk about Bill's early years in the Ludwig Factory alongside his father and grandfather, the man responsible for creating the bass drum pedal, Pedal Timpani and Ludwig Drums as we know it! 

 Bill has some incredible stories, including one about presenting Ringo Starr with a gold plated snare drum, you need to watch though, im not going to give it away!

 These days after a good break from drums Bill is back stronger than ever with his incredible WFL III brand of drums, these as you can imagine are instruments of the highest quality!

 Many thanks to Bill for giving up his time so generously, i cant tell you how much i enjoyed listening to his heart warming and at times very funny stories and memories. i hope you enjoy it as much as i did!

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Joining me today is the remarkable Percussionist Pete Lockett.

Pete has an incredible CV from working with Björk, Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, Amy Winehouse, The Pet Shop Boys and Nitin Sawhney through to performing on blockbuster movie scores for Several James Bond 007 films and the likes of Moulin Rouge and Snatch sound tracks.

Join Pete and myself as we talk about the incredible technical and logistical challengesinvolved in his hugely succesful recent joint performance with Thomas Lang at the annual Percussive Arts Society (PASIC) event in Indianapolis.

We also talk about the dedication that it has taken to master so many vastly different styles of Percussion that Pete firmly has in his locker! I think i describe Pete as the Swiss Army Knife of percussion!

 Pete has many projects on the go as well as many fabulous books that he has written Including Indian Rhythms's for the drumset, Kanjira, A Beginners Guide and many more, We also talk about DrumJam, the incredible App that Pete helped develop, including a demonstration of what it can do by the man himself!

 Pete, Thanks so much for giving up your time so generously - it ws a joy to spend an hour in your company!

 www.petelockett.info

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 Percussion Discussion - Double Drums Special Edition.

For many years i have had a fascination with double drums, so i have decided to put together a compilation dedicated to this very subject! I hope you enjoy it.

Steve Gadd talks about playing alongside Grady Tate with Simon and Garfunkel at the legendary Central Park concert and with Sonny Emory with Eric Clapton, plus Steve discusses the pros and cons of double drumming.

Former Adam and the Ants Drummer & Producer Chris Merrick Hughes talks about the process to get double drums sounding good, of course Adam and the ants famously used two drummers, Joining me on this one is my good friend and fantastic British touring drummer Steve Barney.

Gregg Bissonette talks all things double drums for his regular gig playing next to Ringo Starr no less in the Ringo Starr All Star Band!!

Legendary American session drummer Rick Shlosser recalls an incredible and very funny story about playing double drums with Ringo on Harry Nillsons - Flash Harry Session.

 Again Rick (with Steve Barney) recalls his sessions doing double drums through his career, In his own words "i think it was only with Ringo Starr & Jeff Porcaro"!!

And Finally Chad Smith recalls a hilarious story about playing double drums with Free/ Bad Company drummer