Sarah Hagan Backstage

Liberty DeVitto is best known for his time creating hit music and touring the world with Billy Joel, but he is also an author of multiple books, a studio musician with superstars such as Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Carly Simon, and Karen Carpenter to name a few, and plays with his bands The Slim Kings and Lords of 52nd Street. Liberty tells some fantastic stories and give us great insight into being one of the most legendary songwriters' drummers ever, so come along with me as I catch up with Liberty DeVitto. 

Follow Liberty on Instagram: Liberty Devitto (@liberty_devitto) • Instagram photos and videos

Follow The slim Kings on Instagram: The Slim Kings (@theslimkings) • Instagram photos and videos

Follow the Lords of 52nd Street on Instagram: The Lords of 52nd Street (@lordsof52ndstreet) • Instagram photos and videos

Find Liberty’s autobiography here: Liberty: Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness – Hudson Music

Find Liberty’s children’s book here: Love, Santa Claus: A humble-hearted Christmas story: DeVitto, Liberty: 9781637610572: Amazon.com: Books

Matt Kelly is the drummer for the Dropkick Murphys and we talk all about their latest tour, their place in the world of Boston sports and in Hollywood, and their charity work! We also dive into Matt’s start as a drummer and hear about his influences! Come along with me as I catch up with Matt Kelly!

Follow Matt on Instagram: Matt Kelly (@matt__dkm) • Instagram photos and videos

Follow the Dropkick Murphys on Instagram: DROPKICK MURPHYS (@dropkickmurphys) • Instagram photos and videos

The Dropkick Murphys Website: https://dropkickmurphys.com

Find out more about the Claddagh Fund: | The Claddagh Fund (dropkickmurphys.com)

Stanley Randolph is the drummer for Stevie Wonder and is an incredible producer as well! He has played and toured with many other top acts and is working on his own projects now too. We talk about all of these things, and he gives some great advice and words of wisdom! So come along with me as I catch up with Stanley Randolph!

Follow Stanley on Instagram: #OOHSTANLEY (@stanleyrrandolph) • Instagram photos and videos

Stanley’s YouTube Channel: Stanley Randolph - YouTube

Daxx Nielsen has been the drummer for Cheap Trick for the last 13 years, but he is also a multi-instrument studio musician and has so many great stories! We talk about the touring life as well as home life, and we hear what he and the band have coming up this year and into their 50th year in 2024. Come along with me as I catch up with Daxx Nielsen!

Daxx's Website: Daxx Nielsen

Follow Daxx on Instagram: Daxx Nielsen (@cheaptrickdaxx) • Instagram photos and videos

Check out Cheap Trick here: CheapTrick.com - Home

Luis Conte is a legendary percussionist who has played with the world's top musicians such as James Taylor, Madonna, and Phil Collins to name just a few! We talk about his upbringing in Cuba, his start in the music world in America, and he tells some absolutely incredible stories!! So come along with me as I catch up with Luis Conte!

Follow Luis on Instagram: Luis Conte (@luisconte) • Instagram photos and videos

Luis with the Phil Collins Big Band: Phil Collins Big Band - Pick up the pieces - YouTube

Pat Petrillo is known for his popular instructional videos on Drumeo.com and his DVDs and books with Hudson Music. He is a really fantastic educator, and he has a brand-new album out called "The Power Station Sessions". Pat shares a bit about his history, his philosophy, and gives us a whole lot of insight into the new album! Come along with me as I catch up with Pat Petrillo!

Follow Pat on Instagram: Pat Petrillo (@patpdrummer) • Instagram photos and videos

Pat's Website: Home Page - Pat Petrillo (patpdrummer.com)

Pat's YouTube: Pat Petrillo - YouTube

Adam Marcello has been a friend of mine all the way back to the time he was out on Warped Tour with Katy Perry! Adam has had a diverse and interesting career, not only touring with Katy for years, but recording for movies and TV including the very memorable big band style opening of the show Modern Family, becoming a go-to guy for electronics and a key player in the new Roland SPD- SX Pro, and continuing to tour and musical direct for incredible musicians such as Michael Patrick Kelly. We are going to talk about all of these things including the many outfits he wore while touring with Katy Perry. So come along with me as I catch up with Adam Marcello.

Follow Adam on Instagram: Adam Marcello (@adam.marcello) • Instagram photos and videos

To see Adam demo the Roland SDP SX Spro: Introducing the Roland SPD-SX PRO Flagship Sampling Pad - YouTube

Demian Arriaga has just come off one of the coolest gigs ever playing the New Year's Eve show with Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton, so we are going to talk a lot about that today, but we will also hear about his start in music, his transition from being a drumset player to also being a hand percussionist and how that opened a whole other world of gigs for him, and we’ll talk about how he made his way into the world of pop music with major gigs with acts such as the Jonas brothers, Iggy Azalea, Carly Rae Jepsen, and of course popstar/rockstar Miley Cyrus. So come along with me as I catch up with Demian Arriaga.

Follow Demian on Instagram: Demian (@demianarriaga) • Instagram photos and videos

To reach Demian for lessons email: [email protected]

My guest today Keio Stroud is one of the funniest and hardest working drummers I know. He is best known for his years touring with Big and Rich, but he has a long and diverse career in music. He is now an independent session musician based out of Nashville and playing some really great gigs as his schedule allows. We are going to talk about how he got his start, his transition from life as a constantly touring drummer, and we will hear some encouraging words for other drummers as well. Come along with me as I catch up with Keio Stroud!

Follow Keio on Instagram- Keio Stroud (@blacyoda) • Instagram photos and videos

JD Beck is a young drummer, singer, and composer with an incredibly unique style of doing pretty much everything he does, and he is having an amazing year! He and Domi released their album "Not Tight", signed with Anderson Paak's record label Apeshit, Inc, toured the world, filmed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert, and were nominated for two Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album!! Come along with me as I catch up with JD Beck!

JD and Domi's Website: Home - DOMi and JD Beck

Follow JD on Instagram: jd beck (@jdbeckmusic) • Instagram photos and videos

Follow Domi and JD on Instagram: DOMi & JD BECK (@domiandjdbeck) • Instagram photos and videos

JD's Zildjian Live Performance: Zildjian LIVE! - JD Beck (Featuring DOMi) - YouTube

JD and Domi's NPR Tiny Desk Concert: DOMi & JD BECK: Tiny Desk Concert - YouTube