The bass player in my band Lake 32, Jeff Laird, introduced me to Tool about twelve years ago. At the time, I’d heard Sober plenty of times, but hadn’t really kept up with what the band had done after their breakthrough album, Undertow. Jeff lent me AEnema and that was it, I was a Danny Carey fan boy.

I’ve spent countless hours studying Carey’s playing and believe him to be one of the most skilled musicians working today. He is truly one of the most musical drummers I’ve ever had the privilege to listen to. Let’s face it, drummers tend to be relegated to carbon-based metronomes, keeping the time of a song for the guitar player and lead singer. Carey is able to fulfill that role and simultaneously add significantly to the music. There isn’t a single song that Tool has ever recorded that would sound the same with another drummer at the helm. This is because there are few drummers who could think as musically as Carey does behind his kit and deliver on in the playing department.

And thus, I offer you Danny Carey to kick-off your drumming weekend. This is one of my favorite clips of Carey playing the conclusion of the title track of Tool’s 2001 release, Lateralis. Two things to watch for in this sadly short clip:  The double crash cymbal hit on the right side of the kit and the gong hit right in the middle without missing a beat. Carey is one of the best. Enjoy!

Arguably one of my most important drumming influences, Stewart Copeland has had a huge influence on my playing over the years. Like just about everybody else in the US, the first time I heard him play was on the Roxanne single. Copeland’s style was so unique and powerful, I went immediately to my tiny Ludwig kit in my basement and tried to learn the song, playing the 45 on my parents’ record player over and over until I could do it.

The thing that has always amazed me about Copeland is his backbeat. Few drummers in the history of rock hit like he does and that backbeat is undeniable the minute you hear it. That particular characteristics has been a part my own style for years and shows no signs of going away. Of course, it helps that I play a Stewart Copeland signature snare from Tama on my all Gretsch kit!

So, to honor one of my drumming idols, I picked this video from what none of us at the time knew would be The Police’s farewell tour:  The Synchronicity tour of 1983-1984. There aren’t a lot of great videos of Copeland playing with The Police online (most of them focus on Sting and, this one in particular, has some annoying shots of audience members dancing around), but I think this one has enough cuts that demonstrate the raw, earthy power of his playing to make it worth watching.

Enjoy watching this remarkable drummer hit some drums really, really hard. Happy Friday!

When I was a teenager in the 1980s, I often got depressed listening to the radio. Electronic pop music was at the height of its popularity and was ubiquitous. I listened to the radio looking for great drummers and, with a few notable exceptions, I found mostly drum machines droning in my ears.

So I decided I would step back a decade or two and found a treasure trove of rock drummers to listen to, and one of my favorites was Danny Seraphine, the drummer for the band, Chicago. Of course, at the time, he was on the radio all the time, but it was “You’re the Inspiration” and “Hard Habit to Break.” I’ll never forget the first time I listen to Chicago’s debut album, “Chicago Transit Authority.” I couldn’t believe some of the drumming Danny did on that album. I was really drawn to the way he took his obvious jazz roots and incorporated them into the somewhat psychedelic music the band was making. Danny had a lot in common with Mitch Mitchell, but seemed more in control, maybe more focused on serving the song.

Twenty-five years later, I still have trouble nailing down exactly what it is that makes Danny Seraphine such a great drummer, but ultimately that’s not important. The music is. And so, for today’s Friday Drum Launch, I chose Danny performing with his new band, CTA (California Transit Authority), at the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival. In honor of the impact Chicago’s first album had on me, I picked a song I must have listened to a thousand times because it had a long drum solo in it:  “I’m a Man.”

Enjoy!

The thing that originally attracted me to the music of John Mellencamp was his growly vocals or down home guitar licks. It was the drumming, executed by one of the most dynamic, exciting and hard-working drummers in rock today, Kenny Aronoff.

Kenny is no longer with Mellencamp, but makes an excellent living as a hired gun playing with some of rocks biggest artists, including The Smashing Pumpkins, John Fogerty, Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morrissette, The Rolling Stones, Puddle of Mudd, Avril Levigne and many, many more.

While perusing the internets earlier this week, I happened up upon this video of Kenny apparently at a clinic playing along to Philip Sayce’s tune, Powerful Thing (the title on the video is mistaken). I think this video captures Kenny’s innate sense of groove and features some startlingly complex fills that also work very well in the context of the song.

So here you go. Enjoy Mr. Kenny Aronoff and Happy Friday to you all!

Jim Uding and the crew from Drum Headquarters in St. Louis will be hosting Zildjian on Tour this coming Sunday, June 7th from noon until 5:00 PM. This will be a phenomenal opportunity for your to:

• Meet company CEO Craigie Zildjian and other factory experts
• Play and buy one-of-a-kind Zildjian Sound Lab prototypes (these will be available only on the day of the event)
• Enjoy great prices on Zildjian cymbals, drums sticks and other accessories
• Get a free pair of sticks and a classic black t-shirt with the purchase of a Zildjian cymbal
• Register to win other great Zildjian prizes, including the nationwide grand prize:  A trip to the Zildjian factory
• Local rock station KSHE will be broadcasting live from the event from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and chat with Zildjian artist Steve Gorman, drummer for the Black Crows who will be there from 12:30 to 3:30.

All in all, this will be a great afternoon. You get the chance to meet the people who make Zildjian cymbals, meet a famous drummer who plays them and even get the chance to walk away with some new hardware and a great price. Not doing anything on Sunday afternoon. I can think of worse ways to spend it.

And, just to wet your appetite, here’s a quick video of Steve Gorman in action. Check out these groove chops and tell me you don’t want to meet this guy.

What helps kick my weekends off with a BANG? Watching some incredible drum work. It just gets me juiced and ready to play on the weekend. So, each Friday, I’ll find some tasty tidbit to share with you and see we can help your weekend get started right as well.

This week, I chose an amazing little video featuring one of my favorite drummers of all time, Dave Matthews Band drummer Carter Beauford, displaying some absolutely amazing chops and musical taste as they jam to the tune, “Two Step.”

Let the summer begin!

It’s been a hectic week in the software world – too much work to get done and not nearly enough time to finish it all. So, since my weekends are for drumming, I decided to kick it off right with a little Steve Gadd and a tremendously musical solo performed with with Michel Patrucciani Trio live. Now I’m sharing it with you. Happy Friday, everybody!

I really enjoyed John Blackwell's first double-DVD set, Technique, Grooving and Showmanship. In fact, I think some of his tips on open-handed playing are the best I've found. Hudson Music announced yesterday that they are releasing a new DVD set next week called John Blackwell Master Series. According to Hudson's write-up, this three hour DVD features John in front of a live audience, playing some of his original compositions and focusing on laying down a solid groove without overplaying. Here's the video trailer from Hudson:

It looks like Master Series will be available on Amazon on October 21st. I know I'll be ordering my copy early.

A couple of months ago, I posted about the "Drum Your Way to Hollywood Contest" that Dixon Drums was sponsoring. Well, Dixon announced the winner about a week ago and I wanted to be sure to mention it here. The winner of a Dixon Demon drum kit and a trip to Hollywood, CA to play live Westlake Studios in front of an A&R panel is Lou Mars. Here's a video of Lou's winning performance at Herried Music in California:

Congratulation Lou on a job well done.