30 Kenny

Aronoff
Kenny gives a frank and 36 Simon Phillips
open account of an
LA session player

42 Neal Wilkinson

50 Shannon Larkin

Regulars
06 Word
22 Stateside
Features
08 Young Drummer of 56 Andy Gangadeen
24 Letters
26 Recycled
48 The Riser
the Year Finals 2011 Andy talks drum and bass, dubstep 81 Vintage
The battle is over and the winner is and breakbeat with Drummer at a 82 Audioscreen
announced. We bring you the report
from this year’s final
recent BBC Introducing event
86 Tuition
54 Vadrum
36 Simon Phillips Andrea Vadrucci, aka Vadrum, tells us New Feature!
One of the UK’s own, who now lives
exclusively in LA, tells Drummer about
about playing drums to Rossini – with
a full orchestra 106 Heroes of
his rise to the top Drumming #2
60 Highwood Drums
42 Neal Wilkinson Yorkshire-based custom drum company
UK session master gives his account HighWood show us around their factory
of today’s session scene
64 Guide to Gigging
50 Shannon Larkin Nick Carter continues his advice on
Godsmack’s Shannon Larkin is as in
demand as ever
putting your skills to work … this time:
the show drummer!
56 Andy Gangadeen
Every Issue
The Latest News The Latest Products Exclusive Features Indepth Gear Reviews Tuition

04 DRUMMER April 2011

04-05 Contents_JTS.indd 4 17/03/2011 14:28

 Issue 90 April 2011

ED’S FOREWORD
It’s been fairly hectic here at Drummer HQ in session work in the USA and the UK. Kenny
the past few weeks. We’ve been on the road, Aronoff ’s interview is refreshingly candid and
attending such events as the amazing Young open – if you’re hopeful of being a session
Drummer of the Year Finals (see the report player, you need to read this. Neal Wilkinson,
on page 08), we’ve been out road-testing one of the UK’s own session darlings, also
the gear sent in to us, and working hard on gives his account of the modern session
the London Drum Show line-up – which drummer. The always hospitable Simon
is going to be outstanding. Watch out for Phillips talks about his career, with some
line-up announcements! Add to that the fantastic insight into his years in TOTO, as

Reviews
fact that we have also been working hard on well as his busy life as a session man himself.
future features and interviews to bring to you Shannon Larkin’s interview is a great story,
readers, it’s amazing we’ve found time to play akin to Eric Kretz’s last month. Finally, the UK’s
a beat. own Andy Gangadeen, currently resident
You may recall that in my last ed’s foreword drummer of Chase and Status and The Bays,
68 Gretsch Renown I spoke about going back to some basic,
rudimentary exercises in order to take my
gives us an insight into his world. There are
plenty of challenges for all drummers in this
Maple 2011 playing forward. Well, so far I’ve made a good month’s tuition, and we continue our Heroes
We get up close with Gretsch’s revised start. I’ve been revisiting sticking patterns of Drumming feature, which seems to have
Renown kit that I haven’t ‘practised’ for years (although gone down so well with you all. So, please
I’ve played plenty of times). I’m using the enjoy. I’m looking forward to the next issue
70 Zildjian updates renowned ‘stick control’ book as my guide, already – be sure to look out for it. Until then,
The Z3 Ultra Hammered Chinas and the practising each sticking to different tempos keep it live and loud, my friends.
Avedis Swish Knocker reviewed – starting very slow at 60bpm, and increasing Jules
to around 140–160bpm. While this has a
72 HighWood snare degree of tedium about it, so far it’s definitely
drums improving my stick control, my chops and fills
sound tighter, and it’s helping me apply these
Solid performance from these ‘block’
snares stickings to the kit, which in turn is helping
me to come up with some new beats and
74 XM electronic kit grooves. I’ve been practising for around 30
minutes each evening on my trusty Roland
Real-shell e-kit for under £700 – but does
TD9KX, and spending a little time playing
it cut the mustard? We put it through its
these stickings for warm-up exercises at band
paces
rehearsals – much to the annoyance of the

76 Mapex Raptor rest of the band. This issue is a bit special

– it features some of the biggest names in
pedals
The latest single and double pedals from Meinl Yamaha

Worth a look*
89

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DRUMMER MAGAZINE

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78 Meinl Percussion
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INTERVIEW
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