Hi Florsky
I'm also one of the 200 happy drummers who own a Sonor 135 years anniversary 12-5 snare drum with your signature on it. I was thinking about buying also your 12-5 protean snare. Are the two snares similar or is there a big difference?
I think there's quite a noticeable difference between those two 12" snare drums. I really like playing both anyway. I would say that the Protean is more aggressive and has more 'drum sound' due to the fact it has only 8 snare wires.
Hi Lightbulb_Sun
Quick question. In the live performance of "Dislocated Day" from Octane Twisted (https://youtu.be/Dl5rv8LzEUk?t=2m23s), I have no idea how you're playing both the rims and the hihat pattern at 2:23. What is the sticking? It's such an intricate song. I love how you took an already great drum beat and made it your own.
As I haven't played that song - or even thought about in 6 years I can't remember exactly what I was doing - but I think it did involve playing open handed.
Also, I loved your Guitar Center duet with Simon Philips. Although labelled as one, it never felt like a "drum duel" to me, and I loved how both of you worked together instead of just showing off, like in most "drum duels". It was incredibly musical and inspiring. How often do you jam with drum friends like this? Is it helpful towards your playing?
Thanks - yes that came out really well - and musical too. Simon and I were on the same page about the approach to making that work as a duet - and not a competition.
By the way, due to the recent announcement of a new Dizrhythmia album, I just checked out the song "Standing In The Rain". Absolutely phenomenal, thanks so much for this great material. It's crazy that you were so young at this point. Great stuff. I'll definitely go and get the album while I wait for the new one. Will it be available on vinyl?
No plans to have it on vinyl at the moment.
Hi DunkirkDrums
I was wondering if as a musician of your caliber, do you still get star struck by other musicians? Also do you remember the first cymbal you ever owned?
Not really. I remember being very impressed when I met David Bowie, Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush as I'm such a fan. First cymbal I ever got was a 12" Zyn (and I've still got it somewhere in the garage).
Hi Robert Schmidt
If you for instance play a 16th note groove (one handed and continuous 16th) or a half time shuffle groove (4/4, BD on 1 and 3, SN on 2 and 4) - when do you lift your left arm (or wrist) up to play the backbeat? Do you think about stuff like this or do you just do it naturally?
I have never thought about it. So it just happens naturally to me. I know when I want to hit the snare drum and my arm just goes there automatically.
Another question is: When preparing for a gig or session, do you ever slow down songs for practicing purposes?
No I just work on them at their original tempo.
Hi Midnite Zephyr
Just wondering when is the next time you're touring through Southern California with a band. Any plans for N America anytime soon? Thanks.
No plans at the moment - but there could always be a possibility that King Crimson could come back to the States next year.
Hi Mathman
1. Did you tune your kit to specific notes for the King Crimson shows, and if so were they tuned to the same notes as the other kits, or did you build a scale between the three kits?
No I don't tune my drums to specific notes - but the intervals between the toms tend to be almost always the same. If you search back through this thread you'll find posts about that as well as an audio sample of my current tuning.
2. I gather you tune reso head higher than batter, do you tune to an interval between top and bottom, to a precise difference?
Yes the reso head is a bit tighter but it's not an exact interval - I tend to follow my instincts.
3. The small drums you have to your left with Crimson, I gather are specially made for you by Sonor, are they 8" single headed? What depths are they, and are they tuned to intervals/notes?
Those drums are 8" and they are all double headed. The depths of the four that I use on the King Crimson show are 9", 13", 17", 21"
What mics did you use on your kit, on The KC tour last year, also will you be using the same this year? I am an engineer and drummer, so it us always interesting to compare sounds with different mics.
We're in rehearsals right now and still experimenting with mics. At the moment I have the AKG D12VR in the bass drum. Shure SM57 on the snare top and bottom, Shure Beta 98AMP on the first three rack toms and Sennheiser 421's on the floor toms.
cheers
Gavin