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DrummerWorld is already wildly popular among the worldwide drumming community, but it’s worth mention as a big thank you to Bernhard Castiglioni. It’s a fantastic site for all things drums. I love the drummers bio stuff, but there’s so much more. Great job Bernhard!

Roberto

There’s not much point in blasting anyone who thinks Ringo was “just the drummer” of the Beatles. He was. I’ve read that, as a Beatle, Ringo possessed the Beatle quality that captivated everyone when he entered a room. What he also possessed was a then unique style of playing. Here’s where good argument begins. Granted, there was no technical wizardry to his playing, but Ringo’s playing provided the fourth piece of artistry that was the beauty of all those late recordings. If you’re a drummer, but don’t really think much of Ringo–and I know you’re out there–kick back and listen to Strawberry Fields or the entire Abbey Road Album. His performances were genius in artistic flow.

I recently had a chance to play on a Sonor Force 2001 kit. Sonor designed this kit back in 2003 to deliver affordable quality. These days you can find them used for about $500, well worth the money. The kit I had an opportunity to play on was a 5 piece configuation, with birch shells and an industrial looking midnight black finish. The Sonor stands were accompanied by Zildjian A Customs, and a DW5000 double kick pedal. It’s worth noting that I found this pedal kicking back at my right shin, which comes into play due to my occasional tendancy to let the pedal bounce back from, rather than rest on the kick-drum head. Back to my purpose here, Sonor did a decent job when it produced the Force 2001 series. The kit would be well suited for students, casual players and local club scene performers.

~r

JJ’s Blues Bar of San Jose, California is famous for hosting great blues acts and consequently, great drummers. It’s been host to few better than one Justin Markovits. I happened to catch Markovits playing for a band called The Blue Eyed Devils at JJ’s about three years ago. They were an exceptional four piece, to which Justin brought a unique style and unforgettable edge. Some months later, while at a Redwood City rehearsal studio, I chanced upon a fusion project called Trip. Trip’s drummer was none other than Markovits. Good fortune would bring to me a new friend in Markovits, and an opportunity to jam with him on a couple of occasions.

Justin is one of those uniquely gifted players that can play with an extraordinarily busy style, while managing to create space for those around him. He also has an artistic side that lends itself to creating percussion gadgets and set-ups that most couldn’t imagine or dare to try. He’s toured and played with a number of great acts, including Chris Cotton, Shanty Town and Trip. You can catch the guy on tour with Vacuum Tree Head this coming October. An unusual side-note is that Markovits has developed a side career as a licensed plumber. Markovits plays a curly maple DW kit with Zildjian complement.

Roberto

Ashton Neckar is 7 years old. He’s the son of one of my childhood friends, and qualifies as the youngest player I know. To my surprise, when I recently asked him who or what inspired him to play drums, he said it was me. In 2005 Ashton and his Dad visited my wife and I in our then Santa Cruz mountain home. The views at this place could inspire anyone to do just about anything. Ashton was very drawn to the remote scenery and to the idea that Big Foot might be lurking in the wooded surroundings, as I recall. As Ashton recalls it, he really liked my drum kit, a 6 piece Premier Signia set. He tells me that it was during this visit that he decided that drumming looked like fun.

Today Ashton plays in a band with his father Lance and 12 year old brother Cameron. I had an opportunity to catch them at a rehearsal a few months ago, during which they covered tunes by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Zeppelin. Ashton was playing on the huge 8 piece drum kit of a friend. Once I got past the visual of his tiny 7 year old body sitting at the helm of this monster Pearl drum set, I quickly noticed his affinity for holding down the grove. I was also pleased to notice that he had little fear for experimental fills. The fun part, however, was getting him to act silly while he was playing, a skill he hasn’t yet mastered to the point of being able to hold good time simultaneously.

Ashton practices at home on a borrowed vintage Pearl set. He informed me that this will soon change, as he’s about to acquire a new trap set, most likely a Pearl kit. He tells me that one of his favorite drummers is Vinnie Paul of Pantera fame, with whom he is a hometown neighbor and acquaintance. Ashton is a young player that I’ll be keeping an eye on. His potential and natural gift is frighteningly good.

Roberto