Drum Stories

[ptrack]

Alright i'm waiting....Nikk
If Nikk stands for Nikki Gonzalez band that you dont even need to try,I know who you are....

[ptrack]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ptrack:
[QB]Alright i'm waiting....Nikk
Hook me up....If Nikk stand for the Nikki Gonzalez band then I definately know who you are and you probably know who i am...

[five eight]

Currently this is my favorite thread. [img]graemlins/party.gif[/img]

[PocketPlayer]

Continuin' in the groove...

Last summer I met this guy and his very cute sister at a CAB gig w/Virgil. This guy was a college student from the Midwest and was visiting his sis here in LA.

We saw CAB and he was so blown away by Donati, then asked for a drum lesson. Virgil said Friday and they hooked up. Well, on Saturday Vinnie was playing the Jazz Bakery w/Brian Bromberg. I called this guy up and asked if he wanted to hook up...I also wanted to hear about his lesson.

He tells me the lesson went well, and that Vigil might hang with us to see Vinnie, especially if his sis was coming. So, I drive to the gig, see both he and his sis and Virigl drives up with his buddy. All of us grab a bite to eat before the show and then we sit front-row/center before Vinnie's kit.

Vinnie plays a killer set and at intermission he invites Virgil backstage and we all go. For about 30 mins I'm hangin' with Virgil and Vinnie. Both guys couldn't have been cooler! I spoke to Vince for about 20 mins, ranging from the conflict overseas, to spiritual things, and his mother not feeling well.

It was a sweet evening!

Next story: The Waiter, Italian Food, and Tony Bennet

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 01, 2003 12:04 AM: Message edited by: PocketPlayer ]</font>

[PocketPlayer]

I'm gonna to be bizzy for a while so one more to put you to sleep...

I was eating in an Italian restaurant in Burbank, CA. I was looking at the menu and the waiter said, "Are you a drummer?" A little startled I answered, "Well, yes I am."

Of course I had to ask how he knew. He said I was tapping a cool rhythym with my knife. I wasn't even aware!

He then said, "That's cool you're a drummer. My fiance's dad plays drums." How many guys tell you their girlfirend or wife's dad play drums. I had a gut feeling about where this was going.

He then said his future father-in-law was Joe Lababera from Tony Bennet fame. I ended up detailing his future father-in-law's career. This waiter thought I was a stalker. I told him it's a drum thing-we're a society in and of ourselves. We know our history, unlike some superstar baseball players who couldn't tell you who Willie Mays was.

This guy was blown away. I told him I would get him a copy of the Modern Drummer article on Joe. He was embarrased he didn't know much about his future father-in -law.

Three weeks later I gave him the article. It felt good to help him score points with his lady like that! [img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 01, 2003 03:36 AM: Message edited by: PocketPlayer ]</font>

[PocketPlayer]

Last one I promise!

About 13 years ago after I moved back to CA from IN, I hooked up with my old keyboard player who was working at Disney Studios doing voice character directing. We went to Michael Eisner?s office for something, and as we waited, we met his main secretary. Turn?s out she is best friend?s with Vinnie Colaiuta?s wife. Of course, I pump her with a few questions.

All of a sudden this casual, small talk becomes more involved. This women starts to get a little intense. She starts to go off saying, ?Oh my gosh?he drives me nuts. We were out at a restaurant--my husband, friend, and Vinnie--and he wouldn?t stop playing his knives on the table. I mean we were in this really nice restaurant in LA and he was playing drums with his knives all over the table?not just on the cloth, but on the glasses too!?it was so embarrassing.?

That was classic for me!

[McKenzie]

Great story Pocket, man could you learn something or what hanging out with 2 Giants like Vinnie and Virgil [img]eek.gif[/img] very cool indeed.

Digital

[blake1]

I posted this story about Peter Erskine way back in the early days of House of Drumming.

I first met Peter Erskine when he was in Minneapolis in 1986.
I met this older lady and really good looking younger woman. I was there real early to get tickets and i thought it was unique that a lady of that age was attending a Jazz /Fusion concert. To break the ice I just started talking about the weather. Turns out it was keyboardist- Warren Bernhardt's mother and wife.
The next thing I know , Michael Brecker walks up to them and invites them to go to the sound check. Well, the ladies asked me if I wanted to come along. Next minute I was watching the soundcheck. After that they invited me into the dressing room.(sounds like a dream but this really happened) At that time I knew the Steps records with Steve Gadd. I knew who Erskine was but wasn't into his playing as much with STEPS AHEAD. I was very young and artless by asking Erskine if he new this young up and coming drummer named Dave Weckl . (BTW- I saw Weckl a couple of mos. earlier with Simon and Garfunkle- front row seats ). Before he could answer the bass player (who was replacing Eddie Gomez) turned around and said, " he's my best friend. We grew up together in St. Louis". Well that bass player was nonother than Tom Kennedy. I also had the nerve to asked Peter about Steve Gadd and what he was doing.
Man, I was kind of rude, but at that time Erskine's playing was a little too light for me (in Steps Ahead but NOT WEATHER REPORT ! ) and I didn't respect him because i was more into Gadd and Weckl at the time.
Erskine kind of brushed me off and said, " You should really talk to Mike Mainieri, he plays with some of the best drummers in the world."
DOHHhh!
Live and learn.
I also called Peter when he lived in NY. I wanted to know what ska was because I heard Frank Zappa would lift his hat to cue a ska groove. He told me to call Vinnie Colaiuta.
I think I was trying to call him like Weckl did but I had no business in doing so.
Ah, to be young and foolish.

I would like to take this time to apologize to Peter Erskine.
In my book, he's truly one of the most gifted all around drummers I have ever heard. Period!

Blake Lindberg
www.blakelindberg.com

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 06, 2003 09:51 AM: Message edited by: blake1 ]</font>