Stewart Copeland’s recent book contains the phrase “A life with The Police” in the title but it is far more than anecdotal tales of life as a rock star at the height of his game. Sure, it has some of the behind the scenes stuff that we all enjoy reading but you also get a true sense of Stewart’s personality, his background and what music(and of course playing drums) means to him not only intellectually but also spiritually. In the following passage he describes his experience playing drums in a Christmas service in an English church as a teenager:
“ The tom-tom reverberates with a sonorous boom. Up until now drums have been about assertion and empowerment but this is new. Into my young quavering hand has been placed the rudder of this sacred ship. I can only be a servant of the powerful emotional force that has been created in this ancient stone shrine. All of us are joined at this moment by the momentum of our shared ritual, and I am the beating heart. I am nothing, no one. Just the beating heart of a larger body, enveloped by the soul of the faithful. A synapse closes in the mind of the enraptured protoshaman.
Next morning, when my head clears, it seems obvious that music isn’t just a tool or a weapon, it’s what my life is for. It’s powerful juju, and I want to own it as much as it owns me.”
I realize that that was probably a long and pretty heavy excerpt and believe me, a lot of the book is very light hearted but I really love that passage. Stewart here and in other parts of the book analyzes that interesting dichotomy that propels a musician to attain the level he has achieved. Utter respect and love of music and the arrogance it takes to attempt to master it.
But wait, there’s more! You also get other aspects of Stewarts life which includes film and tv scoring, opera composing, polo, hanging out and sometimes jamming with a younger set of musicians, making films…..you get the idea. He certainly likes to keep himself busy.
Stewart Copeland has been a huge influence and source of inspiration to me and I suspect many drummers of my generation. There is no mistaking that sound for anyone else. The highly pitched snare, the sparkling cymbals, that infectious groove. His exuberant personality oozing out of the kit. Totally unique. The man loves playing his drums. I love that in a drummer. Strange Things Happen shows that he also seems to love life. Hmmm…there could be a connection there somewhere….
Mike Flaherty
drums, Stewart Copeland, Strange Things Happen, The Police
On Tuesday July 28th the Humdrum crew visited The Spotted Gum Experience hosted by Brady drums at SIR studios in Manhattan. You may be unfamiliar with the name Brady, but I can guarantee that you are familiar with the sound. They are a family run custom drum maker from Australia with a very impressive list of drummers who play their instruments. Check out their artist roster and discography on their site. www.bradydrums.com
Chris Brady’s latest innovation uses extremely thin non-reinforced shells of Spotted Gum (a native Australian wood) to provide a unique mix of attack, depth, warmth and projection. The concept for this new range was to introduce a totally different sound and a considerably lower note (roughly 1/3 of an octave lower than Jarrah) than any of their “traditional” timbers have provided. Spotted Gum is a very strong Eucalypt timber species with an interlocked grain.
Hosted by Kelly Brady, daughter of company founder Chris Brady, New York drummers were invited to come and try out their newest creation. Will Calhoun of Living Colour and was on the kit as we walked in, setting the tone for a fun evening of drum talk and swapping polyrhythms. I also got to meet a very nice gentleman and killer drummer named Michael Faulkner who has played with Public Enemy among others.
It’s interesting getting behind the kit when there are so many heavy players in the room. The word nervous doesn’t really describe it. While I’m sure nobody is really judging you, still…strange thoughts do cross your mind. Eventually, as in any live situation, you have to shut down those thoughts and the people around you and get down to business. Here the business was listening to the drum kit while playing something reasonably competent. I think I somehow managed to achieve both. As advertised they did project a low tone, very solid. Definitely built for heavier music styles but still retained quite a bit of refinement. The rack toms and floor toms, which were tuned beautifully and had no dampening, were very musical, much fun to play. The kick, which also appeared to have no dampening also, projected extremely well throughout the room. Brady also provided a selection of about six snares ranging in sizes including a 16” monster. On top of a great sound, the wood grain finishes on these drums look amazing. I would definitely recommend looking further into this company if you’re in the market for some high end instruments.
Thanks to Brady drums for a really fun and educational evening!
Mike Flaherty
Brady, drums, SIR studios, spotted gum
There’s a new song by the band 311 called “Hey You” which literally thanks music for always being their friend. The concept being that music is something that has always been there for them. I’d like to take that a step further and thank music for giving me lifelong friends. I’ve garnered many a friendship over the years mostly due to playing and hanging out with other musicians. I know my life would be far less full without these relationships and music was the conduit through which they were formed.
Friendships are usually made through some basis of commonality. Whether it be work, school or sports, there has to be something that throws you together to get the ball rolling. For me since my teen-age years a large part of my friendships have come through playing in bands. I think that music having a spiritual aspect to it adds a little extra to the mix. When you experience the high of performing well together as a group as well as personally whether technically or just nailing that perfect groove, I think a special bond develops. That’s why I think when bands break up it can be a bit messy at times. Emotions are heavily tied to music. In order to play well together you have surrender somewhat, let your guard down and truly listen to the people you’re with. Always with the thought, “ What can I add (or not add) to what we’re doing here that will make it better?” That exact concept is mirrored in strong friendships.
Perhaps one of the closest friendships in my life came through a musical connection. We met in high school. I had just started playing drums seriously and I came across this guy playing tunes on a guitar of a band I was heavily into while we were waiting to board a bus to go on a retreat (we went to a Jesuit Catholic Prep School). Although we ended up hanging out in the same group for the rest of our time there it wasn’t until after we had graduated that we became close friends. We started playing in bands together and the friendship grew and we became like brothers. Karl passed on from this world about eleven years ago. He was the most talented musician/artist I’ve ever seen. Definitely the most unusual person I’ve ever met. The effects and impact he made on my life I still feel everyday. Through being his friend I met his sister who I also played with in a band. She is a dear friend and I became a godfather to one of her sons last year. Just a couple of examples really…there are so many more.
All brothers and sisters through this gift from God known as music. It’s a powerful medium. So music, I thank you not only for being my friend but for the wonderful, amazing people you’ve put in my life.
Mike Flaherty
311, drums, friendship, guitar, Music
I’ve always loved the melodic aspect of music as well as the rhythmic. I started playing guitar roughly around the same time I began playing drums although with guitar it was mostly for my own amusement in privacy of my room. I would figure out songs I liked or maybe work on something original. Later, when I started playing drums in bands I would pick up little bits of information here and there like scales and technique from the guitarists I played with. I really believe playing this “other” instrument helped me to be what’s known as a “musical” drummer. It’s pretty logical to assume that if you have a fair idea what other instrumentalists are doing it makes it easier to groove with them. Your ear becomes more fine-tuned. It’s simpler to listen for things you might want to accent like for example during a guitar or keyboard solo. Now you’re not just keeping time on the drums, you’re adding interest and excitement to the music while supporting the band. In short, playing a different instrument changes your approach to the drum set in a very positive way.
In recent years I’ve had the opportunity to step out from behind the kit and play guitar and bass in a band situation. At first it was a little scary leaving my security blanket, my nice little wall of drums and cymbals between me and the audience. Now I really enjoy it. It’s also been an eye opener on certain practical aspects of live performance that as a drummer I hadn’t really considered. Usually, when playing drums you can always hear yourself. Drums are naturally loud. It’s hearing the other instruments/vocalists that’s the problem. Not so much while playing guitar or bass. Here I find being able to monitor yourself more of a challenge. Now I know why these people I’ve been playing with all these years would continually turn their amps up all the time. It’s very difficult to play well when you can’t hear yourself. Yes, I know shocking but like I said something that unless you experience it firsthand it’s not easy to understand.
I will always consider myself a drummer first before any other instrument. Quite honestly it brings me the most joy to play. I feel closest to God playing drums especially when things are really flowing whether it be a really good personal practice or band performance. I don’t get that from guitar. I do see guitar as a great supporting part in my lifelong development as a musician and a drummer
Mike Flaherty
drums, ear, groove, guitar, musical
Hey everyone…we are so excited to announce that Shine Drums has now partnered with us!!!
Shine is an amazing company in the custom drum world…ever heard of Lady GaGa, Brandy, Sly & The Family Stone or Third Eye Blind??? These are just a few of the people that they support, and we are thrilled to be able to offer them to you as well! Check out their site Shine Custom drums, and join us on May 1 when we launch…
Humdrum Admin
custom, drums, shine
It’s interesting how a drummer’s choice in equipment and accessories evolves over the course of their playing career due to the experiences they have. I started practicing as an early teen in the confines of a small room in an apartment with an extremely used kit I bought from an acquaintance with my paper route money. Noise was obviously an issue so I started my drumming life using light jazz sticks (7a’s) with nylon tips. Extremely practical considering I was trying not to blow out the neighbors and most of the time I was playing along to tapes on a boom box. This experience obviously taught how to play quietly which of course is a very valuable skill. When it finally came time for me to play in actual rock clubs where the drums were mic’d I ran into an unusual problem. Because I was using very light sticks and I wasn’t hitting particularly hard the sound engineer had to turn my mics up to the point of feedback! As it turned out a bit later I ended up befriending a talented sound guy at the same club who gave me a few helpful suggestions. First was to move up to a heavier stick. I still kept the nylon tips just because I love the articulation they provide on toms and especially the ride. I guess because I spent my formative drumming years with nylons I could never get used to sound and feel of wood tips. I also kind of feel engineers whether in recording or live end up equalizing wood tips to get the same sound I can achieve in the first place with the nylons. The second suggestion my friend made was to switch from felt kick pedal beaters to either wood or plastic. This also provided me with a bit more power and more high end articulation for the sound guy to get that click on the attack. Once again this is something I think engineers do with judicious eq and gating with felt beaters. Might as well meet them as closely as possible and in that way take more control of your sound. As drummers we’re constantly striving to balance our individual and overall volumes around the kit. These were just a couple of things I picked up that ended up doing that for me.
Mike Flaherty
drums, nylon, sticks, volume
So we are getting close to launching! We have been working hard to get this site up and running and we should release in three main phases over the next month or so.
- Phase 1: The Home site…this is close, as you can see, and includes this blog and the blogs of our friends in the drummer community.
- Phase 2: The Community site…this will give you the ability to contribute via message boards and other social interactions.
- Phase 3: The Store site…this will feature our favorite drum manufacturers and give you the chance to order custom drums from the best in the business.
We can’t wait to launch these phases in the near future! So keep checking back and let us know what you think by using the Contact Us form.
Humdrum out.
Humdrum Admin
drums, Humdrum Admin, launch, status