Dave Weckl–The Spiritual Side of Life (1983)

Posted on October 15, 2026 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: This clip is from my 1983 interview with Dave Weckl for Modern Drummer. MD published a much shorter version of this interview in April 1984 as an “Up and Coming” profile of Weckl, which still holds up well. 

Weckl was age 23 when we met for this interview. He was living in Bridgeport, CT getting ready to go on tour with Simon and Garfunkel–arguably the first major gig that put Weckl on the map.

As of this writing, Weckl is age 66.

In this clip, following up on something Weckl said about leading a balanced life, I asked if Weckl thought about the spiritual side of life; if the spirituality at all informed his drumming.

This is Weckl’s answer 43 years ago. I don’t know how he would answer my question today.

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Dave Weckl—Approaching Time (1983)

Posted on October 11, 2026 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: I think his name is Chris. He was a young guy who called me from time-to-time, at Modern Drummer, full of enthusiasm about a local upstate New York drummer he said we should interview.

Chris was the only person in the world I heard talk about this local drummer.

This drummer’s only claim to fame was, Chris liked him and, according to Chris, this local drummer studied with Gary Chester. Oh, and the drummer consistently wowed patrons at a local nightclub.

Long story short: It was not long before this local drummer had landed a gig touring with Simon and Garfunkel. His name was Dave Weckl.

August 5, 1983, I did, indeed, interview Dave at his Bridgeport, CT apartment.

In this clip from my 1983 interview, Weckl is telling me about his interest in how other musicians approach time.

In 1983, no one else at MD thought Weckl warranted a feature interview. My Weckl feature interview was published in a much shortened “Up and Coming” profile.

However, my complete 1983 Dave Weckl transcript is available here: https://tinyurl.com/4w23vxm3

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Freddie Gruber – Teaching Saved My Life

Posted on September 4, 2026 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: This excerpt is from audiocassette Side B of my Modern Drummer Freddie Gruber interview. Gruber was a respected drum teacher whose students include Neil Peart, Steve Smith, Dave Weckl, and Vinnie Colaiuta.

Gruber, a product of post-World War 2 NYC, is known by his peers of that era as a visionary jazz drummer. Perhaps the best example is drummer Jim Chapin‘s description of Gruber’s drumming circa 1949:

Gruber is admittedly a controversial figure. His critics point to Gruber’s lack of a discography. If Freddie Gruber’s so great, why isn’t he on any records, say his critics.

In fact, there is plenty of evidence of Gruber on record, and of Gruber’s ability to play drums, and to teach drumming. Here’s a great example from former Gruber student, Neal Sausen:

So, here’s Gruber on his journey from player, to non-player, to teacher. Teaching, he told me, saved his life.

As I’ve mentioned before, we were at Buddy Rich’s NYC apartment kitchen table. Buddy was not home, but I was in awe at being so close to Buddy’s presence.

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Freddie Gruber’s Influences

Posted on September 2, 2026 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: Respected drum teacher Freddie Gruber’s drum students include Neil Peart, Steve Smith, Dave Weckl, and Vinnie Colaiuta.

Gruber, a product of post-World War 2 NYC, is known by his peers of that era as a visionary jazz drummer. Perhaps the best example is drummer Jim Chapin‘s description of Gruber’s drumming circa 1949:

Gruber grew up, he explains in this excerpt from my 1982 Modern Drummer interview, influenced by his environment, and by his associations with, and observations of, the great drummers of the Big Band and BeBop years.

Why, then, I asked Gruber, did he study with classical/legitimate percussionists Fred E. Albright and Morris Goldenberg, and not study with jazz drummers? And is what he learned from his legit teachers valuable in how Gruber taught students in 1982?

Gruber answers me in this 1982 Modern Drummer interview excerpt.

We were sitting at the kitchen table in Buddy Rich‘s NYC apartment. Buddy was not home, but I was in awe at being so close to Buddy’s presence.

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Fred Below: The Spiritual Side

Posted on August 20, 2026 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: Fred Below is arguably the father of Chicago electric blues drumming. Any one who wants to know how to play drums in a Blues band needs to listen thoroughly to Fred Below.

This July 9, 1982 interview was published in Modern Drummer‘s September 9, 1983 issue as, “Fred Below: Magic Maker.”

In this excerpt, I ask Below if he works on the spiritual side of his life. I’ve long believed musicians play what we are; that what we are is an inner or spiritual matter. And most of my MD interviews include at least one question on the spiritual side of life.

I recorded this interview at my MD desk in NJ using a suction cup mic on a telephone land line connected to a small audio cassette recorder. Below was on a land line in his Chicago home.

Part A of this full interview, plus several excerpts from the full interview, are on my YouTube channel.

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