Gadd’s Famous Zildjian, Yamaha, Ludwig Ad

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Scott K Fish
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SKF NOTE: I had not seen this Zildjian Steve Gadd advertisement in many years. But a couple of weeks ago, I noticed the ad on the back cover of Modern Drummer‘s October 1981 issue – and I smiled.

Zildjian used this same template with drummers other than Steve Gadd. But this Zildjian/Gadd ad is memorable for two reasons. First, because it is a nice photo of the cymbals, hardware, and drums of arguably the premier drummer at that time. I’ve made the point before: 1981 was before the internet. Photos of famous drummers and/or their drumsets were not easy to come by.

The second reason this ad is memorable is because in 1981 Steve Gadd was endorsing Yamaha drums. In this Zildjian ad Steve is playing a Ludwig snare drum. Steve was neither the first nor the last drummer to use drums or cymbals – especially in recording studios – other than the drums and cymbals they were endorsing. But the public rarely saw photos of high profile drummers mixing and matching their endorsed products.

And it was rarer still to see such mixing and matching in a beautiful four-color photo on the back cover of the world’s most popular drum magazine.

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In Search of Roberto Petaccia’s ‘Progressive Funk’ Book

Posted on June 25, 2016 by Scott K Fish

petaccia+progressive_stepsSKF NOTE: Yesterday someone in search of Roberto Petaccia’s book sent me a message asking for help. Later in the day, when I was able to reply to the stranger, I couldn’t find his message.  The writer said he saw my Life Beyond the Cymbals repost of Roberto’s obituary and thought I might have info to offer.

The only Roberto Petaccia book I know of his Roberto’s Progressive Steps to Progressive Funk cited at the close of the two Modern Drummer columns I reposted here with Roberto’s MD obituary.

Someone has Progressive Steps to Progressive Funk available online. And it appears as though Roberto (aka R.P. Publications) self published this book.

Hopefully, the person who wrote me will see my reply here. If readers have more information to offer, I look forward to hearing from you.

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Drum Pioneers: You Always Wonder Where They’d Heard That Stuff

Posted on June 23, 2016 by Scott K Fish
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SKF NOTE: Reading Tommy Aldridge‘s interview last week, Tommy’s thoughts about drummers who “played things I had never heard before” apply to all drum pioneers. As such, Tommy’s words are worth highlighting.

“I was amazed that The Who even tried to replace Keith Moon. I admire Kenney Jones‘ audacity. Kenny is probably a better drummer technically than Keith. But Keith Moon was a pioneer, like Bonham was a pioneer. John Bonham was a technician, but that’s not why he was so acclaimed. It was because of his way of thinking and the parts that he came up with. Mitch Mitchell and John Bonham played things I had never heard before. You always wondered where they’d heard that stuff.”

Source: Tommy Aldridge: Business Wise, by Scott K Fish, Modern Drummer, October 1981

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James Bradley, Jr. Modern Drummer Interview 1981

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Scott K Fish

SKF NOTE: James Bradley, Jr. earned the drum chair with Chuck Mangione after his immediate predecessors: Joe LaBarbera and Steve Gadd. Mr. Bradley recorded with Chuck Mangione some excellent albums. Feels So Good (1977) had its title song reach #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. That album was followed by Children of Sanchez (1978), and Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1978).

In 1979, James Bradley, Jr. recorded Chuck Mangione’s Fun and Games album which featured Give It All You Got, the official theme song of the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY.

I was familiar with and liked James’s work with Mangione, but I didn’t know much about James Bradley, Jr. when he and I met for this interview. Don’t know why I wrote no introduction to this interview. Probably because, outside of his playing on Mangione’s albums, I didn’t know anything about James Bradley, Jr. Whatever I might have said by way of introducing Mr. Bradley is included in this interview.

Finally, other than photographer Tom Copi‘s color photo, this is one of the rare Modern Drummer interviews that included my photos. James and I were onstage at the Westbury Music Fair in Westbury, NY.

[SKF NOTE: 6/17/17 – James Bradley, Jr.’s full interview is now available on MD‘s Archive Page.]

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Was Ringo a Fan of Keith Moon’s Playing? No, But…

Posted on June 19, 2016 by Scott K Fish

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Keith Moon

Ringo on heroes, style, his son and, uh, drums
Chris Varias, Enquirer contributor 11:48 a.m. EDT June 17, 2016

Q: You mentioned Keith Moon. Were you a fan of his playing?

A: No (laughs). He was one of my best friends. He was great. He had his style, and that style worked so incredibly amazingly for the band he was in. He was another one. I mean, mine is like the complete opposite of the way he played, but the style made it work, and his style made The Who work.

Full Interview

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