Revisiting Modern Drummer‘s May 1983 issue for my recent Terri Lyne Carrington post, I came across an interesting exchange of information in the “Ask A Pro” column between Jeff Wald of Maryland, MD, and Neil Peart.
Wald said he has combined two drum sets into one – including double bass drums. “My problem is that I can’t keep [my double bass drums] at an even pace most of the time. How did you learn to use [them] so well?”
Here’s Neil Peart’s answer:
…I didn’t have a hi-hat for quite a while when I first began playing, and…never developed a really strict discipline for my left foot. This has its drawbacks, but it did allow me to adapt to two bass drums easier than some drummers. It also had the effect of making the hi-hat very important to me once I did get one….
The key to mastering it is…practice! Once I decided that I mainly wanted to use the other bass drum for punctuating fills and for solo work, as opposed to playing “beats” with it, I concentrated mainly on my triplets.
[B]alance has a lot to do with the smoothness and ease of playing two bass drums, and I think you’ve just got to sit there and play rolls, and rhythmic combinations using your hands as well, until you, well, until you can’t sit down any more! Or until the neighbors drop hand-grenades down your drainpipe!
SKF NOTE: Multi-talented musician/drummer Terri Lyne Carrington has, for the first time, given her debut album “wide release” for the first time. First released in 1981, TLC & Friends, It features the then 16-year old drummer in the company of George Coleman (tenor sax), Kenny Barron (piano), Buster Williams (bass), and her father, Sonny Carrington playing sax on one tune.
I interviewed Terri Lyne for Modern Drummer in 1982 or ’83. Her interview was published in MD’s May 1983 issue.
Sonny Carrington called me at MD back then, asking if we would include a Terri Lyne profile in the magazine. Pre-internet, none of MD‘s editors had heard TLC play. But Sonny’s stories of his daughter’s ability and career were impressive.
Here’s my 1983 intro to TLC’s MD interview, followed by that part of her interview where we talk about TLC & Friends.
May 1983 MD Introduction
The idea of the “child star” conjures up a dual image. On the one hand you have to admire the talent it took to become a star. On the other hand you tend to believe that the kid must have had “all the breaks” and led a real pampered and catered-to existence.
At 17, Terri Lyne Carrington has been playing drums for 10 years with the likes of Clark Terry, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Illinois Jacquet, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, Oscar Peterson and more. When you’re on-stage with those musicians, you don’t just “get by.” You either play or you get blown off the stage!
Terri Lyne came into the MD office several months ago to be interviewed. She seemed cautious and I was wondering what in the world I was going to ask her. So we just let the tape roll and sipped hot coffee. We both relaxed into a very revealing, candid and educational interview. Terri Lyne is not kidding around. She knows where she’s going and she’s self-assured about getting there. I’m sure she will.
TLC on TLC & Friends from her May 1983 MD Interview
SF: How did your album come about?
TLC: We wanted a better form of publicity for me to get jobs.
It’s not as professional to send a tape to somebody. We recorded it at Jimmy Madison’s studio. Through our corporation, Carrington Enterprises, we pressed 500 copies and they’re all gone. A lot of people want the record now.
SF: Are you going to press more copies?
TLC: I don’t know. We’re waiting hopefully for a company to pick it up before that. We’re not really selling them—we’re giving most of them away. It costs a lot to press them. It was a good experience.
SF: How long did it take to record?
TLC: Three hours. No rehearsal. We went in cold, rehearsed the tunes and played them. It was three hours including rehearsal and playing. We didn’t even really rehearse it. First we’d just play a dry run. Each tune we played twice and a few tunes we only played once.
SF: Who picked the tunes?
TLC:I did.
SF: Were there charts written out?
TLC: No. Whatever little arranging there was to be done I’d do verbally. The tunes were, “What Is This Thing Called Love,” “Seven Steps To Heaven,” “La Bonita”—which is my tune—”Sunny Moon For Two,” “St. Thomas” and “Just The Way You Are.” In a way, I wish I could do it again to make it better.
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TLC & Friends is available now in digital, vinyl, and CD formats from Candid Records.
It’s a good one.
Page one of TLC’s May 1983 Modern Drummer feature interview.
SKF NOTE: Rock/pop historians have not been kind to drummer Willie Davis. Davis is the drummer on the 1960s hit song, “Peppermint Twist,” by Joey Dee and the Starliters.
To my ears, Davis’s playing on “Peppermint” is unique and memorable. Davis, like the rest of his bandmates, was from New Jersey. YouTube videos appear to show Davis and the Starliters playing live with the recorded song used as the video underbed.
Davis plays light and clean, playing a backbeat variation with a jazz drummer’s sensibility. Instead of playing quarter notes on every second and fourth beat on his snare, Davis plays “2 and,” “4 and.” The drumming has a skipping, not quite a shuffle, feel that really fits the uptempo “Peppermint Twist.”
Thank you, Willie Davis, for your noteworthy drumming on one of rock’s memorable songs.
I will continue my search for Davis’s biographical info. Thank you in advance to anyone who will help me help ensure Willie Davis and his drumming are remembered.
SKF NOTE – June 10, 2017, I first posted on my blog an audio excerpt from my interview with Will Calhoun. He was, at the time, the drummer with Living Colour. Here is what I wrote in that post’s introduction:
“Among my favorite interviews, I am sorry to say none of my interview with Will Calhoun ever saw the light of day. From what I’ve gathered reading through my notes, this interview was meant to be published in Modern Percussionist magazine. But before Will’s interview was published, Modern Percussionist had ceased publication.“
Listening again this week, for the first time in a long time, this interview with Will Calhoun remains a favorite. I’ve decided to post the full length interview in four parts.
Part 2 is the flip side of one of two 90-minute cassettes used to record this interview.
Calhoun talks more about early and important influences on he and his drumming. Our conversation in Part 2 also includes the Black Rock Coalition, race and the music business, advice from jazz bassist Ahmed Abdul-Malik, the importance of being yourself, ways parents impact children, news reporting and race, Michael Shrieve, Calhoun’s Pearl Drum endorsement, and his drum gear, both acoustic and electric.
It is entirely possible some of Calhoun’s opinions here have changed. He was 25-years old when interviewed. July 22, 2023, Calhoun will be 59-years old. Lots can happen in 34 years.
Calhoun has a wonderful new jazz album called “Life in This World,” available through is website: https://willcalhoun.com/ – Today he endorses Gretsch drums.
Living Colour. Will Calhoun is second from the left.
SKF NOTE: June 10, 2017, I first posted on my blog an audio excerpt from my interview with Will Calhoun. He was, at the time, the drummer with Living Colour. Here is what I wrote in that post’s introduction:
Among my favorite interviews, I am sorry to say none of my interview with Will Calhoun ever saw the light of day. From what I’ve gathered reading through my notes, this interview was meant to be published in Modern Percussionist magazine. But before Will’s interview was published, Modern Percussionist had ceased publication.
Listening again this week, for the first time in a long time, this interview with Will Calhoun remains a favorite. I’ve decided to post the full length interview in four parts.
Part 1 is the first side of one of two 90-minute cassettes used to record this interview.
Calhoun talks about early and important influences on he and his drumming. They include family, neighbors, albums, concerts, radio, Drummers Collective, Living Colour, The Rolling Stones, Horacee Arnold, Berklee College of Music, race and music marketing, and Jerome Brailey.
It is entirely possible some of Calhoun’s opinions here have changed. He was 25-years old when interviewed. July 22, 2023, Calhoun will be 59-years old. Lots can happen in 34 years.
Calhoun has a wonderful jazz album called “Life in This World,” available through is website: https://willcalhoun.com/
Scott K Fish 
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