SKF NOTE – Here’s Part 4 of 4 interview segments. “The interview was therefore intended to be a portrait of an up-and-coming new artist. However, before we had the chance to publish that interview, ‘Loverboy’s’ success had spread across the country.
The actual interview took place September 1983 at the height of ‘Loverboy’s’ hit song, “Working for the Weekend.” It appeared as the cover story for the March 1984 Modern Drummer magazine.
In Part 4 of this interview, Frenette discusses the following topics:
Importance of learning how the music business works
SKF NOTE: Here’s Part 3 of 4 interview segments. The actual interview took place September 1983 at the height of ‘Loverboy’s’ hit song, “Working for the Weekend.” It appeared as the cover story for the March 1984 Modern Drummer magazine.
In Part 3 of this interview, Frenette discusses the following topics:
Role among drummer, producer, and engineer in making an album (continued)
Matt’s monitor system and miking his drums
Forgetting songs
The importance of playing with dynamics
Using noise gates on drums
Drum solos
Cymbal setup and miking cymbals
Promoting Loverboy as individual members and as the whole band
Pros and cons of corporate underwriting of band concert tours
Here is my 1984 MD introduction to Frenette’s interview.
“Things happen fast in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. The first time Matt Frenette was interviewed for MD, people were raving about ‘Loverboy’ on the West Coast, but the group’s popularity did not yet extend to the East Coast.
“The interview was therefore intended to be a portrait of an up-and-coming new artist.
“However, before we had the chance to publish that interview, ‘Loverboy’s’ success had spread across the country. Since Matt Frenette’s position in the drumming world had skyrocketed along the group’s popularity, we are now presenting an expanded feature interview with ‘Loverboy’s’ drummer.”
SKF NOTE: I’ve posted a couple of excerpts from my 1984 Modern Drummer feature interview with Matt Frenette. Recently I was asked by a visitor to my YouTube channel if the entire interview was available.
Well, as a matter of fact, it is. Or it soon will be. Here’s Part 1 of 4 interview segments. The actual interview took place September 1983 at the height of ‘Loverboy’s’ hit song, “Working for the Weekend.” It appeared as the cover story for the March 1984 Modern Drummer magazine.
In Part 2 of this interview, Frenette discusses the following topics:
Things Matt had to give up to be in the successful band, Loverboy.
Musical background of each Loverboy member
To become successful is to communicate
You have to play as a team
Playing heavy metal-style music and suffering physically.
Jeff Porcaro talking about physical impact of playing Simmons electronic drum pads.
Talks in detail about Ludwig drumsets played with Loverboy.
Bought a set of Sonor drums. Need more time to work with them. Had to stop using the * Sonor drums on tour.
Different sounds from un-mic’d and mic’d drums.
Stan Lynch’s drumset.
Role among drummer, producer, and engineer in making an album.
Working with a click track
Here is my 1984 MD introduction to Frenette’s interview.
“Things happen fast in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. The first time Matt Frenette was interviewed for MD, people were raving about ‘Loverboy’ on the West Coast, but the group’s popularity did not yet extend to the East Coast.
“The interview was therefore intended to be a portrait of an up-and-coming new artist.
“However, before we had the chance to publish that interview, ‘Loverboy’s’ success had spread across the country. Since Matt Frenette’s position in the drumming world had skyrocketed along the group’s popularity, we are now presenting an expanded feature interview with ‘Loverboy’s’ drummer.”
I will post Frenette Parts 3 and 4 as soon as possible.
SKF NOTE: I’ve posted a couple of excerpts from my 1984 Modern Drummer feature interview with Matt Frenette. Recently I was asked by a visitor to my YouTube channel if the entire interview was available.
Well, as a matter of fact, it is. Or it soon will be. Here’s Part 1 of 4 interview segments. The actual interview took place September 1983 at the height of ‘Loverboy’s’ hit song, “Working for the Weekend.” It appeared as the cover story for the March 1984 ‘Modern Drummer’ magazine.
Here is my 1984 MD introduction to Frenette’s interview.
“Things happen fast in the world of rock ‘n’ roll. The first time Matt Frenette was interviewed for ‘MD’, people were raving about ‘Loverboy’ on the West Coast, but the group’s popularity did not yet extend to the East Coast.
“The interview was therefore intended to be a portrait of an up-and-coming new artist.
“However, before we had the chance to publish that interview, ‘Loverboy’s’ success had spread across the country. Since Matt Frenette’s position in the drumming world had skyrocketed along the group’s popularity, we are now presenting an expanded feature interview with ‘Loverboy’s’ drummer.”
In Part 1 of this interview, Frenette discusses the following topics:
Talking with kids he meets on tour. Influences: Latin American, country & western, Meeting Buddy Rich as a kid Hoping to do clinics after Loverboy tour There’s a lot of girl drummers now Kids ask a lot of good questions. I started on a rented snare drum learning rudiments Five years of school marching band. Playing conventional grip & press rolls Playing with dynamiccs. Pinpointing key drummers history of rock and roll: Don Brewer, Stevie Wonder, Mike Shrieve, Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears. Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, Mitch Mitchell, Carmine Appice, Billy Cobham, How original styles in drummers have decreased. Conversation with Quiet Riot drummer. Copy licks vs learning concepts Motivation for starting Loverboy Started out doing all original material in packed clubs. Pay to record their first album First big concert opening for Kiss. End of 1981 played to every demographic. Worst gig ever played. Cape Cod. Opening for ZZ Top.
SKF NOTE: With the passing of the great songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, his longstanding band members wondered, “Now what?”
Friend and drummer Barry Keane, in this interview, shares the story of Lightfoot’s band picking up the pieces and becoming The Lightfoot Band. Carrying on the classic songs of Gordon Lightfoot.
It was, and is, not an easy transition. Gordon was “the leader,” says Keane. How do you go forward when your leader is gone?
Added to the musical challenges, Lightfoot’s passing also meant the loss of much of the group’s administrative and logistical support.
So, in many ways The Lightfoot Band is starting over. In this interview, Barry Keane tells that story here.
Also, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation has recorded and made available some excellent performances by The Lightfoot Band. at the “CBC Music Live at Massey Hall: A special celebrating Gordon Lightfoot” concert. You can view the video here:
Scott K Fish 
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