Birmingham Drumfest, July 2003

Despite my time behind the kit, this was only my second Drum Clinic. The event was organised by the various manufacturers, Birmingham House of Drums and Rhythm Magazine - you can see more background on the What's New page....

Just walking through the lobby and who should I bump into? Zoro - so here is my one brush with greatness - that's me standing next to Zoro - drummer with Lenny Kravitz to name just one . The only reason Zoro is smiling is he has no idea that this picture is going to end up on my website! (the autograph on the above ticket is his)

First on was Jason Bowld. Jason was former stickman for Pitchshifter (a now sadly deceased metal band) and his set sounded like 400 guitars and a drumkit hitting a greenhouse (he used a DAT backing).

Pete Zilderman - with and impeccably tuned and miked up Gretsch kit......and a whistle.

Mark Mondesir - top jazz drummer - and he is ambidextrous!

Zoro - addressing the fans...

Zoro did a presentation of the best R&B drumming of all time and here he is playing along to a DAT of Headhunters by Herbie Hancock - one of my fave albums of all time! I should clear up a bit of confusion that Headhunters is not a concept album about a group of football hooligans!

Another brush with greatness - Zoro meeting and greeting in the lobby after his set....

Ian Paice of Deep Purple - addressing his (many) fans.....

Ian's Pearl kit (he dropped Ludwig a while ago)...

Ian launching into a solo....

Greg Bisonette - top session drummer - warms up surrounded my a sea of Mapex, DW and Turkish Bronze (Ziljdian in this case) - worth noting is his pedal operated cowbell in the bottom right of the pic....

Click to go back....