Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Percussion Discussion Podcast

Rikki Rockett  is the co-founder and original drummer of the multi-platinum glam metal band Poison. Alongside frontman Bret Michaels, Rockett formed the group in 1983, going on to sell over 40–50 million records worldwide behind massive hits like "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Talk Dirty to Me". 

As an essential driving force behind Poison's songwriting, rhythm, and distinct aesthetic, Rockett helped anchor studio staples like Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986), Open Up and Say... Ahh! (1988), and Flesh & Blood (1990). He frequently attributes Poison’s lasting chemistry to a reckless, hard-pushing live synergy balanced by a dedicated "blue-collar" work ethic. Beyond Poison, he has launched other projects, including the supergroup Devil City Angels and his 70s-style rock tribute group, Rockett Mafia. 

In September 2026, Rockett released his highly anticipated memoir, Ghost Notes: My Life in Poison, which chronicles the less visible, behind-the-scenes "grace notes" of his life, career, and band dynamics. He has also hinted at the possibility of Poison reuniting for a tour in 2027. 

Huge thanks to Rikki for giving up his time so generously to talk to me,  he has been on my list for at least 6 years, im so glad we got to make it happen!

Stanton Moore is a Grammy Award-winning American drummer, educator, and native of New Orleans, best known as a founding member of the essential funk band Galactic. His signature style blends traditional New Orleans second-line drumming with modern funk, jazz, and rock 'n' roll. 
Beyond performing, Moore is a world-renowned authority on groove and rhythm, running his own comprehensive online education platform, the Stanton Moore Drum Academy.

Galactic: Formed in the early 1990s, this powerhouse funk group serves as his primary touring and recording project.
Solo Career: Moore has released nine solo albums, including his acclaimed debut All Kooked Out! and Groove Alchemy.
Collaborations: He performs with the Stanton Moore Trio, Garage A Trois, and has recorded with diverse acts ranging from jazz artists to the heavy metal band Corrosion of Conformity.
Tipitina's: In 2018, Moore and his Galactic bandmates purchased this legendary New Orleans music venue to preserve its cultural history. 


Instructional Books: His book Groove Alchemy was named one of the top 25 instructional drum books of all time by Modern Drummer magazine.
Online School: The Stanton Moore Drum Academy provides video courses, a massive 400+ page eBook, and direct student interaction.
University Work: He serves as an artist-in-residence at Louisiana State University (LSU), teaching drum set performance.

Huge thanks to Stanton for sharing his time, knowledge and remarkable drumming talent with us, massive thanks also to Stanton’s excellent engineer Nick for looking after us so well.

www.stantonmoore.com

Percussion Discussion Podcast - Episode 192  - Ed Evans

Joining me today is Ed Evans.

Ed is ( i think ) The youngest drummer to appear on the podcast so far, however at the tender age of just 21 Ed and the equally young band that he plays for Jayler have achieved more in the last few years than many musicians will achieve in a life time!!

The midlands based band already have an EP and a full album entitle Voices Unheard that was released earlier in 2026, Festival appearances worldwide, a recent support tour with Sammy Hagar and his band, including legendary musicians Joe Satriani, Kenny Aronoff and Michael Anthony. Later this year the band embark on a lengthy European tour supporting the mighty Deep Purple!

Ed already has endorsements with  Ludwig Drums, Paiste Cymbals and Vater Drumsticks, this combined with a level headed approach, a glorious feel, and a playing style with a nod to the pioneers of rock drumming such as Bonham, Bill Ward and Mitch Mitchell can only propel him and Jayler further up the ladder!

Huge thanks to Ed for giving up his time to do this and for creating the stunning backdrop of his new Blue Ludwig Drum Set, Paiste Cymbals including the Magnificent gong!

Percussion Discussion Podcast - Episode 191 - Russell Gilbrook

Russell had his first lesson when he was 4 years old, earning money from the age of 6, and was depping West End shows at the age of 12. He turned professional at 16 and did every kind of gig i.e. cabaret, cruises, touring shows, pub gigs, sessions etc.

Russell has toured with Alan Price (The Animals) Chris Barbers jazz and blues band and Van Morrision. Russell has also worked with Toniy Iommi (Black Sabbath).He is also an accomplished clinician with almost 200 clinics throughout Europe, these have also been alongside Billy Cobham, Greg Bissionette, Kenny Aronoff, Liberty Divito to name a few.

Russell has been a member of the legendary band Uriah Heep for the last 19 years, and to date they have toured in over 53 countries. In 2011 Heep toured 23 countries in 229 days. Uriah Heep has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and has 2 European Grammy awards.

Huge thanks to Russ for giving up his time so generously, i really appreciate it, i have seen him play with Uriah Heep twice, both times i was blown away by his skill, power and dexterity behind the drums - a true powerhouse!

Joining me today is Geoff Nicholls,

 Geoff Nicholls is a highly respected British professional drummer, author, music journalist, and lecturer. He is widely recognized as one of the world's foremost experts on the history and evolution of the modern drum kit. 

Television and Educational WorkBBC's Rockschool: He co-wrote, co-presented, and played drums on both series of the iconic BBC2 television show Rockschool during the 1980s.

 Instructional Videos: 

He presented the Virgin video How To Play Drums and wrote the acclaimed Rock Drum Method for Boosey & Hawkes.Academic Lecturing: He taught at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama's Jazz and Rock Summer School for decades and has lectured extensively on music business and copyright law.

 Acclaimed Books and Journalism 

The Drum Book: First published in 1997, this remains celebrated as the definitive account detailing the history and evolution of the rock drum kit. 

John Bonham: A Thunder of Drums: Co-authored with Chris Welch in 2002, this is a highly regarded biographical look at the legendary Led Zeppelin drummer. 

The Drum Handbook: A comprehensive guide focused on buying, maintaining, and getting the best performance out of a drum kit.

 Music Journalism: He was the longest-serving contributor to Rhythm magazine and has written gear reviews and articles for major publications like Mojo, The Guardian, The Independent, and MusicRadar.

Performance Career,before shifting heavily into journalism and education. Nicholls played in original bands signed to major labels like Decca, RCA, and EMI. Throughout his career, he has toured the United States with Capitol-EMI artist Hugh Harris, spent years playing with Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers, and performed alongside Chicago blues legends like Carey Bell and Louisiana Red. 

Huge thanks to Geoff for giving his time up to do this, it was wonderful to just sit and chat about his hugely varied and interesting career. i do hope you enjoy it!

Claus Hessler  is an internationally acclaimed German drummer, author, and educator widely recognized as a foremost authority on drum technique and history. He is especially renowned for preserving and expanding complex coordination styles and historical rudimental methodologies.

Technical Expertise
Moeller Technique: Regarded as a legitimate successor to his mentor Jim Chapin, Hessler is a premier authority on teaching the fluid, forearm-driven Moeller method in its purest form

Open-Handed Playing: He is a global pioneer of this style, where drummers play the hi-hat with the left hand and the snare with the right (for right-handed kits), avoiding crossing their arms to increase ergonomic comfort and expand creative options.

Rudimental Frameworks: He specializes in combining traditional European rudiments (like Basel drumming) with modern drum set orchestration.

Hessler has written several highly acclaimed books that have earned award nominations from major industry publications like Modern Drummer and DRUM! magazine

Open-Handed Playing Vol. 1 & 2 (co-authored with legendary educator Dom Famularo)
Daily Drumset Workout
Drumming Kairos
Collapsed Rudiments (Completing and expanding upon structural concepts initially conceptualized by Jim Chapin)

Huge thanks to Claus for giving up his time so generously to do this interview.

Claus is performing masterclasses on July 4th in Rotherham Yorkshire for Bobs Drum School, please checkout Bobs Drum School on Social Media for More Information.

July 5th finds Claus Performing 2 masterclasses in Denbigh North Wales, please contact me for further details if you are interested mathewroberts@btinternet.com

Joining me today is the legendary Mikkey Dee.

Mikkey Dee is a legendary Swedish heavy metal drummer best known for his long tenure with Motörhead and his current role in the Scorpions. Renowned for his extreme speed, precision, and hard-hitting style, he is widely considered one of the most influential drummers in rock and metal history.

 Lex Legion: In 2026, Mikkey Dee reunited with the classic 1988 King Diamond line-up, alongside vocalist Nils K. Rue, to form a new side-project called Lex Legion. They released their debut single "Sleep Eternally" 

in May 2026 He tracked drums as part of a temporary metal supergroup—alongside Phil Anselmo, Kirk Hammett, and Billy Sheehan—for a reworked version of "Fast As A Shark" on Accept's 50th-anniversary album.

 Motörhead (1992–2015): Dee joined the iconic British band in 1992, replacing Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor. He remained a core member alongside Lemmy Kilmister and Phil Campbell for over two decades, recording 12 studio albums including Bastards, Inferno, and their final record, Bad Magic. The band officially dissolved following Lemmy's death in late 2015. 

Scorpions (2016–Present): In September 2016, Dee was announced as the permanent replacement for James Kottak in the Scorpions. He featured on their 2022 studio release, Rock Believer

 Huge thanks to Mikkey for giving up his time to chat with me, we had such a great chat, incorporating Mikkeys new band Lex Legion as well as Motorhead and The Scorpions of course! 

please checkout lex Legions website - www.lexlegionofficial.com the new album is released on Friday June 12th 2026

Episode 187 - Bobby Elliott

 Bobby Elliott is an iconic English rock drummer best known as the powerhouse driving force behind the classic pop/rock band The Hollies. Widely considered one of the finest and most influential drummers of the British Invasion era, he has remained a continuous member of the band since joining them in 1963.

 * Jazz Beginnings: Growing up in Burnley, Lancashire, Elliott discovered jazz at a young age. He initially emulated big-band legends like Gene Krupa and Chico Hamilton by practicing on makeshift biscuit tins and Cadbury's chocolate boxes with paintbrush handles.

 * Signature Sound: Renowned for his exceptional timing, dynamic tom-tom rolls, and precise fills, his drumming style provided a fiercely energetic yet sophisticated foundation for The Hollies' famous three-part vocal harmonies. * Peer Recognition: He famously won the 1965 Beat Instrumental Drummer Poll—relegating Keith Moon to third place. Renowned players like Cozy Powell, Ian Paice, and Max Weinberg have cited him as a major influence. 

* Hit Machine: Alongside guitarist Tony Hicks, Elliott anchored the band through decades of massive hits, including "Bus Stop", "Just One Look", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)", and "The Air That I Breathe". * Wings Invitation: In 1973, Paul McCartney personally invited Elliott to join his band, Wings. Elliott turned the offer down because his loyalty and "heart" belonged entirely to The Hollies. 

* Hall of Fame: He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. However, he and Hicks skipped the ceremony in New York because they refused to cancel a pre-booked gig at the London Palladium. 

* In late 2020, Elliott published his official autobiography, titled It Ain't Heavy, It's My Story, which offers a firsthand look into his six decades on the road and inside iconic studios like Abbey Road 

Huge thanks to Bobby for taking the time to chat with me about his incredible career, what a truly wonderful gentleman. 

Equally huge thanks to another legend of the British drumming scene and a good friend of the podcast Bob Henrit for introducing Bobby to me.

Percussion Discussion Podcast Episode 186 - Rufus Tiger Taylor
Rufus Tiger Taylor  is a prominent English rock drummer, best known as a permanent member of the British rock band The Darkness. He is the son of legendary Queen drummer Roger Taylor.

The Darkness: Rufus joined the British hard rock group in May 2015,  He has since recorded on several of their albums, including Pinewood Smile and Easter Is Cancelled, and continues to tour with them globally.

Queen + Adam Lambert: He served as a touring percussionist and drummer for Queen + Adam Lambert from 2011 to 2015. During live shows, he famously engaged in "drum battles" with his father on stage.

Foo Fighters Connection: Rufus had a close bond with the late Taylor Hawkins, who described him as a "little brother". Following Hawkins' death in 2022, Rufus performed at the tribute concerts in London and Los Angeles.

I was very honoured to grab a very rare podcast interview with Rufus, what an absolute pleasure to spend 45 minutes with him, we talked about everything from We Will Rock You and Queen through to Jeff Beck, The Darkness and of course Rufus’ friendship with the late great Taylor Hawkins.

i know you are going to enjoy this conversation - please feel free to share it with your fiends.

Rufus, Thanks so much for giving up your time so generously.

Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso American jazz and rock drummer celebrated for her powerful, explosive style and technical versatility. Originally known for her deep roots in jazz fusion and a long tenure as the drummer for Lenny Kravitz (notably appearing in the "Are You Gonna Go My Way" video), she has been the regular touring drummer for Santana since 2016. She is married to guitar legend Carlos Santana, who proposed to her on stage during a concert in July 2010. 

Musical Career and Influence Blackman Santana's career spans over four decades, beginning as a street performer in New York City in the 1980s. 

Jazz Foundations: Heavily influenced by Tony Williams, she has released numerous jazz albums as a bandleader, including the critically acclaimed Another Lifetime (2010). 

Collaborations: She has performed and recorded with a diverse range of artists, such as Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Laswell, Joss Stone, and Joe Henderson.

 Lenny Kravitz Era: She spent roughly 18 years touring and recording with Lenny Kravitz between 1992 and 2015. 

Current Projects: She continues to release solo material, such as the 17-track album Give the Drummer Some (2020), which showcases her skills as both a drummer and vocalist. 

Huge Thanks to Cindy for gicing me some time from her crazy schedule, i really appreciate it!

 Equally huge thanks must go to friend of the podcast and legendary Free/Bad Company Drummer Simon Kirke for putting us in touch, Simon i am eternally grateful for all you do to help.

 www.cindyblackmansantana.com

 www.santana.com

Joining me today is Chris Allan
Chris is a prominent UK-based rock and metal session drummer known for his high-energy style and extensive touring experience. He is currently the drummer for Ronnie Romero, Marco Mendoza and performs in the popular theatre show The Story of Guitar Heroes. 

Career Highlights
* Ronnie Romero Band: Currently touring and recording with the acclaimed rock vocalist, including work on the album Backbone.
* Marco Mendoza: 
* The Story of Guitar Heroes: Performs extensively in UK theatres, showcasing drumming styles that have shaped rock history.
* Malefice: Spent four years (2010–2014) as the drummer for this Metal Blade Records outfit, touring with heavyweights like Anthrax, Testament, and Arch Enemy.
* Session Work: Has recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios and contributed drums to TV broadcasts including Radio 1 and the UEFA Champions League.
* Tributes: A lifelong fan of Cozy Powell, Chris performed a tribute solo at Powell's memorial plaque unveiling in 2016 also performing at the last Cozy Powell Birthday Bash

Equipment and Endorsements
Chris is an official artist for several major industry brands, often featuring them in his studio and live setups: 
* Cymbals: Paiste Artist, frequently using the 2002 and Formula 602 series.
* Drums: Pearl Drums.
* Drumheads & Sticks: Endorsed by Remo and Vic Firth. 

www.chrisallandrums.com

Huge thanks to Chris for taking the time to do this interview.

Bob Henrit is a prominent English rock drummer best known for his long-term memberships in the bands Argent and The Kinks 

* Early Years: He first gained attention in the 1960s with The Roulettes, who served as the backing band for singer Adam Faith.

 * Argent (1969–1976): As a founding member, he played on hits like "Hold Your Head Up" and remained with the group until they disbanded.

 * The Kinks (1984–1996): Henrit replaced original drummer Mick Avory and performed with the band until their split in the mid-90s. 

* Session Work: He has a prolific session history, contributing to tracks such as Unit 4 + 2's "Concrete and Clay" and working with artists like Roger Daltrey and Dave Davies.

  * Author & Historian: In 2013, he published his autobiography, Banging On, and has written extensively for music publications like International Musician.

 * Business: He owned Henrit's Drum Store in London, a famous hub frequented by legendary drummers including Ringo Starr and Keith Moon. 

* Recent Years: Henrit has been open about his Parkinson's disease diagnosis, discussing how he manages the condition while staying active in the music community. 

 Bob is without doubt one of my favourite people and a fabulous drummer, he has so many remarkable stories to share and is always happy to do so! if you are lucky enough to see Bob at a drum show or event go and have a chat with him, you won’t regret it! Thanks for your time Bob!

Joining me for this episode is Vicky O'Neon. 

Vicky O'Neon is an award-winning session drummer, percussionist, and educator originally from Finland and currently based in the UK. She is widely recognised for her high-energy performances and her extensive work as the touring drummer and percussionist for American pop star Anastacia. 

* Collaborations: Vicky has worked with legendary artists such as Brian May (Queen), Hans Zimmer, Nile Rodgers, and Clean Bandit. 

* TV Appearances: She is a member of the house band for the American TV show Name That Tune. 

* Technology Integration: A specialist in Ableton Live, she often incorporates electronic loops and hybrid drumming setups into her live sets and masterclasses.  Education

 * Academic Background: She graduated with a BMus (Hons) in Popular Music Performance from BIMM London (formerly Tech Music School), where she received the "Top Overall Drummer Award". 

* Social Impact: Vicky is a co-founder of the non-profits Girls Rock London and Rock Donna, which aim to empower girls and gender non-conforming individuals through music education. 

* Online Content: She created the educational YouTube series Drumming Through The Decades, exploring the history of female-identifying drummers. 

 Huge thanks to Vicky for finding time in her busy schedule to chat. 

www.vickyoneon.com

Episode 181 - -Brandon Toews

 Brandon is a professional drummer, author, and educator best known as the Content Director and on-camera host for Drumeo, the world's leading online drum education platform. Drumeo Host & Producer: Since 2014, he has produced and hosted popular series like "Hears For The First Time" and "Genius Of," where he analyzes the styles of legendary drummers.

 Author: He is the author of The Drummer’s Toolbox and co-author of The Best Beginner Drum Book.

 Educator: Beyond digital content, he is a seasoned educator who has taught thousands of students through Drumeo and private lessons. 

Performer: He performs internationally, including a 2025 appearance at the UK Drum Show. Education: He holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music from MacEwan University. 

Influences: His playing style is influenced by a diverse range of drummers, from classic rock legends like Neil Peart to modern técnicos like Matt Garstka and Larnell Lewis.

 Gear Endorsements: He is an official artist for Gretsch Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Vater Percussion, and Evans Drumheads. 

Huge thanks to Brandon for giving up his lunch hour at Drumeo to chat to me! much appreciated. 

www.drumeo.com

Percussion Discussion Podcast - Episode 180 - Derek Roddy

Derek Roddy is a world-renowned American drummer and multi-instrumentalist, widely celebrated for his pioneering role in extreme metal drumming. Known by the nickname "One Take" for his legendary ability to record complex tracks in a single attempt, he is a primary authority on speed and precision in the death metal community. 

Hate Eternal & Nile: Roddy gained international fame as the powerhouse behind Hate Eternal and has performed or recorded with other titan acts like Nile, Malevolent Creation, and Today Is the Day.

Serpents Rise: In 2007, he founded this instrumental extreme metal project to explore obscure sounds and complex percussion without the constraints of traditional metal vocals.

Anthrax - Derek finds himself standing in for Charlie Benante on the dates that he couldn’t make due to be on tour with Pantera.

Dream Theater Audition: In 2010, he was one of seven elite drummers chosen to audition for the vacancy left by Mike Portnoy.

He continues to be prolific, currently performing with bands such as Isotropy, Imperishable, and The Deboning Method. 

A prolific clinician and educator, Roddy has produced definitive resources for modern drummers: 
* Blast Beats Evolved: A comprehensive instructional DVD focusing on the mechanics of blast beats and conditioning for speed.
* Playing With Your Drums: An enlightening programme that addresses ergonomics, gear setup, and positioning for all drumming styles.
* Technique Innovations: He is famous for his specific double bass technique and "finger-on-top" snare muting technique to enhance sound clarity during fast

Joining me today is Bob Knight.

 Bob Knight is a prolific London-based session drummer, musical director, and "fixer" who has worked with some of the biggest names in the international music scene for over two decades. 

Bob Knight - Session Drummer.

 A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music's jazz performance course, Knight is widely recognized for his versatility across live performances, studio recordings, and television shows. His extensive list of high-profile collaborations includes:

 Pop & Soul: CeeLo Green, Jason Derulo, Nicole Scherzinger, and Rita Ora.

 Rock & Folk: The Pogues, James Taylor, and Nik Kershaw. 

Jazz & Standards: Alison Moyet and Rumer.

 Musical Directing and "Fixing" In addition to playing drums, Knight is the founder and director of BEK Music, a agency that supplies musicians for major recording projects, tours, and TV/radio promotions. He often serves as a Musical Director (MD) and a "fixer"—a person responsible for sourcing and managing the right musicians for specific high-level gigs. 

Huge thanks to Bob for giving us a fascinating insight to his crazy busy career (at least a part of it, we can talk about his role as "fixer" next time.)

Joining me today is Ross Garfield AKA The Drum Doctor! 

Drum Doctors LLC , owned by Ross Garfield (aka "The Drum Doctor"), is a premier drum service and rental company in the Los Angeles area known for providing expert tuning and vintage drum rentals for countless platinum-selling albums and major artists. 

Known for their expertise in achieving specific, high-quality drum sounds, Ross Garfield and his team have worked with artists like Metallica, Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Michael Jackson. 

Join Ross and myself for a very rare podcast appearance where Ross tells us all about his amazing career so far from his humble beginnings through to working with the late great Jeff Porcaro throught to supplying the now legendary snare drum The bell brass drum nicknamed " The Terminator" that has been heard on so many legendary recordings including Nirvanas classic album Nevermind and also tells us how he supplied set up and tuned the Gretsch set to Metallica to record the iconic Black album featuring the single Enter Sandman. 

huge thanks to Ross for this incredible conversation. 

please checkout the Drum Doctors Website www.drumdoctors.com

Joining me today is producer Tom Werman.

 Tom Werman boasts an incredible career as record producer in the late 70's to the 90's he has been responsible for producing such legendary albums as

 Cat Scratch Fever - Ted Nugent 

Treasure - Cheap Trick

 Molly Hatchett - Flirtin' With Disaster Dream 

Police - Cheap Trick

 Blue Oyster Cult - Mirrors

 Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil

 Motley Crue - Theatre Of Pain

 Motley Crue - Girls Girls Girls 

Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry

 Dokken - Tooth and Nail

 Poison - Open up and say ahh! 

So Tom is more than qualified to talk about some of the incredible drummers he has produced over the years including Tommy Lee, Rikki Rockett, Bun.E . Carlos and many more. Join us as Tom share his fascinating insights in plus many many more!to his incredible career. This is totally different to any conversation i have had before, and do you know what......? i loved it! 

Huge thanks to Tom for giving up his time so generously and please check out his most excellent book - Turn It Up, My Time Making Hit Records In The Glory Days Of Rock Music! 

www.tomwerman.com

Joining me today is Matt Brooks.

 Drummer and Musical Director Matt Brooks already has a CV full of household names such as Nicole Scherzinger, Meghan Trainor, Raleigh Ritchie, Conor Maynard, Jason Derulo and many more.... 

However for almost 9 years now Matt has been providing the groove for the sensational artist Raye, this year has been the biggest so far for Raye and her huge band after the smash hit Where is my husband? took thw world by storm! 

Matt kindly managed to find some time to talk to me amidst a punishing schedule of transatlantic flights almost every week to appear on the biggest talk shows in the US whilst trying to record a new album. 

Matt is a very nice guy and a monster drummer, i really hope you enjoy our chat about his career so far and his very hectic schedule!!

Joining me today is David Greenie Green. 

Greenie is a British Drummer with a very healthy CV already boasting such names as Sam Fender, Reef, Vant, Ricky Wrwick, Little Comet, Andy Taylor (From Duran Duran ) and most recently he has made up half of the rhythm section for the legendary Adam Ant alongside his rhythmic partner in crime Jola Drums.

 Join Greenie and myself as we talk about his career and journey into becomig a professional drummer and of course he gives us a great insight into playing for the 80's icon Adam Ant. 

Greenie, thanks so much for giving up your time so generously! what a pleasure.

Joining me today is Ed "Roddy" Richardson

. Ed is a graduate of The Royal Academy Of Music, he has already had an incredible career, equally at home as adrummer for TV and Film Sessions, Orchestras, West End Shows and with amazing artists such as Taylor Swift, RAYE, Noel Gallagher, Van Morrisson, John Wilson, Pixie Lott, Mica Paris, Clare Teal, Gregory Porter, Seal and many more. 

Late last year following the late great former Squeeze & Jools Holland drummer Gilson Lavis' retirement from playing, Ed got the nod to join The Jools Holland Orchestra with a glowing endorsment from Gilson himself. Ed tells us all about this prestigious gig from getting the call to touring with the band and of course performing at the event synonymous with New Years Eve, the annual Hootenany! 

To cap off an incredible year Ed signed with Slingerland Drums and performed a quite phenomenal debut clinic at the UK Drum Show in October 25 Huge tanks to Ed for this hugely interesting chat!

Joining me today is Emanuel Harrold, Educator, entrepreneur, producer, master drummer, two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, Harrold continues to raise the bar with collaborations and touring with the likes of Damon Alburn, Gregory Porter, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, De La Soul and Roy Hargrove.

 When you think of four words, Emanuel Harrold name comes to mind: Fashion, community, music and love. Emanuels music legacy stands three generations. If you enjoy artists such as Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper, Max Roach, Miles Davis, Gospel, Classical, Jazz, Electro and any music that moves you, Harrold likes it too. Born into the artistry of music by way of St. Louis, MO, USA, Harrold is a multiple Grammy-nominated and winning musician. Emanuel's father being a pastor whilst growing up, the appetite for singing and playing instruments grew. There were many musical outlets, those being his grandfather's Memorial Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps, church gatherings and family reunions. Harrold did not seriously pursue his current instrument until after high school. In St. Louis, Emanuel was involved with Off-Broadway musicals with The Black Repertory Theater, traditional jazz and local gospel scenes.

 Harrold is a self-taught musician and inspired by many great people on his musical journey to date. He has performed or recorded in no specific order with: Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Robert Glasper, Ronnie Mathews, Keyon Harrold, Damon Auburn, John Hicks, James Spaulding, Shedrick Mitchell, Marcus Strickland, Stevie Wonder, Kidz in The Hall, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Ben La Uncle Soul, Gregory Porter, Ambrose Akinmusire, Revive The Live Big Band, Jonathan Batiste, Keyon Harrold, Laura Mvula, and too many other great amazing musicians to name in this short bio.

 I truly Love Emanuels, stylish, dynamic and subtle drumming and im very grateful that he was kind enough to give up an hour from his busy schedule.

 www.emanuelharrold.com 

Huge thanks to The UK Drum Show for sponsoring this episode 

www.theukdrumshow.com 2026 drum show dates - October 24th & 25th 2026 ACC Liverpool

Joining me today is Hannes Van Dahl.

 Since 2013 Hannes has been the powerhouse drummer with Swedish Power metal band Sabaton.

 Join us as we chat about his career so far from his beginnings through to joining the mighty Sabaton in 2013. we talk about the upcoming new album being released on October 17th, his love for Metallica, epecially the Ride the Lightning album, the difficulty of finding left footed double bass drum pedal of decent quality in the early days and Hannes speaks of his excitement about getting his new drum set up and running! 

Thanks so much to Hannes for finding the time out of his crazy schedule to fit this in! 

they are on tour in the UK this December - Dont miss them.

 December 4th 02 Arena - London

 December 5th Co-op Live - Manchester 

December 6th Motorpoint Arena - Nottingham

 Check out the bands website too - www.sabaton.net

Joining me today is Bruce Becker,

 Spanning more than four decades as an educator, Master Teacher Bruce Becker has been bringing forward unique concepts in developing “The Flow”! Drawing from his more than thirty-year association with drumming guru Freddie Gruber, Bruce is carrying on the torch of a unique approach in getting the student to understand the natural principles of the physical body’s interaction with the drum set.

 Through the years Top Drummers like David Garibaldi, Tris Imboden, Mark Schulman, Daniel Glass, Glen Sobel, Tim Carman and many more have sought his guidance. 

Bruce Becker co-led the David Becker Tribune for 35 years recording 10 CDs. He has performed/recorded with Ron Carter, Mike Stern, Russell Ferrante, Barbara Dennerlein, John Abercrombie, producer Ken Caillat, Frank Gambale and many others. 

Bruce is performing some very exclusive masterclasses in the UK between September 27th and October 3rd. 2025 if you are in the South and would like to attend a masterclass, 

the great news is, there are tickets still available for one of the events at Planet Drum in London on October 3rd = here is the link for event  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bruce-becker-the-ultimate-guide-to-technique-tickets-1426104339469 

Huge thanks to Bruce for sharing his story, knowledge and insights with us!

Joining me today is Nashville based powerhouse Rich Redmond. 

Rich is an award winning touring and recording drummer based in Nashville & Los Angeles, he either played/recorded or performed with the likes of Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Ludacris, Bryan Adams, Kelly Clarkson, Joe Perry and Garth Brooks to name but a few! 

He was voted country drummer of the year by Modern Drummer Magazine in 2010, 2016, 2017 & 2018, and has 30 No 1 hits under his belt. Rich doesnt rest on his laurels in his downtime though, he is a motivatonal speaker, and author an actor and a fellow Podcaster with the hugely succsseful Rich Redmond Show. 

Huge thanks to Rich for somehow finding the time in his crazy schedule to talk to me! 

please check out his website www.richredmond.com

Joining me today is Simon Merry. 

With over 25 years of experience Simon Merry is one of the UK’s most in demand drummers. His style and professionalism has been sought after over the years for touring and recording by such artists as: George Michael, Ronan Keating, Boy George, Natalie Imbruglia, Gene Pitney, Olly Murs, Sophie Ellis Bextor, One Direction, Gary Kemp, Paul Young, Boyzone, Bananarama, Go West and Rick Astley. 

Join us for a fascinating conversation as we pick through some of the amazing highlights of his remarkable career so far. We of course talk about his gig with the legend that is Rick Astley (also a mean drummer as many of you will have seen) 

Simon also tells us how he got the Gene Pitney gig as a teenager, Simons dad was Gene's musical director and offerd the gig to Simon, not without a proper auduition first though, so certainly no favours and he had to and indeed did deliver the goods until Pitneys death in 2006. 

Simon, thank you for an absoloutely fascinating conversation! 

www.simonmerry.com

Percussion Discussion Podcast - Episode 168 - Stan Bicknell. 

Joining me today is Stan Bicknell. New Zealand born Stan Bicknell has worked with Kimbra, Miami Horror, Ecca Vandal and his own band The New Caledonia, he is currently touring the UK and Europe with Natasha Bedingfield.

 He has worked hard to develop a very strong online presence, this was noticed by Jared Falk the owner and creator of the mighty Drumeo, the quite remarkable Canadian based drum education platform where he spent two days creating online content with them . 

Earlier this year Stan was one of the drummers given the opportunity to audition for Primus in a hugely entertaing and beautifully filmed and edited documentary that has been viewed hundreds of thousand of times. 

Stan and myself spoke about all this and much more in our Late Night /Early Morning conversation, including how his day starts at a ridiculously early time to ensure that his drumming doesnt affect his family life too much! 

Stan - Thank you for giving up your time so freely, it was a pleasure talking to you. 

Huge thanks to  @wincentdrumsticks for sponsoring this episode - please visit their website www.wincentdrumsticks.com and check out all of the wonderful products that they make and the incredible roster of artistes that play them! Facebook @Wincent Drumsticks - Official Instagram @wincentdrumsticks

Joining me today is the chairman also known as the head hog of Pork Pie Drums, Bill Detamore. 

Join us as we talk through Bill's amazing story from assembling his first ever drumkit as a teenager made up from different drums and how he wrapped them to make them look the same, through to working for DW Drums in there very early days and of course onto 1987 when Bill founded the Iconic Pork Pie Drums, a company that still proudly producing some of the finest drums on earth to this day. 

This really was a fascinating conversation, Bills knowldege of drums and drum building is second to none, no wonder that he is building shells for the mighty Rogers brand aswell as continuing to produce Pork Pie Drums. 

Bill, Thanks for giving up your time so generously! 

Please check out the Pork Pie Website www.porkpiedrums.com

Joining me today is the wonderful Gabi King. 

Gabi is a session drummer / percussionist who has worked with likes of Declan McKenna, CMAT, Two Door Cinema Club, Ed Sheeran, Years & Years and most recently playing percussion for The 1975. 

If you watched any of the recent Glastonbury Festival you will have seen Gabi with The 1975 headlining the Friday night on the Pyramid Stage!

 Join Gabi and myself as we have a good old chat about her drumming life including the then upcoming Glasto performance, her very first Drum Clinic at the UK Drum Show in 2024 ( i sadly missed this as it clashed with Keith Carlock)

 We also talk about her lack of audition for the 1975, she was asked to play for the band on The Jonathon Ross Show followed by a five week tour with no rehearsals!! 

Thanks so much to Gabi for giving up her time so generously.

Today im joined by Rock Royalty - Matt Sorum.

 Matt has an enviable CV including such incredible names as The Cult, Guns N Roses, Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit, Hollywood Vampires and his current gig with Billy Gibbons. 

Matt joins us from his beautiful home in Palm Springs for a great conversation about all things drums and music.

 Matt's love and enthusiasm for music is so obvious, and this comes across in the conversation! 

This was recorded on the day that Clem Burke sadly passed away, so of course we had to talk about the legendary drummer. 

Huge thanks to our lovely friend Simon kirke for connecting me up with Matt. 

Massive thanks to Matt for the great conversation. 

Percussion Discussion Podcast - Episode 164 - Dave Mattacks. 

Joining me today is the wonderful Dave Mattacks. Dave is a british drummer ( now living in Boston ) with a quite remarkable career under his belt - he is known as the Folk Drummer (much to his occasional chargrin) Having played for Fairport Convention for a long time, however he has a lot more up his sleeve, check this out for a recording and live CV.......... Paul McCartney, Elton John, XTC, George Harrison, Chris Rea, Jethro Tull, The Proclaimers, Joan Armatrading, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Richard Thompson, Steeleye Span and many many more!

 We had the most wonderful conversation about his career including the moment he went from trying to impress, with flashy, busy drum parts to stripping it back and playing for the song, something that is now synonymous with Dave's name. 

Huge thanks to our mutual pal Nigel Constable for connecting us up! Many thanks of course for giving up his valuable time to do this! 

www.davemattacks.com

Joining me today is Harry Judd.

 Harry has been playing for British band McFly for over 20 years. As well as his drumming career, Harry has found time to win Strictly in 2011, took part in Celebrity Race Across The World with his mum in 2023, Co-Host Binge Podcast with Alex Jones and is also a very keen runner.

 We had such a great conversation, starting from the very beginnings of his drumming journey, theough to auditioning for McFly. 

2025 is a huge year for the band with several fetival appearances including a slot at Download Festival and a co-headline nationwide tour with fellow brits Busted, we of course talk about both of these things at length.

 Harry, Thanks for giving up your time so generously!

This is a really short clip explaining who it is that plays the beautiful Gene Krupa esque drum intro on the podcast.

 its none other than Homer Steinweiss! 

check out his incredible discography. 

www.homersteinweiss.com

Joining me today is the wonderful Tony Brock.

 Tony is a British drummer that now lives in the US, he has a remarkable career under his belt having played for and recorded with some of the biggest names in the Business including The Babys, Rod Stewart, Roy Orbison, Eddie Money, Jeff Beck, Bernie Taupin and Jimmy Barnes. 

In 2024 Tony Joined a star studded band with Aerosmith bass player Tom Hamilton called Close Enemies, the band have so far released 3 singles and are touring the states again this summer.

 As well as all the playing, Tonyhas his own studio and specialises in engineering and production.

 Join us for a fascinating conversation about his incredible career so far, including how he handles a rather hectic schedule and some wonderful anecdotes along the way including one or two about John Bonham no less! 

Thanks to Tony for giving up his time so freely and huge thanks to our pal Adam Parsons for introducing us! 

www.closeenemiestheband.com

oining me today is Yorrkshireman and drummer with the mighty Asomvel, Ryan Thackwray. 

If you are on social meda and havent yet heard of Asomvel then it wont be long before you do! For almost 12 months they have dominated my social media feed with hugely entertaining content, including footage from rehearsals, tours, recording, they even make the mundane day to day stuff interesting!

 Sleepy Harrogate isnt known as a breeding ground for loud and raucous rock n roll, however Asomvel have certainly made a mark on their hometown. Join Ryan and myself as we talk about the band, including the recent huge support tour with Aussie hard rockers Airbourne and how their set was almost as big as the headline acts set, again with the whole wall of Marshall stacks turned on and up! 

we talk about Ryans early days as a drummer right through to joining the band in 2023! this band are only going one way....... UP!

 sit back and enjoy our chat. Thanks for the great conversation Ryan. 

www.asomvel.com

Really thrilled to be joined once again by one of the most in demand drummers in Rock n Roll, Brian Tichy back again for Part 2! 

We once again delve into Brian's amazing career, we kick off talking about Brian's time at the revered Berklee college of music in 1986 and how a drum clinic by a young (26 years old) Dave Weckl inspired him and still does to this day.

 Brian's enthusiasm and love for music shines through more than any other person i have ever spoken too, he delights in telling us about how he felt learning his first few simple grooves on the drums and the excitement that this brought him.

 We also talk about his current gig with the legendary Gene Simmons from Kiss! Kiss were the band that grabbed his attention as a young boy and how it felt when he got the call offering him in the gig.

 I have loved speaking to Brian for both of these episodes, he speaks total sense and has almost a childlike joy for music, be it making it or listening to it, i dare you to listen to these converstions and not be inspired by them. what a wonderfuly guy. Thanks Brian. 

Joining me today is Brian Dunne.

 Brian is the current drummer for Hall & Oates, Daryl Hall and has toured the world with them for almost 8 years. Brian is also the drummer on Live from Daryls House where he has recorded shows with Billy Gibbons, Sammy Hagar, Jason Mraz, Rob Thomas, Kenny Loggins, Darius Rucker, Joe Walsh, The Ojays, Cee Lo Green, Ben Folds, Joe Walsh and many more! if you havent seen this then it is a must watch! 

Brian has also performed / recorded with the likes of Patti Austin, Chuck Loeb, Ariana Grande, Cory Glover, Chaka Khan, Flo Rida, Ashanti, Sharon Jones, En Vogue, Carly Rae Jepson and again many more! 

He also has his own Production Facility (Back of the Bus Productions) where brian can record drums for anyone requiring live drums for their project. Huge thanks to Brian for great conversation and for giving up his time so freely! 

please check out Brian's website - www.briandunnedrums.com

Joining me today is Jay Weinberg.

 Jay is best know as the drummer in Slipknot from from 2014 to 2023 replacing the late great Joey Jordison, he also filled in for his father Max Weinberg for a tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in 2009. Since Jay's departure from Slipknot he now plays for Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves.

 Join Jay and myself as we talk about his amazing career so far (he is still only 34 years old) we talk about his early days with his parents musical influences, through to sitting in with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for the first time as a kid! no oressure eh? 

Jay tells us how he was taken along to the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (Jays dad Max is the drummer on this show and has been for a long time) to see a new upcoming Nu Metal Band called Slipknot play, and how taken he was with them as a youngster, of course we all know this would eventually be his gig! 

i dont want to give too much away as Jay is a wonderful talker and quite happy to share his story with us, we had a good long chat. 

Jay, thank you so much for giving up your time so generously, especially on Superbowl Sunday!! its really appreciated. 

please enjoy this conversation, and do feel free to share it with your friends.

March 8th 2025 is international womens day, so i thought we should celebrate all the wonderful lady drummers and percussionists from around the globe with a fabulous conversation with Emma Taylor.

 You must have have been living under a rock for the last 5 years if you havent seen Emma on social media, Since Covid she has a huge presence on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

 She delivers her short lessons in a wonderfully unique, quirky, funny and most importantly incredible effective way! Join Emma and myself as we chat about her remarkable success on social media in the last 5 years, we talk about the amount of work that goes into all the amazing content that she and her team produces, and how she handles the pressure of recording live content at such shows as the UK drum Show and NAMM. 

This was such a fun conversation, im a huge fan of all the content that Emma produces and long may it continue - Thanks to Emma and also thanks to our mutual friend Adam Parsons for introducing us!

Joining me today is Spike T Smith. 

Originally from Holyhead in North Wales, Spike has a formidable CV with some of the biggest names from the Punk/Alternative genre appearing on including Morrissey, The Damned, The New York Dolls, Killing Joke, Sham 69, H.R. (Bad Brains) and many more. 

Join Spike and myself as we talk about his remarkable career so far, we find out why he moved from his native Holyhead to Peterborough where he know lives with his family. 

We chat about his early years in North Wales and the suprisingly vibrant punk scene that was happening in the area at the time that ignited his love of this genre of music. 

Spike tells us about joining Memoriam, a midlands based Death metal band and how it took quite a bit of thinking about before finally commiting to the band as this was a genre he had played very little of before.

 It was only right to talk about the late great Robin Guy, Robin was a great friend of Spikes and they used to cover eachothers gigs quite frequently. Robin was a great former guest on the podcast, a lovely man and a great drummer, if felt right to pay tribute to Robin with Spike. 

We had such an enjoyable chat, Spike is such a great and very popular guy, it was a pleasure to have such a great natter with him! 

Cheers spike. check out his website - www.spiketsmith.com

Joining me today is Chris Maas.

 Chris was born and bred in Luxembourg, he came over to the UK in 2006 to continue his musical studies and to further his career, he has since played for/collabarated with The Pierces, Maggie Rodgers, Mumford and Sons and of course his current huge gig with Sting that has been touring around the globe for the last 18 months as Sting 3.0! 

Join Chris and i as we talk about his amazing career so far including his musical education in Luxembourg and how he found his way over to the UK in 2006 finding a college to continue his musical education, taking a year off to work and never acrtually returning. 

We of course talk about the Sting gig, including the pressure of the remarkable cast of drummers that have gone beore him! Chris shares a wonderful story of how Sting took him to lunch to discuss going out as a Trio, Chris had no idea he was goinig to ask him to be the drummer and was asking eagerly which drummer was going to get the gig! 

This was a mindblowing experience to chat to Chris and i would like to thank him or giving up his time so generously! im sure you will enjoy every second.

Percussion Discussion Podcast - Episode 154 - Donavan Hepburn. 

Joining me today is Drummer, Programmer, Musical Director and Tutor Donavan Hepburn. 

Donavan already has a glittering career under his belt having recorded or toured with the likes of Mis-Teeq, Lemar, Adele, Ms Dynamite and many more his current gigs are with Take That, Gary Barlow and Jeff Lynne's ELO! Huge gigs! 

Join Donavan and myself as we pick through some of his remarakable career so far, including how the Take That gig came about and what it entails to pull of this huge gig! 

We of course had to talk about his gig with Jeff Lynne's ELO and how Don worked really hard to replicate the sounds and wonderful drumming of former ELO Drummer Bev Bevan. 

We also talk about the different approaches to each different gig that are neccesary to be the first call session drummer that Donavan is! 

We had the most wonderful chat, Don is very easy to get on with and a remarkably humble gentleman - Thank you for giving up your valuable time so freely to talk to me!

Joining me today is Elliott Henshaw.

 Elliott is one of the most in demand drummers in the UK, he has performed with many household names such as Tony Christie, Leo Sayer, Tony Hadley and over 20 West End Shows.

 Join myself and Elliott as we pick through his amazing career so far, we of course talk about his early days through to his first big gig playing drums for Andy Prior's amazing big band, at this time Andy was a huge name in the UK eventually landing his own TV Show. 

We talk extensively about working as a pro reading drummer and having to work with Musical Directors and the many things to watch out for. 

Elliott shares with us the INCREDIBLE story of how he prepared to do a couple of shows as a dep on a major west end show and how he got to play for none other than Phil Collins on a TV show......No pressure eh? 

This was a fantastic and fascinating conversation to have, i really hope you enjoy it and i would like to thank Elliott for giving his time up so generously. 

www.elliotthenshaw.com

Joining me today is Andy Gangadeen.

 Andy Gangadeen is one of the original and leading Hybrid drummers in the world today, effortlessly fusing together acoustic and electronic drums creating grooves and sounds beyond the wildest dreams of your average drummer!

 Andy has honed both his immense drumming skills and technical knowledge since late 80's playing for the likes of Lisa Stansfield, Massive Attack, Duran Duran, The Spice Girls, Jeff Beck, The Bays and the huge English Drum & Bass duo Chase and Status.

 Join Andy and myself as we chat about his incredible career to date, from his early days with racks and racks of samplers and other equipment needed to recreate the electronic sounds that Andy wanted to achieve. We talk about how he goes about recreating the complex drum beats live that Chase & Staus use on their albums.

 The first time i became aware of Andy and his immense playing was with the house band on Jonathon Ross's Last Resort TV Show on Channel 4 along with band leader Steve Nieve, this was a wonderful band, Andy took over from Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) he tells us all about this amazing gig backing artists of the highest calibre, James Brown to name just one! 

It was a real thrill to chat to Andy, I know you and going to enjoy this as much as i did doing it! Cheers Andy

Here we are with the final episode of 2024.

 Firstly, huge thanks to everybody that has watched, listened, shared, commented or contributed this far, i really appreciate the support. 

Todays episode focuses on drum education, there are quite a few options to choose from when thinking of either teaching or taking drum exams, my personal favourite and definetely one of the market leaders is Trinity Rock & Pop, i have been teaching this Syllabus for many years now and it is always met with enthusiasm from my students.

 I am thrilled to welcome Toby Davies - Trinity's National Advisor for Rock & Pop and JJ Wheeler - UK & Ireland Development Manager - Music to the podcast. Trinity are not known for appearing on podcasts so i am very grateful to them for this opportunity. 

We talk extensively about the Rock & Pop Course, what it entails, why you should do it, what it can do for you., other subjects include online exams versus in person, rudiments, repertoire and many other subjects. 

If you are a drummer thinking of taking exams, a drum teacher looking to teach a new syllabus or a drummer already teaching this syllabus but looking for some more information then this is the episode for you to listen to.

 Huge thanks to Toby & JJ for taking the time to do this - its hugely appreciated.

 if you would like more information on the Trinity Rock & Pop Syllabus please get in touch with JJ via email - Jonathon.Wheeler@trinitycollege.com

Firmly back in the legends lounge for our landmark 150th Episode with none other than Bernard ' Pretty' Purdie.

 Bernard is without doubt one of the most legendary names in drumming! he has played on over 4000 album and worked with such incredible artists as Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Miles davies, Hall & Oates, BB King, Cat Stevens, Tom Jones, The Rolling Stones and 100's more!

 Bernard joins me straight ater receiving his richly deserved lifetime achievment award at the UK Drum Show 2024.

We spend an hour talking about some of the many highlights from his illustrious career including the recording of the iconic Aretha Franklin track 'Rock Steady' and so much more!

Huge thanks to Anne McCoy and the wonderful gentlemen at Drum.Dog for giving me this wonderful opportunity!

More Huge thanks to our sponsor for this episode - Protection Racket
www.protectionracket.com
www.facebook.com/ProtectionRacketDrumCases
 www.instagram.com/protectionracket
www.tiktok.com/ @ProtectionRacket
www.youtube.com/ProtectionRacket

Joining me today is Scott Travis. 

Since 1989 Scott Travis has been the powerhouse drummer for British heavy metal legends - Judas Priest. 

Join Scott and myself as we have a brief chat about drums, Judas Priest and the current Invincible Shield Tour. Scott tells us as he is almost at the very end of an extensive US tour in support of the stunning new Priest album The Invincible Shield how the fatigue is setting in and how the band are looking forward to a few months off to recover after giving 110% night after night on a very long and gruelling world tour! 

We had to talk about Scotts introduction to Judas Priest and Metal fans in general with the now legendary drum intro to Painkiller. Scott tells us how he came up with this now iconic drum part! we also talk about another great drum intro from earlier in is career with Racer X on the song Scarified, an album i bought as a spotty long haired youth purely because it had a cool album cover! thankfully i instantly loved the content of the album too! 

Huge thanks to Scott for giving up his time so generously especially during a world tour! Massive thanks to my buddy Adam Parsons & Jayne Andrews for arranging this for me - hugely appreciated. www.judaspriest.com

Joining me today is American drummer and producer Joey Waronker. 

Joey has played for some legendary names througout his career so far including Beck, R.E.M. Roger Waters, the supergroup Atoms For Peace featuring Flea from The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Thom Yorke from Radiohead. Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Leonard Cohen and many more! 

Join us as we pick through Joeys' spectacular career so far including a large chunk about Roger Waters and a very long time on the road and how this affects family life with a wife and young son back at home. 

We talk about his recent performance with Beck and the Boston Pops Orchestra and how dynamics play a huge part in making this a success (in my opinion Joey is one of the most dynamic drummers around today).

 Joeys' British affiliation doesnt end with Roger Waters though, in late 23' he recorded an album with Liam Gallagher & John Squire that was released inMarch 24' to critical acclaim, he tells us about the experience of recording and touring with these two giants of the UK music scene. 

Huge thanks to Joey for taking the time to do this during a particularly crazy time! looking forward to part 2!

Beyond thrilled to welcome an incredible musician and a good friend of mine to Percussion Discussion Podcast - Ged Lynch.

 Ged has a remarkable list of household names on his CV including the likes of Peter Gabriel, Black Grape, Clannad, Tom Jones, Hanson, Electronic, The Icicle Works, Michael Hutchence, Joe Strummer, David Silvian, Dr John, Natalie Imbruglia, Cat Stevens, Suggs, Birdy, Seth Lakeman, Chrissie Hynde......i mean, where do you start? 

At the beginning of course, in Geds native Blackburn, we talk about his early days of playing in working mens clubs (these were staple gigs in northern towns and cities) playing all manner of gigs including backing strippers...... as a 14 year old! 

We pick through some of the many career highlights including waiting by the radio on a Sunday evening to find out where Black Grapes debut album had charted (number 3, later number 1!) through to getting the gig with the legendary Peter Gabriel, and some of the many amazing adventures that took him on, including a co headline tour of the US with Sting with none other than Vinnie Colaiuta occupying stings drum chair! 

Ged gives so many beautiful little nuggets as we go through our conversation, i really hope you enjoy it as much as i did doing it! He is one of the nicest and most gentle souls on this earth and i was very grateful for this oppurtunity to grab a very very rare interview with him! Cheers Ged! 

www.gedlynch.com

Im Joined by John Macaluso to calebrate the launch of his brand new book with Hudson Music - Linear Rock Drumming - United Sounds Of Seperation https

://hudsonmusic.com/product/linear-rock-drumming/?wcacra=3123599

 John who has an incredible CV of names that he has played for including ARK, Yngwie Malmsteen, TNT, James Labrie, Symphony X and many more talks through the concepts in his newly released book, explaining how the chapters are acompanied by videos of the examples played by John! 

i hope you enjoy our conversation and buy the book and develop your linear drumming skills!