| Rockin' News for July 13, 2009 |
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Neil Peart's Powerhouse Percussion Nabs Third Drummie
SAN JOSE, Calif., -- Neil Peart's lucky number may just be three. He can definitely play in three; he has
been part of a highly successful trio, Rush; and, he has now garnered his third consecutive victory as
“Drummer Of The Year” in this year's Drummies. Additionally, he won “Best Progressive Drummer. Enter
Music Publishing, publishers of hip, drum magazines worldwide, conducts The Drummies every year with voting
open to anyone from February to May. This year 5,310 votes were cast in 41 drum/percussion categories
ranging from “Best Drummer” to “Best Drum Advertisement”.
While Peart has successfully demonstrated his popularity in the last three Drummies, his margin of victory
was less than in the last two years, according to Phil Hood, publisher and co-founder of Enter Music
Publishing. Runner-up Travis Barker gave Peart a serious run and had been the most frequent winner (three
victories) prior to Peart's popularity. Thus, Barker remains a very influential, popular drummer as well.
Abridged Drummies winner list: Drummer Of The Year: Neil Peart, Rising Star: Thomas Pridgen, Progressive
SAN JOSE, Calif., -- Neil Peart's lucky number may just be three. He can definitely play in three; he has
been part of a highly successful trio, Rush; and, he has now garnered his third consecutive victory as
“Drummer Of The Year” in this year's Drummies. Additionally, he won “Best Progressive Drummer. Enter
Music Publishing, publishers of hip, drum magazines worldwide, conducts The Drummies every year with voting
open to anyone from February to May. This year 5,310 votes were cast in 41 drum/percussion categories
ranging from “Best Drummer” to “Best Drum Advertisement”.
While Peart has successfully demonstrated his popularity in the last three Drummies, his margin of victory
was less than in the last two years, according to Phil Hood, publisher and co-founder of Enter Music
Publishing. Runner-up Travis Barker gave Peart a serious run and had been the most frequent winner (three
victories) prior to Peart's popularity. Thus, Barker remains a very influential, popular drummer as well.
Abridged Drummies winner list: Drummer Of The Year: Neil Peart, Rising Star: Thomas Pridgen, Progressive
Rock Drummer: Neil Peart, Metal Drummer: Lars Ulrich, Jam Band Drummer: Carter Beauford, Funk Drummer: Chad Smith, Mainstream
Pop Drummer: Bob Bryar, Alternative Rock Drummer: Chad Smith, Punk Drummer: Travis Barker, R&B/Blues Drummer: John Blackwell,
Jazz/Fusion Drummer: Steve Smith, Country Drummer: Jim Riley, Drum Clinician: Todd Sucherman, Studio Drummer: Josh Freese, Live
Performer: Mike Portnoy (Courtesy of www.drummagazine.com)
Pop Drummer: Bob Bryar, Alternative Rock Drummer: Chad Smith, Punk Drummer: Travis Barker, R&B/Blues Drummer: John Blackwell,
Jazz/Fusion Drummer: Steve Smith, Country Drummer: Jim Riley, Drum Clinician: Todd Sucherman, Studio Drummer: Josh Freese, Live
Performer: Mike Portnoy (Courtesy of www.drummagazine.com)
Down to release new album next summer
The new Down album is likely to be the heavy soundtrack of next summer after they confirmed
to Sonisphere that Down IV will be out by the middle of next year.
“I’d say probably late spring or early summer 2010,” explains guitarist Pepper Keenan, while he’
s lounging around backstage. A report in Ultimate Guitar last year that six songs for the new
album are already recorded is wide of the mark.
“We have six songs left over from the last session. Whether we use them for the album or
not, we don’t know,” says one of the nicest drummers thrashing the skins in heavy metal
today, Jimmy Bower. “Probably not, maybe some parts.”
So, what’s it going to sound like?
“I think we’re going backwards. It’ll be like the first record,” says Pepper. “The last two
records have been pretty grandiose with a lot of parts and bigger things. This time we’re going
to go back and have some fun. Two guitar tracks, keep it nice and dry, and focus on simple
song writing like the first album, which still works so well.
The new Down album is likely to be the heavy soundtrack of next summer after they confirmed
to Sonisphere that Down IV will be out by the middle of next year.
“I’d say probably late spring or early summer 2010,” explains guitarist Pepper Keenan, while he’
s lounging around backstage. A report in Ultimate Guitar last year that six songs for the new
album are already recorded is wide of the mark.
“We have six songs left over from the last session. Whether we use them for the album or
not, we don’t know,” says one of the nicest drummers thrashing the skins in heavy metal
today, Jimmy Bower. “Probably not, maybe some parts.”
So, what’s it going to sound like?
“I think we’re going backwards. It’ll be like the first record,” says Pepper. “The last two
records have been pretty grandiose with a lot of parts and bigger things. This time we’re going
to go back and have some fun. Two guitar tracks, keep it nice and dry, and focus on simple
song writing like the first album, which still works so well.
Jimmy describes it more succinctly: “Go for the throat dude.” (Courtesy of uk.sonispherefestival.net)
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DAVE LOMBARDO On New SLAYER Album: We're Basically
Taking Off From Seasons Of The Abyss
The News Tribune: What kind of sound are you channeling on the new record? And
how far into it are you?
Lombardo: If it isn't done it's almost there. I would have to say it's unlike any
record SLAYER's done since "Seasons of the Abyss".
The News Tribune: So you're channeling some "Abyss" sound on there.
Lombardo: Yes. We're basically taking off from "Seasons of the Abyss". It has a
nice variety. It has a great groove, the whole thing. This producer, Greg Fidelman,
that did the METALLICA record, he's done an amazing job on my drums and the
Taking Off From Seasons Of The Abyss
The News Tribune: What kind of sound are you channeling on the new record? And
how far into it are you?
Lombardo: If it isn't done it's almost there. I would have to say it's unlike any
record SLAYER's done since "Seasons of the Abyss".
The News Tribune: So you're channeling some "Abyss" sound on there.
Lombardo: Yes. We're basically taking off from "Seasons of the Abyss". It has a
nice variety. It has a great groove, the whole thing. This producer, Greg Fidelman,
that did the METALLICA record, he's done an amazing job on my drums and the
production. Like I said, it's taking off from where Rick Rubin left off.
The News Tribune: You said some of the songs have a nice "groove." You guys are known for your blistering tempos. Are you slowing the
songs down?
Lombardo: Yeah, there's fast and faster for SLAYER. What we've always had but maybe never really paid attention to is this kind of
mid-tempo drive that SLAYER could achieve or I could achieve as a drummer. And we focused on that and elaborated a little on that.
There's the fast stuff and mid-tempo; a little slower stuff that ends up fast. I think it's a well put together record as far as variety
goes. ... It has peaks and valleys.
The News Tribune: Throw out some song titles.
Lombardo: There's a song called "Hate Worldwide", which is great. It's a Kerry song, you know. There's another amazing song called
"Americon" ... reflecting all the embezzlements of money that these corporate (jerks) have taken in and just the whole Wall Street
finance thing. "Beauty Through Order", that's phenomenal. It's great. It's about a countess who lived in either Bulgaria, Romania —
somewhere out there where they had these countesses and stuff. She would kill virgins and drain their blood, and she would bathe in
their blood thinking that it would preserve her beauty or their youth.
The News Tribune: It sounds like you're exploring familiar subject matter. So you're not tempted to switch up and do, like, a patriotic
country ballad or something.
Lombardo: "Americon"! That's it. It's patriotic. It's a pissed off American. When you're angry about something you hold signs and you
march and whatever. But we have a way of putting it in music.
The News Tribune: I was being kind of facetious. But you've had, I guess you would say, relentlessly morbid themes in your music.
Lombardo: I think that what ends up in longevity of a band, is staying true to what you started. Once you start changing and flip-
flopping, people don't know what's going on. But you have to work within your boundaries and parameters and elaborate on these songs
and make 'em as interesting and fresh as you can. I mean, Stephen King isn't going to write a love novel. SLAYER won't either.
(Courtesy of The News Tribune, article by Ernest A. Jasmin)
The News Tribune: You said some of the songs have a nice "groove." You guys are known for your blistering tempos. Are you slowing the
songs down?
Lombardo: Yeah, there's fast and faster for SLAYER. What we've always had but maybe never really paid attention to is this kind of
mid-tempo drive that SLAYER could achieve or I could achieve as a drummer. And we focused on that and elaborated a little on that.
There's the fast stuff and mid-tempo; a little slower stuff that ends up fast. I think it's a well put together record as far as variety
goes. ... It has peaks and valleys.
The News Tribune: Throw out some song titles.
Lombardo: There's a song called "Hate Worldwide", which is great. It's a Kerry song, you know. There's another amazing song called
"Americon" ... reflecting all the embezzlements of money that these corporate (jerks) have taken in and just the whole Wall Street
finance thing. "Beauty Through Order", that's phenomenal. It's great. It's about a countess who lived in either Bulgaria, Romania —
somewhere out there where they had these countesses and stuff. She would kill virgins and drain their blood, and she would bathe in
their blood thinking that it would preserve her beauty or their youth.
The News Tribune: It sounds like you're exploring familiar subject matter. So you're not tempted to switch up and do, like, a patriotic
country ballad or something.
Lombardo: "Americon"! That's it. It's patriotic. It's a pissed off American. When you're angry about something you hold signs and you
march and whatever. But we have a way of putting it in music.
The News Tribune: I was being kind of facetious. But you've had, I guess you would say, relentlessly morbid themes in your music.
Lombardo: I think that what ends up in longevity of a band, is staying true to what you started. Once you start changing and flip-
flopping, people don't know what's going on. But you have to work within your boundaries and parameters and elaborate on these songs
and make 'em as interesting and fresh as you can. I mean, Stephen King isn't going to write a love novel. SLAYER won't either.
(Courtesy of The News Tribune, article by Ernest A. Jasmin)