Breaking Benjamin's Jeremy Hummel update.

Jeremy Hummel is in  my top 10 favorite drummers. He co-wrote and recorded their debut album, Saturate, as well as the follow-up platinum album, We Are Not Alone. He was also on the EP "So Cold", which contains an acoustic version of the title track as well as 2 previously unreleased studio tracks; 'Blow Me Away' & 'LadyBug'. One of my favorite rock bands of the 2000 era  is Breaking Benjamin, it's no surprise.
Unfortunately, Benjamin Burnley decided to part ways with Hummel after he became a father (I don't know all of the details involved with his decision) he had some legal troubles with the band and management and  hasn't played with them since 2004.
After numerous drummers they finally hooked up with drummer Chad Szeliga.  Personally I think he's a great drummer, and was a good replacement for Jeremy.  Since they split in '04, I've been wondering what Jeremy Hummel has been up to. So I looked around on the internet and found out that he's been doing online drum lessons at
 http://www.jeremyhummel.com/lessons.php.
He's also performing with a rock cover band called Into the Spin out of Sunbury PA.
Hummel is also a member of the ambient/acid-jazz band Electric Volcano Experiment with guitarist Alex Callenberger and bassist Andy Seal. He also performs with various artists including Bret Alexander of Saturation Acres. Hummel and Alexander are also currently co-producing Evolution of Sound, the first EP album by Harrisburg band Drop of Grey.  In 2012, Jeremy became an online drum lesson instructor for YourMusicMuse.com.
While doing all this he finds time to write for Modern Drummer magazine AND he's a father of 2 kids and loving husband.

While on tour with Breaking Benjamin, Hummel used Pearl Drums and Paiste Cymbals. Hummel has also been endorsed by Pearl Drums and Sabian cymbals. In 2012, Hummel switched drum companies and now endorses Ludwig drums.
Drum set: Masterworks Series, Emerald Green w/ Tamo, Gold hardware:

• 20x18 bass drum - 10 ply (2 tamo/2 birch/6 mahogany and double bass pedal)
• 10x6.5 tom - 6 ply (2 tamo/2 mahogany/2 birch)
• 12x8.5 tom - 6 ply (2 tamo/2 mahogany/2 birch)
• 16x12 floor tom - 6 ply (2 tamo/2 mahogany/2 birch)
• 13x5 snare drum - 20 ply (2 tamo/14 maple/4 birch)

Cymbals: Sabian:

• HHX 13" Stage Hats
• AAX 10" Splash
• HHX 20" Power Ride
• Paragon 19" China
• Paragon 16" Crash
• Paragon 20" Crash

Quotes for Drummers

You only get better by playing. – Buddy Rich

When I listen to drummers, I like to be able to say 'Oh! I haven't heard that before.' Being yourself is so much better than sounding like anyone else. Ginger Baker's thing is that he is himself. So it's no good trying to do what he does.--John Bonham

I used to practice eight hours a day, every day! From about 1956 until about 1962. It was a whole thing, a whole period in my life where nothing else was happening. – Tony Williams

Almost everything I've done, I've done through my own creativity. I don't think I ever had to listen to anyone else to learn how to play drums. I wish I could say that for about ten thousand other drummers.--Buddy Rich

I used to practice anywhere from four to eight hours a day when I first started, from the age of thirteen to when I was about twenty-four. – Elvin Jones

Become the best musician that you can be because that is your product – your own personal musicianship. – Steve Smith

Get the product happening, diversify and think of it as a business. You want to be well known for what you’re doing so you need to be on top of your game. – Russ Miller

Nowadays you not only have to be the best drummer you can be but also the best programmer you can be, the best producer you can be and the best engineer you can be. You have to know about distribution, negotiations, law, contracts, publishing, royalties, etc. – there are so many components and so many levels. – Thomas Lang

I do not allow myself to take any negative comment in a personal way.- Johnny Rabb

You have to fight beyond it (self-doubt) and don’t let it stand in the way of you being what you want to be. – David Garibaldi

You’re confidence is what keeps people calling you to work. - Jimmy Cobb

Try to be very assertive without stepping on peoples toes - John ‘JR’ Robinson

Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn’t sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste. – Buddy Rich

Playing fast around the drums is one thing. But to play music, to play with people for others to listen to, that’s something else. That’s a whole other world. – Tony Williams
 
What’s this all about? It’s about music, it’s not about anything else, it’s not about having the coolest cover, or the coolest title, or about anything. It’s just about music. – Lars Ulrich

My audience was my life. What I did and how I did it was all for my audience. – Cab Calloway

Inspiration is not inside of us. Inspiration comes from outside. It comes from our spiritual guides and from different energies that are in the universe. If we keep in touch with god and our spiritual guides, just knowing that they exist and they are there for us, gives us the strength to say well this is a bad phase but it’s going to end and when it ends I’m going to do something good. – Airto

I generally sell my records online or at the show. You can undersell the distributor and the stores, and people know what they’re getting cause they’ve just seen you live. – Roy Ayers

I always told the musicians in my band to play with what they know, and then to play above that. Because anything can happen, and that’s where great art and music happens. – Miles Davis

The only cats worth anything are the cats that take chances, sometimes I play things I’ve never heard myself. – Thelonius Monk

Now Kill It! DN

I do like to look at female drummers, because I am one.-Caroline Corr

When I speak of natural drummers I'm talking about guys that are playing with the talent God gave 'em. -Gene Krupa

Drummers that passed away in 2012

This list is not complete, you can help by adding.

Marvin Lavon (Levon) Helm (May 26, 1940-April 19th 2012) drummer of THE BAND passed away from cancer.

Thomas Robert "Tom" Ardolino (January 12, 1955 – January 6, 2012) was a rock drummer best known as a member of NRBQ (New Rhythm and Blues Quartet).

Robbie France (former drummer of Skunk Anansie, Diamond Head, and UFO) passed away on Jan. 14th in Spain. He was 52.

Peter Robert Jones (21 April 1963 – 18 May 2012) of Crowded House,  died from brain cancer on May 18, 2012 in Melbourne, aged 49.

Edward Cluade "Cas" Cassidy  (May 4, 1923 – December 6, 2012) was an American jazz and rock drummer who was one of the founders of the rock group Spirit in 1967. He died of cancer at age  89.

Michael Hossack (October 17, 1946 – March 12, 2012) drummer for The Doobie Brothers passed away after a motorcycle accident.

Tonmi Kristian Lillman (3 June 1973 – 14 February 2012) was a Finnish musician, best known as Otus the drummer of the band Lordi. The cause of death is still unknown.

Robby Karras former Bullet Boys drummer passed away. No details about the death have been confirmed, although it’s thought Karras had been ill for some time.

Robert Nix  who played with such greats as Roy Orbison and was the founding drummer of the Atlanta Rhythm Section, passed away in Memphis, TN on Sunday at the age of 67. It was said that he suffered from diabetes and was hospitalized for a month after an operation.

David L. Heim passed away on Friday, November 16, 2012 in Chicago, IL; he was 57.
From 1976 to 1983, Heim worked for Ludwig Drum Company,  On September 17, 2004 joined the Drummer Cafe - Community Forum, and since that time was an avid supporter, contributor and VIP Member of the Drummer Cafe.

Tom Donlinger passed away on April 20, 2012 following a long struggle with a terminal illness. He was 63. He played with such legendary Midwestern outfits as Rotary Connection, Aorta, and The Cryan’ Shames. His reputation soon spread across the continent and he was invited to join Lovecraft, a Northern Californian psychedelic band backed by Bill Graham.

Willie Ackerman, Nashville drummer, who played with artists such as Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson and Louis Armstrong, has died. He was 73.

Pete Hayes, the drummer for South London dream pop band Echo Lake, died at age 25, cause of death has not been released.

James P.C. Stafford, drummer for Moto-X passed away on August 15, 2012.

Scotty Lockridge, drummer for High Flight Society,  passed away suddenly on Sunday, May 20th.  Cause of death was trauma to the head as a result of a seizure.

Marvim Mcquitty passed away after a short severe illness. He collaborated with everyone from the gospel artists Fred Hammond and Israel & New Breed to the pop stars Stevie Wonder and Jessica Simpson, passed away this week at age forty-six.

Scott Columbus of Manowar, passed away on April 4th. Cause of death still unknown. He was 54.

Cedric Sharpley (July 2, 1951-March 13, 2012) drummer and songwriter most notable for playing with Gary Numan, died of a heart attack.

Clive Welham of Joker's Wild, passed away on May 9, 2012. He had been ill for a long time and was said to have passed away peacefully. 

Richard Teeter of The Dictators and Twisted Sister, died at the age of 61. No other information could be found.

Uncle Lionel Batist (1931-2012) of the Treme Brass Band, died of cancer at the age of 81.

Mark "BAM BAM" McConnell, former Sebastian Bach drummer, passed away on May 24, 2012.
 McConnell's liver and kidneys shut down, which lead to brain damage.

Brad Parker of  Generation Esmeralda died of an apparent heart attack onstage. He was 59.

Robert "Bob" French Sr.(74) was the drummer and longtime leader of the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band and a radio DJ. He passed away after a long battle with dementia and diabetes and related complications.

Johnny Perez (69) Topanga drummer and songwriter died from complications of cirrhosis of the liver.

Terrance Conner of Total Slacker was killed in a hit and run accident on Oct.1 2012.

Tracy Richardson former drummer of The Hinsons, passed away on July 8 2012. Tracy had been battling health issues for some time, and was recently diagnosed with a rare blood disease.

Scott Johnson drum tech for Radiohead's drummer Philip Selway died when the stage collapsed.  He was 33. 

Once again, this list is not complete, if you know of more drummers/percussionists that have passed away this year please add them to this list.

Sitting in the back?

I've heard many complaints from drummers about having to set up in the back of the stage. They would much rather be in the front or just more visible in general. Well, there are solutions to this problem. But there is also a better remedy, look at it from the fans point-of-view; you are in the middle of the stage! You are technically the center of attention. Nevermind that little dude that may be blocking a very small portion of your set. You have the biggest piece of equipment on the stage. Nobody is missing you!! There's no way people can't see you or your drums.
But if that doesn't please you, just do what drummer Rob Rivera from NONPOINT does; turn your kit sideways. It's a cool effect. Or the drummer from 30 Seconds To Mars Shannon Leto does this too. Now I'm not saying that they do this for every single show, but I have seen them do it on occasion. It's different and most of the time it works on stage. However there are those clubs that are just too damn small to do this in. So the next best solution is to minimize your kit. Maybe bring your cymbals down a few inches, drop some rack toms if you can. This will give the crowd a better view of you and vice versa.

No Respect for the drummer.

Why is it that Drummers always get ripped on? What did WE ever do to deserve this lack of respect? I don't know how many "drummer" jokes are out there but they're getting old.
Don't these "musicians" realize that without a drummer they're just a bunch of assholes standing around trying to figure out how to start the song? Who's gonna give them the 4 count?
Who is going to sit there and keep the tempo going? The bass player?! I DON'T THINK SO!!
He's only there to take on the ugly fat chicks that the drummer doesn't want. The singer is a moving target for the beer bottles. And the guitarist is there to...well I really don't know why the guitarist is there. But the drummer is there to provide the back beat, the heartbeat to the song. We drive the music or at least keep the other guys from sounding like a train wreck. If you think we enjoy this verbal beating, think again. We have feelings and emotions. So remember, that we control the song and if you piss us off you might end up  doing it yourself. I've seen bands without a drummer, they don't last long. Have you ever seen a BAND without a drummer in the big leagues? Very few and far between. Respect the drummer and you've got happy drummer.
The time has come for the drummers to stand up and demand the respect we deserve!

30 richest drummers in the world.

The 30 Richest Drummers in the World 

1. Ringo Starr – $300 Million (The Beatles, solo)
2. Phil Collins – $250 Million (Solo, Genesis)
3. Dave Grohl – $225 Million (Nirvana, Foo Fighters)
4. Don Henley – $200 Million (The Eagles)
5. Lars Ulrich – $175 Million (Metallica)
6. Charlie Watts – $160 Million (The Rolling Stones)
7. Larry Mullen Jr – $150 Million (U2)
8. Roger Taylor – $105 Million (Queen)
9. Joey Kramer – $100 Million (Aerosmith)
10. Chad Smith – $90 Million (The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot)
11. Travis Barker – $85 Million (Blink 182, The Aquabats)
12. Stewart Copeland – $80 Million (The Police)
13. Alex Van Halen – $75 Million (Van Halen)
14. Nick Mason – $75 Million (Pink Floyd)
15. Tommy Lee – $70 Million (Motley Crue)
16. Bill Ward – $65 Million (Black Sabbath)
17. Jon Fishman – $60 Million (Phish)
18. Carter Beauford – $55 Million (Dave Matthews Band)
19. Rick Allen – $50 Million (Def Leppard)
20. Tre Cool – $45 Million (Green Day)
21. Danny Carey – $40 Million (Tool)
22. Tico Torres – $40 Million (Bon Jovi)
23. Max Weinberg – $35 Million (Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, Conan O’Brien)
24. Mickey Hart – $30 Million (The Grateful Dead)
25. Bill Kreutzmann – $25 Million (The Grateful Dead)
26. Neil Peart – $22 Million (Rush)
27. Taylor Hawkins – $20 Million (Foo Fighters)
28. Questlove – $16 Million (The Roots, Jimmy Fallon)
29. Steven Adler – $15 Million (Guns N’ Roses)
30. Mick Fleetwood – $8.5 Million (Fleetwood Mac)

Source: The Daily Swarm

Lars Ulrich...over-rated?

Is Lars Ulrich one of the best drummers of our era? I don't think so.
He certainly does have a signature style and sound, that's not debatable, however I do not think he's a great drummer. He did some good stuff on their early albums that is classic and timeless.
But his style isn't technical or complicated.
When I see all these "Best of" lists somehow he's always included. Is it because he plays in one the biggest heavy metal bands of our generation? Is it because he's done so much for the drumming community? I don't know. Maybe. I just don't see any major accomplishments on his part.
He didn't exactly create a new style of drumming and he's not the most technical drummer around.
So why is he so damn popular? I can think of many drummers who deserve the title of best metal drummer besides Lars. Joey Jordison comes to mind. And what about Dave Lombardo, Chris Adler, John Dolmayan, or Paul Bostaph? Are they even in the same catagory? That's for others to decide.
I've been a Metallica fan since Justice... and I'll never forget the first time I heard ONE and that double blast beat blew me (and my speakers) away.
All I'm saying is that I truly don't believe he's one of the greatest metal drummers of this era. I mean no disrespect to Mr. Ulrich or his fans, I'm just trying to figure this out.
 Agree or disagree?

If we can't laugh at ourselves...who can?

Funny Jokes – Bad Drummer
A nightclub owner hired a pianist and a drummer to entertain his customers. After several performances, he discovered the drummer had walked away with some of his valuables, so he notified the police and had him arrested.
Desperate for another drummer, he then called a friend who knew some musicians.
“What happened to the drummer you had?”   he asked the club owner.
“I had him arrested,” was the replied.
His friend paused for a second and asked, “How badly did he play?”


• How many drummers does it take to change a light bulb?
 Five: One to screw the bulb in, and four to talk about how much better
 Neil Peart could've done it.

 • What's the best way to confuse a drummer?
 Put a sheet of music in front of him.

• How is a drum solo like a sneeze?
 You can tell it's coming, but you can't do anything about it.  

 • I once asked a drummer how to spell "Mississippi".
 He said, "the river or the state?" 

 • How do you get a drummer to play an accelerando?
Ask him to play in 4/4 at a steady 120 bpm.


If you know some more or better jokes please comment.

This one's for the drummers

This is for drummers world wide.
I would like to use this as a sounding board for drummers.
Check out new products, see "Best of.." lists, and tips on solving those annoying little problems that arise with at a gig or in general. And I'll be posting about local drummers in the Madison, WI scene.
This blog is about anything and everything related to drums and drummers.
I will post anything from drum clinics and concerts to just talking about drums and/or drummers.
I would love to see comments and if you have any ideas you'd like to see on this blog please let me know.

I have almost 20 yrs of experience and know a thing or 2 about drums. A few yrs. back I had to make the hardest decision of my life and my wife and kids won, hands down. Now I'm finding a way to be connected to the drums and drummers without having to sacrifice time with my family.