December 8, 2005

Hey, Hey, Drum~People!

Today was the DAY that Drummers-Paradise LoOKed THIS SEXY!!! >>>
@ 8.06pm UK Time oN Wednesday 7th December 2005 I Fired~Up My Mac & Saw This Super~Cool Site~Build!!!

It’s beeN aN Exciting & Frustrating TiMe to bring it to this point & THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!!!
MORE CoOL BLOGS, MORE Images, MORE MP3, MORE Links, MORE Drum~FUNK & MORE of ME & MY THOUGHTS!!!!!!! >>>

LoOK OUT WORLD, it’s just gonna get B I G G E R ! ! ! ! ! >>>

Thanks to XcellenceIT in deepest Europe for ALL their HARD WORK, Great Plug~Ins & Great Visuals>>> We got there in the end! >>>

AMANDA the Incredible PantherKitten @pantherkitten.com for Her FaNtAsTiC PHOTOGRAPHS, un~ending Belief & Support & SeXy~LoVe~ViBeS!!!

& the Brilliant & Astounding “JaSoN” for showing Me the Way with such GENEROSITY & PATIENCE >>> WEB~GENIUS!! You ARE Mr.COOL!!! >>>

Keep oN CoMiNg BaCk DruMMiNg PeOpLe >>> It’s PHAT & REAL DRUM BLOGS ONLY, RIGHT HERE ! ! !

PeAcE & Big, SeXy GroOVES to the Planet,

***< <<<< SiMoN the Daddy Funk >>>>>***

November 28, 2005

Hello again FuNky~Drum~People!!!
I’m Sorry I haven’t Blogged iN a While but I’ve been INSANELY Busy iN the preparations for the CD LAUNCH of the NEW Friendship & Respect Trio Album “Rainshine” to be Staged iN My Home Town of Bournemouth, South~Coast UK >>> It’s coMing Up oN Thursday 1st December 2005 & Will be a VERY Cool, Smooth & Civilised Affair!>>> I’m a Great Believer in Self~Promotion, So I’ve been Busy Designing EVERYTHING & then Covering the Town with HUNDREDS of Stylish looking Posters & Flyers!>>> Not to Mention preparing THE PRODUCT to be Ready for Sale, all Packaged & Beautiful by Thursday!!!(3 Days Time!) >>>>> PHEW!!! >>>

SO, Double Pedals,
Many of My Drum~Students have asked Me over the Years why I do not have a Double Bass Drum Pedal >>> The short, simple answer to this Question is that I don’t like them!! >>> but there is of course More to it than that!
There are some TRULY GREAT DRUMMERS who use Double Pedals Brilliantly & with GREAT SKILL, but these Talented Men & Women are Few & Far Between!!! >>> I’m speaking of MASTER DRUMMERS such as Neil Peart, Vinnie Colaiuta, Gene Hoglin, John Blackwell Jr, Shiela E, The Wonderful Brit Simon Phillips, even My Friend at Poole Percussion Austin Lane has something VALUABLE to contribute on a Double Pedal but the VAST MAJORITY DO NOT!!!!! >>>

I recently Perchased from the afore~mentioned Drum Shop a REALLY EXCELLENT DVD by the WONDERFUL Drummer & Human Being BILLY WARD >>> CheCk Him out on His Web Site billyward.com >>>
His New DVD “Big Time” is one of THE BEST Drum~Instructional Experiences I’ve encountered in A VERY LONG TIME!!! >>> I’m affraid to say Drum DVDs are usually pretty Aweful & leave Me COLD & UNINSPIRED but Billy’s is Informative, Funny, COOL, NOT TOO LONG (an extremely important criteria for a Busy chap like Me) & to get back to the point Billy displays some Very SUBTLE & Sexy Bass~Drum Chops >>>

This is My MAIN POINT with Double Pedals >>> SUBTLETY!!!!!!! >>>
Most of the Young Drummers who express an Interest to Me iN My Lessons are really only interested in Playing LOUD, FAST Bass~Drum Work in an effort to Impress their Friends or sound vaguely like one of a variety of Metal Drummers (I know there ARE some Good ones out there) >>> For Me this is BULLSHIT DRUMMING!!! >>> There is NO MUSICALITY, FINESSE, STYLE or CHARM in this type of Playing & it is BY FAR, My least favourite!!!

The BIG PROBLEM with most Youngsters who own a Double Pedal on a whim, is they are not prepared to put in the VAST amount of practice time it is going to take, to get even a tiny bit proficient on one of these pieces of Equipment! >>> Doubles between the TWO Feet, Paradiddles of ALL kinds between the Left & Right Foot, Controlled Singles etc. etc. etc. >>> & that’s just for STARTERS!!! >>>

If You Can’t play with Style, Precision, Control & Flair on a SINGLE~PEDAL, how do You expect to be even Vaguely Useful on a Double??? >>> The Mastery of ANY Musical Instrument takes TiMe, Patience & Focus >>>
The long Road to Success lies in a Calm, Clear mind with an Eye constantly on the objective >>> In the case of Drums & Drumming, that is INDEPENDENCE & CONTROL (with a liberal dollop of PASSION, JOY & OBSESSION!!!) >>> Starting with a standard Set~Up & working ONWARDS & OUTWARDS from there, as Your Talent grows, Your kit can grow with it if that is what You Desire >>>>>>>>>
I plan to be Playing & Learning WAY into My 90s >>> Therefore there is PLENTY of Time to Explore Your Drum~Set & Your Playing!! >>>>
SO onward with Drumming & Drum~Teaching, PeaCe to ALL You DruMMiNg People out there, Whatever Your Equipment tastes are >>>
BE COOL,
***< <<<< SiMoN the Daddy Funk >>>>>***

October 28, 2005

Hello Daddy Funk People!
So…RUNNING!>>> I RuN 3 times per Week for approximately 40 to 45 Minutes at a time.
I have been RUNNING consistently for the last 3 and a Half Years>>> WHY do You do this Daddy Funk, I Hear You cry! >>>

Well, STAMINA! >>> Stamina for playing Drums, Stamina for Love~Making & STAMINA for getting through each & EVERY TOUGH Working Day!!! >>>
I RUN, I don’t JOG (!) >>> This is the real thing! >>> I used to Run “Cross~ Country” when I was at school, in London & to be quite honest, I enjoyed it but I just didn’t UNDERSTAND it >>>

Running does SO MANY things for You as an Adult (or “Young~Adult”) in real, tangible terms:
Firstly it gets the blood flowing! >>>
It is GREAT for the HEART & LUNGS >>>

With the blood Pumping, breaking into a sweat YOU FEEL ALIVE !!!!! >>> Personally I Feel like a Super Hero EVERY time I Run, regardless of what I’ve been up to the Night before! Whether I’ve been in the Studio Recording Funk or Jazz or Teaching solidly for 5 Hours or Making PASSIONATE Love to Panther Kitten… it really doesn’t matter >>>

A Good RUN in the Forest or on the Beach is GUARANTEED to make Me feel FANTASTIC!!! (Please be VERY careful not to Run on too much tarmac or concrete as this can be EXTREMELY Bad for Your hip & knee Joints) >>>

Secondly it is ALL about developing the ALL IMPORTANT STAMINA! >>>

Running releases ENDORPHINES into the brain which will Motivate Your sense of Well Being (this is a known factor in combating Depression) & will pump Adrenalin around Your System & clear Toxins from Your Blood stream & skin >>> COOL HUH!!! >>> It will also focus & calm Your Mind, bringing Relaxation & Peace to Your busy, Modern Brain.

From a Drumming perspective ALL this is ESSSENTIAL!!! If You wish to play that 2 Hour Rock Gig or be a driven Studio~Rat for 5 Hours persuing the “Perfect Take” You’re gonna need to do SOMETHING to keep Your Body FIT & STRONG >>>

Which brings Me neatly on to… Thirdly, RUNNING will strengthen Your MUSCLES !!! >>>

& not just Your Legs for Your Bass Drum & Hi~Hat Work But ALSO Your CHEST & ARMS in the ANAEROBIC Motion >>> ALL Perfect for Your Drum or Percussion Work & Play!

There is some VERY COOL Gear to get into if You are SERIOUS about Running, produced by both well known & lesser known Companys such as Nike, New Balance, Helly Hanson, Run Speed One etc.

& Don’t take My word for it either!! >>> MANY other Drummers use Running to keep them at Full Power >>>
Such as TRAVIS BARKER, BUDDY RICH, THE KODO DRUMMERS, NEIL PEART….. the list is endless!!! >>> So You’ll be in good company if You decide to give it a try! >>> You know it makes sense!!!
Well, I’ve gotta get some much needed shut~eye now My Friends , so I’ll bid You Farewell for tonight…

Keep it Phat & FUNKY & Keep on Running!

Peace to the PlaNet,

*** <<< SiMoN the Daddy Funk >>> ***