Part Two: The NAMM Show

Saturday, January 22 was an extremely busy day. It started at the Sonor booth with an hour of autographs with fellow Sonor endorser Mike Shapiro and then an hour of autographs at the Vic Firth booth with fellow endorsers Peter Erskine, Zoro and Dave Weckl. 

I then went to an afternoon soundcheck at the Coast Anaheim Hotel to prepare for the evening Vital Information concert sponsored by the bass amplifier company Gallien-Krueger, the company our bass player Baron Browne endorses. 

I was quite over-committed that day so I had to miss a 50th birthday party that Sonor had for their president (and my longtime friend) Karl-Heinz Menzel. Karl-Heinz had traveled to the London jazz club Ronnie Scott’s to present me with a gold watch for my 50th birthday, so I felt bad I couldn’t make his party.

The reason I couldn’t go to the Sonor party is because Zildjian A&R man, John DeChristopher, had previously asked me to speak at the party Zildjian was giving on honor of the 80th birthdays of Louie Bellson, Roy Haynes and Earl Palmer. 

I was in heavy company when first Steve Gadd got up and spoke. I went next, then Peter Erskine and finally Freddie Gruber. It was a great honor for me to thank Louie, Roy and Earl for their years of inspiration as great musicians, innovators, bandleaders and as examples of drummers with long and influential careers. I wanted to hang but I had to run to another hotel to my gig with Vital Information and I just made the 10 pm downbeat! We played an inspired set and then we all hung out at the bar and I relaxed for the first time all day.

Sunday, January 23 was an easier day at NAMM. I had an autograph session at Sonor again (this time with fellow endorser Thomas Lang), and then I had an autograph session at Remo where I met the great Scottish rudimental drummer Jim Kilpatrick. 

Immediately we sat down and Jim gave me a jaw-dropping display of his chops! Of course I had him show me some of his smoking stickings and moves. I visited a lot of the booths and said hi to some friends I hadn’t seen in a while. The evening ended with Thomas, Diane and myself joining Rob Wallis and Paul Seigel from Hudson Music for a relaxed dinner with everyone telling lots of funny stories.

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