I always find the journey as sweet as the prize. This CALIFORNIA SONG drummer issue turned into a really long-suffering adventure for me … even though I love drummers!

When I was an under-aged wild thing in Boston, my roommate Pamela Fox Manning, told me her wild stories of Keith Moon tearing through the city. She also said he played her like a drum.

I love drummers! So many personalities, manic to panic led me down this percussive path. I communicated with drummers in all media, phones, meetings, emails & smoke signals! Them jungle rhythms are driving me wild.

I started by calling my friend Danny Carey, (Tool and Pygmy Love Circus) to ask him to be on the cover … no reply.

I called Bill Bateman, (The Blasters and The Blue Shadows) and he actually called me back but was leaving to go on the road with The Cramps.

I called the drummer John ‘Meganut’ (Fishbone) and I told him I wanted to interview him for CALIFORNIA SONG. He told me drum lessons would be $200.00 but that I sounded sexy on the phone, so yes … lets meet in person.

Mitch Mitchell (Jimi Hendrix Experience) was a friend of the late Kim Gardner, who owned The Cat and Fiddle and who, in the 60’s, played with Eric Clapton in The Creation. Kim introduced us!

Mitch was always high energy like me so he and I played music together. We then enlisted Mark Leventhal and Paul Eckman to make the (Trouble for Nora) record in 1988. We played gigs at the White Trash a Go-Go, Scream, Downtown and the Stock Exchange until Mitch left and went back to England. We needed a new drummer, so Mark introduced me to Danny Carey who joined Trouble for Nora replacing Mitch Mitchell. Then Mark convinced Danny to join his other band Green Jello. Good for them … bad for me.

I had one drummer divorce his wife, leave his band of 10 years, join my band and have a nervous breakdown.

I recently had a drummer stalking me on the Internet for telling him I didn’t want him in my band. I had left it to my guitarist and bass player, who said that he had hassled them for money … to let him down easy. It led this Neanderthal into a tirade that lasted 4 months, about how I needed prayer and he how was actively rallying other drummer rejects against me. All he got was the LAPD up his butt for harassment. File that under “Drummer Career Suicide”

I did finally see Danny Carey in person, as he was sound checking at the Whisky a Go-Go. He was acting more like a demi-god than a man. I mean he was too busy to speak to me. So many drum techs so little time.

Finally … I came across more positive examples. Don Bonebrake ( X - Don Bonebrake Syncopaters and Orchestra Superstring) who is super worthy as an artist and is the boy next door and makes the world a better place. The interview took place over tea in the snooker room of the Cat and Fiddle Pub in Hollywood. Don learned to play all sorts of percussion instruments in school band and continued with them through the earlier Punk movement days and now on to his new love of jazzy Latin-gringo doodads in 2005.

‘Heavenly Trip to Hell’ (H.T.T.H.) is at the top of my new favorite band list and I try to never miss their action packed shows. They are popping up all over, touring, house parties, making the scene! Their drummer J.D. Flores is a hard hitting wild thing.

I once again saw Danny Carey, face to face at a birthday party for Michael Savage. I noticed his parents were at his side. I said “Hi Danny, I still want you for the cover of CALIFORNIA SONG magazine!” Danny replied “Sorry Tequila, I’m not in promotion mode right now.”

Despite so many personalities, manic to panic, them jungle rhythms still drive me wild. Drum and Bass rules the day if you march to a different drummer like me.

I love drummers! … I love them all! Henry Morgenstein (Exene Cervenka’s son) is a drummer, Stewart Copeland is a drummer, Candy Kane’s son is a drummer, Buddy Rich was a drummer. Tommy Lee is a drummer.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE DRUMMER HERE___________________________________

They are the keepers of groove from my village to yours.

And the beat goes on !!!