Early summer, 1994. Nineteen-year-old drummer Mario Calire is playing a gig with his Meters-style funk band at The Mint in L.A. Calire is the precocious middle son of keyboard player Jamie Calire of the `70s California pop band, America (Horse With No Name"). Unknown to Calire, the youngest son of another musician and American icon, Bob Dylan, is in the audience. Young Jake Dylan turns to manager, Andy Slater. I'd like to play with him, Dylan tells Slater.

That night Dylan's band, The Wallflowers, is in between deals. Their much anticipated, self-titled 1992 Virgin debut is battling high label expectations and losing, limping along in the record stores selling 40,000 units. Virgin drops the band. No other labels are calling. The Wallflowers will begin to fracture.

As the Summer of '98 dawns Calire is now The Wallflowers' drummer and their Interscope Records debut, Bringing Down the Horse, has sold millions. Critical raves, two years of solid touring, and industry awards have followed.

Juggling his breakfast, the phone, and The Amplifier's questions, Calire discusses his evolution as a musician and Wallflower, Latin rhythm masters, and his Slingerland drums, of course.

AMP: What were you doing before Jake finally called in late 1995?

Calire: Back then I was teaching kids drums at Frontline Drum in Ventura. I was really building fundamentals. I'd ask the kids what they wanted to play. Then I'd learn and transcribe the parts. I ended up learning all modern rock styles-alternative, punk. I was reading and practicing rudiments. It honed my chops.

AMP: Did you formally study drums?

Calire: I study with Jim Christie. He's in Dwight Yoakam's band now. I also studied jazz at Cal Arts with Tootie Heath and Latin percussion with a real master, Efrian Toro. He'd teach me Latin rhythm patterns on, say, the claves and then apply those to the traps and the music. They're geniuses.

AMP: And playing out?

Calire I'd play everything, take all the calls-my own band, jazz bands, free sessions, even weddings. Everything is valid. If you're a player, you're gonna play. Those experiences open your mind and your ears.

AMP: Did your father influence you?

Calire: Because of him, I've been around music forever. He played keyboards and saxophone with America-a utility player. Those were supportive instruments and he was serving the music.

AMP: What, the end of 1995, The Wallflowers call comes in.

Calire: Andy Slater called me. Jake remembered me from that gig at The Mint a year-and-a-half before. They asked me to come down to a rehearsal and play with the band. The guitar player and drummer had left after they cut the album (Bringing Down the Horse) but before they shot the artwork. Andy sent me at tape and I learned to recreate the parts exactly. (Laughs) Later they told me I knew the songs better than they did. I grooved with the band. Man, we really groove.

Then we hit the road for two years opening for artists like Chris Isaak. It was a slow, steady build. We became very confident as a group. It's very validating.

AMP: What's your musical approach with The Wallflowers? This is no small wedding gig?

Calire: I focus on the groove and feel, on staying focused and being in the moment. At the same time, I try to be dynamic within each song while keeping it driving. It's rock ` roll. It's a challenge to maintain that energy while pulling back. I work to keep my technique efficient so I can pace myself physically and keep the energy up.

AMP: After all the success, what's the challenge for the band?

Calire: To always play the perfect show. We have very high standard and we can always do the show better.

AMP: You came off the road last winter. What have you been doing.

Calire: I've been practicing-some formal reading and rudiments. But I'll also just play free. Whatever comes creatively. I've also been listening to all music-everything. Some African and Indian. I listen to the radio and go out and buy some really weird CDs. Got a call recently to cut some track . Taj Mahal was on it. The band went into the studio too. Andy Slater produced. We cut the (David) Bowie song Heroes". We just jammed it and it turned out great. It's in the new movie Godzilla.

Meanwhile Jake's been writing and we'll probably start cutting tracks in six to eight weeks for the next record.

AMP: So how `bout those Slingerlands?

Calire: (Laughs) Really, they're great. They're so versatile and do everything well. It's a joy to play such magnificent drums. The new bass drum is really fat for its size (14x22 for the studio, otherwise, 16x22 for stage). Calire plays a Studio King New Standard kit with a 16x22 floor tom, 9x12 rack tom, 16x22 bass drum, and a 5x14 Radio King snare and 4x14 piccolo snare. He plays sets with a custom robin's egg blue, antique duco white or cherry mahogany finish.

AMP: Finally, how 'bout those Wallflowers (Jake Dylan, guitarist Michael Ward, bassist Greg Richling, and keyboardist Rami Jaffe?

Calire: (Calire laughs again and again as he answers quickly) Let's see. Jake: Funny, very witty. Mike: Fast. Fast on his guitar; fast on his bicycle. Greg: Mr. Bass. Solid, solid. Rami: Fun, just fun.