SPIN - Greatest Aleternative Drummers

 [D'oh- Just doing a bit of house-keeping behind the scenes and I realised I forgot to post this when it was published (21/05/2013). Also, to note Spin fucked up, they put an 8 on the number by accident]

#18 - Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins)

So much of Smashing Pumpkins' classic sound is defined by Jimmy Chamberlin's titanium snare slaps and gargantuan fills, it's nearly impossible to imagine that when the now-48-year-old musician first saw Billy Corgan's then-trio in Chicago, it was accompanied by a drum machine. Corgan gets credit for writing (and, let's face it, playing) nearly all of the Pumpkins' songs, but their depth and drive are all rooted in Chamberlin's forceful redefinition of psychedelic hard rock. He trained as a jazz drummer, which helps explain how he can turn on a dime from militaristic rolls to swinging cymbals to tight rim shots on a track like "Tonight, Tonight." But his taut, thunderous playing on Gish opener "I Am One" and "Tristessa" and Siamese Dream's "Cherub Rock" and "Quiet" are the rudders that kept Corgan's turbulent ship on course.
Most Booming Moment: Siamese Dream standout "Geek U.S.A." marches to the beat of Chamberlin's smart, syncopated monsoon. CARYN GANZ

http://www.spin.com/articles/best-drummers-list-alternative-music/?slide=83 

Tyson Todd Meade... Updatearama

Think this video gives a good sense of some of the reasons Chamberlin may have chosen to work on Tyson Meade's new record...

THIS LAND PRESENTS: Tyson Meade from THIS LAND PRESS on Vimeo.

In other news, in his most recent update for backers of his kickstarter campaign, Meade writes;

Earlier this year I worked in my dear pal Trent Bell’s recording studio, and he has already mixed several of the songs. He clearly put his heart into it, and his personal commitment to this record has touched me deeply... I can say the same for Jimmy Chamberlin’s contributions. When I first heard his drum work from the first track he and I collaborated on, I cried. I knew that whatever Jimmy would contribute to this record would be amazing, but the way the songs he and I have worked on have turned out demonstrate just how much of his heart he put into this project. WOW is really all I can say, except to add how much I love Jimmy as well!

>>>>>>

http://absolutelygroundbreaking.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/hey-go-buy-this-now.html

Cherub Rock - It's Quite Good Yeah

There must be something in the air, luring me back to the blogosphere for a quick update

Vic's drum shop posted the following info the other day;

VIC'S NAKED TRUTH:

Ever since we posted The Smashing Pumpkins' "Cherub Rock" featuring Jimmy Chamberlin as our DRUM TRACK OF THE DAY on Tuesday, we've been inundated with folks asking us about the snare drum he used.

In the past, Jimmy has been known to use a variety of different snare drums in the studio that included a Pearl Free Floating Steel, a Premier Signia Maple with matching wood hoops, and of course his old Yamaha Signature steel drum. So this past Friday following his gig at Metro, we asked Jimmy what snare he used on "Cherub Rock" and his answer was:
A Ludwig-Musser Drums and Percussion - 6.5x14 Hammered Brass (LB422BKT)

Having a similar sonic quality to the Black Beauty but with a higher pitch, Ludwig's 5x14 and 6.5x14 Brass models are hammered using the same process as Ludwig Timpani. Though each has a similar hammering pattern, no two are exactly alike and vary slightly in tonality.

Meanwhile, Rhythm Magazine are also getting in on the Chamberlove on Facebook posting a link to this gem:

Elsewhere, Chamberlin's turn on the skins in the Hot Stove All Stars helped net "The Foundation To Be Named Later" a cool $200,000.

Going back into hiding again now.  [I will fix the set-up picture links soon, I promise.] 

Blogging - Sabbatical

Word up

Not that there's much going on in JC land at the moment, as far as I know at least, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm taking a bit of a sabbatical from blogging.  Don't worry I'll leave the site up for reference, but I just won't be updating anything for a while.

Cheers,

Drevpile