Live From My Drum Room! ®

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is percussionist Taku Hirano. In this episode Taku talks about attending Berklee College of Music, his classmates who have also gone on to be successful in the music industry and his first break in the business. John and Taku do a deep dive into Taku’s extensive resume, including touring with Fleetwood Mac and working out perc...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is the great Chris Parker! In this episode, Chris talks about starting out on the drums at age three and playing professionally by 11. Chris and John do a deep dive into Chris’ incredible and prolific career. Meeting Will Lee in 1972, moving from Woodstock to New York City and breaking into the New York recording scene in the...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com Dave Weckl returns to "Live From My Drum Room" for an entire live episode dedicated to questions and answers from his many fans watching. Dave answered questions for over an hour, on a variety of subjects including The Dave Weckl Online School, from listeners and fans around the world. This is a masterclass and a must watch episo...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is legendary drummer and founding member of "Creedence Clearwater Revival," Doug “Cosmo” Clifford. John and Doug do a deep dive into CCR’s incredible catalog, with Doug sharing his insights into CCR’s history, song development, and his approach to creating his iconic drum parts. Doug talks about his association with...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is the legendary and incomparable, Jim Keltner! John and Jim discuss Jim’s incredible and prolific career starting with his first recording, Gary Lewis and the Playboys’ “Just My Style.” Continuing with his work with Bob Dylan, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Gary Wright, Steely Dan, The Tra...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com My guest is legendary studio drummer John JR Robinson. In this episode, JR talks about attending Berklee College in Boston in the early/mid 1970s where his classmates included Vinnie Colaiuta, Steve Smith, Casey Scheuerell and Kenwood Dennard, and studying with Alan Dawson and Gary Chaffee. Going on the road with his show band and meeting...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com Bonus Lost Episode! A funny and lively conversation with my old pal Gregg Bissonette. We talk about Gregg's long and successful career beginning with Maynard Ferguson, to David Lee Roth, to Ringo Starr's All Star Band and more! Lots of great and valuable information for drummers, by one of the busiest and most successful drummers...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is legendary master percussionist, Luis Conte. Luis discusses moving from his native Santiago, Cuba to Los Angeles at age 15, and his first big break touring with "The Hues Corporation.” John and Luis do a deep dive into Luis’ incredible and prolific career as a first call studio and touring percussionist with artists suc...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com Bonus episode! A funny and informative conversation with legendary drummer, producer and composer, Rick Marotta. Steve Gadd has a surprise drop-in which prompts Rick and Steve to reminisce about their long history and friendship, the New York scene in the 70s, and lots of great stories and laughs!  Several thousand people tuned-in live for...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest this week is Joshua Simonds, Executive Director of PAS (Percussive Arts Society). In this episode, Joshua discusses his musical and business background, his role at PAS, the upcoming Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), November 9-12, in Indianapolis, IN and some of the artists appearing this year. Other t...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com Clarification: At the time of this show, Dave Weckl was my 100th episode. However, after releasing lost episodes from my archives, this was actually Episode #102.  My guest is the legendary Dave Weckl! In this episode, Dave talks about touring and his latest projects, his early drumming influences with great insights into Buddy Rich, his o...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com In this week’s episode, John talks with drummer, educator and product designer, Pat Petrillo. John and Pat do a deep dive into Pat’s latest and critically acclaimed record, "The Power Station Sessions” which features Nile Rodgers, John Popper, Oz Noy, Lenny Pickett, Felecia Collins and Glen Burtnik. Pat takes us into the recording pro...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest this week is the incredible Marco Minnemann! In this episode Marco talks about his recent tour with his band “The Aristocrats” and their process for writing and recording music. Marco also discusses his concept for independence and how he applies it to music, recording in his home studio and achieving his sound. John and Marco...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com In this episode, John’s guest is the great Clem Burke. Clem talks about his formative years playing snare drum and later bass drum in The Bridgemen Drum & Bugle Corps, playing in rock bands as a teenager, the New York club scene in the 70s and joining Blondie in 1975. Blondie’s recent sold-out tour and newly released archival box set,...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com I had the pleasure of being a guest on Michael Vosbein's great show, "Drummer Nation Live," where we discussed a number of topics including Artist Relations, the Drum Industry, artists and lots more!  Check out and subscribe to Drummer Nation Live! https://www.youtube.com/c/DrummerNationNow And please subscribe to Live From...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is drummer, producer, songwriter, and original drummer for "Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers," Stan Lynch. Stan discussed reuniting with his longtime friend and Heartbreakers bandmate, guitarist extraordinaire Mike Campbell, and his recent tour with Mike’s band, "The Dirty Knobs.” Stan shared some stories from...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is the legendary Jeff Hamilton! In this episode Jeff talks about his early drumming influences, attending Indiana University and studying with the great John Von Ohlen, joining Woody Herman’s band in 1977 at age 23, being invited by Ray Brown to join The L.A. Four in 1978 and relocating to Los Angeles, where Jeff established h...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John DeChristopher joins Tramps Like Us host Lee McCormack, to remember and celebrate their favorite drummer, Charlie Watts, on the one year anniversary of his passing. Lee and John do a deep dive into classic Rolling Stones deeps cuts and Charlie's drumming!      Check out Lee McCormack's Tramps Like Us podcast! http://trampslik...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guests are drummer Ed Toth, and percussionist Marc Quinones, of The Doobie Brothers. Ed recalls being invited to audition for the Doobie Brothers in 2005 after his band "Vertical Horizon" disbanded, to replace the late-great Keith Knudsen and be second drummer alongside Micheal Hossack. Marc recalls joining the Allman Brot...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com In this episode, John remembers the great Jeff Porcaro whom we lost August 5, 1992. John is joined by a legendary group of Jeff’s friends and contemporaries and a literal “who’s who” of the drumming community, including Jim Keltner, Vinnie Colaiuta, John Robinson, Rick Marotta, Stan Lynch, Gregg Bissonette, Gary Mallaber, Jody Cortez, Davi...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is the legendary Peter Erskine! Peter and John discussed Peter’s MD Legends Series Book (available now!), and numerous other topics including vintage drums, selecting ride cymbals, home recording and much more. They also talked about Peter’s upcoming induction into the PAS (Percussive Arts Society) Hall Of Fame in November of...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is Chris Hart, Director of Artist Relations at Remo Inc. Chris has built relationships with the world’s top drummers and percussionists and in this show, you’ll see why he is one of the most loved and respected figures in the Drum Industry. John and Chris discussed their history going back to when they met in 1985 working for...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is Lorne Wheaton. Lorne is one of the most respected and sought after drum techs and stage managers in the business, and has worked for a who’s who of drummers and bands, including Steve Smith/Journey & Vital Information, Alex Van Halen/Van Halen, Mickey Curry/Bryan Adams, Keith Carlock/Steely Dan, John Tempesta/The Cult,...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest is Ronn Dunnett, CEO & President of Dunnett Classic Drums, The George Way Drum Company and Milestone Percussion. John and Ronn discussed Ronn’s early years as a drummer playing throughout Canada, forming Dunnett Classic Drums 30 years ago, acquiring the George Way Drum Company and most recently his acquisition of Milestone...

Send me a text and please visit www.livefrommydrumroom.com John’s guest was Mike Dolbear, well known drummer, teacher and Drum Industry figure. Mike talks about writing his book, “Rhythm and Fills,” launching www.mikedolbear.com, his love of teaching and some of his students who have gone on to being successful, as well as studying with the great Kenny Clare. He also talks about his role in the gl...