MP interviews Peart, Mason, Bruford and Ulrich for upcoming Rhythm magazine!

Hi Gang!

Well, as I briefly mentioned in passing a few weeks ago when I did Eddie Trunk's show, I can now announce the details of this great special issue of Rhythm Magazine I have been working on. (for those of you unaware, Rhythm is a drum magazine from the UK)
 

 

I am honored to have been asked to play "guest editor" for this upcoming issue and I was given the opportunity to pick 4 drummers to interview that were influences on me and help shape me as a drummer in my formative years.

 

The 4 guys I ended up choosing were Neil Peart, Nick Mason, Bill Bruford and Lars Ulrich.

(for those of you knowing my love for the Beatles and wondering...yes I did have Ringo on my initial list as well, but Rhythm had just recently done a piece with him, so he was scratched off...) 

 

All 4 guys were totally accomodating, totally cool and totally happy to be on board for the project.

 

Neil was the first to get together with me as we were able to spent some time together while he was in NYC in September doing some promo for his latest book.

(which he so kindly had a personalized copy waiting for me!)

 

Finally meeting him was really a cool experience as he's really one of the only drum heroes of mine that I hadn't met yet through the years. He was totally accomodating and friendly and he opened up to me on everything from his early influences to the writing and recording process in Rush.

(and I must admit the "fanboy" in me couldn't resist having him sign one of my custom drums from my "Cygnus and the Sea Monsters" kit!)

 

 

 

Next up was Nick Mason who was in town to play Dark Side of the Moon live with Roger Waters. I met with him in his dressing room at Madison Square Garden and we chatted for about an hour about stuff ranging from Syd Barrett to performing The Wall live.

 

After we did a photo session together (as I did with Neil as well BTW), he invited me up to the stage to sit with him at his kit for souncheck.

I must admit it was a pretty surreal experience sitting up there with him and Roger while they ran through "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Comfortably Numb".

Once again, the fanboy in me struck as I just had to have Nick and Roger sign my vinyl copy of The Wall...as it is my favorite album of all time!

 

 

 

Then last week, I got together with Bill Bruford to do our chat and photo session. I've known Bill for about 10 years now and he's always been a totally great guy and always open arms to me. We talked about all of the stages of his career and got into interesting details about his experiences in Yes, King Crimson, Genesis and UK.

 

 

 

And finally, today I wrapped up the "fab 4" by doing a phoner with Lars. (as much as we tried to set up a face to face meeting, it was just impossible to allign our schedules as he's in the studio with Metallica in CA and I am in the studio with DT in NYC)

 

I've also already known Lars for many years now and he's also always been incredibly cool with me. We talked about everything from the new Metallica sessions to his feelings on the "bad rap" he's gotten by alot of drummers through the years.

(And he even told me that DT's performance of the entire Master Of Puppets back in 2002 had definitely inspired them to do it themselves this past summer!)

 

As if all of this stuff wont already make an unbelievably cool issue...we rounded out the magazine by having Jason Bittner of Shadow's Fall interview me.

The idea being to have an "up and coming" drummer that I had a influence on bring the whole issue full circle...

 

Well, I'm sure you're now asking "when is this coming out?" and "where can I get it?"....

It is slated to hit the stands in the UK on Dec 20th 2006 and if you don't live in the UK, you can usually find Rhythm at bookstores like Barnes & Noble or Border's.
 
For anyone who can’t buy a copy at the newsstand, you can order one at http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk 

Simply choose Rhythm from the list of magazines and full details

 

It's really gonna be an incredibly cool special edition that you wont want to miss and I must say doing the footwork for it has been a true "labor of love" for me.

I must thank Louise King & Jon Cohan from Rhythm and especially the 4 awesome guys who got together with me to make this upcoming issue so unique.

 

I'm looking foward to sharing it with all of you!

 

MP 

Sweet! 1st?

Really fucking cool!

woah, that is one starfilled interview. Definately, going to pick this up, but where?

Oh question answered.

Damn MP you are a busy man thanks again for keeping us updated!

Rite on!!!
 
Nice pics Mike.. Now you can add a pic of you and Neil to your collection of musician photos. Must be awesome to finally meet one of your biggest idols that had an influence on you in the formative years.
 
 Lookin forward to it! No photosession with Lars though, heh? Oh well... You already have that goofy ass pic together from early 2000s where you are wearing a bandana and Larz has some goofy ass expression of his.
 
Now... GET BACK TO WORK DAMNIT!!!!! I need some new shit to buy!

Jeremy Smirnoff
drums, percussion
http://www.facebook.com/jeremy.smirnoff

thanks for those lovely pics MP

visit my band www.sonicflare.in

Very cool

thats too much... 

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one word...


nice :D

Acronyms: Just Say NO!

"Yeah S is definitely the best song on A, but V is right up there too. O however is far and away the top song on O"

Sweet. I never buy MD since I'm not a drummer but I am most definitely buying this issue.

This is a very cool Story Mike
 
Thank you for posting!!!

this looks great, I'll make sure to pick up a copy!

(btw did anyone notice how serious MP looks on all those pix? )

Congratulations on this MP!....2006 just gets better and better for you. That's cool that Jason picked you also.

  
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Wow. that is beyond cool.

Guitar lesson
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That's some cool info! Wow! 4 AMAZING drummers at once! Not bad I must say! Way to go MP!

Glad iv got a subscription to this mag!
oh and another bit of pointless info...if i get into my first uni choice - ill be gettin drum lessons off the mighty Bruford!

Marching On Together.

ORIGINAL: Portnoy

We talked about everything from the new Metallica sessions to his feelings on the "bad rap" he's gotten by alot of drummers through the years.

Ok... This definitely piques my curiosity!!! I really want to read Lars's response and hear his side of things. The guy was a major influence of my playing back in the day as well. I'll admit I've been on the Lars bashing bandwagon before but it never had anything to do with his playing pre-Load. I have always said and continue to believe that Bob Rock only held Lars and Metallica back after the Black Album. I still hold a glimmer of hope that he/they will shine again but I feel like this is do or die time. I hope they DO!

9 out of 10 groupies prefer drummers.

ORIGINAL: mastakilla

(btw did anyone notice how serious MP looks on all those pix? )

^^^This one is especially priceless, with Mike chewing on his glasses.

Forgive my ignorance, but is this the "big project" Mike has been hinting at in the past few months in various cryptic posts?

ORIGINAL: mastakilla

(btw did anyone notice how serious MP looks on all those pix? )

especially the last one - looks like a very "thoughtful MP" shot :D

Acronyms: Just Say NO!

"Yeah S is definitely the best song on A, but V is right up there too. O however is far and away the top song on O"

Congrats, Mike!!! i'm guessing you must have had a lot of fun working on this project!
What strikes me the most is how you keep doing all this different things almost at the sime time... the new DT album, G3 tour with JP, these Rhythm project, and i'm surely missing something here...

Will be getting two copies
 
One to keep and one to read
 

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Silver bootleg and other sales www.thefunkygibbons.net

^^ Make that three please, send me one

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Sounds cool.

I'd be interested to know what the 4 guys interviewed think of MP's drumming. Obviously he's influenced by them, but his style is rather different to what they play themselves, so I'm interested in knowing what they think of MP's style they've influenced.

click! My RYM page.

ORIGINAL: thefunkygibbons

Will be getting two copies

One to keep and one to read

As will I. 

I'll be checking B&N routinely once i know the issue has hit stores. 

Forgive my ignorance, but is this the "big project" Mike has been hinting at in the past few months in various cryptic posts?

 
That was my first reaction... BADASS!!!!!

Baldrick, what begins with "Come here" and ends with "Ow"?

Off topic: nice bike there Cassie

ORIGINAL: szabiakanich

Off topic: nice bike there Cassie

McGoohan's only reference to it in interviews has described it as an "ironic symbol of progress" - McGoohan claimed things were going faster and faster with little reflection on whether new inventions were of benefit or not. The incongruous canopy is said to have been added to represent the "overprotective" nature of modern society, as encapsulated by the "caring" façade of the Village.

click! My RYM page.

Question for teh MP:
 
Once the hard copy issue is on the stands, will the audio of the interviews be released (assuming there was audio captured)?
 
...gotta love MP's "Serpico" look in the Nick Mason pic
 
 

Baldrick, what begins with "Come here" and ends with "Ow"?

ORIGINAL: Cassie5563


Once the hard copy issue is on the stands, will the audio of the interviews be released (assuming there was audio captured)?

Full versions of the interviews would certianly be cool - as I imagine the versions in the mag will be highly edited so as they don't become stupidly long.

click! My RYM page.

awesome!
i can't wait to see this.

in the pictures it seems like this is a side of MP we haven't seen much of before. he still looks like the kid who is in awe of his heroes.

ORIGINAL: Cassie5563

Question for teh MP:

Once the hard copy issue is on the stands, will the audio of the interviews be released (assuming there was audio captured)?

...gotta love MP's "Serpico" look in the Nick Mason pic

I guess it was audio captured, look at the same recorder in the last two pics

ORIGINAL: timeless

ORIGINAL: mastakilla

(btw did anyone notice how serious MP looks on all those pix? )

especially the last one - looks like a very "thoughtful MP" shot :D

And Bruford is playing air-guitar

Apple pie and waffles!

I think Mike knows a bit how Eddie Trunk must feel interviewing him now

<------------ Here's the most quoted MP Forumer of all time

im Sooo picking up that mag!

http://youtube.com/smabacon

This the best news I've heard in weeks, maybe months. I have a facination with famous drummers and how they've been influenced (especially since MP's influences seem to be exactly the same as mine!). This is fucking great.
 
btw, szabiakanich I like the new avatar.  cool camera

Hopelessly drifting, bathing in beautiful agony...

Why thank you

I'm definitely gonna hunt this issue down. 
 
Jeez, another DT album on the way already, plus another Metallica AND another Rush album coming up?  2007 should kick ass!!
 
 

My name is DOOM, and I approve this message.

thats awesome...i would have loved to have seen the meeting between MP and Neil Peart..


"Hmm...this tastes like wax." [/J.Gaffigan]

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I'm definitely going to buy that when it comes out.

The future's uncertain, and the end is always near.

That picture of MP with Tom Hanks is priceless!

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Very cool, can't wait till it comes out. 

In the dead of night, Rob bites, Rob bites...

Safe to say there will be nothing on your "life's list" undone. Another Carpe Diem event. Congrats and looking forward
to the issue.

this is gonna be awesome!

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Argh! so cool to meet all your drumming idols! Obviously will be buying the mag. 

What stands in the way, becomes the way. 

"It's not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it" Lucius Seneca

SWEET!!!!! Can't wait till this comes out

Flixster

My Blog

I love both Bruford and Peart, so I can't imagine what it must be like to interview them.  Congrats to MP on finally getting to meet Neil!

"Music...is my life."-Choptop http://www.myspace.com/johnrmyersiii

ORIGINAL: Portnoy
I've also already known Lars for many years now and he's also always been incredibly cool with me. We talked about everything from the new Metallica sessions to his feelings on the "bad rap" he's gotten by alot of drummers through the years.

(And he even told me that DT's performance of the entire Master Of Puppets back in 2002 had definitely inspired them to do it themselves this past summer!) 

MP 

I knew it
 

Flixster

My Blog

ORIGINAL: Twiddlenutz

That picture of MP with Tom Hanks is priceless!

It definetly is!  LOL!!!

  Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is the best.

Awesome story!
 
Mike looks so damn in those pics! Can't wait for the magazine (I'm pretty sure I can get if here..)

Space Station One: your first step in an Odyssey that will take you to the Moon, the planets and the distant stars.

Gonna have to get a copy of that!

My Tama Rockstars

My Ludwig Vistalites

very nice

Reflection's Day...

Shweet.  This must have also been captured on video, right? I hope it winds up on youtube soon. I hope the mag is avaible here in US too.

WOW
that's really cool!
can't wait for the magazine

Awesome.

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Very cool, Mike! Just another thing to be increadably jealous of you for!

"Isn' t that Captain Stoobing?" - JP
"Ass... And balls!" -MP

Very cool. Mike did you do a BaBa WaWa and give them a cry inducing question?  

"Music is just a release of all that stuff inside that's trying to kill you. I think just — life is so difficult. The thing I love about music is that you can take painful, deep things that hurt, and turn them into something beautiful." ~ Ray LaMontagne

Kickass!!!

BRING IT!!!

Too...much...awesomeness...!!!!


*head explodes*


-- the still-typing fingers of the now-headless Jeff

For a nameless dreamer - One thought can change it all To fly and not to fall - Unlimited And for the restless sleeper - There's still one reason why Far beyond impossible - Limitless

ORIGINAL: Powrslave

Sweet. I never buy MD since I'm not a drummer but I am most definitely buying this issue.

 
It's going to be in Rhythm Magazine, not MD.

"We signed our fair share of girl's tits, but it was their boyfriends that really paid attention to us." - MP in August '05 Classic Rock Magazine

NC's Fire Dept Incidents

Very cool.

EPOCH  The Ones  ME
Heavy is my heart but it's alright

freakin' sweet!!!

There is no other band like Dream Theater. They are the quintessential musicians of our time, and the best band I've ever heard. The music industry wouldn't be the same without them.

I hope it gets sold online somewhere!

Wow...

 ooh congrats mike!! thanks for show us your  pics!!

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I buy Rhythm normally anyway, but it looks like this edition is going to be especially good.
 
Thanks for the heads up Mike.

Please, keep this thread pinned until the release date! So we can all know when it's out, especially the people who live overseas. I'm so buying it...

The coolest thing about this is that MP must be an incredible interviewer. He knows everything about his idols, so it won't be those boring I-already-knew-that-read-it-million-times-this-is-too-basic type of interviews!!!

"You want the truth? You want the truth?! You can't HANDLE the truth!" - Homer Jay Simpson

What an incredible project to be associated with. Congratulations Mike.

With every step and every breath it's farther from youth and closer to death and the things I've realized now beckon me to shut my eyes and I will grow to the age of maybe eighty years in such little time. "Where Am I Going"-Gino Vannelli.

Fiji water kicks ass.

Oh, the interviews look kind of interesting too, Mike.

"The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is keeping them ignorant."

awesome!

wow this is gunna be so cool ....cant wait to give it a read!

thats right.....i am the one and only OCTOBARN BOY

Thanks for sharing this with us.  I enjoy reading these type of dtails, and seeing the photos also.

This indeed is exciting news.  I have to say that it's been quite a year for Mike & Dream Theater.  Their popularity continues to grow, they play their 20th anniv. gig at the grand Radio City Music Hall in NYC and now Mike gets the opportunity to meet and interview four of his influences and heroes in the music profession (who knows what else may come out of it). 

Good for you Mike, you deserve it.  The music that you and the band has written over the last 20 years, plus the side projects, has be a regular feature in my household and I enjoy remembering many wonderful memories from the numerous DT concerts I have attended with my wife and with my friends.

Here's to continued success and to getting that much closer to your goals and dreams. 

It would be bitchin' if Mike brought this photo with him to the interview for Bruford to sign.
 

Wow, talk about an experience, that is just way too cool.
Imma look forward into getting this magazine.

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How cool is that?!?! Awesome. Congrats Mike on realizing one of your life's goals. And thanks for the scoop.

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The fruit platter in the second picture looks delicious.

"Set it..."
"and forget it!!!"
-Ronco Showtime

Fucking sweet.

"It's second hand smoking I'm worried about; my second hand which always has a cigarette in it!"-Lerxst