Pages
Archives
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
Categories
Meta
Aerosmith Drummer Returns to Berklee
09 of November 2008
Berklee.edu
November 6, 2008
Aerosmith dummer and Berklee alumnus Joey Kramer visited Berklee’s David Friend Recital Hall for a Q&A session with students.
Kramer attended Berklee in 1970, and, like many students in those days, left before finishing his degree in order to go on tour. Students asked not only about his practice techniques and advice for up-and-coming drummers, but also about the life experiences he gleaned from decades of performing.
Zildjian, Kramer’s sponsor, had a representative on hand with free merchandise for students….
For more on Aerosmith’s relationship with Berklee, read about Steven Tyler’s 2002 clinic and 2003 commencement address.
Photos by Phil Farnsworth
Kramer recounted his most memorable concert—his first drum solo, at Pontiac Stadium. He was scared, but took advice from Aerosmith’s former guitarist Raymond Tabano on how to build the solo, then stop when you reach the climax, rather than drawing it out.
“I fell victim to the lie that I was going to lose my fire if I got sober. It’s bullshit. It’s just an excuse. I enjoy my playing more now.”
“I never allowed myself to play while under the influence of drugs. I was an active drug addict and alcoholic for 20 years of my career. I went after sobriety the same way I went after music. I surrounded myself with the right people and worked the shit out of the program.”
For general practice, Kramer puts on headphones and plays along to Tower of Power; Earth, Wind & Fire; and James Brown. He practices time with a Michael Jackson record: “You’re automatically on time because it’s all machines.”
Advice for drummers: “Hit ‘em hard. Have fun. Follow your dream.”
Kramer hung out after the clinic to talk to students and sign autographs.
More photos: (here).
No Comments »
No comments yet.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
