Joesmechanic wrote:Gaddabout wrote:Ardent15 wrote:I've heard that Vinnie was really not as well-known (outside of studios in LA/NYC and certain circles) as Weckl and Gadd at the time. Would anyone here reckon that was true?
Yes and no. Vinnie had already been on the cover of MD twice. I still have that 1987 copy some place talking about how he blew everyone away at a PAS Convention. Maybe Vinnie wasn't VINNNNNNIIEEEEE at that point, but everyone in the industry knew who he was and any drummer who read MD did.
Well, I can comment on the "Yes" part of this comment. People who grew up here in the San Fernando Valley and knew of Frank Zappa and his work were very hip to who Vinne was especially after Joes Garage came out. I still froth at the mouth listening to some of the outlandish/unhuman stuff Vinnie did/does on that. But even earlier than that, if some of the people remember some of the gigs at the Flying Jib of Vinnie doing his Baked Potatoesque craziness......is part of that whole that stuff was just GOLDEN!!
If I'm not mistaken, the Zildjian Day video predates the BRMC video. Doesn't it? Because I remember seeing that video and my mind exploded when he tried to relate playing in 5 to an audience member. Then someone in the audience shout, "PLAY IT!!", so then Vince sez, "Oh kayeeee.....Oh kayeeee". That was back in the day when he was hanging around alot with Tim Landers (bass player).
A little story Weckl told me once.....
I guess Weckl and his wife at the time were at one of the NAMM shows. I think it was the one after the BRMC video. Weckl tells me he's watching Vinnie soloing at some booth where they've got him behind plexiglass. If you've heard any of the hour long solo recordings that Steve had one HOD, that was pretty much what VInnie was doing. In other words, Vinnie was in his own world in a Vinnie tranz. I guess he started playing SO MUCH "STUFF", that Weckl had the same psychotic laugh that I always get when Vinnies going apeshit....he shakes his head and says, "this guys an animal".
I think that says it all.
Vinnies lucky in the fact that he has/had the athletic body to punch the drums like he did/does, the brain that could manage and create those insane abstract patterns, time sigs, and sheer chops, AND the experience of having some of the BEST teachers and influences that anybody could have.
I remember asking him about his hands at a recording session of Brian Brombergs once. I mentioned if he studied with Dick Wilson here in the Valley. He said yes. Has anybody else here studied with DIck Wilson or know of his techniques? I always was told from my drummer friend to see Dick. I was also told thats where Vinnie got his "hands".
.gif "Smile")
