VIDEO OF THE DAY: Hip Today by Extreme featuring Mike Mangini Before Mike Mangini was a member of Dream Theater and toured and recorded with guitarist Steve Vai, he was part of this great rock band, Extreme. This performance is from Jon Stewarts first television show back in 1995. Mangini was making quite a name for himself at the time with his astounding technique and unique set up. The set up Mangini was using here is still very similar to his current large set up that comprises 5 rack toms (6, 8, 10, 12, 14) and 2 floors (16 & 18) set up in descending order from the center in both directions. He also employs two remote cable hi-hats that crisscross with his left foot controlling the right side pair of hats and his right foot controlling the left side pair of hats. This means when hes playing open (left hand on his left hats and right hand on the snare), hes actually playing lefty from the waist down - kicking the left bass drum with his left foot and opening the hi-hat with his right foot. He configured this set up so he would not have to cross his arms when playing either hat. He also felt it was more efficient to line up his kick foot with his ride hand - Ride with left hand and kick with the left foot, ride with right hand and kick with the right foot. The challenge of course is your remaining available foot has to operate the hi-hat pedal, resulting in having to play both lefty and righty from the waist down on the same kit. The tom set up also poses a challenge. Luckily with Mangini being one of the worlds fastest drummers (he can play 10 notes in one second with one hand!), he has no issues whatsoever navigating around the toms despite their unconventional order. Hes been known to do fills descending from the center of the kit in either direction using only one hand but sounding like two! Since this video was shot, Mangini has switched to conventional toms and added a few more elements to his kit like some remote bass drums (both acoustic and electronic), a full set of rocket toms, a gong bass drum, more crashes, two pairs of closed hats, another ride to his right, etc. Mike Mangini is truly an innovator and an EXTREMEly unique drummer. Earlier this year, he was voted one of The 50 Greatest Drummers of All Time by the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine. Interesting Notes: Mangini is actively utilizing both drop clutches on both cable hats throughout, like @ 2:24. @ 2:50 Mangini approaches the tune like a big band drummer accenting all the hits. One of his Magnificent 7 (list of his seven favorite drummers that have influenced him the most) is Buddy Rich. Another drummer whom Mangini idolizes is Terry Bozzio, which is why Mangini used the Remo Rototom set identical in the number and sizes of Rototoms that Terry used with both U.K. and Missing Persons.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:21:24 +0000
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