More Than A Cymbalic Gesture: 17 Drummers Bang Out New LP

08/14/1997 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Lyndsey Parker

(8/14/97) - Hollywood Records is about to release Flyin' Traps, a compilation by 17 of today's top rock drummers, including Stephen Perkins (Porno For Pyros/ Jane's Addiction), Matt Cameron (Soundgarden), Chris Vrenna (Nine Inch Nails), J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees/ Tuatara), Steven Droyd (Flaming

Lips), Joey Waronker (Beck), Josh Freese (Paul Westerberg/ Devo/ Slider), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Mac McNeilly (Jesus

Lizard), Dan Peters (Mudhoney), Michael Musburger (Posies/ Fastbacks), Alexis Flesig (Girls Against Boys), Dale Crover (Melvins) and Tim "Herb" Alexander (Primus). The entire shebang (pun intended) was the bright idea of Redd Kross skin-basher Brian Reitzell, who was inspired by '50s and '60s drum-oriented albums by the likes of Sandy Nelson and Hal Blayne. Reitzell began recruiting his fellow drumming comrades for this labor-of-love project way back in 1994. "In general, drummers are a really tight-knit bunch," says Reitzell. "Other musicians don't share quite the same sense of solidarity. It's like a brotherhood of veterans who have been through a war together--almost like we've got this secret handshake." Chris Vrenna agrees: "Drummers are by nature a different breed of people. We didn't get into music just for the opportunity to stand at the front of the stage and have girls stare at our dicks. We're less egocentric. That's why we get along so well." Flyin' Traps is most likely to appeal to an audience beyond drum geeks, however, as it is a song-based album, including both original compositions and covers like Ray Davies' "Do You Remember Walter?" Flyin' Traps comes out September 23rd.