The DCI Forum NY/NJ Mafia, from L to R: Frogman Frank, Alan, yours truly, Vinnie, Mario and
Lucio (seated). Alan is an honorary Paisano. Missing: Jim CymbalGuy, Dan C,
Steve B, Paulie and Frankie A.

 

Louie Bellson is the nicest man who ever picked up a pair of sticks. Taken at the Modern
Drummer Festival, 1995. Louie wiped the floor with all the young drumming hotshots that
weekend. I was having a bad hair day!

 

Does this need an explanation? That's my hero, Charlie Watts, as I presented him
with a copy of "Great Rock Drummers Of The Sixties" at the Blue Note in NYC. The
first thing Charlie said to me was, "Did you sign it?" Charlie Watts asking for my
autograph?! Am I dreaming, or what?

 

That's me on the Pearl Export drums with Cajun accordionist Geno Delafose onstage at Bodle's Opera House, a nice club in Orange County, NY. Cajun and Zydeco music really cranks my tractor. I asked to sit in and to my amazement, they said yes. I think it was because Geno's drummer was hungry and wanted to take a break for food!

I had spoken to Carmine Appice many times on the phone while writing "Great Rock Drummers" but we never met in person until last year at Bodle's during a Vanilla Fudge gig. Carmine is a
piece of work. I mean that in a good way, of course. He's a good natured soul and an
ass-kicking drummer still

 

This one was taken last April at a Kootz gig in Bloomfield, New Jersey, my hometown. We were playing a biker blood drive at a Harley dealership. I have always liked playing for bikers and never had one second of trouble with anybody. They appreciate the music and show it.

 

Sitting behind Buddy Rich's drums at the Zildjian factory was a great experience. There are no sticks anywhere to be found around the drums so you can't play them. The factory tour at Zildjian is a a lot of fun, but you leave wondering about all that mass production and the quality control.