Drummers on Drumming The Drum Panel: Your electrician is my favorite drummer
This Drum Panel brings together Brendan Buckley—drummer for Shakira, Perry Farrell, Morrissey, and more—and one of my closest friends, Gunnar Olsen of Puscifer, Mother Feather, Big Data, and ME to chat about...
...the difference between what works in the practice room and what works in an arena, charting versus memorizing, and how to respect the composition before making it your own. Brendan breaks down the “Shakira machine” and why clarity and projection beat busy parts when you’re playing to the back row.
We also cover deep-dive listening versus casting a wide net, Bowie’s Berlin era, and the time Brendan’s electrician turned out to be one of my favorite drummers—and his too. It’s equal parts practical advice, music history, and great road stories from working drummers.
Inside this episode
- Arena truth: kick, snare, crashes beat ghost-note soup
- The DW stainless kit that keeps coming back on tour
- Shakira’s camp, subs, and how Brendan plans for “what if”
- Learning 30 songs fast: charts, anchors, and staying calm
- Deep-dive listening vs playlists, plus Bowie and Prince talk
- The Alan Myers story and why “mic-friendly” drums matter
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Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.
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