But I think that any young drummer starting out today should get himself a great teacher and learn all there is to know about the instrument that he wants to play.

I think it's a fallacy that the harder you practice the better you get.

I mean, I think I liked every band I ever played in because each band was different, each band had a different concept, and each band leader was different... different personalities and musical tastes.

A great musician is just a thief who doesn't get caught

There were so many individual styles thirty or forty years ago.

I think at one time every drummer wanted to play like Krupa or wanted to win a Gene Krupa drum contest. This is the big inspiration for drummers and naturally it has to be the same way for me.

But, I don't think any arranger should ever write a drum part for a drummer because if a drummer can't create his own Interpretation of the chart and he plays everything that's written, he becomes mechanical; he has no freedom.