And, well of course, Count Basie, and I think all of the black bands of the late thirties and early forties, bands with real players. They had an influence on everybody, not just drummers.

I can think of a lot better things to do with my hands than to cut them up on the rim of a drum.

So, practice, particularly after you've attained a job, any kind of job, like playing with a four piece band, that's... an opportunity to develop.

If you have any requests. keep them to yourselves. we don't play requests!

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

I consider every drummer that ever played before me an influence, in every way.

I play a percussion instrument, not a musical saw; it needs no amplification. Where it's needed, they put a microphone in front of the bass drum. But, I don't think it's necessary to play that way every night.