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The "Drummer's View" Interview with
Michael Hummer of Ph8
The Drummer's View with
Michael Hummer of Ph8
web exclusive
chipritter.com interview
all pictures property of
chipritter.com unless otherwise noted
MH = Michael Hummer
CR = Chip Ritter
CR -How are you?
MH - Well and you?
CR - I’m good, I've got about 21 questions
for you, ready?
MH - Wait...... Ok. ...go!
CR- #1 for people who haven't heard Ph8 yet,
please tell us how you would describe your band's
music?
MH - Nando our guitarist said once he liked the term "Energy Rock". At first that
sounds
a little cheesy but I would say that the music is out of a synergy that is
the members of ph8. I know that doesn't really describe the music but if you
need generics..uh..heavy, melodic, meaningful, and
its all packaged in a
show that will blow you away.
CR - #2 Michael, tell us how you ended up playing drums for Ph8?
MH - I think that the band was in a bind and Marcus the singer had known
me
from a previous band. So, after their second drummer left they gave me a
call and I was a fan of the band anyway so I jumped at the chance.
CR - #3 Your self titled CD includes a version of "Sir Mixalot's - Baby
Got
Back" to me that's an interesting selection for a heavy band like yours, I love
that version!
MH Yeah it good stuff. Oh, is there a
question in there? Everyone loves the butt!
CR - oops, ok yes, my question is “Is it true that the band has actually played songs
on stage from Eminem and Snoop Dog? If so, what's that all about? on the rizzle
my nizzle?
MH - The band has a song called "I go off" and the middle part has a
slight
break. At this break we like to change things up and throw in different
parts from different songs. We just like mixing it up and it challenges us
to learn material from other artists as well.
CR -#4 You play a custom TAMA kit, before that a custom made Razorback kit, before that a custom
Pearl
Kit, and may I add that I have seen you play a sliver 22 inch TRICK bass drum
too,I think the TRICK sounded best, Heh, ou know my personal choice is TRICK hands down. But to
be fair, sonically how would you compare the three different brands?
MH - Sure. Trick is a great brand. The set your referring to is my
friends and as he has pointed out...Trick has a very specific sound to it. Very
metal sounding. Doesn't make it good or bad just specific. The Pearl kit I own
is one I bought in 1992 and it's solid maple. I have played that kit for a long
time and I think it has one of the best sounding bass drums I have ever heard.
Recording with it is so easy and I have received nothing but
complements on it sound. After playing the Pearl kit for over ten years I was
ready to try something new and my friend "e" (who is a tech wiz and
local player now with the band Love Mound) introduced me to Ray from RayZorback
drums and he said he would make me a drum set.
What an honor to have an instrument custom made
with the musician in mind. This was a dream come true (cue the heavenly
music). So, he made an all maple kit just for me. The sound is unreal.
CR - next question # 7 do you prefer double pedal or double bass drums?
MH - I have actually never played a double bass kit. I have heard that
that
is the way to go but The idea of dragging two bass drums to a
gig. well......sounds like..fun...yeah..fun.
CR -#8 What type of hardware are you using?
MH - I use a potpourri of hardware. I really like the DW and Yamaha
stands.
CR - #9 You have many cymbals, what goes through your mind when you
choose
them? What did you look sound wise for when you got them?
MH - Well Chip, I've tried them alllllllllllll! I gotta say I love the
Zildjian. Avidis that is. The Rock ride and the Rock hi-hats and the medium
thin crash. I do also have a Z crash and when it comes down to a china
cymbal NOBODY...I say NOBODY does it like Paiste. Ill put up any china
cymbal to the paiste and the win hands down! How's that for a shameless
plug?
CR - very good!
But I have a great tutorial on how to remove those
pesky logos too! I can email that to you if you'd like, it's simple, easy,
cheap and very effective!
ok back to the interview,# 10 Who are your inspirations drumming wise?
4 or 5 top choices.
MH - That's impossible to answer. Ill try. Not in any particular order;
Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, Ringo Star, Dave Grohl, Danny Carey, Chip
Ritter, "E".
CR -#11 I have seen you play many times, with different bands as well as
Nowhere man etc, your style when you play with Ph8 reminds me of a
ninja. Graceful and yet powerful. Are Martial Arts in your background? (If
not please answer to - what is your approach over all to playing HEAVY shows
with
Ph8, preparation etc)
MH - HIYAH!! AHSOOOOO. I prepare by not drinking alcohols and only
drinking
water. Then, I prepare by warming up slowly (as directed by Chip Ritterson).
I really like to be alone and just get my thoughts together. This is my
time. Reality is really a tough road (sometimes) So, as an artist and
performer I really relish the time I have on stage. This is where I get to
escape and travel and go places that drumming takes me and with the added
energy of the crowd I have an opportunity to travel far. I guess I would
say that I try and prepare for that experience. Is that to deep? Oh well.
Next question.
CR - #12 When and If you give drum lessons, as a former student and now
a
teacher, what would be your best basic advice to anyone new to drumming?
MH - First make sure your doing this because you like it. Second make
sure
you like your teacher. Third, learn to love your metronome. This is the
instrument that is your best friend.
It will never lie to you and it can
make you feel like you're the best drummer in the world. I don't know how or
where the metronome got such a bad rap but that really sucks cause I
think everyone should own one.
CR - #13 what drummers/music do you listen to for inspiration?
MH - This music that inspires me changes all the time. Right now I have
been
listening to a lot of David Byrne. But, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix and huge
influences on me and my drumming.
CR -#14 Tim Alexander of Primus is a great drummer, Rumor has it that you
have taken lessons from him at one point; can you tell us something that you
learned from Tim?
MH - I learned that I hit too hard.
CR -#15 You lived in Amsterdam at a time as a studio drummer, please tell
us how that happened, and why you came back to the states?
MH - Amsterdam? The States? Where am I? What coffee shop? Where did
you get this information? Mommy!!!
CR -#16 The Newest Ph8 CD, I heard you are in the process of recording as
we speak, how is this coming along?
MH - Great!! I am almost done with the drum tracks. I think I have five
songs left to record then its time for the true masters to step up and
record their parts. Nando is recording us at his studio OG7.
CR - #17 When recording with Ph8 do you use a click track?
MH - I haven't. I think they tried before and they didn't like it. I am
open to it but I think that they way the music comes across best is when it
has the ebb and flow. Tori Amos once said in an interview, "You don't (edit)
to a metronome". I think that puts it best. Some music just need the human
touch.
CR- #18 Tell me something that nobody else knows about what it's like to
play in Ph8, give chipritter.com and exclusive answer about being in this
band that nobody else knows? Any secrets or confirmation to true / false
rumors about the band?
MH - Nando is an alien. Pyle is the coolest person you will ever meet.
Marcus is a superhero but only in New Guinea. And Darrell is my brother.
CR - #19 I heard a rumor that your vocalist Marcus's voice can be heard
on
a banned video game called Postal 2. Is this true? If so how did that happen?
MH - I think its Postal 2 and you have my copy!!! I want it back! It
happened
from a friend thru a friend that has a friend that works at a friends
company called Running with Scissors. Marcus is a very talented actor and
can manipulate his voice to sound like other people.
CR - #20 Please describe the writing process that you and the band
members
tend to follow when coming out with new material.
MH - It usually starts with an idea and then its gets pushed around by
all
of us until it's in a song form and then we record a rough copy to give to
Marcus and then he does his magic and then we call it a song.
CR - #21 Where and when can we get your latest release?
MH - Well, Ph8.net always has the latest info on what's up with our band,
so
I'd say
www.ph8.net!
Thanks Chip!
CR- Thank you for your time and your music Michael, you're an awesome
drummer!
For Ph8's music,
concert dates and more please visit their official site
www.ph8.net
Special thanks to
Clay from Gat-Rot at Rainbow Guitars
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