Chad Wackerman Chad Wackerman sa preslávil ako bubeník a perkusionista v skupine Franka Zappu. Vyrastal v Seal Beach v Kalifornii v rodine plnej muziky. Otec – bubeník je významný učiteľ, ktorý vyučoval na strednej škole so zameraním na jazzovú muziku. Obaja jeho bratia John a Brooks Wackerman sú taktiež vynikajúci bubeníci a multi-inštrumentalisti. V súčasnosti Chad pôsobí ako štúdiový muzikant, člen kapely gitarového génia Allana Holdswortha a kapelník vlastného jazzového tria.

Môžeš nám povedať o svojich začiatkoch a prečo si sa rozhodol byť bubeníkom?
Môj otec je bubeník a učiteľ hudby. Keď som bol malý, mali sme doma súpravu bicích. Rodičia nás podporovali v hre na hudobné nástroje. Niekoľko rokov som sa učil od svojho otca, a potom hlavne od Murray Spivack-a a Chuck Flores-a.

V roku 1978 si hral s kapelou The Bill Watrous. Potom si hral s Frankom Zappom. Ako si sa dostal k Frankovi? Povieš nám o tom viac?
S FZ to bolo otvorené, tzv. „Cattle Call“. (Viac si o tom môžete prečítať na mojej web stránke.)
Chad Wackerman
S Frank Zappom si nahral 26 albumov. Aké to bolo spolupracovať s ním, keďže sa hovorí, že mal komplikovanú povahu?
Spolupráca s Frankom bola úžasná. Bol skutočný novátor a vždy dostal to najlepšie z ľudí, s ktorými pracoval. Jeho hudba sa môže zdať ťažká, ale som rád, že som sa mohol naučiť to, čo napísal, pretože sa mi jeho hudba veľmi páči. Bol úžasne inteligentný a mal zaujímavý a podnetný spôsob písania hudby. Bolo skvelé s ním pracovať.

Aké bolo nahrávanie s Frankom? Mal vždy presnú predstavu, alebo si mohol pridať aj niečo svoje?
Oboje. Jeho hudba bola klasicky rozpísaná, ale aj improvizovaná (hlavne pod gitarovými sólami.)

Pamätáš si ešte na svoje prvé turné s Frankom? Aké to bolo?
Bol som šťastný, že som tam bol. Bolo to rockové turné – svetlá, veľký PA systém, veľa členov, skvelá, dobre nacvičená kapela a veľa predstavení. Bolo to, ako by som bol v úplne inom svete.

Na koľkých turné si hral s Frankom?
Na štyroch.

Aká bola spolupráca na prvom albume mladého Dweezila?
Bola to sranda. Dweezil bol veľmi mladý a pracoval so Steve Vai-om. Scott Thunes – bass gitarista od Franka pracoval s Dweezilom na prípravách aranžmánov jeho muziky, a tak som sa zapojil ako bubeník pri nahrávaní. Dweezil je skvelý chalan.

Začal si hrať s Allanom Holdsworthom kým si ešte hral s Frankom. Ako si sa k tomu dostal?
Ďalšia hudobná skúška. Dozvedel som sa o tom od kamaráta Johna Ferrara. Išiel som do jeho „gitarovej továrne“, keď mal Allan rozložený celý svoj set a zaimprovizovali sme si – len ja a Allan, asi hodinu a pol.

Povieš nám niečo o spolupráci s Barbrou Streisand?
Pracoval som s Barbrou na One Voice project. Album a dobročinný koncert. Bola úžasná. Niekoľko týždňov sme cvičili v štúdiu v L.A a koncert, ktorý natáčalo HBO, sme odohrali naživo v jej dome. Bola na nás skvelá. Boli sme 8 členná kapela. Má skvelý sluch a neuveriteľný hlas.
Chad Wackerman
Nejaký čas si žil v Austrálii kde si hral so svojou skupinou. Ako si sa dostal do Austrálie a aké to tam bolo?
Keď mal môj syn 1 rok, rozhodli sme sa odísť z L.A. Miesto, kde sme žili už nebolo pre nás vhodné a moja žena je z Austrálie. Chcela sa vrátiť domov a pre mňa to bola príjemná zmena. Naďalej som chodil na turné s rôznymi kapelami, takisto som si tam založil svoju vlastnú, s ktorou som prešiel Austráliu a Európu. A mal som tam skvelé štúdio.

Takisto si aj veľmi dobrý skladateľ, vydal si štyri sólo albumy. Kedy si začal so skladaním?
Moja prvá skladba bola Peril Premonition a bola pre Allana Holdswortha. Vždy som chcel písať hudbu. Často a rád som sledoval Franka a Allana pri písaní, a tak som si povedal, že to skúsim. Doteraz som vydal viac ako 200 skladieb.

Hráš aj na niečo iné ako na bicie?
Keď som bol mladý, hral som na husle a potom na violu. Na strednej som skúsil Marimbu, ale až tak ma to nechytilo. Pomáha to na udržanie klasického cítenia pri komponovaní.

Tvoji bratia John a Brooks sú tiež bubeníci. Zahráte si niekedy spolu?
Áno, pred niekoľkými rokmi sme hrali na PASIC a aj na Montreal Drum Festival-e. S Johnom hrám na jeho Las Vegas drum festivale. Brooks tam nebude môcť byť, a tak bude namiesto neho hrať Dennis Chambers.

Spolu s Terry Bozzio-m si vydal DVD Solos & duets? Ako toto jedinečné DVD vzniklo?
Terry a ja sme boli spolu na turné niekoľko rokov, od roku 2000. Máme skvelé hudobné spojenie a minulosť s FZ. Sme dobrí priatelia a nahrali sme spolu 2 DVD, „Solos and Duets- featuring the Black Pag“ a „D2“. Oba projekty sú na DW DVD.

Plánuješ nejaké ďalšie turné, alebo spoluprácu s Wackerman & Bozzio duo?
Posledné turné bolo v Japonsku minulý rok. Kedykoľvek budeme môcť, spravíme ďalšie.

A čo Chad Wackerman Trio? Plánujete nejaké turné, alebo nový album?
Teraz vyšlo nové DVD Chad Wackerman Trio- Hits Live na drumchannel DVD. Momentálne nie je žiadne turné, iba nejaké hrania v L.A.

Akú radu by si dal mladým bubeníkom?
Užívajte si každý moment, odzrkadlí sa to na vašej hudbe.

Rozhovor pripravil: Július Petrus
Preložila: Simona S.

English version

Can you tell us about your beginnings and why did you decide to be a drummer?
My father is a drummer and music teacher. When I was a kid there was a kit in the house and pads.. My parents didn’t discouage us at all from playing instruments. After a few years of learing from my father, I started studing- mostly from Murray Spivack and Chuck Flores.

You started to play in 1978 with The Bill Watrous band. Then you played with Frank Zappa. How did you start with Frank? Can you tell us about that audition?
The FZ audiotion was an open ‚Cattle Call“ type of audition. ( There is great detail about this on my website- please refer to it). My audition lasted 3 days and incorporated reading,every stle of music imagineable and lots of odd times, polyrhythms, etc.

You recorded 26 albums with Frank Zappa. What was it like to cooperate with Frank, who is said to have very complicated character?
Working with Frank was great. He was such an innovator and always got the best out of the people he worked with. His music could be difficult, but I was happy to put in the time to learn what he wrote because I really loved his music. He was incredibly intellligent and had an interesting and challenging way to write music. I loved working with him.

What was recording with Frank like? Did he have an exact scheme for drumming part or could you employ also something yours?
It was both. His music varied from being classically written to being open improvisations (especially during guitar solo sections).

Do you remember your first tour with Frank? What was it like?
I was happy to be there. It was a rock tour- lights, big PA system, lots of crew members, a great , well rehearsed band and lots of shows. It was like I was stepping into another world.

How many tours did you play with Frank?
Four.

What was working on young Dweezil’s first album like?
It was fun. Qweezil was very young and had been working with Steve Vai . Scott Thunes- FZ’s bass player worked with Dweezil on the arrangements of his music, so I just steppen in as the drummer for the recording. Dweezil’s a great guy.

You started to play with Allan Holdsworth while you were still playing with Frank Zappa. How did you hook up with Allan Holdsworth?
Another audition situation. I heard about it through my friend John Ferraro. I went to a guitar factory when Allan had his gear all set up and we improvised- just Allan and myself for about an hour an a half.

Can you tell us about your work with Barbra Streisand?
I work with Barbara on the One Voice project. An album and live benefit concert. She was great. We rehearsed at an L.A. studio for a couple of weeks and played a live concert at her house, which was filmed by HBO. She was great to us. It was just an 8 piece band too, so we got to hang abit. She has great ears and well as an unbelievable voice.

You lived for some time in Australia where you played with your group. What was the move to Australia all about?
When my son was one year old, we decided to get out of L.A. The area we were living in was getting worse and my wife is Australian. She wanted to go back home and I though it would be a nice change. I still travelled a lot on tours with bands as well as clinics. I also started my own band there and toured Austraila and Europe. I also had a great studio there.

You are also very good composer, you made four solo albums. When did you start with composing?
My first composition was for Allan Holdsworth, called Peril Premonition. I always wanted to write and I enojyed watchig how Frank and Allan wrote. I just jumed in and starting trying. I have over 200 compositions published now.

Do you play any other instrument besides drums?
When I was young I played Violin, then Viloa. I tried Marimba in college, but didn’t get very far with it. It helps having the classical trailing for composing.

Your brothers, John and Brooks, are also drummers. Do you ever play together?
Yes, we played at PASIC a couple of years ago, as well as the Montreal Drum Festival. My broth John and I are playing at his Las Vegas drum festival in April. Brooks can’t do that one, so Dennis Chambers is going to play in his place.

You released together with Terry Bozzio DVD Solos & duets. How was this unique DVD made?
Terry and I have toured together though the years- starting in 2000. We have a great musical connection and past histories with FZ. We are close friends and hae made 2 DVD;s together. „Solos and Duets- featuring the Black Pag“e, and „D2“ Bot hprojects are on DW DVD.

What about the Wackerman & Bozzio duo tours? Any more plans to work together?
Out last tour was Japan last year. Anytime we can , we’ll do it.

What about the Chad Wackerman Trio?Any tour or new album?
The New DVD is out now, calle Chad Wackerman Trio- Hits Live on drumchannel DVD. No tours at the moment, just local L.A. gigs.

What kind of advice would you give to young drummers?
Enjoy every moment, it wil show in your music.