The Ross Elder interview
Hello Ross! My name’s Gunther from Germany’s ‘Klassik Beatz’ drummer magazine. Firstly, I’d like to thank you for taking time out from your busy schedule for this telephone interview.
Absolutely no problem at all……in fact I’m not too busy at the moment. I’ve just been watching a Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre) DVD to try and learn a few more moves, but not getting very far! He’s too clever for me! By the way, what time is it over there in your country?
Er!….well, I’m actually calling you from Birmingham so I believe it’s the same time here as it is in High Wycombe!
Uh!!?
I’m in England to catch up with a few friends so I thought I’d mix a bit of business with some pleasure. My colleague, Bratwurst, has filled me in with the BURN history and the problems that led to your split in 2005 and when you reformed in January 2006.
Has it been more than a year already? Doesn’t time fly?! Well, to be honest, there’s not a great deal to report except that all’s as normal in that we’re still working regularly, playing well and the other 2 (their names escape me!!) are still talking to one another!
What was the feeling when you got back together and played your reunion gig?
What can I say……………?
Er…..maybe a bit more than that?
Yes, of course, sorry about that…..I was remembering the gig. It was better than Cream’s reunion at The Royal Albert Hall!! Even though we hadn’t played together since the split, everything fell back into place as if we’d gigged the night before…..the magic and chemistry was there BIG TIME! And it certainly helped that a lot of our loyal supporters were there to welcome us back, for which we are eternally grateful.
Sounds great…….’wish I’d been there!
You’re welcome to come to any of them as long as you buy the drinks!!
Smoking’s now banned from public places. Do you think this is affecting gig attendance’s?
Well, the majority are still adjusting to the new ban and, although it doesn’t seem to be affecting the number of people who come through the door, it does appear to have an effect on the number of people who actually watch us as the smokers now retreat to the ‘smoking’ areas, which are outside the venues. I don’t think it’s going to take long for everyone to adjust and for the non-smokers (like myself), to start enjoying going out somewhere without having to stand in a thick cloud of someone else’s smoke!
What’s your opinion on Global Warming?
I thought you were interviewing me for a drummer magazine……can’t we talk about drums‘n’stuff?!
Yes, of course, but I know our readers would love to read your opinion on such a serious issue.
Well….I used to think that ‘Global Warming’ was a central heating company until I watched the film ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ 2 days ago!
That would make it today wouldn’t it?
That’ll sure confuse all the drummers out there!!! Global warming is a very serious problem and needs to be taken more seriously by everyone. It scares the hell out of me. Our generation is safe to a point, but what about our children and their children? What will it be like then? Will there still be life on this planet as we know it? And I’ll bet all the decent venues will have closed down!!
Uh Huh!!
Well you did ask!!
Yes, I did and it’s good to know you have such strong views on the subject! Now I think we should talk about your equipment.
Can’t we talk about drums instead?!
I’m Sorry?
It’s ok….just my warped sense of humour!
I see! In some of your gig reviews I’ve seen reference to your ‘Electronic Enhancements’. Could you explain this to our readers?
Well, for certain venues I use a Roland TD8 sound module with a set of D-Drum acoustic drum triggers which clamp onto my toms and bass drum. They’re wired up to the TD8 which is linked to a Roland KC500 150watt amp. The sounds I have set in my TD8 module are then ‘triggered’ by hitting the drums as normal. It really boosts the kit sound without making it overpowering. I don’t like triggering the snare as I haven’t quite worked out how I can still get the cross-stick sound without triggering the rest of the snare, so I use a mike. If anyone can help me out on that one, I’d be very grateful. For teaching, I use the full Roland TD8 electronic kit.
Can you give us a breakdown on your acoustic kit?
Tama Rockstar Custom in Gun Metal Grey. Standard 22” BD .. 12” Tom on top . 13” Tom on a stand on my right, next to 16” Floor Tom .. 14” x 6 ½ “ Tama Superstar Maple snare .. 14” x 3” Dixon Steel Piccolo Snare (as a spare) .. Mapex BD pedal .. Pearl BD pedal (as a spare) .. Mixture of Tama / Pearl hardware. Cymbals are 14” Zyldjian Mastersound Hi-Hats .. 17” & 18” Sabian Signature Saturation Crashes .. 12” Sabian ‘Salsa’ Splash .. 22” Paiste 2002 Medium Ride. Sticks are Zyldjian 5B ‘Antivibe’ and all heads are Remo…. Pinstripe clear top / Ambassador clear bottoms for toms .. CS Coated for snare and Powerstroke 3 on the Bass Drum.
So what’s the rest of this year going to be like for BURN?
Well, we’re pretty much busy right up to the end of this year and already booking for next year. Hopefully we can put slip a few new songs in.
Who decides the new songs…….I already have the strong impression that Rob would prefer to play all Rainbow and Deep Purple!
That’s because Purple Rainbow is all he listens to and all he knows! His musical taste and knowledge is exceedingly limited and biased toward anything that has Ritchie Blackmore playing guitar! There’s a whole world of excellent music out there, but most of it is “Shite” in the eyes of Mr Sas. Even bands or tracks he hasn’t even heard are “Shite” if Blackmore’s not playing on them!! Yes, honestly, it’s all completely true!! My music tastes are very wide and varied so I tend to put forward quite a few suggestions, most of which John agrees with, but most of which don’t ‘Pass The Sas’! But at the end of the day, we’ll only play songs that we all agree on so it’s not a great problem. I’d be grateful if you didn’t print the stuff I just said about Rob, Ok?
No, of course I won’t!! I believe that everything’s going well with your Drum Tuition side of things?
Still as busy as ever! I’m still teaching in schools full time which I enjoy very much.
Do you teach individuals or in classes?
I teach mainly on a one-to-one but I’ve recently started teaching groups of 2-3 which I don’t agree with as they most certainly won’t progress nearly fast enough. Individual tuition is very important but sometimes it’s just not possible.
So why do you teach groups if you don’t agree with it?
School Budgets! It’s all down to money at the end of the day. It shouldn’t be but that’s the way it is…..Politics!
Let’s not go there!
Bloody good idea! I don’t suppose ‘Klassic Beatz’ readers have even heard of Tony Blair or Gordon Brown?
Who do they play for?
German humour uh? Very amusing!!
Well, on that note, I’d like to say thanks again for taking the time to speak to ‘Klassik Beatz’ magazine. I’ll catch up with you again sometime soon I hope and maybe we could talk more about drums next time!
That would make a change!!