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Bun E. Carlos (August 2005 Issue)
Back In Box Cheap Trick recently celebrated twenty-five years together with the release of
the appropriately titled Silver, a two-disc collection of hits and best-loved tunes recorded live in the band's hometown of
Rockford, Illinois. Silver is an endearing scrapbook anthology of memories from a band whose music has invaded pop
culture to the point of near ubiquity.
But drummer Bun E. Carlos warns fans not to hold their breath waiting
for a new
album of original tunes. "We're still getting the songs
together," Carlos admits. "Over the winter we had a couple months
off.
Instead of starting the new album in January, we decided to finish
these new songs and then figure out what we wanted to
do with them.
Then we're going to send the tape out to some different producers. It's
just been going on
forever."
In between scattered gigs and demoing the new Cheap Trick material,
Carlos completed a project with
engineer Steve Albini. That project, Bun E. In A Box,
should pique the interest of any drummer who learned while
playing
along to Carlos's signature grooves. "We decided that would be a good
name for it," Bun E. laughs.
So just what is Bun E. In A Box? Carlos gave Modern Drummer
the download. "I went into
Steve Albini's studio last fall, and we
recorded four or five days of loops, snare drum sounds, cymbal hits,
brush strokes,
patterns, and chops for a software program. That way,
you can put me in your studio. You can cut a track with your
drum
machine, then sync it up and put my drum sounds on the track."
Carlos thinks that Bun E. In A
Box
will provide a unique product to the marketplace. "Some of these jazz
guys, like Bill Bruford, have done this, but no
real rock guys have
done it yet."
Unfortunately, things haven't been all
rosey for Bun E. lately, who
recently underwent back surgery.
(Apparently he's had trouble with his back for a number of years.) But
we're
happy to report that things have turned out well. The surgery was
a success, and Bun E. says he's playing better than ever
and plans to
be back on the road with Cheap Trick by the time you read this.
Gail Worley
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