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Mike Heidorn
(September 2005 Issue)
Kit Talk With Son
Volt's Mike Heidorn's Ludwig drumkit dates back to the year he was
born:
1967. In keeping with those times, the drums are psychedelic red with
white pearl inlay. "I got them in high school," he
says, "and I've used
them in some capacity on all six albums I've done--three with Uncle
Tupelo and three with Son
Volt."
While touring in support of Son Volt's latest, Wide Swing Tremelo,
Heidorn hooked up with
Mapex drums on the advice of former Wilco
drummer Ken Coomer. "Mapex sent me a brand-new set from their Orion
Maple
series," Mike says. "Having never worked with a new set before, I
was astonished by the sound quality. But we're sort of
known for
playing vintage gear. I felt torn between using the new gear or the old
stuff."
The gear decision was
made for Heidorn, when on
the last leg of Son Volt's tour someone broke into their van and stole
all of their
instruments. "They got our front line and backups--all of
it," Heidorn says, clearly upset by the theft. "I'm still kind
of
traumatized by it."
Now Heidorn is back playing a '60s Ludwig kit and occasionally using an
even older
Gretsch set. "It's got a jazzy 20" kick, 14" floor, and 12"
rack. I can't date it, though. I talked to the Memphis Drum
Shop guys,
and they guessed it's from the early '60s."
In other Heidorn career news, Sony/Legacy
plans to reissue Uncle Tupelo's Rockville albums, No Depression, Still Feel Gone, and March 16-20, 1992
including bonus tracks and outtakes, beginning with an anthology scheduled for release
shortly.
Chris Orlet
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