 |
Johnny Kelly
(September 2005 Issue)
Type O Negative Comes Down"I
don't think Type O Negative is the kind of
band that justly deserves to
be categorized," says drummer Johnny Kelly. "We have in the past, and
will in the future, go to
different territories musically." Playing
since age fifteen, Kelly, now thirty-one, is basically self-taught,
save for taking a few
lessons from A.J. Pero of Twisted Sister.
Learning on his own, says Kelly, keeps his approach to
drumming
"honest."
"Type O Negative is not a drum-exhibitionist kind of band,
where your ego's going to get
massaged," he explains. "I appreciate the
compliments of 'It's very solid' or that the band's tight.
That's more
important to me than how big a drum fill I can put in. I like to
concentrate on things like meter and timing, to
be behind the beat or
on top of it. You find different things to challenge yourself. To be
consistent is one of the most important
things to me now. I always want
to better myself."
In September, Type O Negative released World Coming
Down,
their follow-up to 1996's hugely successful October Rust, on which the
band explored themes inspired by
'60s psychedelia, adding elements of
sensuality to create a gothic/metal hybrid sound. Regarding World
Coming Down,
Kelly says, "There's more of an abrasive heaviness on this
record. It's more riff-oriented and lyrically more
introspective."
In the live arena, Kelly is an acoustic purist, dismissing the
thought of using electronic gear or playing
to a click. In the studio,
however, Type O Negative takes full advantage of modern recording
technology. On the sessions for
World Coming Down, Kelly's drum parts
were recorded and compiled using the Performer software program, a Mac,
and
a Kurzweil K2500 sampler. "That's one of the most incredible
samplers I've ever seen in my life," says Kelly. Owing to
the
complexity and layers of sounds involved in a Type O recording, Kelly
continues, this method offers the ability "to infinitely
work on the
songs. We were able to change complete patterns in songs right up to
the last minute. With technology," Kelly
concludes, "you can't be
afraid of it; you have to embrace it."
Gail Worley
 Go to Artist Index
|
|
|
|
