Artist Updates
Caught in the Web Exclusive
Drum Gods
Photo Gallery
Forum (New Window)
Blogs
News
Clinics and Events
The Showroom
Hear the Gear
Hear the Music
MD Videos
Accessories
Apparel
Back Issues (New Window)
Books
CDs
MD Digital Archive
Snare Drum Selects
Videos/DVDs
Print Subscription
(includes Digital Free)
Digital only Subscription
New Subscription
Gift Subscription
Renew Subscription
Digital Activation
Change Address / Email
Subscription Status
Cancel Subscription
Missing / Damaged Issue
Customer Service
Refer A Friend
New Subscription
Gift Subscription
Renew Subscription
Change Address / Email
Subscription Status
Cancel Subscription
Missing / Damaged Issue
Customer Service
Refer A Friend
Hudson Music Keith Carlock 728
Modern Drummer Magazine Current Issue

December 2009 
on NEWSSTANDS
11/2/09

  • Max and Jay Weinberg
  • Make Money At Sea
  • TV's Greatest Drummers
  • And Much More!

Subscribe
And Save !

RSS Feed on Modern Drummer Magazine Go to Home Page of Modern Drummer Magazine
Cart Empty
No Books
Drummers News and Events Contests Multimedia Shop Education Contact Subscriber Services
-2-

Web Exclusive Interview
Papa Roach's Tony Palermo Cont'd

How did you prepare for it physically?

Well, with Papa Roach, we work out, and we have this thing where we'll eat pretty well six days a week and then have a cheat day, which is Sunday.That really helps keep the weight down. We're over thirty, so things tend to build up, you know. [laughs] We started going to the gym as a band, and we also run. The influence from the Roach guys is very influential, and it's keeping us somewhat healthy. It's not really a diet; it's more of a lifestyle.

We rehearsed a bit before the tour, but as any drummer knows, once you're on the road it takes like a week to work out your rust and your home life, and then you're in tour mode. And that's pretty much what happened with me. Doing two sets, it took me about a week and a half before my arms weren't completely sore. It still was challenging every day, mentally and physically. But it also was really helpful going back up for P Roach because I was already warmed up. The Sixx: A.M. set was a little less physical, so it kind of eased me into the P Roach energy. It was a great warm-up, and all the guys are cool.

Obviously, playing with Nikki is surreal, and the songs are amazing. I think the guys were very happy about playing their first tour. I had a great summer—it was pretty much the best tour I've ever been on. Tommy [Lee] was telling me that Motley might be planning on taking the whole Crue to Europe, so hopefully they'll keep the same lineup. With our new record coming out in early '09, we're up in the air as far as availability for next year. We're kind of planning out our own stuff, but we'd love to be able to do it.

What stage is the new recording at now?

My tracks are finished. We just have a few more vocal things to do on some songs; I think we're five deep in the mix-down department. So it's wrapping up.

Were you a fan of Papa Roach before all this?

Oh, yeah! Funny story: I used to work lights at the Troubadour out here in LA between '99 and 2001. The band had come through before they got signed and did a couple showcases, and I was the lighting guy. So I always joked with them, "You guys got signed because of my light show."[laughs] They thought it was funny. And I just think it's amazing to have met them way back when. It's kind of crazy how things come around. Now I'm in the band and I'm looking for lighting guys. [laughs]

What band were you in before PR?

I was in Unwritten Law.

Is that band still together?

Yes.I just felt that the opportunity to do the Papa Roach thing was a little more my style, and I thought it was a strong stepping-stone career move. I still love those guys; we had some great times together, and we had some amazing shows. The Unwritten Law fans are very loyal, and I wish everyone the best.

Where were you were born?

California, the San Jose area. Then I moved here to LA in 1984.

Who turned you on to drumming?

I guess Peter Criss at around seven, eight years old. My mom was very into music, and she'd always have the radio on. My cousin had a guitar and my friends played guitar, so I was like, "I'm going to check out the drums." I couldn't even tell you what drew me to them, but I just had a fascination with them. I used to play with the window security sticks—the ones that keep your window shut—and I'd be banging away on suitcases, until I finally got my first drum set around twelve. I haven't stopped since.

You mentioned Peter Criss. Who else did you notice as a young drummer?

I used to listen to a lot of heavy metal and hard rock, so Vinny Appice was one of my first influences—Tommy Lee, of course—Alex Van Halen. Then later I got into some jazz drummers, like Tony Williams. And listening to Chick Corea, I discovered Dave Weckl.





Caught in the Web Exclusive Archive: (alphabetically, by last name)

  • Rick Allen (July 2005) Rick Allen has been playing drums all his life, and nothing w...
  • Rick Allen (July 2005) This is Part 2 of our interview with Rick, where he talks to ...
  • Trey Anastasio (July 2005) MD Online caught up with Trey to get his thoughts on his ...
  • Billy Ashbaugh (May 2005) 'N Sync, a pop band backed by live musicians, have gained ...
  • Chris Bailey (April 2009) Patience, persistence, and people skills, along with an in...
  • Rich Beddoe (April 2007) Four years after their gold-selling, self-titled third albu...
  • Pete Best (July 2005) Over the years many have claimed the title "The Fifth Beatle."...
  • Curt Bisquera (March 2007) MD online speaks with LA session drummer Curt Bisquera ab...
  • Jason Bittner (January 2009) Hi, everyone out there in drum land, Jason Bittner here...
  • Hal Blaine (July 2005) Paving the way for some of the great studio musicians of our ...
  • Michael Bland (September 2006) Funk/rock/R&B Master Michael Bland talks about his da...
  • Cyrus Bolooki (May 2005) We featured this hot young drummer in our December '02 issu...
  • Ned Brower (May 2005) I saw the California-based pop band Rooney perform live before...
  • Jack Bruno (June 2009) Relationships these days are tough—for whatever the reason ...
  • Chris Cester (May 2005) The band Jet has released what many consider to be one of th...
  • Marcie Chapa (September 2009) Anyone who saw her perform as a young girl knew that i...
  • Les Claypool (July 2005) Les Claypool sat down with MD Online to discuss an impressi...
  • Aaron Comess (March 2006) In the early ’90s, The Spin Doctors burst onto the music...
  • Randy Cooke (May 2008) In this month’s Web Exclusive interview, session musician R...
  • Caroline Corr (May 2005) The Corrs formed in 1991, and broke big in the States in 19...
  • Chad Cromwell (May 2005) We first featured Chad Cromwell in the March '04 issue of M...
  • Mickey Curry (October 2005) Not many people get to do exactly what they love and get...
  • Victor DeLorenzo (July 2005) Singer, songwriter, actor, studio owner, jingle writer,...
  • Double Drumming (November 2007) In the February 2007 issue of Modern Drummer, we ran...
  • Charley Drayton (March 2006) By the time he was five, Charley Drayton knew exactly w...
  • Drew Steen and Jerry Roe (October 2009) Drew Steen has been the drummer for teen p...
  • Ira Elliot (March 2008) Nada Surf is one of the smartest, freshest-sounding rock ban...
  • Damien Fahey (July 2005) Damien Fahey has a dilemma: These days he's having a diffic...
  • Mick Fleetwood (July 2005) Mick Fleetwood has lots of reasons to celebrate these day...
  • Mick Fleetwood (July 2005) The history of Fleetwood Mac's discography and personnel ...
  • Kevin Franks (July 2005) Drummer Kevin Frank, singer Walt Lafty, bassist Brian Weave...
  • Stan Frazier (July 2005) The members of Southern California-based quintet Sugar Ray ...
  • Stan Frazier (July 2005) The SoCal band Sugar Ray, with poster-pinup lead singer Mar...
  • Glen Graham (September 2008) Blind Melon’s Glen Graham talks to MD Online about th...
  • Zac Hanson (July 2005) Storming out of Tulsa, Oklahoma with their major-label debut,...
  • Yogi Horton (June 2007) MD along with some of Yogi Horton’s closest musical friend...
  • Ryan Hoyle (September 2008) Ryan Hoyle chats with MD Online about Collective Soul, h...
  • Mark Hudson (September 2005) Mark Hudson has the coolest job in the world right now,...
  • Steve Jordan (July 2005) Steve Jordan has accomplished more in his drumming career t...
  • Harry Judd (November 2006) The Click Five’s Joey Zehr and McFly’s Harry Judd tal...
  • Jim Keltner (July 2005) Jim Keltner needs no introduction to Modern Drummer readers....
  • Athena Kottak (January 2007) MD Online chats with Athena Kottak about her husband&md...
  • Joey Kramer (July 2005) Joey Kramer could be the first superstar to become a "modern...
  • Mercedes Lander (July 2005) The intense heavy metal sound of Kittie is back with the...
  • Tommy Lee (July 2005) Tommy Lee is in a great mood, and he has every reason to be. H...
  • Lisa Loeb (July 2006) Over the years Lisa Loeb has recorded and toured with a number...
  • Ryan MacMillan (February 2008) In ten years, Matchbox Twenty has sold 28 million rec...
  • Rick Marotta (April 2006) Rick Marotta is no stranger to MD readers. And he’s cert...
  • Dave McAfee (September 2009) Things haven't changed much for Dave McAfee. He played ...
  • Jonathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett (July 2005) Jonathan Moffett got the nickname "Sugarfoo...
  • Xavier Muriel (December 2006) MD Online spoke with Buckcherry’s Xavier Muriel abou...
  • David Northrup (July 2005) Growing up on a mix of R&B, pop, rock, and country, David...
  • Rich Pagano (March 2006) New York City drummer Rich Pagano is way more than just a m...
  • Tony Palermo (October 2008) Tony Palermo talks to MD online about landing the Papa R...
  • Prairie Prince (June 2006) MD Online talks with Prairie about life on the road with ...
  • Danny Reyes (May 2005) Daniel de los Reyes, a.k.a. Danny Reyes could just sit back a...
  • Lil' John Roberts (July 2005) Lil' John Roberts's name has been popping up more and ...
  • Rock N Roll Fantasy Camp 2006 (September 2006) The Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp was held...
  • Joey Shuffield (July 2005) Power-pop trio Fastball - bassist/singer Tony Scalzo, gui...
  • Chad Smith (June 2008) Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith takes a much-needed ...
  • Ringo Starr (July 2005) At an age where most would be settling back and reaping the ...
  • Erin Tate (August 2007) Since their debut album in 2002, Minus The Bear have staked ...
  • Roger Taylor (January 2008) It shouldn’t be much of a surprise that Justin Timberl...
  • Tony Thompson (July 2005) Not many drummers dictated the sound of the 80's like Tony...
  • Brian Tichy (September 2005) The first time I watched Brian Tichy play was a few yea...
  • Tico Torres (May 2005) The last time we spoke to Tico Torres (November 2000), Bon Jo...
  • Maureen Tucker (July 2005) In Part 2 of our interview with the drummers of The Velve...
  • Alan White (July 2005) As Yes continues their world tour - featuring the return of k...
  • Brad Wilk (May 2005) Audioslave's Brad Wilk had plenty to say for MD's April '03 cov...
  • Robert Wyatt (December 2007) Since leaving the groundbreaking British psychedelic ba...
  • Jon Wysocki (December 2008) Founding Staind drummer Jon Wysocki talks to MD online a...
  • Adrian Young (May 2005) Quick: Who is the most visible drummer in the world right no...
  • Billy Yule (May 2005) You can use whatever term you wish: "college rock," "modern ro...
  • Joey Zehr (November 2006) Caught In The Web With Joey Zehr Of The Click Five And McF...


  • Copyright Modern Drummer Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.
    Reproduction without the permission of the publisher is prohibited.
    Guitar Center Grand Finals 09Best Of MD Festival DVD, 1997 to 2006
    Modern Drummer Digital
    Cascio Interstate Carter Beauford
    Alfred Publications Universal Rhythms

    Modern Drummer Magazine © 2009
    Privacy Policy