Billy Cobham is one of the strongest innovative forces on the drumming scene today. Both his technique, and drum set up are awesome. We met at Starr Recording Studios where Cobham was to record an instructional tape for the Tama Drum Company. It took the crew the entire morning to set up his mammoth array of drums. While the studio technicians expertly placed the microphones around the set, Billy and I talked about the triple-bass-drum idea, which was originally Louie Bellson’s. Louie told Billy he could have it. What started your interest in drums? I’ve been playing since I can remember. That’s all I know. I don’t know what started it. You mentioned that members of your family played drums. Yes. My family builds drums for religious purposes. They build congas and steel drums, and they sell them throughout the Caribbean. The area I came from is called the “bush,” […]

December 2021 Issue