“Any girl playing the drums is my hero. I don’t have a favorite. I’m truly inspired by people who are very creative and doing it from their heart. It’s hundreds and hundreds of drummers.” I have to say, I like her answer and am a bit jealous that male drummers don’t have the same kinship.

With its third issue about to go to print, Tom Tom Magazine boasts an impressive list of interviewees, including Cindy Blackman and Yuko “mi-gu” Araki of the Plastic Ono Band, but also spices things up with columns about philosophy, art and style. In addition to the print magazine, the Tom Tom website features bonus interviews, a blog, and audio & video content.

If you’re interested in purchasing issues 1 and 2, or want a full subscription, stop by the Tom Tom Store.

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If anyone understands the evolution of a musical instrument accessory it’s Tony, as he comes from a family of inventors. His father held several patents for musical accessories, and was also a long-time musical instrument retailer in Minnesota. Tony and his brother followed in that tradition by starting music stores in California in conjunction with Tony expanding the family’s line of patents and innovative products. Tony opened his first music store in 1976 and later formed Players Products.

In this podcast interview, Tony gives me the rundown on Duratech drum sticks. He tells me that Duratech sticks have the most “wood-like” feel of all composite sticks and explains that by avoiding wood, these sticks are carefully balanced and pitch matched, guaranteed straight + or – .005 of an inch and weight is guaranteed within 1/10 of an ounce, pair after pair.

If this sounds like something you want to try out for yourself, we’re also launching a GearPipe exclusive giveaway. I’ll be giving away two pair of sticks each day for the next week. Check out more info on the giveaway.

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In this podcast episode she tells me that the launch of her own label, Purdy Records, has given her the freedom to play music, record albums, and tour on her own terms. Shannon also tells me about the process of stripping down her rig and reinventing her sound.

“I’ve taken everything from my entire line of stuff and I’m starting bare bones and rebuilding everything again. My PRS’s with my Fervor pickups are the only things I know for sure that I’ll be using on this tour.”

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So…why do Fervor pickups sound so good? In this podcast interview, Geoff tells me that it’s a combination of high-quality materials, an obsessive attention to detail, and years of testing and listening to the pickups that have come off his bench.

“I know my wire is better. I know my magnets are better. I know everything that I put into (my pickups) is better. Plus, I assemble each one by myself, so when you get a pickup, I took the bobbin, I put the magnets in, I sanded it down, I got it ready to wind, and I wound it. When you put the whole picture together, that’s why mine sound better.”

Enough said!

A Fervor for Tone: Podcast Interview with Geoff Moore of Fervor Pickups by GearPipe.com

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Earlier this month, I attended BookExpo America, the country’s largest trade-show for the publishing industry (it’s no NAMM, but pretty cool). Over the course of the weekend, we recorded about 75 interviews with authors about their new books.

One such author was Marc Canter, a childhood friend of Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. Canter was that guy who has been hanging out with the band since their earliest days, saving ticket stubs, recording shows, and taking photos in situations no one else would have access to. Canter brought Slash to BEA with him to sign and promote his book Reckless Road: Guns N’ Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction.

After the signing, Canter and Slash stopped in our booth (The Authors Studio) and spent 10 minutes talking to us about the early days of GnR. It’s a pretty cool interview. The interviewer (not me…that is me setting up Slash’s mic in the photo) even tried to bait Slash a bit with an Axl Rose question, but Slash was very PC in his answer.

In case you’re wondering, Slash was super-cool. The show was closing for the day and he totally did not need to stay and talk to his. He was very nice and gracious, and was even cool to a lady who ambushed him with a free squirt gun she thought he had to have.

So…listen in! If you’re into books, we interviewed some other very interesting authors, as well, including Kevin Nealon, Chris Regan, Dennis Lehane, and Joshua Leeds, who wrote an interesting book about the effect of music on dogs.

Here’s some more info on the book:
Reckless Road is the definitive book documenting the beginning of the legendary band Guns N’ Roses and the creation of their groundbreaking rock album, Appetite for Destruction. With nearly one thousand never-before-seen photographs and over dozens of interviews, Reckless Road chronicles Guns N’ Roses’ rise to stardom by the original band members and the people who were closest to them. Authentic gig memorabilia including show flyers, ticket stubs, set lists, press clippings, and hand-written song lyrics round out this unique collection.

Check it out at Amazon.com

Listen to the podcast: