http://www.metromusicmayhem.com/columns/july/drummer/drummer-7-12.html
Each month we will be featuring different
drummers and styles of music, letting them speak their mind on all aspects of
drumming, equipment, what they love about the drums, philosophies and their
reflections on music from the drummers unique perspective.
Please
contact us if you would like to share your thoughts at
info@MetroMusicMayhem.com.
Stay
Inspired
"Stay Inspired", that's what it said on Eddie Zyne's hotel room
key card. He hadn't noticed it until his wife, Susan, pointed it out after he
played drums in one of the best shows of his life. He had just performed two
nights with Todd Rundgren and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra at the Coronado.
The concert promoters, Doug and Mel of RundgrenRadio.com, picked one city in the
United States that would see this amazing concert that was only performed before
in Amsterdam. This time it included Jesse Gress on guitar. It had been a goal of
Eddie's to play with Todd ever since he heard his first solo album, "Runt", and
this was better than he could have imagined.
Eddie began playing drums at the age of twelve while attending
seminary in Miami, Florida. His mom, Alice, became his first and longest
supporter by driving him to the music store in Coral Gables and letting him buy
his first set of drums. Eddie then converted the garage at his home in Coconut
Grove into a rehearsal studio. He didn't have any formal musical training until
he went to Miami-Dade College and studied under Harold Harms. He didn't know it
at the time, but learning to read music and forming a lifelong friendship with
Harold would be invaluable many years later. As it turned out, playing with Todd
Rundgren and the orchestra would require everything Eddie learned from his
college days and even prompted a few phone calls to Harold to discuss the drum
charts.
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Do What You Want, Be What You
Are
After college, Eddie had bigger plans than
Miami could offer and decided to see what he could do in New York City. Landing
the drumming spot with Daryl Hall and John Oates in 1974 was a great start. When
Eddie first joined them, Todd Rundgren had just finished producing their "War
Babies" album. Eddie felt it would be great to perform with artists who were
just as inspiring as Todd Rundgren. Eddie can be heard on the live recordings
from Hall & Oates' first appearance in London that are included on the
recently released CD box set by Hall & Oates called "Do What You Want, Be
What You Are".
Touring with lifelong friend
Stephen Dees promoting his first record "Hip Shot", and later with successful
songwriter Desmond Child soon followed. Both of these artists created their
music from truly inspired musical souls. Believing in yourself and never giving
up are values they all shared.
After touring with Tony Carey, the light
that kept Eddie inspired went out for a while when his dad, Ellis, died. During
that time Eddie never gave up, knowing fate would deliver something out of the
blue. The invitation to play drums for The Monkees' 20th Anniversary Tour was
just the thing to get Eddie back behind the drums. He not only got to play drums
for The Monkees but also The Grass Roots and Gary
Puckett.
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In 1990 “Lonesome” Dave Peverett from Foghat
called on Eddie to join “Lonesome” Dave's Foghat along with other founding
member Rod Price. After three great years he joined up with Billy Livesay to form “The
Livesays”. He worked closely with Billy on the “Little Bit of Hurt” CD and the
synergy between the two is unmistakable. They have just released their second CD
"Rose Colored Glasses".
Eddie also had the pleasure to play drums
for great talents like Rick Derringer, Tiger Tiger and Brian Howe.
Eddie is also the drummer with the original Foghat bass player, Tony Stevens, in
"Slow Ride", along with Billy Livesay and Tommy Hall. He also plays drums for an
original project with Fernando
Perdomo under the name "Dreaming in Stereo" on Fernando's independent
label "Forward Motion Records."
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Never Give Up
Eddie never
gave up that good things were coming, even if there wasn't a single sign of
anything on the horizon. He had always lived life at the ready. So just stay
prepared, keep your spirits up, believe that something's coming and never give
up. If you quit, you'll surely never get what you're after. But if you keep
believing in yourself, even when others have long given up, you'll always have a
chance. Even after Eddie finally got to perform with Todd, he still has that
hotel room key and continues to live by the words on it, "Stay Inspired". |
1 comment:
Eddie, is your mom still alive? At the house?
Priscilla
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