" ill never be as great as I want to be , but Im willing to spend my entire life ,trying to be as good as I can be " Kenny Aronoff ......thank you for that Kenny
I was never a big fan of John Mellencamp but I just became a big fan of Kenny Aronoff. This guy is dedicated and he listens to different genres of music to get ideas. That’s a top shelf drummer.
Same here. Saw him with Satriani and was so impressed. He's like 78 and is playing at the top level. He was having a blast with Joe, smiling and gesturing, when top of the world musicians are having fun it's quite a thing to hear and see.
I accidentally met Kenny in a music store about 20 years ago. I was at a John Petrucci meet and greet. Me and my brother went up the street to another music store and I spotted Kenny in there talking to one of the employees. We went and introduced ourselves. Kenny was/ is a very nice guy. He invited us to a nearby drum clinic he was doing that night. So we went later that night and he thanked us for coming. Great talent and a decent person!
I'm a drummer trapped in a guitarist's body. I have listened to Kenny my entire life and never knew the character of the man. After this interview, I flipping love the dude.
@Mr1960xlch "I'm a drummer trapped in a guitarist's body" - Hey, you know it's ok to be trans now, right ? Pick up those sticks, man =oD (I can't talk, I'm a keyboard player trapped in a drummer's body)
I hosted a drum clinic with Kenny-great guy and a total pro. We went to dinner afterwards, and he told us some great stories. He also implied that Mellemcamp is called ‘Little Bastard’ for a reason.
Yeah he's a cranky one. I keep trying to post that I just watched his 2 hour appearance on Bill Maher's podcast and hoe he's the epitome of a pissed off bas+ard, but a loveable one who made good music anyway. RU-vid doesn't like me using the B word. Oddly they allowed it for you. But I have a history of restrictions...
There was something on tv a few years ago that featured mellencamp and in that interview he came off as a total dick and he even said he only continues to be involved in music because it pays the bills and allows him to sit and paint what ever he paints , he doesn’t stay in music for the love of the music .
@@MikeyAR7373That's the vibe I got from Mellencamp when I saw Sammy Hagar interview him a couple years ago on his road show. It was kind of surprising. He was acting as if he was too cool for his music.
I met Kenny when I was around 16/17 years old at a SXSW Q&A, I luckily got a pass to. He answered so many questions from the crowd and was so excited to be there. Afterwards my band mate encouraged me (a drummer) to go talk to him. At the time I was very into 80s/90s pocket drummers such as Kenny, Tony Thompson, Michael B, etc. I went up to tell him that he was a great influence on me and I loved his playing. This dude talked my ear off for what felt like a long time about drums, my band, where I was from and my goals. I was taken aback. This dude was genuinely interested in a young kid wanting to be a good drummer. Such a humble, honest dude. Truly the salt of the earth. I later saw him play for Michelle Branch and he killed it. Great guy and a seriously underrated drummer.
Kenny is so awesome! I worked with him with Phil X years back at SXSW. He literally finished his gig with John Fogerty and jumped on a golf cart and came over and did our show! He had more energy than anyone I’ve seen jump into a gig. He crushed it and was a lot of fun!
Kenny is the kind of studio musician aspiring musicians should use as a template for their own careers. He works hard and he serves the song. He puts his ego in the trunk and does what the song requires. I have total respect for him.
Was this show at Headhunters on the patio stage? I was the SXSW stage manager and Phil X and Kenny were by far the most professional, kind people I ever worked with in my entire SXSW career!
@@kelleymcbride4633 Yes! We were on right after Andrew WK! One of my friends was with Skrillex and came over and helped out with the show. I actually shot a video over the weekend with Phil X & Dustin Jake (Fretted Americana) because they did a seminar on RU-vid. At h The time they had 44 million viewers on their channel! So yeah, Phil asked if I wanted to come be a part of it all and I didn’t hesitate! Meeting Kenny was an honor. The guy is a monster drummer and definitely one of the best in the business. I’m sure and I had to have talked at one point or another during that time. It was so fast, go go go that it was probably in passing. It’s so crazy how packed that place got during that show!
I honestly can't imagine Jack and Diane without that drum break. Completely changed the whole composition of the song and gave it a shot in the arm that it needed. Great interview!
That break is a prime example of why band members should share songwriting credit. Mellencamp didn't chart that break. That was all Kenny. Grohl gets it. The Foos all get songwriting credit.
@@VRPRocks You should post the link and set that comment at the top to get more views on that video. This was a cool interview. I do like a few Mellencamp tunes, but I'm not into him on his political views.
I will do@@thebluesrockers. Glad you enjoyed this section - the full interview Kenny talks about his friendship with Neil Peart, working with John Fogerty, Smashing Pumpkins and more 👍👍
I hold Kenny Aronoff in the highest regard as a rock drummer / musician. When I see Kenny appear on various music specials that pop up on tv I just know that we're going to hear excellent drumming. He's going to add to anything that's going to be played. This was fun and informative.
This was absolutely fantastic! I’m printing that quote from the end for my 19 year old son. He heard this interview and something changed in him. This quote at the end meant something and caught him.
Great to see Kenny getting mad love here. I met him at Harrah's Tahoe lobby the night after a Chickenfoot gig. I've met him prolly a dozen times since then and he's always been so upbeat and gracious.
I remember Johnny cougar when he first came out. Wasn’t much of a fan, but I remember a few years later reading an interview with Kenny in modern drummer about how he was replaced in the studio by a session guy and that while it hurt badly, he didn’t just split, he stayed and watched the guy work to try to learn and better his own recording abilities. Of course now he’s the one doing the replacing! Impressive guy.
Kenny was definitely an influencer on my early solid hard rock drumming learning. I'm 53 and haven't stopped. He hit em hard and anchored every song with purpose. What a Great story for us drummers and Johnny Cougar fans!
I was in the Ed school at Indiana University when Kenny was in the music school. Even those of us in the other disciplines knew about him. Dude can play everything: classical, jazz, jazz-rock fusion, classic rock, alternative, you name it.
I met Kenny when Mellancamp came to Sydney in the 80s. My aunty took me back stage to meet the band. I mustve only been 10 or 11, but Kenny was generous enough to take the time to talk to me. Thanks mate, i always remember how cool you were to me.
Kenny Aronoff is one of the best drummers still to this day and if not then why does so many artists use him. He is smart and talented, plain and simple..
Kenny is underrated. I did a clinic with him in the Kirkland Guitar Center back in 1998 or so. I worked with my Pro Audio lead and we gave him 2 dual 18 subs and 2 3 way JBL cabs and like 4000 watts of power or something crazy like that. Kenny came in and CRUSHED the living hell out of our kit and gave one of the best clinics I've seen. Afterwards, he told me that was one of the best sound systems he's ever played through in a clinic. He is one of the hardest hitting drummers I've seen in my life, solid like tungsten steel and has the timing of an atomic clock. AND, he's a really nice guy too! They don't make them like Kenny anymore.
He’s VERY highly rated - maybe not by my Aunt Nani but def by millions of musicians around the world - I’m a jazz musician - a great drummer is a great drummer, period
If you look back at his history, this guy is a legend. Unknown to many though. I remember watching Hurt So Good video and thinking "Wow, what a sound!". He's a major part of Cougar's early sound.
I remember seeing Hurts So Good and Jack and Diane play on Mtv for the very first time. I was 15 in 85 and started playing hair guitar. Dokken, Scorpions, Tesla, Whitesnake, Ozzy, etc. Was the greatest time in music history for drummers and guitar players. I saw Mtv launch and play their very first video, Video Killed The Radio Star and You Better Run by Pat Benatar. Awesome time to be learning guitar and music.
I'm still amazed at Kenny and his version of "Straight, No Chaser" from the Neil Peart tribute to Buddy Rich CD in 1994. His playing on that song is on another level. I'm a life long amateur drummer. I just cannot comprehend getting through that song while reading sheet music, and keeping up with that Buddy Rich band. Stunning effort by Kenny.
One of my favorite drum breaks that took songs to another level! Hearing the creative/business process from the horses mouth is absolutely PRICELESS!!! Yessssss! 🔥🎼🎼🎼🎼🎼🔥
I saw Kenny 15 years ago at a drum workshop, it was the loudest one ever. But, he was reading charts so I thought, this guys legit. Hearing his struggles with the album is a nightmare we all had I’m sure. But when he mentions the great Gadd, it shows his willingness to grow. I love that. Great story guys, big respect to Kenny,
I wasn't a huge Mellencamp fan back in the day, but I always noticed that he had a great drummer! It was even more obvious in later albums, where they really went for a specific and very "live" drum sound. His parts were always pushing the song forward with great energy. Kenny is great.
It's just amazing to me how life is. Before ever hearing this interview I just thought things came natural to all musicians in a band and then I listen to this interview and learn that it's not always like that. I don't know about other people but I'm the type thinking "wow that's a good song" without realizing what it actually took to create it like you hear in this video.
Kenny, that was a great story and an iconic drum performance! I love what you said that you may never be as great as you want to be but you’re willing to spend your entire life working at it. Man I feel that! I’m still trying to improve after all these years too!
This was so great. I was laughing the whole-time cheering Kenny on... even though this was 40 years ago! Would have liked to hear the story about how he and Mellencamp almost got in a fight.
My dad worked for Polygram Records at that time as a record salesman. I was 13 and still remember going to a listening party the local branch was having for that release, so I got to hear it before it came out, instantly loved the whole album and remained a major Mellonhead for years while the best band was in place with Kenny, Toby, Mike, Larry, John and Lisa. Nothing was the same after that. Got to be backstage several times meeting them. Looking back now, knowing I was seeing and meeting and listening to daily an up and coming legend in Kenny, and an avid music lover and concertholic, it warms my heart to have been immersed in that time period. So many great memories of music in 70's and 80's.
@@johnfrombrm No, I said John, I wasn't meaning Mellencamp,. Sorry, should have clarified. I said John and Lisa because they were in the same stage placement together. John passed way too early. I should have said Pat and Crystal as well. Toby has been dealin with poor health now. That band just gelled so well.
In 1982, producer and guitarist Mick Ronson worked with Mellencamp on his American Fool album, and in particular on "Jack & Diane." In a 2008 interview with Classic Rock magazine, Mellencamp recalled: Mick was very instrumental in helping me arrange that song, as I'd thrown it on the junk heap. Ronson came down and played on three or four tracks and worked on the American Fool record for four or five weeks. All of a sudden, for 'Jack & Diane,' Mick said, 'Johnny, you should put baby rattles on there.' I thought, 'What the f*ck does put baby rattles on the record mean?' So he put the percussion on there and then he sang the part 'let it rock, let it roll' as a choir-ish-type thing, which had never occurred to me. And that is the part everybody remembers on the song. It was Ronson's idea
Kenny’s playing was definitely my favorite part of John Melloncamp’s records. I was really glad to see Kenny playing with John Fogerty about 5 years ago in a double bill with ZZ Top. He’s a classy drummer with a great groove!!!!
This was a great video. I had no idea Mick Ronson of all people contributed such an iconic part to such an iconic song. How strange and ironic! Plus I always love behind the scenes stories about how songs come about
He's been the right Cat For the Job for a long Time. I can't say enough about Mick Ronson. A Phenomenal Guitarist and Great Arranger. Beautiful musician.
Mick Ronson the unsung hero of 70’s rock and now I am learning Mick once again lent his helping hand ; this time to jcm in the 80’s Extreme talent and humble Arranger supreme and not a bad guitarist for Mr. Bowie How lucky we all are that Mick assisted these two to produce such memorable music
I just read a biography of John Mellencamp earlier in the year so this is fascinating to hear Kenny's perspective. I can believe that John would have been difficult to work for. He is a gifted song writer but he has a lot of insecurity when recording. He took this out on his band, especially down in Miami. He might have been a little nicer on his own turf. I love that Kenny admits that both Phi Collins and Steve Gadd were direct inspirations for his standout solo!
You must not know any musicians, I have two one 20 and one 22. Even in middle school they were impossible to deal with and worked hours on just one song or technique, if it’s not perfect or someone is off, they will re-record the part after they leave. Trust me they can get very rude.
One of the best Game Changer interviews I've ever heard. Total Respect for Kenny Aronoff !! Hard work & effort paid off. Mixing Gadd & Collins for the solo, Great Stuff !!
I was lucky enough to meet Kenny at a drum clinic in the late 90’s right after touring with the Smashing Pumpkins. He is exactly the same in person as this interview- very friendly guy. At the time he was writing a book adapting stick control for double bass drums. Kenny was trained as a classical percussionist at University of Indiana. He had a job in the Jerusalem Symphony that he turned down bc of his work with Mellencamp. He is a very schooled musician and can play orchestral percussion- his success as a rock drummer took him down a different path.
Fascinating story from a fascinating guy. The drum parts in the Mellencamp records were as important as any other parts including the melodies, lyrics, vocals and everything else.
Kenny has always been a great drummer. Electronic drums weren't all that new at the time. Graeme Edge of the Moody Blues had been using them as early as 1970/71 on the Every Good Boy Deserves Favour album and I'm sure others had been trying their hand on them.
Kenny Aronoff is an outstanding drummer with an outstanding NEW YUALK accent who left his mark on a lot of outstanding music and not just the mellencamp songs he recorded. My man is a giant in the industry
I remember reading an interview of Kenny’s about him not being able to play to a click track his first time in the studio with John. He was in danger of being replaced. He woodshedded hard with a metronome to bring his timing to the professional level required. His professionalism, work ethic, dedication to his instrument, loyalty to his band and also sounding the warning. This inspired and convinced me to hit the practice room and solidify my timing too.
One of the greatest drummers of all time. Interview him about his work on JR Richards (singer of Dishwalla) album Ghost of Sorrow which is really some of his best work ever & is super dynamic. Incredible album. 👍🤘🏼
That is one of those interviews where the best thing you can do is just let the other guy talk. Don't ask any questions - except to get him started in the beginning - but just sit back and listen. Incidentally, "who's that drummer?" was also my reaction the first time I heard "Jack and Diane" back in the 80s. It's been my one of favorite songs, and Kenny has been one of my favorite drummers, ever since. Thanks for posting this video!
Glad you enjoyed it. Incidentally, that's my interview style, I believe the guest should speak not the interviewer. If you get chance check out some of the other great guests I've interviewed over the years on the channel 🤘👍
That's one of the greatest drums stories I ever heard, thanks. I love finding out what happened in the studio, Kenny tells a great story, gets to the facts.
Great interview with not only one of the most consistently great current drummers, but also one of the nicest, most humble guys in the music business. I ran into Kenny at Manny’s Music in NYC in the mid 90’s and we talked for a few minutes about the upcoming Patriots appearance in the Superbowl (we’re both from Massachusetts).
