DESCRIPTION:
"Wipe Out" is a classic track that every drummer has to learn to play at some point in their life. Growing up listening to Led Zeppelin, punk rock, and hip-hop, I always thought "Wipe Out" was cheesy, and I often scoffed when asked to play it by family members or non-musician friends. It wasn't until high school, when my drum line had to play a version of this song for its feature that involved paradiddle stickings, that I realized how cool and challenging the drum part actually is. (Thanks to my earliest musical mentor, Kevin Lloyd, for kicking my butt with that quad part!)

I've always had trouble with single-stroke rolls, so learning the original version, as recorded by the Surfaris, was a lot of fun and really tested my endurance and concentration. (There's no click on the backing track, so landing correctly on the 1 after those breaks wasn't super-easy.)

I also have to thank the great Steve Jordan for sparking my interest in early rock styles, via his incredible DVD, "The Groove Is Here." There's a lot of cool music and raw, passion-filled drumming from that early-'60s surf-rock era that often goes overlooked. Ron Wilson was only 18 when he recorded "Wipe Out." What a badass!

Gear Used:

1968 Ludwig Downbeat kit (12, 14, 20) in black diamond pearl finish
5x14 Ludwig Supraphonic
Zildjian 19" Constantinople Crash-Ride
Wincent 7A barrel-tip sticks
BC Gigster transducer throne
AKG D12VR kick mic
Blue Hummingbird overheads
Shure SM57 room mics
AT4081 ribbon mic (mono room)
Shure SM57 close mic (centered between toms and aimed at snare)
Ableton Live DAW
M-Audio Profire 2626 interface
M-Audio Octane mic pre's
Canon t3i