• 54 minutes 17 seconds
    S2 E95 - Billy’s Bubble - Raven Drum Foundation

    Hello everyone, welcome to Billy’s Bubble! This episode features a behind-the-scenes look into Def Leppard’s Rick Allen and singer/songwriter Lauren Monroe’s organization Raven Drum Foundation.  The organization was started twenty years ago by Rick & Lauren to raise awareness of healing through music, with drum circles, (with many top drummers & musicians) and raising funds for Veterans, First Responders, and people suffering from trauma.  This show features a conversation between a few Raven drummers, Styx’s Todd Sucherman, Godsmack’s Shannon Larkin, Widespread Panics Duane Trucks, Allman/Betts John Lum, Ace Frehley/Mr.Big Matt Starr, session legend Alvin Taylor, myself, and Rick Allen and Lauren Monroe.  We dig in deep on this one! Enjoy!

    22 May 2024, 10:11 pm
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    S2 E94 - Fred Coury
    Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here.   My guest today Fred Coury is mostly known as the drummer from the eighties MTV-multi-platinum-band Cinderella.    Coury and Cinderella parted ways in 1991 and Fred joined Stephen Pearcy of Ratt to form the band Arcade and record two albums.    Fred also briefly substituted for GnR’s drummer Steven Adler in 1987 when health issues forced Adler off the road.   At age five, Coury started taking violin lessons and by age six, studied at the Beirut Conservatory of Music in Beirut, Lebanon. At age ten, he added the trumpet to his repertoire, and at age twelve he started playing the drums. Shortly after, as a teen, Coury was accepted to Berklee School of Music in Boston, for violin.

    These days Coury spends most of his time in his Los Angeles recording studio, Double Forte Music, composing as an Emmy multi-award-winning composer for top television shows and sports teams. 

    In 2021, Coury also co-produced pop sensation and singer/songwriter Debbie Gibson’s “The Body Remembers” 

    An avid hockey fan, Coury combined his love of the sport with his musical skills to create the “Goal Song” theme for the LA Kings hockey team. 

    Let’s welcome Fred. Enjoy! 

    26 January 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 50 minutes 48 seconds
    S2 E93 - Cole Marcus
    Hello everyone! Billy A. here with my guest Cole Marcus, who is no stranger to our Drum Channel audience.

    I remember meeting and seeing Cole mesmerize a crowd at a NAMM SHOW when he was four years old, which doesn’t sound odd these days, but over two decades ago, it wasn’t as common as now.

    These days, now twenty-five years old, Cole has released a new single “Cause & Effect,” which he wrote, recorded, sang, as well as playing all the instruments.  

    In this segment, we talk about recording, songwriting, his early years appearing in movies, and TV commercials, and transitioning into composing for films.

    Let’s welcome Cole back to Drum Channel. Enjoy!
    19 January 2024, 2:07 pm
  • 1 hour 18 minutes
    S2 E92 - Earl Young R&B Legend
    Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here on Drum Channel with my long-time friend and R&B/Soul legend Earl Young.    Earl, known as the founder and singer of the group The Trammps, (and recording drummer) took the disco world to the mainstream pop charts with their smash hit “Disco Inferno” among others.    Always having success as both a vocalist as well as a drummer, many didn’t realize that Earl, along with the rhythm section, of the late, Ronnie Baker and Norman Harris, created what’s known as TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)   Along with producers/songwriters Gamble & Huff, the trio went on to record classic R&B/Soul hits throughout the 70s. Creating a sound all their own.    When the Baker, Harris, and Young hit-making machine stretched out to form MFSB and Salsoul Orchestra, the trio took their trademark sound with them.    Let’s listen in on how Earl’s career started from his early childhood to his teens, to an adult, to a now young 84-year-old, who’s still out playing and touring with his version of Earl Young and The Trammps. This show is a history lesson for sure. Enjoy! 
    12 January 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 49 minutes 36 seconds
    S2 E90 - Rick Astley
    Hello, my Drum Channel family! Billy Amendola here in my “Bubble” with, our special guest, superstar Rick Astley.    Before exploding on the pop charts in the 1980s, Astley was playing drums in bands and singing from behind the kit. Once he stepped out front, a new calling began. He was labeled one of the best singers to come out of the U.K. and take America by storm with his powerhouse vocal style with his two number-one hits, “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “Together Forever.”    Working for songwriters/producers Stock, Aitken, and Waterman, the most successful songwriting and producing teams of the 80s, scoring more than 100 UK top 40 hits and selling over 40 million records, Rick became an international star.    In 1993, Rick took a six-year hiatus to take a break from stardom to raise a family. He was itching to return after seeing how much he was missed and respected in the industry by writing, recording, and playing all the instruments in his home studio as a present to himself, turning 50 years old.    He has since released new music, played huge shows, and found out Dave Grohl and one of his favorite bands, the Foo Fighters, were huge fans.    Rick talks about his insight into the songwriting and recording process, as well as his continued passion for playing drums.    Listen to this one with your family and friends. Enjoy the words & music. 
    29 December 2023, 2:00 pm
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    S2 E89 - Narada Michael Walden

    Hello Hello! Billy Amendola in my “Bubble” with today’s guest, who is not only one of the most respected musicians/producers on the planet, but he’s also been a mentor, an inspiration, and a dear friend to me for decades.

    He appeared on the scene in NYC from Michigan as a drummer and teacher. A few of his students include Omar Hakim, the late Tony Thompson, and many others who launched successful careers.

    At 21, he joined the Mahavishnu Orchestra on the recommendation of their previous drummer (who was at the top of his game with the title “greatest drummer”), the one and only Billy Cobham.

    Now a band-member, he goes from the road into the studio to work on the next Mahavishnu album with John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, and legendary Beatles producer George Martin.    A few years later, he took the world by storm on the dance floor by releasing his solo album; singing, writing, producing, and playing, and he became a star in his own right.   If that wasn’t enough, a few years later, he became one of the world’s Top Ten producers of all time, crafting number-one hits for Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, Mariah Carey, Cindy Blackman, the list goes on and on.   With Multiple hit records, Grammy after Grammy, as a band leader, solo artist, producer, singer/songwriter, spiritual leader, and drummer, touring with Jeff Beck, Journey, and his band, there’s nothing the man can’t do.   We catch up to discuss his latest album “Euphoria” and more. Please welcome Narada Michael Walden back to Drum Channel. Enjoy! 
    22 December 2023, 1:09 pm
  • 46 minutes 3 seconds
    S2 E88 - Liberty DeVitto

    Hello Everyone, welcome to “Billy’s Bubble” on Drum Channel.

    Today’s show features my co-host, longtime friend, and the beat on every Billy Joel hit, Liberty DeVitto.  

    Lib & I got together to honor and pay tribute to the late great Hall of Fame drummer Dino Danelli. 

    The legendary drummer best known as an innovator, inspiration, and influence to thousands of musicians, first with the 60/70s band The Rascals, featuring Gene Cornish, Felix Cavaliere, and Eddie Bragati (managed by Sid Bernstein), and then as a band member of Bulldog, FotoMaker, and Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. 

    The day this podcast is airing is the one-year date Danelli passed away on December 15, 2022, at age 78.

    Billy & Lib, along with a little help from a few fellow admires, and friends, to talk all things Dino, The Rascals, and more. Enjoy this special episode. 

    15 December 2023, 2:00 pm
  • 55 minutes 58 seconds
    S2 E87 - Gethin Davies

    Hello everyone! This is a “Billy's Bubble” segment here on Drum Channel, and my guest today is a friend and drummer/bandmate for one of the most popular pop/rock bands on the planet, The Struts.

    The new album “Pretty Vicious” is the band's fourth album, and each gets better and better. The band is ending the 2023 tour and already getting prepared for 2024.

    Gethin and I talk about a few tracks from the latest album, advice on keeping a band together, keeping egos in check, and what it’s like to be a “Rock Star.”

    I’m happy to welcome Gethin back. It’s always a pleasure. Enjoy!

    8 December 2023, 2:00 pm
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    S2 E86 - Jorge Palacios
    Hello everyone, Billy A. and my guest today on Drum Channel is Rick Springfield’s Jorge Palacios.    Jorge has been touring and recording with Springfield since 2010.    The gig was originally scheduled for three days as a fill-in for drummer Roger Carter, who was going through health issues at the time and it became the start of a long music relationship with Rick and the band.    In the nineties, Jorge was playing in the Mustard Seeds with two members who also went on to be part of Springfield’s band, guitarist George Bernhardt and bassist Matt Bissonette.    Let’s find out about touring with Rick, Jorge’s early days, his personal family sacrifices, and more. 

    Let’s welcome Jorge Palacios to Drum Channel. Enjoy! 

    1 December 2023, 12:24 pm
  • 1 hour 30 seconds
    S2 E85 - Marshall Chess & Keith Leblanc
    Hello everyone! Billy Amendola here, and my show today is one of my “Billy’s Bubble” segments, featuring Marshall Chess, the son of Chess Records founder Leonard Chess. Chess, a Polish/Jewish immigrant, and his brother Phil created what many describe as “America’s Greatest Blues label.”    You’ve heard of Willie Dixon, Howlin Wolf, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, and other legendary blues musicians from The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles. They all were pioneers on the legendary label.    My guest, Marshal Chess, now 81 years young, grew up in the studio and became vice-president in 1969 before going on to become president of GRT, and then creating Rolling Stones Records, and becoming executive producer of The Rolling Stones albums “Sticky Fingers” and “Exile on Main Street.    Also featured on the show is Marshal’s long-time collaborator, producer/drummer/engineer Keith Leblanc. The two met at SugarHill Records and have worked together since.    They now have a new record, “The Chess Project,” featuring seasoned players and singers who reinterpret Chess gems from Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Memphis Slim, Little Walter, and Sonny Boy Williamson. The album is titled “New Moves.”    Keith, both an acoustic drummer and a pioneer in programming and playing drum machines and electronic loops, became known with his band Tackhead, who were successful in Europe, where Keith lived for a few years. His solo record, “No Sell Out,” is one of the first sample-based releases.    Keith kick-started his career at SugarHill Records and later Tommy Boy Records, two of the most successful labels in hip-hop and dance music.    In the ’90s, Keith worked in the studio with producer Trevor Horn in the UK, programming, and playing drums with Annie Lennox, Tina Turner, and Seal’s first album, among others.    Let’s dive into this historical career with two pioneers in our industry and welcome Marshal & Keith to Drum Channel. Enjoy! 
    24 November 2023, 2:05 pm
  • 40 minutes 35 seconds
    S2 E84 - T.J. Steinwart

    Hello everyone, Billy Amendola here with my guest today, drummer T.J. Steinwart from the upcoming independent rock band Feel.

    If you’re a fan of late 60s British rock drumming and California 70s blues/rock, you will dig T.J. and the band Feel.

    The vibe of the young band from St. Louis, Missouri, floats back to the sounds of Humble Pie, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, and the Black Crows combined with flavors reminiscent of newer generation bands like Rival Sons & Dirty Honey.

    I am a fan of finding new music and drummers, especially bands, which we don’t have enough of. I came across a video of the band, and I liked it enough to do research to find out more about T.J. and the band.

    Let’s welcome him to Drum Channel and find out the story bbehind Feel, one of the new bands keeping the rock flag flying high and proud. Enjoy!

    17 November 2023, 2:00 pm
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