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Alice Cooper's Theatre of Death Comes to LA

11/3/2009Pearl artist Jimmy DeGrasso rocks the Nokia Theater with Alice Cooper on their current World Tour.The legendary Alice Cooper is one of the biggest influences of American rock/metal of all time. With a career spanning over 38 years, which includes 25 studio albums and thousands of international concerts, Alice Cooper has transformed live music into the theater-like performances that are sought after by every musician and band of the modern day. With his live theatrics including dark acts of brutality and gory props such as an electric chair and guillotines, Alice Cooper continues to amaze and shock thousands of fans every night.

Within the past year, Alice Cooper has toured the world around with Pearl artist Jimmy Degrasso. For Jimmy, this is his third stint with Cooper, taking the gig from 1995-1998 and returning briefly in 2001. Late in 2008, Jimmy got the call again from Alice after Eric Singer needed to fulfill his obligations with KISS, and Jimmy and Alice have been on the road ever since. Over one year, and one World tour later, Jimmy doesn’t seem to be slowing down or stopping any time soon, especially when playing to thousands of the most devout fans on the planet.

Jimmy’s kit for this past world tour is the custom Orange Sparkle Reference Series kit that we have seen him rocking with David Lee Roth back in 2006. However, Jimmy recently made a couple of changes to his setup, adding a 20x16 gong drum and 2- 24x15 kick drums. His full specs are as follow:

Reference Series in custom Orange Sparkle:
24x15 bass drum x 2
8x7 tom
10x8 tom
12x8 tom
13x9 tom
14x14 floor tom
16x16 floor tom
14x5.5 Jimmy Degrasso Signature Snare Drum
6x12 quarter tom
6x15 quarter tom
20x16 gong drum

The switch from the 22x18 kick-drums that usually accompany this kit came about when Jimmy was looking for a little more power, punch, and attack from his bass drums. Wanting to get the feel of a 22” but with the push of a 24”, Jimmy decided to try the experimental size on his kit after using Eric Singer’s kit (with 24x15 kick drums) during the later part of Alice Cooper’s 2008 tour.

Alice Cooper’s US leg of the current World tour is quickly coming to a close however, starting November 18th; The Theatre of Death Tour will be heading overseas for a month long run before the year’s end. Please visit www.AliceCooper.com and www.JimmyDegrasso.com for news, information, and tour dates.

Recently I had a chance to catch up with Matt Ochoa, drummer of the Dirtyheads, and ask him those all important questions that we are all dying to know...

Pearl- Worst part of touring?
Matt- I guess it depends on what tour you're doing ie: Warped Tour or Headlining your own but I'd have to say the worst part of touring is the smell from everyones body from less showering haha.

Pearl- What’s the first thing you do after leaving the stage?
Matt- The first thing i do when i get off stage is immediately change my clothes cause they're usually drenched in sweat.

Pearl- This one time backstage you _______ ??
Matt- "This one time backstage I... RODE A LION!!" Yeah, we were playing a private party for this rich guy and he had like a circus there. People were taking pictures with it and I asked it i could ride it. To my surprise the trainer said YES! By far the raddest thing I've done.

Pearl- Is the life of a working musician what you thought it would be?
Matt- Definetly not, well at least right now. I knew it would be hard but the way the industry is right now its even tougher than 5 years ago just to stay working. Although, I would even dream of doing anything else.

Pearl- Did you every play in a cover band?
Matt- Haha oh yes. Doesnt every musician? Actually when we're home, I still do. I think cover gigs are fun! It keeps my chops up, from funk to hip-hop and rock to reggae, I love it all!

Pearl- Are you a high end restaurant guy or a McDonalds/Burger King man?
Matt- Actually, im a Taco Bell man!

Pearl- What was your first set of drums?
Matt- Wow, 5 piece CB Percussion 500 series, if i remeber correctly. It was a piece of sh#@! haha. The hardware were like pieces of re-bar. Also there were no bottom heads haha. It was terrible but it was my first kit.

Pearl- When you travel, what “essentials” do you take with you?
Matt- Definetly baby wipes. You never know when you may need to have a little quick wipe down in the van haha. Also some Gold Bond for those hot sweaty summer tours!

Pearl- What is your Hangover Cure?
Matt- Another drink.

Pearl- What is a typical day off like?
Matt- Well we try to find some where cool to hang out, maybe a beach or campground. Get some beers, bbq some food and just relax. Sometimes we do a little writing. Days off are crucial on the road.

Pearl Signs Mike Alonso of Electric Six

11/20/2009Pearl signs Mike Alonso to the artist roster

hed (PE) Hits the Road with Insane Clown Posse

11/20/2009Pearl artist, Jeremiah Stratton and hed (PE) hits the road in support of Insane Clown Posse

Nic Ritter of Warbringer Signs with Pearl

11/19/2009Pearl signs Nic Ritter, drummer for the metal band Warbringer

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Scott Sellers- Uncrowned

Scott Sellers of Uncrowned takes a break from recording to show us his new Reference Series kit in the studio.