Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ Glass Onyon PR) When you think of double-Bass/double-Pedal drummers names like Terry Bozzio, Vinnie Colaiuta, Ginger Baker, Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, and Chris Adler obviously spring to mind. Yet one drummer has taken the science of double-bass/double-pedal drumming to a new level of intensity with his new book 'The Footiments'. For the drummer in the know, the name Rick BooM Steel is a respected innovator in the field of music education. BooM is a successful drummer with a unique style and sense of music. He's an artist, musician, clinician, entertainer, and educator... His drum clinics with such legendary drummers as Bill Ward of
Black Sabbath were widely anticipated events by drummers worldwide! Now with his pioneering new book 'The Footiments' BooM's revolutionary techniques for the double-bass and double-pedal are made available to the public for the first time!
"Here,the past was my 'teacher'," BooM explains. "When I first moved to Los Angeles, I began studying with the legendary Roy Burns. Roy whipped my hand chops into an intense blur. I'll never forget the day: As he walked into the studio, he throws down a copy of 'The 26 Rudiments' .I thought, 'Are you kidding me?' He said, 'Now that you have all this technique, it's time to apply it!'. This is EXACTLY what I've done with 'The Footiments'. It is my opinion, once you learn the basics, you can get intense Double-Pedal chops. Once achieved, you will need to 'apply' them; thus, the application will be using your chops as you apply 26 Footiments. Once internalized, the different beats, using these Footiments, are creative and intense. Taking 26 Rudiments, putting them on the double pedal, and making beats from each has been challenging!"
BooM's master plan began with his own training as a drummer. He studied with greats like Roy Burns, Casey Scheuerell, John Xepoleas, and African Talking Drum Master Francis Awe . "These guys all know the intricacies of rhythm and music", explains BooM. Combined with music courses in college, this background and training has allowed BooM to build his reputation as a very creative and unique-styled drummer. 'Highwire Daze' magazine called BooM, "One of the best Drummers in Los Angeles". Since he was sixteen, BooM has been teaching other drummers, passing on his craft and style. "Not only is teaching a fun way to make a living", he explains, "but it's great practice. Having to show someone else how to play in a way they can understand forces me to really understand what I'm teaching". It's not so surprising that BooM finds the understanding of music so important. He applies music theory in his lessons. In Los Angeles, BooM is known as "a teacher of teachers".
BooM is well known for his Drum clinics. He created, hosted, and produced his own cable Drum show: 'Drumst6' (later re-named DrumTV). "It's been a real sense of satisfaction and excitement for me to do the show", says BooM. "My guests have been great! Being able to sit down and discuss things drummer to drummer is fun". Producing over 80 shows, DrumTV has become so successful that over the years, similar formats have appeared around the country produced by people who admit to being turned onto the idea after seeing BooM's show. With his TV experience, BooM has produced some major drumming video. DrumTV has created 4 broadcast quality videos, 'The Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert No 5 and No 6', 'The Legendsof Drumming: The Jazz Era', and 'Basic Drumset Tuning featuring Roy Burns'. His success has created a buzz within the drumming community. In 1999, Liberty Films began co-producing DrumTV episodes. Liberty Films has produced the movies, 'I Love You To Death', 'Foxfire' and HBO's 'State of Emergency'. Recently, Liberty Films filmed a 5-minute promo for BooM's new drum book, 'The Footiments'(www.thefootiments.com).
Between teaching, clinics, appearing on behalf of the companies he endorses, and his almost full time schedule doing sessions and/or gigs with other artists, it is not surprising BooM has found time to work on his own projects. His first was 'KVK'. The band was created to feature BooM's ambidextrous style of playing. KVK was privileged to write and record a song for the movie, 'Those Darn Vampires'. Even in BooM's spare time, he is involved in drumming. He was the co-founder of 'The West Side Drum Club'. Members included Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward, Survivor's Marc Droubay, and famous Latin Drummer/Educator Chuck Silverman. They met regularly to share knowledge and experience as well as to compare equipment and technique. "The club came together because drummers are not that competitive by nature. These guys are here to help one another", said BooM.
Bill Ward remembers the first time he saw BooM play: "He sat behind his rig and began to loosen up. In a matter of seconds, it was obvious to me the man could definitely play drums. I watched him play and work out with enjoyment. The experience was most inspiring and interesting". Bill was so impressed, he asked BooM to help him develop a clinic tour called 'Connecting the Years'. BooM and Bill toured California doing clinics to packed houses. After extensive soloing, each artist explained how drums, drummers, and drumming have changed through the years. After KVK, BooM began his next project, performing J.S.Bach's "Toccata and Fugue in D minor" on his monster drum-kit. This was the premise for BooM's 'Drum Songs' clinics, playing drumbeats with his feet and melody with his hands. BooM debuted Drum Songs at the 1998 Montreal DrumFest in front of a thousand Canadian drummers. Later, BooM joined the band MSG featuring vocalist Robin McAuley (Survivor) and bassist Bjorn Englen (Yngwie Malmsteen). BooM also played drums for the actress, Fairuza Balk ('The Craft', 'The Waterboy'). In 2000, BooM formed the band, Thirty Round Clip. The band's single, "Gunfighter" (co-written by BooM) was featured in the movie, 'Playground of Power II'. BooM followed with the band's second CD, '...on Target'. In 2009, '...on Target' reached the No 6 spot for the most played new CD on the CMJ and FMQB national charts.
BooM continues to thrill drummers with his memorable drum clinics. He has done clinics with Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio), Bun E. Carlos (Cheap Trick), Tony Franklin (The Firm,Whitesnake), and Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot). His latest project is 'MB3: Mozart, Beethoven, Bach...then BooM!'. Here, BooM plays his drums to intense classical pieces with contemporary instrumentation. "I've always believed that certain classical music is as dark, heavy and as intense as your basic heavy metal tune," BooM explains. "When Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' was first performed in public, a riot broke out! The 'gentle' concert attendees were whipped into an intense frenzy from the sheer 'ethos and pathos' emulating from the 20th century instruments. In MB3, I add modern crunchy guitar, heavy bass, and my drumming skills to some of this music: 'Toccata and Fugue in D minor'(www.youtube.com/thefootiments), and 'Dance Macabre' to name a few... Surprisingly, I found many pieces have the need of The Footiments. Above all, this 'One-Man Project' is challenging AND fun!" For drummers who want to take double-bass drum or double-pedal techniques to the next level, improve speed, control and edurance, then 'The Footiments' is a valuable aid. This innovative approach applies the 26 standard drum rudiments to the bass drum in a creative and logical fashion.
For more information on BooM and his new book 'The Footiments' visit the website www.thefootiments.com
Contact:
Off the Line Records
2301 Ocean Park Blvd.
Suite No 312
Santa Monica,Ca. 90405
Endorsements:
Zildjian Cymbals
Ludwig Drums
Gibraltar Pedals and Racks
Aquarian Drumheads
VampireWear.com
