WITH THE REIGN OF KING CRIMSON FINALLY ENDING THIS PAST YEAR, IT’S TIME TO STEP BACK AND APPRECIATE THE MUSIC THAT CAME IN THE WAKE OF THAT INFLUENTIAL BAND.
DRUMMER PAT MASTELOTTO WAS ONE OF THE DRUMMERS OF THE FINAL INCARNATION OF CRIMSON, WITH THE LEGACY CONTINUING WITH HIS BAND WITH CRIMSON BASSIST TONY LEVIN AND TOUCH GUITARIST MARCUS REUTER WITH STICK MEN. NOT ONLY WITH THIS BAND, BUT HIS GROUP TU-NER (ALONG WITH REUTER AS WELL) DEMONSTRATES THAT MASTELOTTO STILL HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THE FUSION OF ROCK WITH MODERN JAZZ.
HAVING SEEN HIM RECENTLY WITH BOTH FRIPP’S CRIMSON AND STICK MEN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE FELT INSPIRED TO CHECK IN ON MR. MASTELOTTO AND SEE WHERE HE’S COME FROM AND WHERE HE’S GOING. AS WITH THE BEST OF DRUMMERS, HIS RESPONSES WERE TIMELY AND CREATIVE
WAS THERE A TEACHER THAT GAVE YOU IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAYING DRUMS?
Three lessons w Joe Porcaro around 1974, and another in 1994
2 lessons with Gary Chaffee in 1998
LACC with Dave Smith around 1976
Ginger Baker lessons around 1990
Lots of pals, like Gavin, Bozzio, Stacey, Tobias, and many many others that help me ❤️
WHO DID YOU LISTEN TO THAT DEVELOPED YOUR PARADIGM OF MUSICAL STYLE?
Everyone.
YOU SPENT SOME TIME WITH THE ROCK BAND MR. MISTER. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THAT EXPERIENCE?
How fast the money goes
YOU WERE PERSISTANT TO GET A ROLE WITH KING CRIMSON. WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE BAND THAT INSPIRED YOU TO WANT TO JOIN IT?
KC inspired me since the first time I heard them, when I was about 13. Crimson seemed to be able to do everything
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“(King) Crimson seemed to be able to do everything”
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THE BAND SEEMS TO BE A PRODUCT OF ROBERT FRIPP’S FERTILE IMAGINATION. DID HE GIVE YOU ANY SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS ONCE YOU JOINED?
Vague but encouraging comments like “go farther” , or when he pumps his fist in the air shouting ‘Beast beast demon beast’
YOU PARTNERED UP WITH BILL BRUFORD FOR AWHILE. WHAT DID YOU GLEAN FROM THOSE TIMES?
Too much to explain in words. Bill is a treasure.
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“Bill (Bruford) is a treasure”
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YOU’VE PLAYED IN BANDS WITH TWO AND THREE DRUMMERS. HOW DO YOU ADAPT YOUR STYLE TO THOSE ENVIRONMENTS? WHAT ARE THE TRADEOFFS, AS WITH THE LAST INCARNATION WITH CRIMSON THAT HAD THREE DRUMMERS?
To use a football analogy: “I look for daylight”.
YOU WERE ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF MELDING ELECTRONIC WITH ACOUSTIC DRUMMING? HOW DID YOU GET THAT IDEA, AND WHICH COMES FIRST WHEN PUTTING THEM TOGETHER?
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“To use a football analogy: ‘I look for daylight’”.
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I was born at the right time, as the tools became available I nurtured them to expand my palate …and overcome my shortcomings.
I try to take advantage of human and mechanical flavors and strengths.
WAS THERE A TEMPLATE YOU USED FOR WORKING ON ELECTRONIC DRUMMING?
Raymond Scott
YOU’VE PLAYED ON A WIDE VARIETY OF SESSIONS AND STYLES. HOW DO YOU CHANGE GEARS FROM BANDS LIKE CRIMSON AND STICK MEN TO THINGS LIKE JUDE COLE?
A musicians job is tempered by context , I try to find the right clothes to dress the song.
YOU’VE PLAYED WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF BASSISTS, NOTABLY TONY LEVIN. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A BASSIST?
Tone and time.
DO YOU HAVE A PET PEEVE ABOUT BASS PLAYERS?
Bass players? Rumbling blurry longs notes bug me.
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“Rumbling blurry longs notes bug me’
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WHEN YOU WATCH A DRUMMER, WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR?
Happiness
DO YOU HAVE A ‘PET PEEVE’ ABOUT THEM AS WELL?
Mmmmm not so much
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO STICK MEN?
Tony Levin
What do you like about the small trio format?
More space.
BOTH STICK MEN AND TU-NER HAVE GUITARIST MARKUS REUTER. HE SEEMS TO HAVE A “FRIPP” MINDSET IN SOUND. HOW TO YOU STAY TOGETHER WITH SOMEONE THAT SEEMS TO BE GOING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, AS IT SEEMED AT THE BAKED POTATO GIG?
It’s not that many directions, same destinations regardless of the route taken.
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“It’s not that many directions, same destinations regardless of the route taken”
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TU-NER ALSO INCLUDES GUITARIST TREY GUNN, WHO PLAYS THE TOUCH GUITAR AS WELL. WITH BANDS LIKE THIS, WITH WHOM DO YOU ‘LOCK INTO’ IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM IMPLODING?
We like to implode 💥
why lock¿ let’s just embrace ❤️
WHAT MUSICIAN, LIVING OR DEAD, WOULD YOU PAY $1000 TO SEE PERFORM?
Joe Morello
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“We like to implode”
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WHAT PERSON, LIVING OR DEAD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEND AN EVENING WITH AND PICK HIS BRAIN?
Todd Rundgren
WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE THAT SOMEONE HAS GIVEN YOU?
Never fly Air Iberia
WHAT THREE BOOKS HAVE YOU READ THAT YOU WISH EVERYONE WOULD READ?
Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan
When In Doubt Roll by Bill Bruford
Rhythmic Illusions by Gavin Harrison
DO YOU HAVE A RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY OR TEACHING THAT MOTIVATES YOU?
Do unto others
WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST JOY?
Kids and dogs, weed and music
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO SAY AT YOUR MEMORIAL SERVICE?
What ever they like.
WHAT FUTURE GOALS DO YOU HAVE?
Keep on keepin on… or in the words of Credence ‘keep on chooglin”
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“Keep on keepin on… or in the words of Credence ‘keep on chooglin'”
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IN THIS CHAT, IT’S EASY TO SEE WHY PAT MASTELOTTO IS ON THE FOREFRONT OF JAZZ FUSION AND PROGRESSIVE ROCK. HE HAS A WORLDVIEW THAT MIXES SERIOUS ATTITUDES ABOUT MUSIC WITH THE JOY OF CREATIVITY, WITH AN EXTRA DASH OF HUMOR. ISN’T THAT WHY WE LOVE HIS MUSIC IN THE FIRST PLACE?