Doing what I do here at the drum centre, it’s always been an ambition to attend the NAMM show over in Anaheim (California baby!) as this is the international trade show (which happens every year in January) at which all new products are debuted by the drum and percussion companies (it does cover all music products but hey, I’m only going for the drums man). I was there for all of the four days and it was a good job as this show is big, really big and a plethora of new product was launched. This was both from the major drum players and some of the smaller custom lines too that you don’t get to see very often in the UK. Couple this with most of the major drum artists being present, either at formal ‘signing’ sessions or just wandering around, taking in the show and I’m in heaven. This isn’t an ‘opt-out’ but if I detailed everything that happened at the show (and in the evening too – ask me about the Sabian Live and Yamaha Groove Nights, when you’re in the store next), this would become a very, very long news item and you would need a cup of tea, biscuit and a spare hour. So I’ll try and be brief and give you a flavour of the show and what you can expect to see in store over the next year. And just to give you an idea of who was there, I’ll try to remember who I saw (and talked too, aren’t drummers a friendly bunch!).

OK, cutting to the chase, let’s have a look at who is doing what…(and I make no apologies for concentrating on who we have in store and not trying to let you know about everyone!)

Paiste had a great looking stand together with a sound room in which was housed all of the new Twenty series models (now a full range with some great cymbals, particularly the 12” Hi Hats) together with some additions to the Signature range and the new Nicko Mc Brain, ‘Power Slave’ ride (easily heard from the hills you’ve just run too).

Sabian had an impressive stand too (with a massive guillotine, I think they were making a point about the cut of the new APX range), centred around a new cymbal line, APX, together with some great FX cymbals (the ‘Choppers’ and Aluminium bells particularly) and some Vault derived artist rides. The APX are raaawk man, great cut and projection while still retaining musicality. They’re durable too.

Zildjian had a large space in one of the halls which displayed most of their product (including Hal Blaines’ original studio kit) together with some new additions, of note being the expansion of the K Hybrid line and some new sticks (the Adrian Young model caught my eye particularly). They had one of the largest signing sessions too (Pearl gave them a run for their money) which just looked like a who’s who of drumming (from all of the genres, we’re talking Steve Smith, Keith Carlock and Hal Blaine, to Justin Foley, Jason Bonham and Clem Burke).

Remo had a great space with all their various product types shown, but I’m only going to cover new heads here. The popular ‘Vintage A’ heads have been expanded into a full tom size line and very good they sound too and Ambassador and Emperor heads now have a goth-tastic black suede coating. Not only do the heads look cool, they have a mellower, deeper tone that the standard clear models.

Evans didn’t have much new to show apart from the new EC2 resonant heads which are very cool and you can guarantee, sound great.

Aquarian pushed their new ‘Tru-bounce’ practice pad (which feels lovely under the stick) and the new Z-100 coating process for heads (it’s basically a thinner version of their excellent texture coating).

On all things sticky, Vic Firth had a very busy stand (again with plenty of artists in attendance) and showed off some new signature models, of note to us here in blighty being Nicko Mc Brain and Vinnie Paul models. ProMark had a busy stand too, the buzz being around the new practice pad stick bags and the Jason Bonham signature model. Vater had some new stuff too, with some multi rods and a Jimmy Cobb (Miles Davis’ drummer on a ‘Kind of Blue’) signature model.

Roland had a load of new product on show in their little ‘village’, but as far as we drummers are concerned the brilliant and very friendly Johnny Rabb, showed off their new kit. The details? Have patience dear reader, it’s coming in to store later in the year.

And so on the main event, what do the major drum companies have in store for 2008?

First up to the plate was the ever expanding Mapex, who had a big stand showcasing some limited edition finish QR kits, a new flame maple 14”, 15 ply snare drum and new finishes in M Birch, ProM, Saturn and Orion. What can you say, Mapex continue to make a quality product which looks and sounds great at a really competitive price.

Tama had a real industrial looking stand with metal grille and plate in abundance, showing of some really great kits, including a limited edition Stewart Copeland Starclassic Maple kit (yes, the octabans were in da haus), which will be coming to the store soon and current wonderkind Ronald Bruner Jr’s touring kit. But for us mere mortals the big news was the introduction of the uber skinny ‘Hyperdrive’ tom sizes in both Starclassic and Superstar lines. The Superstar kits in particular look fantastic and you should see some of the alternate configuration kits in store in late Spring. And keeping things stylishly safe is easy as they’ve brought out some great cases too, leatherette and thickly padded with an embroidered ‘Tama’ logo on the front.

Pearl’s stand was absolutely enormous, rivalling dw for floor space and spectacle (the ‘Reference’ series monster kit with a custom paint job by one of the ‘American Chopper’ guys was just amazing). Couple this with a full percussion-tastic groove going on for most of the day(s) courtesy of some of Pearl’s had percussion artists (Jesus Diaz, Richie Flores and Marc Quinones amongst others), even the tiredest feet had to move in time. So we had new kits, new colours and a few great new snares on the drum set players side, watch in store as these great products start to appear towards late spring / summer. And the artist signings? What a line up, from Chad Smith to Horacio Hernandez to Mike Mangini to Vinny Paul! Needless to say, when all these guys turned up, it got busy!

And finally on to Yamaha (where, I have to be honest my palms went damp as I had heard a rumour about a new high end kit and a new high end electronic set). What a great stand with some really fantastic kits set up, easily making your wallet scream and run for cover! So what is all the fuss about?

Well I did get to see and try the new PHX (Phoenix) high end custom drum line which is just amazing (and should be coming to the store later on in the year) and the new DTXtreme IIIs E kit which is again brilliant and builds on the success of the DTXpress IV series kit, very real hi-hat feel, redesigned cymbals and a completely overhauled brain. New snare drums abounded too and a new mid range drum set which we should know more about in a few months. And, it’s been a long time coming but the new ‘Hexrack’ drum support systems were debuted too, great features, rock solid and available at a non heart attack inducing price! Needless to say, it was all good stuff, with plenty to be excited about.

And that was a short version! Wandering around the show I did have my ‘spotters’ hat on and did see a lot of famous names. It was my pleasure to talk to some of these people too and even catch the occasional photo. In no particular order I met or spotted…

David Garibaldi, Matt Wilson, Alan White (of Yes), Karl Perazzo, Marc Quinones, Changuito, Billy Ward (who is very tall and very smiley), Simon Phillips, Clem Burke, Tom Brechtlin, Jonathan Mover, Liberty De Vito, John Blackwell, Rikki Rocket, Scott Rockenfield, Russ Mc Kinnon, Jim Kilpatrick, Wil Calhoun, Johnny Rabb, Bob Gatzen (a very nice man and a hero of mine), Gregg Bisonnette, Steve Smith, Clem Burke, Jason Bonham, Mike Mangini, Russ Miller, Joe Porcaro, Johnathan Moffet, Marco Minneman, Chris Adler, Dean Butterworth, Jeff Hamilton. Carmine and Vinny Appice, Nathaniel Townsley, Tris Imboden, Jesus Diaz, Alex Acuna, Richie Flores, Daniel Adair, Joe Satriani (how did he sneak in here?), Peter Erskine (a very gracious man), Aaron Spears, Teddy Campbell, Mickey Dolenz (hey hey!!), Richie Garcia, Raul Rekow, Mike Terrana, Virgil Donati, Tony Verderossa, Lil’ John Roberts, Brian Fraser Moore, Derico Watson, Victor Wooten, Chad Smith, Glen Hughes, Mark Schulman, Abe Cunningham, Horacio Hernandez, John Tempesta, Steve Ferrone, Benny Grebb (seemingly bemused by the attention he was receiving), Shelia E, Hal Blaine, Joey Castillo, Matt Chamberlain, Danny Carey, Thomas Lang, Rick Latham, Dave Weckl (my big hero, who I was really pleased to meet but didn’t really get much out of), Bernard Purdie, Walfredo de Los Reyes Snr and Jnr, Vinny Paul, Morgan Rose, Eric Singer, Chad and Brooks Wackerman, Giovanni Hidalgo, Clayton Cameron, Dom Famularo, Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith, Danny Seraphine, Travis smith, Lenny White, Kenny Aranoff. And this doesn’t include the Yamaha Groove Night players!!!

So yes, I may (!) have had a good time, sincere thanks go to Rob for letting me go and financing it all. Sam came too; he’s an old hand at NAMM and happily put up with me bouncing off all walls as I did get over-excited for most of the trip.