Month: May 2022

Ken Hada practicing drums with Chad Wackerman-inspired riff. In fact, I used to study drums with Chad Wackerman back in the 1980s. And, at that time he was playing with Frank Zappa. After, Chad’s father Chuck Wackerman got me a spot with drum teacher Murray Spivack. And it took me 3 years to finish Murray’s course.

The following clips are from a riff I used to hear Chad play. Later, his brother John illustrated the riff. Specifically, RIGHT left left kick RIGHT. Further, it sounds like a displace 6-stroke roll.

Video Clips of Ken Hada practicing drums with Chad Wackerman-inspired riff.

A Beach Boys concert reminds us of the importance of art

John Stamos Beach Boys Brian Wilson songwriting inspiration

A song from the past revisited

A song I have pulled from the archives (to finish) because of my Beach Boys experience

Music writing, Finding the right drum part

Brian Wilson’s music reminds me about the power of art

The power of art. I was standing there on the stage watching The Beach Boys and John Stamos play. and I thought, Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys wrote a song and it went out there and connected all these people. Their music created a refuge for so many people. And after we are all gone it will continue to shelter and enrich so many more.

In the first place, I’m working on a song that I started back in the late 1980’s. In fact, this song was recorded on a Mac IIsi with Studio Visions and a DAT machine. And it’s been sitting in a cigar box for decades.

Last week I was driving to the annual Mighty Mama Skate O Rama. Which is a skate event for moms who like to skateboard. In fact, I have been shooting this event for nearly a decade. And suddenly I get a FaceTime call from John Stamos. You see for weeks we have been working on a drum riff that (legendary drummer ) Taylor Hawkins sent John. At the conclusion of our talk, John suggests I bring my family to tonight’s Beach Boys show.

And this is where this song comes in. While standing on the stage watching the show. I realized that I have been fortunate enough to see this band for maybe 3 decades. And I have been a Beach Boys fan since I was about 10 years old. And so standing there on the stage I realized the impact that this music has had on the world. That this thing Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys made is alive and well. And that it would continue long after we are all gone.

And has John Stamos, The Beach Boys , and Brian Wilson affected my (Ken Hada‘s) songwriting? Yes