This past Nov I had the opportunity to participate in the Big Beat hosted by Resurrection Drums All I can say is HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeff and Darryl and the gang over at Resurrection Rock. The money raised from the Big Beat was used to help make sure the Beat goes on in Broward County Schools and I’m all for that. If you don’t know kids who drum do better on test scores. All the students who performed are winners but the group from Hollandale took the cake with their high Steppin. The whole day was jam packed with some great drummers.

It was really cool playin Like a Bird with Russ Miller and jammin on some 16th notes with Derek Roddy very cool. The Will Stewart segment was amazing it was great mixin it up with him, he’s a great player. The show itself was not only entertaining it was informative as well, all the performers brought something to the table. Ivan Servigon and his prote’ge’ brought the house down with an amazing display on the congas. To top it all off Fushu Daiko Blew the roof off the place with both an astonishing and flawless execution on the Taiko drums, I really admire there dedication and disapline. A very special moment for me and Look Ma No Feet was when Darryl presented me with a snare drum from Gretsch for having the most unique drumset I almost fell off my stool and the drum sounds great. After the Big Beat I was off to the Percussive Arts Society Convention in Indianapolis. There I had the pleasure of witnessing the drum stylings of Joel Stevenett. I thought it was very interesting that Joel does alot of work for the video gaming industry for myself when I think video games I think drum machines and electronics not Joel he plays mostly acoustic it was very cool to see how joel puts it all together if you get a minute have a look at Joels website, he is a drumming juggernaut and I mean that in the best way. Also on the roster were guys like Benny Greb, he gave a great example for developing your inner clock if you get a chance check out Benny’s new DVD The Language of Drumming.

Tobias Ralph was also there and on top of doing a great solo he also gave everyone an awesome illustration of a broken double and inspired me to workout a broken double variation for a new solo I am working on. The minister of groove Zoro and Daniel Glass took to the stage and gave everyone a Glimpse into days gone by playing some very hip stuff from Elvis to Steely Dan and everything in between. Jack DeJohnette as he put it took everyone on a ride through the cosmos he did this thing with his cymbals and a microphone that was just incredible you had to be there words just don’t do it justice. I loved is very musical approach to the kit. I also never new he played piano thats where his very musical approach comes from. In my book he is a GIANT!!!!!!!!!! Virgil Donati closed out the weekend with a blazing performence, every time I see virgil he makes me want to shed 24 hrs a day!!!!!!!!!!!!! Stop by his site and check out the highlight reel from the weekend. AWESOME.

I would like to thank Patrice from PAS For hooking me up with a wheelchair for the weekend and helping me get around and Jeff from PAS for Putting together a great show. It was also great to meet the one and only Vic Firth while at the PAS show Sunday after PAS Dom Famularo spoke at a teachers conference what a great meeting so much info and a great place to meet other drummers. I can’t thank Dom enough for helping me dive right back in to drumming he has been and still is a great friend over the years. After the PAS show it was off to the NAMM show this past weekend thanks to the gang at Vic Firth. Have a look at the LOOK MA NO FEET photo Gallery next week for the updates. If you haven’t been the Namm show is one of the biggest shows around. It’s a place where the companies in the music industry get together and demo new product. I would really like to thank Vic Firth and Sabian Cymbals for making me feel at home.

I also had a chance to catch up with Thomas Pridgen and Ronald Bruner Jr. those guys are great and they crack me up. I will never
forget Thomas jumping on my scooter with me still on it and doing donuts in the lobby of the hotel. Some months ago at the southern drum show I met Jammie and some of the girls from Sticks N Skins a great coffee table book dedicated to the late photographer Lissa Wales. At the PAS convention I had the pleasure of meeting Jules Follett the photographer resposible for the book. If your a drummer and don’t have this book get it even if your just a drumming enthusiast get this book you won’t be sorry. There are some amazing shots of some amazing drummer from A to Z everyone is in this book.

At the NAMM show I met up with Jules and the girls from Sticks N Skins and Jules was kind enough to take a photo with me. Check it out next week on my photo’s page next week. Some of the other highlights for me were the Sabian party where Chad Smith lit up the stage Terry Bozzio took things to a whole other level as always and Steve Ferrone kept it real with serious funk. Some other great moments include meeting Stefanie Eulinberg the severe back beat of Kid Rock she is very cool. Also meeting Vinny Appice it was so funny when he asked me how many miles to the gallon I get on my scooter and I told him 30 miles on the hwy and 15 at the NAMM show.

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while but I’ve been a little busy until next time keep’em swingin’

This summer I had the esteemed pleasure of performing at Australia’s Ultimate Drummer’s Weekend (AUDW 2009).

First off I would like to give a HUGE THANK YOU to my new second Family Frank and Rosanna Corniola and the entire Gang at DrumTek.

DrumTek is the brainchild of Frank, not only do they have an incredible store and a great school they also host the largest drum show in the Southern Hemisphere.

Some years ago I met Andrew Hewitt a drummer who also has cerebral palsy Via Email thanks to Dom Famularo. Andrew has been a great friend over the years and a big inspiration. It was great to share the stage with Andrew and Dom It was a big goal of mine to go to Australia and Jam with Andrew I would like to thank Dom for getting the ball rolling and helping me pull this off and I will never forget Pat and the guys picking up Andrew and lifting him over Virgil Donati’s Drum-kit. The weekend started off with a competition featuring Australia’s up and coming drummers. It was no small feat to make it to the finals these guys had to read snare drum read a chart and do I a free form solo. Hats off to everyone in all three catagories you guys rocked. It was very cool to see guys read music and it says a lot for the teachers who also deserve a big round of applause.

You have to admit as drummers we are a special breed and Frank and his staff really have something special. Not only are they keeping the spirit of drumming alive there was such a feeling of comradery I haven’t felt that in a long time I almost thought it was gone. It’s nice to know it still exsists. I made some great friends on this trip and I hope to go back soon I would also like to thank Thomas Pridgen and Ronald Bruner Jr. for giving me a hand at the airport and also giving me a huge kick in the ass to practice they sounded great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a real honor to share the stage with Pete Lockett Virgil Donati Dom Famularo Damian Corniola Thomas Pridgen Ronald Bruner Jr. Gerry Pantazis and John Salerno. I would also like to take a moment to thank Pete Lockett for dedicating a solo to Andrew and myself over the weekend, very cool. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pete’s work he plays Tabla which is a drum from north India plus alot of hand percussion. He really spins alot of plates. If you don’t have a copy of Pete’s book go get it now it is really very well written. It’s called Indian Rhythms for the drumset. It was really a great experience going half way around the world, driving on the opposite side of the street, getting to see a place where they have healthcare for everyone, and also eating in Franks brother’s restaurant where they have Corniola wine and the best food on the planet!!!!!!!!!!!!! All I can say if you are ever in Melbourne stop by DrumTek say hi to Frank then go to his brothers place and have the Veal!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time Cheers Mate.

This fourth of July the drumming community lost one of the greats. Just shy of his 90th birthday Jim Chapin passed. While I was still living in Florida I had the pleasure of taking a couple of lessons from Jim.

My first encounter with Jim was at a Carmine and Vinny Appice clinic It was many years ago on Long Island but I remember it like it was yesterday, Carmine and Vinny thanked Jim for showing up and play the first exercise from section (A) in Jim’s book Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer. If you don’t have it pick it up it’s a must have for any drummer.

During my lessons we talked about everything from Gene Krupa to Peter Criss or as Jim would say the Cat and everything in between. I had mentioned to Jim the time I saw him perform at the Buddy Rich memorial concert at Westbury Music Fair. Jim wrote a special song for Buddy and sang it that night. When I brought up the proformance Jim began to sing the song that he sang for Buddy it was a very special moment, One that I will never forget. Jim didn’t dabble he walked the walk a real drummers drummer. Growing up on Long Island afforded me the oppportunity to go to many great drum clinics and more times then not Jim would be there with his sticks and Pad demonstrating the moller technique which Jim had down cold.

During my first lesson I had asked Jim to show me some brush Work and it was flawless I mean perfect. I remember how impressed I was, Jim said to me Mike I’ve been doing this for almost 100 years and we shared a little laugh. Another great time with Jim was when he came out to PIT Jim played for over 4 hours it was awesome and that night Jim did a one handed roll that blew me away it sounded like a machine gun!!!!!!!! and not to take anything away from what guys do today but Jim’s one handed roll wasn’t about bouncing the stick off the rim of the drum it was all technique. The last time I saw Jim was very special he took me out to his shed and played and is bass drum foot sounded amazing he really played full out and then he let me play. I am very greatful for the time I got to spend with Jim and I know he will be missed by all of the lives he touched.

In closing I would just like to say lets try to be more like Jim and not dabble let’s play full out.

Before I begin today’s installment I would just like to say I am very proud to announce I will be taking Look Ma No Feet to Melbourne Australia to perform At Drum Tek one of the largest drum convention’s on the Planet!!!!!

Needless to say I’ve been spending a lot of time in the woodshed. Be on the lookout for photo and video updates coming soon.

Let’s dig right in. Something I added to the mix is the TotalGym. This is usually how I start my day I have 5 basic exercises that I do everyday. My favorite you ask? Hands down It’s the leg press. On a normal day I do about 300 reps 100 on each leg and then 100 with both legs together. I’ve been known to just jump out of bed in the morning and just go on my recent path to wellness I have learned to give myself time to make sure my body is set and my feet are firmly planted on the floor take it from me this cuts down on wipe outs first thing in the morning. One of the reasons I love the TotalGym it allows me to warm my body up before my day really gets moving. Another big selling point for me is you are lifting your own body weight which greatly reduces your chance of injury. Remember I’m a big of proponent of staying safe. Another great thing about the TotalGym is if you are pressed for time one day you can do a modified workout everyone can find 10 to 15 mins a day and treat themself to a workout.

By this time I’m sure you are asking yourself what’s up with the title Baby Crutches well here it goes. It’s just like it sounds, I was one of those guys who walked around with their crutches adjusted lets say more on the tall side thinking it would help me stand up straight, not realizing I was knocking my shoulders out of alignment. Think about it when people walk they don’t walk with there arms pushed up they walk with their arms down to the side Be careful I don’t want everyone falling on their faces.Because their crutches are to low. Ask your doctor before doing any of this.

Before I head out I want to share a major first I had this week I bowled standing up on one crutch anyone who has ever been bowling with me knows I always kneel down at the line and push the ball cross my fingers and hope for the best. This was so cool to be able to stand at the line and roll the ball down the alley HUGE!!!!!!!!

I share these stories with you not to boast or brag but maybe to get you to look at your disability in a different light. Anything great started as a picture in someones mind. As always Stay strong.

First off I would like to apologize for not making an entry for the month of Feb.

I have been very busy knocking years of rust off and getting ready to promote the book Look Ma No Feet, Not to mention I am now playing with a very talented group of people at Word of Faith church in Knoxville.

Please come out and see us service starts at 10:00am on Sun, if you happen to be in the TN area.

I recently embarked on a new phase of my conditioning, I started training in the martial arts My interest was first peaked with the martial arts after meeting Buddy Rich in 1985 before meeting Buddy one of my friends had told me that Buddy didn’t really like to talk shop meaning drums but loved to talk about martial arts. Picture this when I first met Buddy he pulled me up on his tour bus crutches and all. Buddy was great a real gentleman. I had asked him about the martial arts and he said he studied but I had brought an album jacket for Buddy to sign and I left the album home so it wouldn’t get ruined it is a special recording because it was with a trio. The album is called Air Mail Speical check it out if you get a chance.

I will never forget Buddy opened the jacket to have a look at the album and it wasn’t there he was so concerned because he thought I had lost the album on the way to the bus, he was so relieved when I told him I left the record home. Anyway I thought if Buddy did martial arts I would to soon after that meeting I went to my first martial arts school and believe it or not I was turned away because of my crutches!!!!!!!!!!! I was so shocked I didn’t set foot in another school for a long time.

Right now I am under the tutelage of Bruce and David Corrigan, at Progressive Martial Arts in Oak Ridge TN. By far this training is superior to anyone out there, In my opinion. Very practical right out of the box even for someone with a disability. The physical aspect is great and it is also raising the level of my mental game as well. In a few short months I have already begun to take a few steps without crutches done a couple of board breaks and learned some great selfdefense moves I will be discussing this in more detail in up and coming blogs, for now I would like to leave you with one of my favorite quotes by Henry Ford “Whether you think you can or can’t you’re right”