Stickhead.com Chat

Welcome to Rimshots!
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Our guest today is drummer Billy Ward!

Billy recently finished drum tracks for the next album by The Fixx and is currently producing for ex-Aerosmith guitarist/songwriter Clayton Bruce Ost at his studio, DrumPike, in New York City. Billy's solo release, Two Hands Clapping, is a series of duets with artists Bill Champlin, Glen Phillips, John Patitucci, Jim Beard, Chris Whitley, and Joy Askew.

In a feature article in the July 1999 issue of Modern Drummer Magazine, William Miller states: "In a drumming world filled with highly touted so-so players, Billy Ward is a certifiable monster -- impressive chops, an incredibly solid feel, a vast knowledge of styles, and a true sense of touch (practically a lost art these days)."

We welcome Billy Ward!

Billy Ward: It's great to be here! Hello all.

GCSBinker: Billy, could you please begin by briefly telling us about your drumming style?

Billy Ward: Well, I started off in love with rock 'n roll, then quickly swung over to jazz and growing up in Cinncinati, I was greatly influenced by James Brown, studied classical percussion so my influences are pretty diverse. When I hear myself play now, I always hear sort of a slurpyness in my playing that I think is maybe an underlying part of my style......or maybe not!

GCSBinker: What was the concept behind your solo CD, "Two Hands Clapping?"

Billy Ward: Well, I suppose it started from my wanting to show the drums in a more melodic, harmonic arena and so by having only drums with a guest artist, I was exposing the possibilities of drums doing more than maybe what you normally hear. Also, I wanted to show in this live, no overdub format what incredible abilities that these guest artists have.

glitterstim asks: Which jazz drummers influenced you?

Billy Ward: First, Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa.....then Ed Blackwell, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, but mostly Elvin Jones.

GCSBinker: Which of the duets on "Two Hands Clapping" challenged you most as a musician, and which challenged you most as a technician?

Billy Ward: Ah... I can't separate musician and technician. As a technician, I think of myself as a producer and as a producer, my challenge was to make each session comfortable and creative and to make it sound as beautiful as possible. As a drummer, I think they were all equally terrifying in that I was never sure it would work, but Bill Champlin was the first and so perhaps I was most uncertain then.

Larry Klug asks: Hi Bill! I live in Cincinnati and I was wondering where you graduated from and have you been to Cincy lately?

Billy Ward: <Laughs> I went to Oak Hills High School and I went to the Conservatory of Music in Cinncinati for a year and a half before leaving town. I still have family in Cinncinati and visit regularly. Go Reds!!!

Enrico Pallazzo asks: What are the most important qualities that you look for in other musicians?

Billy Ward: Oh boy....that's another hard one! I would say that we all judge ourselves the hardest and it pretty much starts there for me. I don't really think about that. The obvious qualities are.... Can you play? Do you listen?

STICKHEAD asks: How has becoming a producer affected your playing?

Billy Ward: Oh boy....immensely! I think my playing improved enough that I was mature enough to focus on the song more. As a producer, the whole is so much more important than any single part. I think great drummers play the song and not just drums. Thank you for asking, STICKHEAD.

GCSBinker: What kind of mental gymnastics do you have to go through to go from, say, laying down tracks for a movie soundtrack to performing a duet with an artist such as Chris Whitley?

Billy Ward: WOW! Great questions tonight! It always depends on the situation. Basically, I have faith in my natural instincts so I try to recognize the grid that I am working within. With Chris Whitley, the sky is the limit! Other times, people just want a funky beat and it's all good.

zipperhead asks: What is the most experimental playing you have done with a drum, hand drum or otherwise?

Billy Ward: Probably the most experimenting I do is when I am alone in my studio (in private) and I experiment a lot with how microphones hear things. That is when I do my wackiest stuff.

GCSBinker: In previous interviews, you have spoken of your ability to adapt to different musical situations and artists. What is the key to your adaptability?

Billy Ward: First of all, you have to love the style of music you are being asked to play and you have to have experience in doing so. After that it is just about making the moment.

Enrico Pallazzo asks: Are there any drummers that primarily play rock or pop that really impress you right now?

Billy Ward: Yeah, there are many! I have always loved Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello) as a great rock band drummer. I think the list just goes on forever of my favorites, but he comes to mind right now because I just listened again to "Imperial Bedroom."

Larry Klug asks: Have you ever worked with electronic percussion?

Billy Ward: Yes, Larry, I have. When Simmons first came out, I played them here in New York and I was also a D drum player and toured briefly with Bill Evans playing D drums, but I have been focused more strictly on acoustic instruments these last 10 years.

STICKHEAD asks: What other artists would you like to perform with? Any chance of Two Hands Clapping 2?

Billy Ward: To answer the second question first, I am trying to figure that out! I am not sure whether I should do another one with duets or a solo record of just me, or perhaps a trio record. To answer the first question, there's an entire hoard of great musicians that I would like to meet and pay with and that includes..... Peter Gabriel, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins and many, many more.

STICKHEAD asks: Call it 4 Hands Clapping - that is what it sounds like on the Patitucci track!!!

Billy Ward: HA! STICKHEAD!....thank you, I am flattered. John is a miracle.

GCSBinker: Critics seem to agree that you have wonderful touch or tone on the drums. How does a drummer develop good touch and tone?

Billy Ward: I think you have to listen carefully and work at it very hard. The search for a great sound never ends. There is no simple way.

GCSBinker: What are the biggest differences in drumming between the 21 year old Billy Ward and the Billy Ward of today?

Billy Ward: Big difference! When I was 21, I had a lot of technique, probably more than I have now, but I never respected time and feel. I am much more content with who I am now.

GCSBinker: I am afraid we are almost out of time. Billy, do you have any final insights or comments to impart to the audience?

Billy Ward: First I would like to thank all of you for coming online to visit with me, and I would like to invite you to visit my site at http://www.billyward.com to stay in touch and feel free to contact me through the site. Also, a very special thanks to Steve Braksatur at STICKHEAD.com for sponsoring this chat and also to Trueline Drumstick Co. for contributing gifts to this chat and for their continued support. Please keep listening and searching! Thanks you very much!

GCSBinker: Billy, it was terrific to have you here! Thank you! Once again, we would like to thank STICKHEAD.com for sponsoring this chat with drummer Billy Ward!

Get the new album, Two Hands Clapping

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