Tama Drum Interview

What inspired you to become a drummer?
Malinin: I started in the 7th grade. Everybody in my family played something in the junior high band. It was pretty much forced on us by the family, so I had to take up an instrument. I remember being really into drums when I was in the 5th and 6th grade as a little kid, after reading stories about Keith Moon and guys like that. It just sounded really fun. So when I had to pick an instrument, it just seemed like the obvious thing to do. I didn't really even consider anything else.

Into The Groove: How long have you been playing with the Goo Goo Dolls now and how did it all begin?
Malinin: I joined on January '95, so it's been seven and a half years. They just called me. Actually, their manager called me because they needed a drummer and he knew me just from the Hollywood scene. He had been helping out a band that I was playing in at the time and when that band broke up, he knew I was around and knew I had been a fan of the band. So, I ended up being the one and only to audition. After I auditioned, they were, like, all right, cool.

Into The Groove: Can you tell us a little about the recording process for Gutterflowers?
Malinin: Johnny works on his ideas and sometimes gets pretty strict about exactly what he wants. He'll program a drum machine and although I won't be expected to play exactly what he's programmed, I'll definitely work around that groove. Big Machine is a classic example. It was like he knew exactly what groove he wanted, so I played that. I mixed it up a little bit, but not much. Other songs like It's Over and What Do You Need, he had no idea what he wanted on the drums, so I came up with the parts. About 80% of the time, he's got at least an idea of how he wants the groove to go. When he writes, he'll play all the guitars and he'll program a basic drum machine pattern, so I listen to that, and sort of figure out how to play a similar groove, while adding my own thing so I don't sound like a machine.

Into The Groove: How do you feel your drumming has matured over the years?
Malinin: It's simplified, that's for sure. I think I've just gotten a lot more solid. In the last ten years, I've become a lot more interested of playing what is appropriate for the songs, rather than trying to play flashy. I got more into drummers like Bun E. Carlos and Stan Lynch, who were both huge inspirations for me. Those are the best guys in the world for playing appropriate parts for the music.

Into The Groove: What first interested you in Tama drums?
Malinin: I had a Tama snare drum that I bought in 1981 at Ace Music in Miami. I really loved that snare drum, and I think your blatant advertising got to me as a kid, because you had Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland and all the great endorsers. I didn't really play Tama at all until I joined the Goo Goo Dolls, but I always liked them. I just thought they were amazing drums. Plus, I always told myself that when I toured a lot, I would use the Tama for no other reason than the hardware was so awesome. I always had Tama hardware no matter what kit I was playing at the because it was the only stuff that didn't break.

Into The Groove: You have been using Starclassic maple drums for quite a while, can you tell us what you like about the sound of maple?
Malinin: They just sound the best. I really like the fact that you get three overtones that are inherent on the maple drum. There's a warmth to maple that's really cool. It's such a classic sound.

Into The Groove: You are currently using a 6.5x14 maple snare. Do you have any other preferences in shell materials and sizes?
Malinin: That's always been my standard drum. Actually I've been using that brass 5-inch drum a lot, too. I've ended up using brass drums a lot for recording because you get a loud overtone out of a brass drum.

Into The Groove: After using a four-piece kit for several years, you recently added a 9x13 to your kit. Can you tell us what inspired the change and how it's working for you?
Malinin: I played a five-piece for years. But when the band I was playing with before the Goo Goo Dolls would do gigs in Hollywood, there was always a four-piece kit at the club. So I just adapted to that. Also, I really liked having the ride cymbal close to me. It was just fun. I think that playing smaller kits were also a reaction to guys playing sets that were too big in the '80s. When we made the new record, I thought it was just time to expand a little bit. I ended up using a five-piece in the studio because there was going to be a little more playing on this record than there was the last. So, I decided to set up the five-piece in the studio even though I hadn't used one with the band before. I felt really comfortable playing it again. It was really a nice change. So I obviously decided to use it live as well.

Into The Groove: You mentioned that you were always a fan of Tama hardware, what is your favorite piece?
Malinin: It would be the cymbal stands because they've been tried and true for me for so many years. I've never had problems with them. The same basic design has been around for a while, and they just don't move. They don't slip. They're just awesome.

Into The Groove: What's in your CD player right now?
Malinin: I just listened to the new Darden Smith record, which is really good. He's a singer/songwriter from Austin. I also just listened to a band called the Weakerthans, a Canadian band. I just bought a whole bunch of records recently. I also bought the new Eminem record. I don't really like Eminem, but I think he's very clever, and I think he's really good at what he does. He's the only rap guy that still bothers to sing a chorus, and he pisses enough people off that he's worth listening to!

Into The Groove: What are the Goo Goo Dolls plans for the rest of the year?
Malinin: This summer, we'll be doing a big tour with Third Eye Blind and Vanessa Carlson. She's playing first, then Third Eye Blind, then us. Then in the fall, we'll go back to Europe, Japan, Australia and come back here around Christmas time, and probably play the Christmas radio shows and that sort of thing. We'll reassess things in January and probably keep touring up until at least the summer of 2003.

Into The Groove: Where do you plan to be in 10 years time?
Malinin: Not on the road. I'm starting to think about this a lot, now that I'm 34. By the time this tour is over I'll be 36. I think it's time to start staying at home a little more. I want to spend more time doing studio work, which I feel like I've neglected because I've been touring for seven years. I've played on a few other projects, but I've never really had much time. So I think in 10 years, that's what I'll be doing. You know, playing on other people's records and sleeping on the same bed every night.