September 2002

Mark Dalzell Update

Mark Dalzell is one of the most versatile drummers in Las Vegas. He is currently the drummer for "The Tournament of Kings" at the Excalibur Hotel. His previous production shows include "American Superstars" at the Luxor and Flamingo Hotels, "Comedy Cabaret" at the Maxim and "Enter the Night" at the Stardust. Mark has also performed with Little Anthony & The Original Imperials, Peaches & Herb, Thelma Houston, The Coasters, The Platters, The Drifters, Bo Diddley and Joe Williams to name a few. Not satisfied to sit on his accomplishments, Mark has joined forces with Jeff Bower to form a company called "Digital Media Co-op". A musician friendly company that offers professional audio services that include: Sound Design/composition for any musical genre or media format, CD Mastering, Mixing and remixing of existing audio tracks, EFX and loop creation and basic CD graphics. Mark's new company is definitely on the way up. For more information about Mark's company visit the site at http://www.digitalmediaco-op.com/. For more information about Mark visit his site at http://www.audioscapes.net/

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August 2002

Laval Belle Releases Solo Album

It’s no surprise that 20 year music veteran Laval Belle would one day score and launch his own CD project. That day has arrived as Belle lands another dynamic illustration of his talent on music’s soil, "FREE". No longer only known for his explosive synchronization behind great music legends (Earth, Wind & Fire, Bette Midler, George Benson, Andre Crouch), Belle now stands alone as Executive Producer of his first recorded jazz CD. Just as he leaves audiences speechless and pleasingly exhausted after a powerful drum solo, Belle, the pied piper of groove, invites listeners into his melodious world where they become FREE to enjoy newly composed and remade inspirational jazz music.

For more information, visit www.caringministries.com/LavalBelle.htm
or email LWBelle@hotmail.com

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5A-X (.560" x 16 1/4")

5B-X (.590" x 16 1/4")

Rock-X (.555" x 16 1/4")

Joey Waronker-X (.550" x 16 1/2")

Regal Tip Introduces X-Series Line

Take the Regal Tip 5A, 5B and Rock, three of our most popular models, beef up the neck, modify the tip, & add a little length. Combine these design modifications with Regal Tip's penchant for perfect balance and the famous Regal Tip finish and you have the new Regal Tip X series - Designed for the player looking for added strength & durability, great balance and better reach. The 5A-X and 5B-X models have been designed with an acorn shaped tip, which offers increased projection from cymbals while keeping the sound beautifully clear. The Rock-X model has a beefed up neck and short rounded tip, offering a full sound on drums and cymbals . Regal Tip has also designed an X-Series model for Joey Waronker (REM, Beck, Session great). The Joey Waronker-X model is a well-balanced stick suitable for a variety of musical styles, from rock & pop to jazz - a stick as versatile as the drummer we made it for.

All four models are perfect for those looking for power in a well-balanced, medium weight stick. The 5A-X and 5B-X models will soon be available with a nylon tip as well.

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July 2002

Jason Singleton Touring With Trust Company

Jason Singleton will be on the road with Trust Company for several months in support of the band’s debut album “Lonely Position of Neutral” (Geffen records), in stores July 23rd. The hit single “Downfall” is currently receiving airplay on radio stations across the country, while the video is in regular rotation on MTV. After recently sharing the stage with bands such as Adema and Puddle of Mudd, the band has some extensive touring lined up for the summer and early fall. They will be appearing on the main stage of the Warped Tour from June 23rd through August 1st. From there, they will be playing various radio festivals for much of early August. Trust Company then heads out on the road with Korn as part of their European Tour (August 20th through September 15th) and U.S. Tour (October 2nd through November 15th). Current info on Jason and the band can be found on their official website http://www.trustcompanyband.com/

Jason plays Quantum 1000 wood tip drumsticks.

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June 2002

Taku Hirano Update

Taku Hirano has been steadily performing with Oscar and Grammy award-winning pop icon Lionel Richie since March of 2000 after completing a world tour with Whitney Houston, as well as performances with The Backstreet Boys. First they embarked as the special guests on the largest grossing tour of 2000: The five-month long North American and European portions of Tina Turner’s Twenty Four-Seven farewell tour. After that, they went on to supporting Lionel’s newly released album on Island Records, Renaissance (on which Taku performed on two tracks). A two-month European tour resulted, as well as numerous appearances within the United States (including performances on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and The Early Show with Bryant Gumbel), Canada, and on European television. During the brief breaks between tours, Taku has also remained busy performing with Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, Mary J. Blige, Wyclef Jean, and Japan’s # 1 pop singer Utada Hiraku, including a performance on MTV Unplugged. Taku can also be heard on Dr. Dre’s albums 2001 and 2001 Instrumental, as well as Whitney Houston’s Greatest Hits CD, video, and DVD (which includes a live performance in Mannheim, Germany from the 1999 My Love Is Your Love world tour). Other recent performances include additional dates overseas with Lionel Richie as well as appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with rapper P.Diddy (formerly Puff Daddy).

Taku was also recently featured in several drum magazines. Sticks Magazine (Germany) and Rhythm Magazine (U.K) have run feature articles on Taku for their October 2001 issues. In addition to this, he has also been conducting interviews himself, writing an article on drumming legend Ndugu Chancler for the most recent issue of Stick It Magazine. Taku is also promoting his recently introduced signature drumstick, the Taku Percussion Stick, designed in conjunction with Regal Tip. This multi-application percussion/drumstick was selected as one of two of the most innovative drumsticks of the 2002 Musikmesse (the world’s largest musical instrument trade show) in Frankfurt, Germany.

Taku has relocated to Atlanta, Georgia and is currently working in the studio on various projects in between dates with Lionel Richie.

Taku Percussion Stick

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Regal Tip Welcomes New Artists

New artists playing Regal Tip include:

Future Man

Roy "Future Man" Wooten: Best known as "Future Man", Roy is an inventor, scientist, musician, composer, and two time Grammy Award winning performer with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Audiences became curious when Future Man appeared with the group ten years ago. At the heart of the music is Roy's ground breaking percussion techniques performed on his own invention which he calls the Drumitar. The guitar shaped instrument allows him to replicate sounds of an entire contemporary drum kit with just a few fingers. During live shows and in the studio, Roy also has a setup consisting of a snare drum, bass drum, three toms, 2 cymbals, as well as various percussion effects. He often plays this setup with his right hand, using Regal Tip Whiskers nylon brushes, Blasticks, and Flares, while simultaneously playing the Drumitar with his left hand. This leads to some killer grooves that you have to see and hear to believe! Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are currently touring in support of their new album and DVD "Live at the Quick". Visit the website for current news- http://www.flecktones.com/

Guy Hoffman

Guy Hoffman: Guy Hoffman has been a member of the Violent Femmes since 1993. Guy first found acclaim with another well-known Milwaukee band, the BoDeans (perhaps best known for their theme song on the TV show "Party of Five"). He can be heard on the BoDeans debut album "Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams" (Slash/Warner 1986) and can be seen in videos for the songs "Fadeaway" & "Runaway". Guy reunited with BoDeans singer/songwriter Sammy Llanas to form the band Absinthe. They released an album entitled "A Good Day To Die" in 1998. Guy somehow manages to play the occasional live show with Absinthe while simultaneously touring the world with Violent Femmes.

During a typical Violent Femmes concert, Guy plays a stand-up drum set consisting of a snare drum, floor tom, and a cymbal, often using Regal Tip Whiskers nylon brushes. He also performs on a conventional 4-piece drum kit during the show.

The first Violent Femmes album on which he appears is entitled "New Times" (Elektra 1994). Two versions of "Blister in the Sun", the Femmes signature song, were recorded with Guy for the "Grosse Point Blank Soundtrack" CD (London 1997). Their most recent studio album is entitled "Freak Magnet" (Beyond 2000).

Guy can also be seen in motion picture and television productions such as "Woodstock "94", "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", and "VH-1 Hard Rock Live". He has performed on numerous music videos and late night talk shows in the U.S., UK, Canada, Europe and Australia. http://www.violentfemmes.net/

Bob Siebenberg

Bob Siebenberg: Bob is the original drummer with Supertramp and has been with the band for 27 years. Supertramp has released a brand new album and has an upcoming World Tour beginning in April. Bob plays the Regal Tip 2B wood tip model. Visit www.supertramp.com for current info.

Sal Abruscato: Sal was a founding member of hardcore rockers Type O Negative back in 1990. He appeared on three albums with the band, including "Slow, Deep and Hard" (Road Runner Records 1991), "Origin of Feces" (Road Runner Records 1992), and "Bloody Kisses" - Gold and Platinum Certified (Road Runner Records 1993). In 1993, Sal left the band to join up with hardcore merchants Life Of Agony, playing on the albums "River Runs Red" (Road Runner Records 1993) and "Ugly" (Roadrunner Records 1995). Other albums include the Platinum Certified Mortal Kombat Soundtrack (TVT Records). Sal's new band is called Supermassiv. The band is currently in the studio and expects to release an album in April. Visit http://www.supermassiv.com/ for current info. Sal plays Regal Tip Quantum 3000 nylon tip sticks.

Danny Gottlieb

Danny Gottlieb: Danny Gottlieb is a drummer who needs no introduction. He is a world-renowned jazz, jazz-fusion, studio and live performance drummer, and a multi-media performance artist. Danny is now officially endorsing Regal Tip brushes and Specialty Sticks, including our new line of Thai sticks.

While best known as the drummer in the original Pat Metheny Group, Danny, during the past 25 years has been a member and/or recorded with: Pat Metheny Group, Gary Burton Quartet, Eberhard Weber's Colors, Michael Franks Band, Randy Brecker Quartet, John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu, Al Di Meola Project, Gil Evans Orchestra, Stan Getz Quartet, Ahmad Jamal Quintet, Blues Brothers Band, Booker T and the MG's, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Chick Corea Quintet, Sting, Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, and many more. Danny is currently a New York and Florida based studio musician and live performer. He has appeared on over 300 albums to date, including 2 Platinum, 1 Gold, and 6 Grammy Award Winners. Danny has three solo recordings, and nine with the group Elements, a fusion jazz group he co-leads with former Metheny bassist Mark Egan. As an avid studio performer, Danny can be heard on many radio and television commercials and themes. Currently he can be heard daily in the United States, on the television theme to ABC's Good Morning America, and on radio on NPR's Morning Edition. Danny has been featured on the cover of Modern Drummer, Downbeat, Drums and Percussion, and Rhythm magazines. He has an instructional tape, "The Complete All-Around Drummer" available from Homespun Tapes.

Ali Jackson Jr.

Ali Jackson Jr.: Ali has performed and recorded extensively with some of the world's finest musicians including: Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Aretha Franklin, Marcus Roberts, Gerald Albright, Eric Reed, Cyrus Chestnut, Chris McBride, Nicolas Payton, Craig Handy, Thelonius Monk Jazz Ambassadors, New York City Ballet, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Along with the wealth of experience he has obtained as an accompanying artist, these diverse musical styles, concepts, and creative innovations are demonstrated in his musical compositions. This is documented on his debut release "Groove @ Jazz en Tete' distributed on Blue Geodesics, France. Other recordings include Wynton Marsalis "Live at the Village Vanguard" (Columbia) and Gerald Albright "Giving Myself To You" (Atlantic Jazz). His style, a powerful blend of technical mastery and showmanship, is strongly influenced by his late uncle Oliver "Bops" Jackson Jr., Papa Jo Jones, Lionel Hampton, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, and a host of others. Ali plays Regal Tip 8A's in hickory and maple.

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May 2002

Frank Funaro On Tour With Cracker

Frank Funaro is currently on the road with Cracker in support of their new album “Forever” (2002 Virgin Records). Current tour dates can be found at the band’s official website http://www.crackersoul.com/

Aside from Cracker, Frank has recently kept busy with many other projects, including a solo album by the late, great Joey Ramone – “Don’t Worry About Me” (April 2002 release), as well as a live album with rock legend Dion – Dion ‘N’ Little Kings – “Live in NY” (Nov. 2001).

Current info on Frank can be found at his personal website http://www.iplaythedrums.com/fullpage.htm

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April 2002

Kevin Danz Appears on Award-Winning Album

Bruce Guthro's album, entitled "Guthro", which features Kevin Danz on track #2 ("Disappear"), has recently won "Album of the Year" at the 2002 East Coast Music Awards in Canada. The album can be purchased online at http://www.bruceguthro.com/

Congratulations to Kevin!

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April 2002

Maria Martinez Videos Available at Hal Leonard Website

Respected percussionist, clinician, and educator Maria Martinez has released two new videos: "Afro-"Cuban Coordination For Drumset" and "Brazilian Coordination For Drumset". Both videos feature the exploration of various styles, as well as live band performances and hand percussion demos.

"Maria has the gift of communicating her ideas clearly and in a way that everyone can understand. This is a rare and welcome faculty which makes learning fun. I really enjoyed this video, she played and explained it great." -- Vinnie Colaiuta

"Maria opens up a vast vocabulary of drumset grooves and solo's, her playing demonstrates what the Afro-Cuban/Brazilian drumming concept is all about". -- Joe Porcaro

Maria's videos can be purchased online at the Hal Leonard website - http://www.halleonard.com/

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Steve Hass Launches New Website

Renowned studio and touring drummer Steve Hass will have his brand new website up and running in the very near future - http://www.stevehass.net/ The site will feature career updates, along with multimedia lessons, tips, Q & A sessions, message boards, gear info, etc.

Steve has recently been touring with inspirational/spiritual pop vocalist Neshama, as well as playing with a vibraphone trio called Manhattan Vibes (featuring John Benitez & Randy Brecker – http://www.manhattanvibes.com/ ). Recent studio work includes Cher's "Song For The Lonely" remix single.

Steve will be spending a good chunk of this year touring with The Manhattan Transfer, and will also appear on new releases by The Manhattan transfer and Ravi Coltrane.

For more info, be sure to check out his website - http://www.stevehass.net/

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Steve Gillis is currently in the studio with Filter putting the finishing touches on the new album, which will be titled "The Amalgamut". The band has finished the writing phase and will be spending the early part of the year mixing and mastering the album. The record is scheduled to be released in July of 2002. Expect Filter to be touring in the summertime. For current news on the band, be sure to check out their official website at http://www.officialfilter.com/

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Unlike the other bundled sticks on the market, our wooden percussion sticks are bound together from the inside to increase their strength and durability. Thai Sticks feel strong in your hand and offer more rebound than any other bundled sticks available. The wooden rods are left unglued 3 1/2" from the tip, and the sound and feel can be adjusted using the spread controller ring. Thai Sticks are perfect for any musical situation where a drumstick is too loud and a brush is too soft, and they offer an endless range of sound possibilities.

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For the percussionist:

A multi-functional stick that offers the percussionist the durability of a medium/heavy-weight timbale stick with the balance and rebound of a conventional drumstick, the comfort and dependability of a rubber grip that can be doubly used in the place of mallets for suspended cymbal rolls, and a nylon-capped butt end with a steel rivet for various
multi-percussion applications.

For the drummer:

A surprisingly lightweight, yet "beefy" stick with excellent feel, control, and balance, plus the added benefit of an enhanced grip.

Taku Hirano has performed and toured with some of the best in the business, including Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, The Backstreet Boys, Puff Daddy, Brandy, Isaac Hayes, and Stevie Nicks to name a few.

Taku is currently on tour with Lionel Richie.

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