A Great Musician Is Just A Thief

Almost Everything I've Done, I've Done Through My Own Creativity.

I Play A Percussion Instrument, Not A Musical Saw; It Needs No Amplification. Where It's Needed, They Put A Microphone In Front Of The Bass Drum. But, I Don't Think It's Necessary To Play That Way Every Night.

There Were So Many Individual Styles Thirty Or Forty Years Ago.

I Think At One Time Every Drummer Wanted To Play Like Krupa Or Wanted To Win A Gene Krupa Drum Contest. This Is The Big Inspiration For Drummers And Naturally It Has To Be The Same Way For Me.

And, Well Of Course, Count Basie, And I Think All Of The Black Bands Of The Late Thirties And Early Forties, Bands With Real Players. They Had An Influence On Everybody, Not Just Drummers.