Interview with Jason Bittner

Interview with jason bittner(Shadow falls)

 

In September 2006, Jason Bittner made a long trip from the States to a little village called Gutenstetten in Germany, Bavaria. He travelled very long just to be there for one day - one big day: The second MEINL Drum Festival.

With an outstanding performance and a very audience friendly masterclass in double-bass drumming (he handed copies of his Modern Drummer workshop papers out), Jason definitely drummed himself into the heart of lots of young drummers. Beside his brilliant, powerful and aggressive drumming, Jason Bittner is an absolutely simpatico and friendly person. As being a big fan of him it was a pleasure and honor for me to meet him there. Jason can also be seen on the actual "In Constant Motion" DVD from Mike Portnoy available at HudsonMusic.com on Disc 3, playing together with Mike on the triple-bass kit. So as I got the chance to meet this outstanding personality all I can say is: It's worth being Jason Bittner's fan!
The interview is from late 2006, with some updated questions from 2007.

Jason, I read that you have been banging on pots, pans, and garbage cans since you were five years old – and now you are the idol of many drummers.
What role have drums played for you, in the past and present?

I have always been attracted to the drums, ever since I was a child, it was just something about them that really caught my interest. When I first got introduced to KISS in 1976,
I think that‘s when I knew I wanted to be a musician.
Drums are still the most important thing (aside from my wife) in my life.

I‘m just lucky enough to be able to make a living playing them.

On what projects are you currently working on?

We‘re currently putting the finishing touches on the new Shadows Fall record which is due out in March. My first ever drum book is coming out in January 2007
(Drumming out of the Shadows - Carl Fischer Music). I‘m going to be going in the studio in late January to re-record some stuff with my old death metal band called Burning Human, as well as a few other studio projects in the works.

 

The record before "Threads of Life" with Shadows Fall is called
”Fallout from the War” . In reference to former record ”The War within” your double bass drum playing has come to a new high-speed-level.

 

With what techniques and practice have you come to this breathtaking level - and what can we expect from the new record of Shadows Fall that is out now?

I just keep practicing what I call “speed drills” with the metronome, and I‘ve been working a bit more on my left foot to give my playing a little more ease when playing technical patterns. You can expect some cool new ideas on the new Shad record, it‘s not always about speed.

At the Modern Drummer Festival 2005 you said that you are more the ” double bass guy”. What do you like at double bass drumming?

I was reffering to being “the double bass guy” when I was at Berklee College of Music which, at the time, was predominantly a “jazz” school. I just love the power and sound of double bass.

Previously you also played a lot of Jazz and at the Modern Drummer Festival 2005 you said when bands like ANTHRAX/METALLICA and Slayer came, it was all over for you – what was the fascination for you?

I didn‘t say I played a lot of jazz, I said I was learning it at Berklee in the late 80‘s...........but I was always a metal head per se..........I still am..............the fascination at first was the speed and the energy, and then I realized it was a lot harder to play that stuff than it sounded............it really required working on endurance more than anything.

So, you attended the Modern Drummer Festival 2005 and furthermore you got a single DVD with your friend Chris Adler showing only you two at the MDF05. How did this single DVD happen and will you produce a practice or teaching DVD one time?

Hudson music suggested that they wanted to do a DVD of just Chris and I, and of course we were flattered and honored and excited. So that was pretty much all that happened, they asked - we said”yes” and the rest is history. I have a full instructional DVD planned for late 2007 early 2008.

At the festival you used a very big TAMA Superstar kit with Octobans and racks and 3 Hi-Hats. I read that you used e.g. the Octobans only for this show, 'cause they were part of your solo.
Does that mean your drumset looks different every gig or do you have a standard set? How do you plan your setup?

I have the same kit at clinics that I do when I play with Shadows Fall - however when I clinic, I add things like the remote hat, octobans, soprano snares because I use that stuff strictly for solo ideas. Since I don‘t normally solo in the band, I dont set that stuff up on tour.

At the Modern Drummer Festival you played normal TAMA pedals – at the MEINL Festival you played Iron Cobra pedals - does it matter for you what pedal you are playing?
What characterizes a good drum pedal for you?

I used the TAMA camcos for years (MD fest included), and I just recently switched to the cobras in March (which is why I used them at the Meinl Festival). A good pedal is one that I can play all my ideas comfortably with.

Why are you playing TAMA Drums and what do you find better? Superstar or Starclassic?

I‘ve played TAMA since 1983, so that says a lot right there, ALL of the professional lines are good drums. I don‘t care if I‘m playing a superstar or an Starclassic, but I prefer a Starclassic.

Jason, you are also an endorser of MEINL cymbals and recently you developed a bell BLAST ride with MEINL.
What characteristic features were important for you?

 

A big ass bell,a dark cutting "ping", and a nice shiny finish

 

 

 

At the moment you are one of the most asked drummers and beside you are producing with Shadows Fall.
How do you manage this and how does a ”normal” day look like?

 

I‘m not sure what you‘re asking.................a “normal” day is always very busy - ha ha, just like today, I‘m trying to finish cleaning up my basement.

 

After your Stigmata time you joined Shadows Fall. But at first only for one tour. Then you quit your job and became fulltime member of the band.
Do you sometimes miss your life before that and do you miss your job life?

 

I miss some of the people I worked with but that‘s about it.

 

Can you tell us something about how new Shadows Fall songs are created and what role drums play in the creative process?

 

We all write together, and sometimes the drums dictate a feel, and sometimes they don‘t.

 

Beside your busy job you also teach students.
What do you learn them, what do they learn at yours and do you only teach ”double bass drum

guys”?

 

My students are all ages, and come from all different musical backgrounds - we work on basics like rudiments, and stick control, playing with a metronome, and then I have advanced students who work with double-kick, ostinatos, odd-times, different styles of music, etc.

 

As one of your hobbies you are collecting snare drums.
What collection do you have by now?

 

My snare collection is up to about 25-30 right now.................I spend too much time on EBAY sometimes. I tend to go for vintage Leedys and Ludwigs.......as far as “modern” drums, I probably have a bout 12 Tama snares form all different eras.

 

One time I read that you own SONOR drumkits. Do you collect drumkits, too?

 

I have 2 Sonor kits, a few Ludwigs, a Leedy kit, and all my Tama kits.............at home I only have the kit I practice on, everything else is in storage in various places.

 

When I stood beside you, I could see your big muscles – that have almost Thomas Lang’s size. Would your fast double bass drumming be possible without this sport?

 

Ha Ha, first of all I wish my arms were as big as Thomas‘s!!! I spend 3-4 days in the gym per week..................however practicing is definately way more important than working out, I do it mainly to stay in shape.

 

Well clinics, festivals, awards, interviews, shows, gigs, tours - do you have time left for practicing?

 

At least 3-5 times a week (including band practice).

 

Every young drummer is dreaming of a career like you are having it at the moment – but were there also not so successful moments or moments you wanted to quit the whole thing? How has it been like getting to where you are now?

 

It was many, many year of struggle, and to answer your question - “yes” I wanted to give up quite a few times, especially as I got older, but thank God I didn‘t.

 

 

 

TAMA
Starclassic Performer Birch

 

MEINL

 

Hardware:
TAMA

Heads:
EVANS

Sticks:
Pro-Mark 5BX Jason Bittner signature model

More:
Ahead Gloves, Puresound snare wires,
Headfirst Custom Bass Drumheads

 

Scrap Drumpress