A Prime Time For Primus

MasterMind Drummer

Newsletter #49

Nov 25th, 2024

Welcome back!

Things have been super busy at this end! It’s that classic thing with being a musician – I can feel all my friends and family starting to wind down for the year, leading up to Christmas, yet for me personally, I’m ramping up, as we tend to get busier at this time.

Especially here in NZ, as its summer here. So there is generally lots on for musicians at this time of year.

Let’s discuss what’s been happening!

I played a corporate gig over the weekend, helping out a friend of mine who is an incredible guitarist and singer, and who does a lot of private function work.

This gig in particular, the client wanted a guitar/drum duo, so he asked if I could jump in.

It was great. 2hrs, just kick/snare/hats, no rehearsal, and walked away with $600. Perfect!

Doesn’t get much easier than that! What a funky little setup, right?

I don’t do corporate/private gigs often, but if it’s easy like this, and with someone I like to be around, then for sure, I am happy to jump in.

I’ve also been deep in prep-mode for the shows I have coming up with Natasha Bedingfield at the end of December.

I’ll be joining her for her shows in Australia and New Zealand, as we roll into 2025.

Having listened to a lot of her live material now, this gig is the perfect session gig for me as its just pocket heavy, with a bit of ‘colour’ here and there.

I learn mostly by listening – I very rarely put pen to paper when learning material, (unless it’s really needed). My memory has always served me pretty well, as that’s just always been my process.

I have a strong memory when it comes to music. I think it comes from my early years in my prog band The New Caledonia, and my Tool Tribute band, too, as I had to learn a ton of 8-10min tracks!

I just got very used to listening, locking in, and learning that way.

I’m at the point now where I can listen to something a couple of times and have a pretty good understanding of structure, flow, and the feel required. Especially in pop music.

I’ve been listening to two live shows that her sound-man Scott sent through to me, and they have been a great reference.

What’s interesting though, is that both shows have a different drummer. Her UK drummer, and her US drummer, and man, these guys play VERY differently.

Both are weapons, but almost couldn’t be further apart.

Her UK drummer is what I’d call a more ‘modern drummer’. A few more chops and fills here and there, and very comfortable in that ‘linear’ world – which I can relate to.

His name is Troy Miller and he’s a very prestigious drummer. He was actually Amy Winehouse’s drummer for the majority of her career, and has also worked with artists such as Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Macy Gray, George Benson and Mark Ronson, to name a few.

…No pressure!

And then her US drummer, (who also seconds as her Musical Director), plays much more down the middle and dare I say, ‘indie’, in his approach. I think he tends to serve the music little more, which I am guessing comes from the fact that he thinks wider, from the MD standpoint.

He has quite the pedigree also, having worked with artists such as

Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, The War On Drugs, Matt Berninger, and many, many more.

It’s been great listening to both players as they quite clearly are showing me the full spectrum, or ‘bookends’, of how far I can push it myself, if I want to.

But, I’ll just do my thing I always do – focus on the pocket, and offer colour in the transitions and segways. Thats me.

With live show prep, it’s ALL about intros and outros. That’s all I care about really. And as Musical Director, Stirling has created some great moments to catch, and a fun live show for sure.

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Now, something else that has been very very interesting about this week, is while I was working away on my laptop in the studio, I happened to see a notification come through on my Facebook Drummer Page.

Someone had tagged me in a post, so I stopped to have a look.

This was the post –

Madness. Primus were advertising for a new drummer and, in their words, were putting it out to the universe? Crazy!

Crazy that this person was tagging me? No. Not at all. There aren’t many gigs that I would ever be so bold as to say that not only could I honour their material well, but could contribute creatively to their future, too.

I mean, crazy that a band of this caliber were taking submissions from literally anyone around the world, via email. What a time to be alive!

The first tag I got was within 20mins of the post, when it had just 100 or so comments, and I remember thinking, ‘holy shit, they are about to get inundated’.

Now, firstly, they have been inundated. This post spread like wildfire. Not only on all their socials, but every major music publication. The reach that this announcement has made, would easily be in the hundreds of thousands at this point. There is no one in music, especially drumming, that does not know about this.

Secondly, at this point, It’s fair to say that across all platforms and publications, I have been tagged in this post, quite literally 100s, if not 1000s of times. It’s actually been quite insane, the response that I personally have received from this.

I say ‘insane’, purely because I am completely floored by the support and encouragement of the global drumming community. That, in a lot of people’s eyes, I am the right drummer for this gig.

It’s been truly touching.

The thing is, it’s one thing knowing that I could do this gig, and that I would actually be the right drummer for them (I do believe this 100% by the way), but the fact that the larger drum community – amateur and pro – feel the same way too, is so incredibly warming and encouraging. I’ve actually been quite overwhelmed by it all if I am honest!

Look, I just do my thing down here in NZ, on the bottom of the world.

I love my life, the opportunities I am afforded, my daily quest to get better on and off the kit, and I love sharing my journey and personal philosophy with everyone, too. And even though I am aware I have a decent reach with my platforms, I’ll be honest, I don’t really connect with all that, or get caught up in it either. I’m grateful for it, for sure, but I like to just keep my head down, do the work, and potter away doing what I do.

I suppose what I am trying to say is that this has been a nice reminder that a bunch of people from all around the world are not only watching what I am doing, but fully supporting me and getting behind everything I am doing down here, too.

I am feeling the love!

So, did I send through an email? Did I make contact?

Absolutely. Actually, when that very first tag came through, I stopped what I was doing, and penned an email to them introducing myself.

My approach was simple. Because I knew the volume they would be receiving, I wanted to keep it brief, straight to the point, and give them a full understanding of who I am and what I offer.

Here’s what I sent through –

‘Hi Les & co,

My name is Stan Bicknell, and I am a professional drummer based in New Zealand (I know, I know, but bear with me…)

Firstly, sorry to hear about Tim’s departure. I know that must be a hard time for everyone. But who better than Mr. Danny Carey to man the throne, until you find a suitable replacement.

Straight off the bat, I’ve been a fan of Primus (and Tims playing), for many years now. You all had such a positive impact on me, and my voice behind this instrument.

I’m a well-rounded player, taking influence from many styles and genres, focusing heavily on pocket and groove, but while constantly nurturing my creativity and building a strong aesthetic with my facility around the kit.

I’ve played, toured, and recorded nationally and internationally, at all levels, and am comfortable in all gigging situations. I have actually been featured on Drumeo, too.

I won’t drag on too much, so feel free to check out my playing on my YouTube channel, and my Instagram, where you will get a good idea of my voice on the kit. 🙂
To start you off though, here is a drum-cam playthrough of recent album release show I did, highlighting my ‘heavy’ focus on pocket – see HERE

And here is a video sharing some of my ideas, facility, and dynamics on the kit – see HERE

And finally, to bring you a little more into my world, I also set up and run MasterMind Drummer, where I focus on developing the person alongside the player.

Feel free to check it out HERE.

I am self-motivated, self-disciplined, and self-taught, and take the pursuit of the craft VERY seriously.

I could definitely do this gig well – and it would be an absolute honour, and I’d make sure that you and everyone involved felt as comfortable as possible on and off the stage, and that any sort of transition is smooth. 🙂

Any questions, feel free to ask.

Cheers, and thanks for your time.

Stan.

P.S. I started a Tool Tribute when I was 18 (I’m now 40), and still like to give Danny the odd hat tip from time to time – see HERE

P.P.S. I love VP, and am completely comfortable with a double pedal – see HERE

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So there we have it, my email that I sent to Primus. 🙂

One thing I did not want to do was do what I am pretty sure everyone else did, and bombard them with 50 Primus covers. I can play their songs, and I’m sure they would be able to see that.

Respectfully, I wanted to give them a full understanding of me – on and off the kit, and that’s what I feel I did with this email.

Now, do I think I will get this? I think that’s the wrong question as there are so many odds stacked against me. (Most of which are obvious).

I think the right question is, do I think I could do this? This gig, at this level? And the answer to that is YES, absolutely. 100%.

So what now? Well, to be honest, knowing that I could do this gig well, and now knowing how many people around the world not only agree, but actually support the idea, too, that is actually enough for me. This whole experience has completely filled my cup. 🙂

I’ll end on this note –

‘You only get the gigs you’re meant to get. Nothing More’

Who knows though, this could very well be…

A Prime Time For Primus!

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Let’s leave it there for this week, as I am sure you have a big day ahead.

As always, thanks for reading these, and thanks for all your feedback, too. I really appreciate it.

I read them all. So please, if you have any thoughts, send them through, and let’s get a dialogue happening.

Don’t forget… Stay hungry (and stay healthy!)

See you next week.

Stan

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ps. Don’t forget, if you have multiple courses, your MMD portal is HERE.

pps. Use ‘BLACKFRIDAY’ at checkout, and receive 50% off ANY MasterMind Drummer course (ex 30-day).