Mike Mangini

[peter]

I must confess that I know little about Mike Mangini. I know Virgil likes him and people have talked to me about him because of his ambidexterity, since I lead left on the right-handed kit.

Can anyone help me with suggestions of recordings that really show Mangini off?

Also, if you can share with me what you know of him - your experience listening to him or perhaps even seeing him live or in clinic would help me. Thanks.

[Christopher]

I'll have my try at this, Peter...

Mike's a very open guy. I saw him last year at a clinic here in Montreal. He's a very funny guy who basically answers all the questions you got.

I can clearly say that Mike is like a good meal: "He really hits the spot" after you check out his clinic. A lot of people were asking him questions on his playing and his upbringing in the world of music. He was very much open about it all.

Some of my favorite recordings from Mike is all the stuff from Mullmuzzler (with Dream Theater singer James Labrie) and the live albums with Steve Vai. He shows his true colors right there. Don't forget that he's played with a lot of other bands before he made it with Vai (Annihilator, Extreme, etc.) His live playing is also something great to watch, whether it's with a band or at a clinic.

Cheers!

[peter]

I have read quotes of individuals who felt that he was the finest drummer they'd ever seen. Now, I take these quotes, with a grain of salt but how can anyone compare to Virgil? I'm really asking the question?

I am sorry for bringing it up that way. I hate when people start talking about "who's the best... etc." I'm a firm believer that every drummer brings something to the table.

I am bonafidely interested in Mangini.

Are those recordings that I can obtain?

[Christopher]

Yup, those are available already.

All the Mullmuzzler albums are great, the Steve Vai live albums are great, Extreme, etc. All worth checking out.

[peter]

OK. I just bought two Mullmuzzler
releases and the first Rhythm
Knowledge book. I'll investigate.
Thanks for your help, Christopher.

[kirk]

Peter I have seen Mangini 4 times and I really like his playing and he tremendous physical abilities. His strengths to me are his ambidexterity, speed, precision, and power. His feet are great but forget it comparing him to Virg in that department, Mangini has stated so much as that. He is VERY ambidextrious which is great to watch, but I do not find the creative and musical depth with Mangini, that is in a clinic or band setting. Now Mangini has a load of knowledge when teaching but I do not get the enjoyment watching him as I do Virg or others because of the depth of creativity, with Virg it just is an endless flow of fresh ideas and techniques with Mangini in my experience their is alot more repetition, honestly alot more of the rock/metal chops going on. And by that I am not saying he is just a rock drummer but he does have more of a rock feel to his playing, his feel and playing style is more on the stiff side somewhat, Virg has more elasticity to his feel and playing. Mangini's soloing get's old pretty quick to me, at the same time physically impressive.

I would say that Virg, Minneman and Mangini are very close in the Interdependence department, but Virg has a great edge in the dexterity department, hence the nicknames, spatula arms or octopus man names I have heard and agree with. And again I love Virgil's phrasing WAY! more and his drumming just hit's me much deeper in a musical, creative and innovative sense. But Mangini is an amazing drummer with much to offer, and of course everyone bottom line likes who they like more. I would say Virg comes from the Vinnie side where as Mangini comes from the Bozzio side to compare to guys who are more well known from earlier years, and of course Virg and Mangini are charting their own individual paths just relating them to a few guys who have similarties. I am more of a Virg, Vinnie, Weckl, Lang guy than a Bozzio, Mangini, Minneman guy, just my taste of course.

Kirk

[peter]

Thanks, Kirk. That gives me a picture.

I had a suspicion that I might feel the
same way, even before hearing him BUT
I am already going in Mangini's direction,
physically. That's why I decided to look at
his materiel.

Honestly, right now, it's hard for me to
even imagine that there would be anything
or anyone out there that could lift the Virgil
anvil off of me!

He's gone into those places that Tony has
and creatively, that's where it's at.