The chat went as follows:

• Boom Theory proudly launches it's first "Chat Live" with the legendary Michael Shrieve. Best known for his work with "Santana", Michael will be honored later this year as inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Michael was one of the pioneers of electro-percussion and his insight and experiments in this field are noteworthy. Wearing many hats these days as producer, performer, and sonic scientist, this promises to be a very cool evening for drummers everywhere ! We go online at 6:30 pm PST January 7, 1998 to field your question and "live" with Michael Shrieve. Remember only 30 to 50 chatters will be able to access our page at any one time. However, all viewers will be able to view the Q and A session as it occurs.

• WebMaster - AND NOW.... we present Michael Shrieve!!!!!

• MADMAX - Hi Mike, please solve this 30 year old puzzle... was the drum solo on the first santa na album edited or overdubbed??? the repeating pattern in the second half of the solo is really hard to figure out, can you explain the sticking of the repeating pattern.. just got "two doors" and Abraxas Pool great stuff!!! Can you help with the puzzle??? THANKS!!!

• Michael Shrieve - MadMax...The drum solo that you're talking about was not overdubbed. 30 years is a long time to remember if it was edited. Did they have editing in those days? I don't recall that it was edited. Although, there is someone here in the room that is telling me that the triple pattern comes in at an odd place. there's no way that I could explain the sticking pattern other than it is single strokes. Most likely accented in triplets.

• Michael Shrieve - Usually my strength is in double stroking but this particular pattern was single strokes. But is was all live and not overdubbed. thanks for picking up Two Doors and Abraxas Pool. Glad you like them.

• Scott Sullivan - This is Scott Sullivan from the Storm WWW Page, how are you? What is your latest project?

• Michael Shrieve - Hey Scott how you doin'? The next thing I'm doing is playing with Gregg and Carlos and Carabello at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York this coming Monday.

• Scott Sullivan - Fantastic, what songs will you do?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...Black Magic Woman and Gypsy Queen. You can see it on VH-1 on the 19th.

• Scott Sullivan - Looking forward to it. We will be covering it on the Storm WWW Page.

• ED - Will the entire original Santana band be playing, or will it be a composite of 30 years of Santana?

• Michael Shrieve - Ed...Everybody except for Chepito and David Brown. Although David Brown will be there at the ceremony.

• ED - Who will play bass?

• Michael Shrieve - Ed...It will be Myron Dove on bass.

• TheMac - What's your take on Neal Schon being inducted, then not being inducted?

• Michael Shrieve - The Mac...It's a shame what happened with Neal. He was never officially inducted but the word was that he and Coke Escovedo were going to be inducted as well but then it was decided that they weren't in the original band and the Hall of Fame changed it to just the original members. But I feel bad for Neal.

• Scott Sullivan - Will Neal be at the show?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...No, Neal won't be at the show.

• Skinz - What kind of drum setup do you have in the studio?

• Michael Shrieve - Skinz...The last project that I recorded and it is not released yet, is called "Drums of Compassion" and I played DW set of 18 drums standing up in a semi-circle. It's very ambient and meditative but with lots of drums.

• MADMAX - What are the chances of Carlos and Abraxas Pool working together?

• Michael Shrieve - MadMax...We invited Carlos to play on our track of Abraxas Pool but he declined and I think it was just as well because people can then see the sound of Abraxas Pool as being the original sound of Santana, Carlos or not.

• Scott Sullivan - Do you plan a follow up to the Abraxas Pool project?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...We'll see about another Abraxas Pool. Gregg and Carabello speak all the time but, no, there is nothing planned as of yet.

• Skinz - how do you feel about electronic percussion?

• Michael Shrieve - Skinz...I love electronic percussion and owned one of the first electronic kits in 1973.

• Michael Shrieve - Skinz...If you can believe that! It was made by a company called Impact Percussion out of Portland Oregon and I played them in some parts on a record called Automatic Man that was released in 1976. I did an album completely using electric percussion called The Big Picture in 1989 with David Beal and used the kat pads. Now for electronic percussion, the best product is what Al Adinolfi is making at Boom Theory. These electronic/acoustic drums are going to really turn things around in the industry.

• Scott Sullivan - What is your favorite Santana album?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...My favorite Santana album is Caravanserai.

• Skinz - Your bio says that you have been doing some producing... what bands or musicians have you been working with?

• Michael Shrieve - Skinz...And I produced a singer from Toronto named Douglas September which comes out on Samson Music which is a new label I'm doing A&R for. Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz, and Michael Rhodes as well as myself play on this record. I've produced 2 groups recently. A group called F5 out of Kansas City, a wonderful instrumental group - the record comes out in March.

• TheMac - Have you guys ever talked about doing another HSAS disc?

• Michael Shrieve - The Mac...No more HSAS, that was a one off that was a lot of fun. I hear that it's been released on CD recently.

• MADMAX - Have you or do you plan to ever do an instructional video?

• Michael Shrieve - MadMax...Nobody has ever asked me to do an instructional video and there are no plans to do one. I think I'd rather write a book but not a drum book but just about my experiences.

• freshhorses - Michael...have you been back to the Fillmore since it reopened and what were your impressions?

• Michael Shrieve - freshhorses...Yes, I played 3 times with Abraxas Pool at the new Filmore and I thought it was great.

• freshhorses - Did it bring back any specific memories? Favorite nights at the ballroom..any great shows that stick out in your mind?

• Michael Shrieve - freshhorses...Absolutely! Memories galore playing at the Fillmore. Aside from all the wonderful Santana gigs, the incredible wealth of music that I heard there before even being in Santana...the Yardbirds with Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page...Cream, Miles Davis, Charles Lloyd, plus all the psychedelic groups.

• Mark - Michael, could you explain a bit about your recording setup in the studio. Micing techniques.

• Michael Shrieve - Mark...I usually let the engineer do his job of setting up mics in the studio and I approve the sound before recording.

• Scott Sullivan - Do you have any plans to work with Roger Hodgson again? Did you enjoy working with him?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...No plans to work with Roger. I loved working with him and we continue to be in touch. He has a recent live album out that is very good. You should get it.

• KarmaFarmer - What was your favorite memory at Woodstock?

• Michael Shrieve - KarmaFarmer...Woodstock...The favorite memory would have to be the very end of Soul Sacrifice - the last song in the set to an audience that had never heard us before and receiving that most incredible reaction from them.

• freshhorses - I've always enjoyed hearing butch and jaimoe from the allmans..and Bill and Mickey from the dead..have you ever played in a combination with another trap set drummer? Do you like it?

• Michael Shrieve - freshhorses...I've always wanted to do that and still seriously consider it these days. Maybe I'll put something together in Seattle playing around town trying that.

• Scott Sullivan - What did you think of Woodstock 94?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...I actually played there with an Italian singer named Zucchero. He's like the Bruce Springsteen of Italy. Anyway, I went there low key and did the show and enjoyed it very much. It seemed like all the kids wanted to get wasted and muddy and wet and go back home and tell all there friends about it but it was good.

• ian - Mike will bee at the Namm show. If so we should get together. I saw Neal Schon there last year.

• Michael Shrieve - Ian...I won't be at NAMM but be sure go to the Boom Theory booth #3964 and check out the Spacemuffin X kits.

• freshhorses - Do you feel that it would take time..playing with another drummer to find your synchronicity? For lack of a better word.

• Michael Shrieve - freshhorses...I would most likely select a drummer that felt like a natural blend but of course it would take time to sync things up.

• Skinz - What other drummers do you get together with in Seattle?

• Michael Shrieve - Skinz...There are some great drummers in Seattle. Matt Chamberlain, Matt Cameron, Conrad Ormsby, Greg Gilmore, Mike Stone, and many more.

• freshhorses - Why do you think there are not more two drummer combinations? When it works..it can be ASTOUNDING...leave the guitars at home!!

• Michael Shrieve - freshhorses...I'm beginning to agree with you about the guitars and the drum thing, there are many more combinations of drummers playing together than there used to be, i.e. drums from other parts of the world. As far as 2 drummers, it may come down to simple logistics and the size of the stages available in clubs.

• KarmaFarmer - Do ya like RAP?

• Michael Shrieve - KarmaFarmer...Like all music there is good and there is not good. I love the beats in rap and I love the beats in DJ stuff like DJ Spooky, etc. I even like the beats in techno. I like beats!

• Scott Sullivan - How involved are you in the design and creation of you web site?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...The web site went up almost 2 years ago and I haven't done a thing to it since. It is incomplete and in dire need of more personal touch from me. I was very involved in the design concept but got busy and the designers had to complete something so some of it is not to my liking but I love the look of it and thanks for reminding me about it.

• ian - Mike - Getting a new set of DW's and going to try a right side remote hi-hat to get the same effect of a left hand drummer playing a rightty kit...ever try it?

• Michael Shrieve - Ian...Yes, I have tried the right side hi-hat with the traditional on the left simultaneously and I enjoy it very much and think it's a natural for drummers to place a hi-hat some where on their right side so it has a much more natural feel. TheMac - If you could do a dream jam with 4 other drummers/percussionist...who would they be?

• freshhorses - Have you ever seen mickey hart's planet drum...like/dislike?

• Michael Shrieve - freshhorses...Yes I've seen Mickey Hart's planet drum and loved the first version of it. didn't care for the second version and did not see the last tour. I love what Mickey has done with the books and bringing drums to the foreground and have the utmost admiration and respect for him.

• TheMac - If you could do a dream jam with 4 other drummers/percussionist...who would they be?

• Michael Shrieve - The Mac...Trilok Gurtu, Elvin Jones, Manu Katche and Airto.

• Donna - How are you doing and will you ever be performing in New York?

• Michael Shrieve - Donna...Yes! This Monday at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria.

• freshhorses - What do you think of the concept of drumming and rythm as a healing force?

• Michael Shrieve - freshhorses...I am very much a believer in drumming and rhythm and music and sound as a healing force and am looking forward to doing work in this area.

• Scott Sullivan - Have you heard the new Storm album with Gregg Rolie "Eye of the Storm" that is coming out this month? What did you think of it?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...No I haven't heard it.

• cperez - How can I get some of your drum music from your time with santana?

• Michael Shrieve - cperez...Most likely Tower Records or any record store has some Santana albums.

• RhythmUK - Congrats on the HoF thing Michael.

• Michael Shrieve - Rhythm UK...Thanks, Ronan. Apparently Peter Green will be there as well and we're hoping that he'll play Black Magic Woman with us.

• Mark - Is the Hall Of Fame ceremony going to be televised live?

• Michael Shrieve - Mark...It will be televized and broadcast on VH-1 January 19th. Jeff Beck and Johnny Lang are going to do a tribute to Gene Vincent.

• MADMAX - Do you find acoustic drums limiting expression wise as opposed to the electronic stuff?

• Michael Shrieve - MadMax...No not at all. For me they have always been in a way, 2 different animals but it looks like the gap is closing with the electro-acoustic drums that Boom Theory is making. I've always loved melody and wanted to play melodically on the drums and naturally move towards electronic percussion in order to do this. It can be time consuming to program sounds and work in a melodic fashion with electronics as a drummer but it is so rewarding and worth the time to play sounds that make music aside from the acoustic drums but all the while still playing with drum sticks. To create the music as a drummer with drum sticks brings a whole other side of yourself out. Where you're combining you're rhythmic and melodic sensibilities.

• Scott Sullivan - Are there any Abraxas Pool or Santana songs that have not been released that may be on a future box set?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...there are some Abraxas Pool things that could be on a future release.

• Scott Sullivan - What is your favoite solo release?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...I did a record called Stiletto that has been discontinued with Mark Isham, David Torn, and Andy Summers that I really like. Also, Fascination with Bill Frisell and Wayne Horvitz. The Big Picture I like in a different way, it being completely done on pads and my new one Drums of Compassion which is not out yet I really like.

• Scott Sullivan - Have you heard Steve Smith with Vital Information? Your thoughts?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...Yes I've heard Steve Smith with Vital Information. Steve is a wonderful drummer who I have much respect for but Vital Information is not really my kind of music. I prefer not so fusion stuff although on my last record, Two Doors with Jonas Hellborg and Shawn Lane it was kind of fusiony. I prefer a looser feel like a Tony Williams or an Elvin Jones type of thing.

• zipperhead - Michael...you have any thoughts on keeping breath flow going while playing? I sometimes hold my breath until i realize i'm about to die.

• Michael Shrieve - zipperhead...Breathing correctly is one of the key elements to being a relaxed drummer. Keep your breathing in mind while you're playing try to sit up straight and create a slow but rhythmic breathing pace through your nose through the top of your head and down your spine and this will help you play better and feel the music in a longer motion instead of beat by beat or bar by bar.

• Scott Sullivan - When will Drums of Compassion be out?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...I hope to have Drums of Compassion out sometime this year but no specific date is set.

• Donna - Michael...Sometimes I have trouble finding your recent music in the music stores. Is there a company or url address that you could suggest I go to find most of your CD's.

• Michael Shrieve - Donna...Some of my stuff is out of circulation but I'm working on it to be back. Although, you can check my website at www.mshrieve.com for what I've been doing and CD Now is good on-line. When you e-mail me I can get you up to date. As a mime, you're going to love Drums of Compassion.

• WAYNO - As you say, you have always heard melodic sounds happening, did you ever get into vibes etc..?

• Michael Shrieve - Wayno...Yes! I did study vibes and enjoyed it very much but did not continue to become a "vibe" player. The kat vibe controller is great for vibe players.

• Scott Sullivan - Have you ever considered doing movie and/or TV soundtracks?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...Yes, I have done several. The Bedroom Window which was directed by Curtis Hanson who's latest film is L.A. Confidential. I also did three TV movies and several TV shows.

• Scott Sullivan - Do you have any plans to do a collection of sountracks?

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...I don't enjoy them. I'm not a composer's composer kind of composer and in the film business speed is of the utmost importance and the pressure is incredible. I found that it may not be god's calling for me. Although, I am being asked to do music for a new film of Dungeons and Dragons

• Scott Sullivan - Have you ever been to Beaufort, South Carolina? There is a Water Festival downtown ever year and they have live music. The had 38 Special last year and some Jazz.

• Michael Shrieve - Scott...I hear Beaufort is beautiful and I'll have to get there sometime.

• zipperhead - Do you compose your music on the electronic perc or on keyboards, other?

• Michael Shrieve - zipperhead...I compose on both but not being a keyboard player, to write the music on the electronic percussion is a real natural way to go. It takes some getting used to but it has a completely different sensibility in terms of rhythm, of course, and you can play melodies faster than you could ever play on keyboards. Just sticking patterns alone create melodies that you would never think of writing on the keyboard.

• Al (WebMaster) - We want to thank everyone for making our inaugural Chat Live a success and especially to Michael Shrieve for spending his evening chatting with all of us. We'd also like to congratulate Michael on his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is now and will continue to be an inspiration to drummers everywhere and we are honored to have him as an endorsee of our products.

• Michael Shrieve - Goodnight everybody. Thanks for your questions and thanks for listening to the music. Good night.

• Scott Sullivan - Take care Michael and looking forward to new music!!!

  c/o Boom Theory. Edited for Clarity.

  
  CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE STORM WWW PAGE
  

  
  CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE JOURNEY WWW PAGE