Joseph Scarpino I play for Roulette
2.Who made you want to play drums and why?
I knew my Dad played drums when he was young and that peaked my curiosity in the instrument initially. My cousin Paul Riccio is also a drummer and I had seen him play a handful of times which kept my interest growing. I never had access to my Dad's old Ludwig kit until much later in life. I was around 16 when I started trying to play. My Dad always had good music around so listening to Keith Moon, Travis Barker, Stewart Copeland solidified my need to learn how to play their music and eventually write my own.
3.When did you get your first kit? Tell us about it…
As said previously I was around 16ish. My Dad finally let me restore his old Ludwig kit. I believe its a 1976 model. I polished it, got some new heads, learned how to tune it and began banging away!
4.Where your parents supportive of you and your loud / expensive new habit?
My Mom never liked the drums, which is why I got started on learning the drums so late in life. My parents were split up and my Grandparents were the ones who actually said I can set up the kit in the basement and learn. My Grandparents and my Dad are super supportive to this day. Once my Mom saw I was actually pretty good, she grew to like them too.
5.What drum performance on an album is perfection to you?
That's a tough one, but if I had to say the first thing that comes to mind right now it'd be "The Cell" by Mario Duplantier of GOJIRA.
6.Tell us about your current kit and set up in DETAIL.
My Current Kit is a MAPEX Mydentity Edition. It's a traditional Maple Shell build. 22x20 Kick drum that sounds amazing in huge thanks to SLEDGEPAD Innovations. It has a single 12" Rack Tom and Two Floor toms. A 14" and 16". The snare I use is a 13x7 Pork Pie Vented Snare For my cymbals I utilize TRX Cymbals. I am fortunate enough to be an endorser of theirs for the past 5+ years. I like to use a mix of Bright Explosive sounding cymbals and Dry Crispy cymbals. From left to right; 15" DRK Series Vented Hi-Hats, 19" MDM/BRT Crash, 10" DRK Thunder Splash, 22" LTD series Crash/Ride, 17" MDM/BRT Crash, and a 16" Lightning Crash flipped into an 18" DRK China to make a stack. I use Grombal Cymbal Mounts with Cymbal Chief washers on the cymbals stands. I am also forunate enough to be an endorsers of Scorpion Percussion sticks. I have two of my own weight of sticks for different songs. They are amazing durable and well balanced. Didn't break a single pair on my last 2 months tour!
7.If you could have a dream kit tell us about it in DETAIL
I honestly like what I have now. Maybe I'd have a 10" Rack Tom and some unlimited funds for different cymbals here and there. Seriously though. I don't really want anything more.
8.Name your top 5 drummers excluding Neil Peart and Mike Portnoy
These will be in no specific order: Matt Halpern, Mario Duplantier, Alex Bent, Jo Jo Mayer, Travis Barker.
9. Do you prefer Live or Studio?
Live. The energy is just, THERE!
10.Do drummers really get all the chicks and if so how do we convince the guitarist?
Yes we do. Reason being we're typically more and shape and can do about 4 things at one. Besides a band is only as good as it's drumer. Who gets you dancing, the heart racing, the rhythm to get your heads banging? IT's THE DRUMMER!
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