Fucking LOVE this interview. Rodney is such a great guy - I'm really glad he's part of Avril's team
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ABOUT RODNEY!
A veteran of the New York City musical landscape, Rodney’s reputation is rapidly growing. His wildly varying experiences in many musical worlds have brought him to arenas, recording studios and television worldwide. His love and genuine passion shines through in his dynamic live playing, and his versatility has sparked a constantly growing demand in the recording studio.
After recording and touring with J Records artist Gavin Degraw on the platinum-selling album “Chariot”, he went on to record (and also tour) with the critically acclaimed Regina Spektor. 2007 saw him joining punk princess Avril Lavigne for her third multi-platinum release, “The Best Damn Thing”, going on to record her “Control Room Live” EP and an upcoming live concert DVD, “Live In Toronto”. He is currently on World Tour with Avril.
Other diverse credits include Joan Jett, Sebastian Bach, Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer Ben E. King, Oz Noy, Kate Pierson (B-52’s), John Patitucci and Micheal Pope (Chick Corea), Chris Botti & Jeffery Lee Campbell (Sting), Lenny Pickett (Tower of Power), Jeff Kazee (Bon Jovi) , G.E. Smith (Saturday Night Live), Tom Barney, Ted Baker & Cornelius Bumpus (Steely Dan), Steve Augeri (Journey), Lorenza Ponce (Sheryl Crow), Francisco Centeno (Aretha Franklin), (David Bowie Producer) Tony Visconti, Mark Rivera, Tommy Burns & Crystal Talifero (Billy Joel), as well as Broadway shows The Lion King, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, Little Shop of Horrors, Saturday Night Fever & The Rocky Horror Show.
When not on touring or reading comic books, he continues to record in New York & L.A.
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OUR INTERVIEW!!
What are your favourite songs to play live? Rachael Scotland
Wow, there are a lot of favourites, it’s hard to say. My Happy Ending has always been a favourite of mine, as well as Don’t Tell Me. I always loved Hot and Losing Grip, but those aren’t in the set these days. Are far as being just personally fun on drums, I tend to like the ones where I get to fake the electronic sounds from the records on my little baby drums, shakers, and “toys”, but then rock out on the full later in the song. My favourite songs to play live from Goodbye Lullaby are Wish You Were Here, I Love You, Push and Smile.
Hey, please can you ask him about the Black Star Tour in the Middle East? And if Avril knows about the MMVA fail? I’m Myriam from Lebanon, thanks
No word on the Middle East yet, they are so busy with details and arrangements the South America that I think that’s the main focus for now. I have heard rumours though, and I’d love to go, I’ve never seen the Middle East.
As far as the MMVA “Fail”: Avril obviously knows that Justin Beiber was given the award. We all saw the scores right before the show and whatever happened there IS a suspicious mystery, I’ll admit. But I have 2 personal opinions about this I’d like to share with all Av fans…
1) Using the term “fail”, especially from fans, is not a helpful thing. Most people only read the headline of any news story and when you put a word like “fail” out on the internet, they don’t bother to dig into the details and see that there might have been unfairness or whatever, they only think two words: “Avril” & “Fail”. There are a lot of entertainment reporters (and some plain old gossip hags) out there that LOVE to bash Avril. Most of them are dolts and don’t are about the truth, they just wanna put two juicy words together so people will go to their website. Try not to give them ammunition.
2) Your love for someone’s music is all that really matters. I love that fans want to show their support for Av in contests, and the fans did a RIDICULOUSLY good job of it on this one, but the only thing that a music “award” EVER means is this: Artist X is really popular RIGHT NOW, at the moment. Period. Someone like Justin, for example, is REALLY new and REALLY hot. Let him enjoy his day in the sun (and good for him, I’ve heard he actually is a pretty talented guy). And Avril? Avril is an incredibly established artist that is 4 successful records into her career, she’s the real thing and she’s here to stay. Winning or NOT winning some random award can’t change that. Just remember, there are a LOT of “hot” artists that win loads of awards every year, (some of them VERY talented.) but how many go on to have the career like Avril’s? Do anyone remember how many awards the Spice Girls raked in? A LOT. I’ll let you fill in the rest of that story.
At the end of the day, awards are nice. They give the papers something to write about. But they don’t make anyone’s records better, or worse. Just focus on your love of the music
Just my opinion!!!!!!
Hi Rodney, i’m Francesca from Italy.. I read your tweet yesterday, what kind of news where you speaking about (Avril’s tour/schedule)? Any plans or concerts in Australia in 2011?
First, always be careful how seriously you take my tweets! I goof a lot and mostly just try to pretend I’m funny. Occasionally I have something serious to say (such as my reasons for #boycottNIKE), but mostly I just like to stay in touch with friends & fans.
Most of the time we are asked NOT to reveal dates, TV appearances, etc. before they are officially announced, so even if I did have some “secret squirrel” (Ferlazzo’s term!) info, I could only hint at it!
Who is your favorite singer/band other than Avril Lavigne?
Wow, that’s pretty tough. I sometimes think it’s a cop-out when people say this, but for me it’s true: My favorite stuff changes constantly, and a lot of it sounds nothing like Avril. A lot isn’t even pop, rock or hip-hop. Most isn’t even new music!
This is what’s been looping on my ipod lately: Me’Shell N’dgeocello, Radiohead, Foo Fighters, The Meters, Van Halen, Company of Thieves, D’Angelo, a LOT of New Orleans music (The Wild Magnolias, Dr, John, Rebirth Brass Band, Eddie Bo, Soul Rebels Brass band), J Dilla and “Exile on Main Street” (Stones). Next month it’ll probably change and I’ll be listening to Tears For Fears & Queens of the Stone Age.
A lot of times I LOVE a band’s record but then see them live and realize that most of their coolness came from the producer and they really aren’t great singers or players. Some names that ARE great on record AND live: Foo Fighters, Paramore, Muse, and any band that has Josh Freese on the throne.
Hey Rodney I’m Rachel from England. I want to know what’s your favourite country to play in?
Again, I hate to sound like I’m copping out, but there are SO many favorites. Wow, have I really HATED any? Japan comes to mind, mostly because we’ve been there so much that we literally feel like we’re at our second home. There’s a stand-up sushi place in Shibuya where the sushi chefs laugh when they see us because we eat lunch AND dinner there every day! Like my music, my favs tend to change depending on where my head’s at. Like when I’m in a shopping mood, I think of the markets in Hong Kong. But I can find the best old Drum ‘n’ Bass records in London! Oh, but hungry? Hard to beat Italy. Unless I want some poutine & Molson, then I’m dreaming of Canada. But then again, The Louvre in Paris is always mind-blowing… And on & on.
I think I’m lucky. Because I grew up in a really REALLY small town, I’m always open to enjoying the best parts of wherever I am… Which is why I seem so indecisive!
Ellen from Australia wants to know - What is your favourite thing about being Avril’s drummer?
Well, there’s a LOT. I’ll try to skip the obvious things like “great music, great fans and cool travel” and tell you the most unique things to ME:
- I love playing in a REAL BAND. Avril is one of the only remaining solo artists that that insists on having a honest-to-god real band of great players on stage that YOU CAN HEAR. Yes, there are some monster players out there with some big-name artists, but you can’t HEAR them most of the time because the mix is 95% backing tracks. When you hear an Avril concert, with the exception of a very few sounds (some handclaps, etc.), you are hearing HER and HER band: real drums, real guitars, real bass, real keys.
-Also, she TREATS us like a real band. Most big-name pop artists use their band as props, and barely know their names. Avril keeps up with us & our families, eats with us, parties with us and pretty much treats us like dudes she likes & happens to hang out with. That is really great and rare.
- This next one is a drum-geek thing! I came up with a way to use shakers, tiny snare drums, a tiny 2nd kick drum, etc. as way to actually acoustically fake a lot of sounds that were actually drum machines or drum loops on her albums. It’s a little weird, and most artists would just say “forget it” and just put it all on fake backing tracks, but Avril totally let’s me do all of it. It’s something she actually loved when I auditioned for her, and it’s really nice as a drummer to be appreciated for something that’s kind of unique to you. I’d NEVER get away with that with anybody else.
Hello,please ask him what is he thinking about goodbye lullaby album? and wich song does he like the most? I’m Manja from Serbia,thank you!
I personally LOVE Goodbye Lullaby. I know Avril pretty well and I think it really represents where she is as a singer and a person right now. Hard to say, but I think I may like “Smile” the best…
What’s the best thing about touring? and the worst?
BEST: Seeing the world, trying new foods and things I never would get to experience otherwise.
WORST: Being away from my wife & family for really long periods of time. Skype helps! Also it’s very hard to go to New Orleans as much as I’d like, because of unpredictable scheduling, etc.
What do want to be released next from Goodbye Lullaby?Love youx Louise England
With my taste, my favorite tunes aren’t always the ones that make sense as pop singles (as you can imagine by reading my listening list!), but I think Wish You Were Here would be the best one. Or maybe… Everybody Hurts.
Do you remember the first time that you played with Avril Lavigne?How was it?”-My name is Liliana Cruz, I’m from MEXICO
Yes, I do! I was on tour with Regina Spektor at the time and had to squeeze in the Avril audition on one of Regina’s off-days.
Steve Ferlazzo I actually auditioned on that same day. It was stressful because I had to take extra time to set up my “toys that nobody else used, like the baby side snare, etc. Then I had to get my vocal mic up, which was MORE time. Avril didn’t sing with us because she really wanted to watch & listen to the players. She was really, really nice, and thanked everyone for coming. She also complimented me on my little fake drum machine stuff and thought it was cool that I also sang. Even if I hadn’t gotten the gig, it was really cool to audition for somebody that really listened and noticed what I had to offer.
Thank you again to all the little black stars that submitted questions to us! We asked Rodney your questions and thank you Rodney for taking the time to answer questions from fans!
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Quote
That is also amazing that she keeps up with her band and their families 
Originally Posted by Annie Was Here
DAMN!!!
We're dying without her here in Lebanon! OMG!
btw great interview and thx for sharing 
BeachDan66
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