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Channeling The Spirit Of John Bonham: TheSunsetStrip.com Exclusive Interview With Drummer Samantha Maloney

Channeling The Spirit Of John Bonham: TheSunsetStrip.com Exclusive Interview With Drummer Samantha Maloney
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The spirit of Led Zeppelin was alive and well on Jan. 13 as the Key Club hosted a special encore show paying homage to the band’s legendary drummer, John Bohnam. The night, produced by Brian Tichy and Club Vodka promoter Joe Sutton, featured a house band with a rotating cast of rock’s most prestigious drummers banging out their favorite Led Zep tunes.

In the company of notables such as Chris Slade (AC/DC), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Ozzy Osbourne), Abe Laboriel (Paul McCartney, Sting) and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), drummer extraordinaire Samantha Maloney (Hole, Mötley Crüe, Chelsea Girls) was the sole female to take the stage, picking up the sticks for the classic “All My Love.” Her hard hitting, dynamic performance was one of the definitive high points of the evening, as Maloney proved more impressive than some of her better known contemporaries.

After the show, the goddess of sticks was kind enough to speak with TheSunsetStrip.com about playing “momager” to teen band Cherri Bomb, her “appetite for destruction,” and the honor of paying tribute to the late great John Bonham. Here’s what she had to say…

 

 

Playing on the original drum set from the 1973 Led Zep concert film The Song Remains The Same, what was that like? Catch any vibes or inspiration while jamming on the kit?

I have never played on Amber Vistalites before, the orange see-through drums Bonham used in the movie. The drums we had on stage weren’t his “actual” drums; they were a re-issue. Still, whenever a drummer gets up on a drum set that is not theirs, it is always a bit of a challenge being outside your comfort zone. The kick drum was way bigger than I am used to. But yes, once up on the kit, I wanted to play all the Led Zep songs!

 

What did it mean to you to be the only female drummer in the lineup?

I didn’t think anything of it, but when the other drummers started to say how cool it was to have a female energy onstage paying homage to the man Bonham himself, and I was out there representing a super small percentage of [female] drummers, it was then that I realized that it meant something. I don’t ever think of myself as a female drummer. I just think of myself as a drummer.

 

You’re a longtime industry vet with a stellar resume. Do you still feel like you have to prove yourself being a female drummer? Has it gotten easier for female rock musicians, as far as any existing stereotypes or stigmas?

Why thank you, Brent! I am over trying to prove to Joe Schmoe that I can, "hang with the boys" when it comes to playing drums. I have been playing for over 20 years, and with all the bands I have played with, I am pretty confident I know what I am doing.

I like to think it is getting easier for females to be accepted in this industry. But there seems to be a stigma that girls can’t play drums as hard or hit as hard as boys. That is ridiculous! Try telling Serena Williams she doesn’t hit a tennis ball as hard as boys do. Drumming is all about the right technique, the right teachers, practice, practice, practice, dedication, and most of all if you got rhythm in your soul – whether you are male or female.

 

You were a semi-last minute sub for Steven Adler (GNR). Did you have to cram to rehearse? Does “All My Love” hold any special personal significance for you in your life?

I am not the type of drummer who plays drums all the time. I hadn’t played drums in six months – yikes! – when I had got the call from Brian Tischy to fill in for Steven Adler. I did cram to rehearse. I bought the sheet music to make sure I knew all the fills. But when I went to the rehearsal and saw that each drummer was playing the song the way they wanted to, I nixed the sheet music and played the parts the way I wanted to, which was almost exactly like Bonham woulda played it with a little bit of my own fills here and there.

I dedicated the song to Steven Adler, because I started playing drums after I heard the album Appetite For Destruction when I was 12. So onstage I sent him "All My Love.” He inspired me to pick up the sticks. 

 

Plant or Page?

Bonham. And then maybe Plant. 

 

You’ve taken teen female quartet Cherri Bomb under your wing as manager.  What’s the most important piece of advice you’ve tried to impart?

That with hard work, and more hard work, and great songs, a great attitude, heartfelt gratitude, and giving their best in everything they do, they will have a shot at fulfilling their dreams of being a massively successful rock band. And I know they are teenagers, but I told ’em that I think that spending more than five minutes a day on Facebook is a big ol’ waste of time. I am thinking about implementing the James Brown way…and fining each member of the band five bucks for every bum note. That’ll teach ’em. Or scare ’em. Whatever works.

 

What are you currently working on musically? 

I got a couple of tricks up my sleeve musically, but at the moment my main focus is Cherri Bomb. They are so talented and I want to give them the best shot at conquering this crazy business. I have had a great run on the artist side, and now I am more interested in the business side of the music industry. Watch out for them in 2011. They just signed a record deal with Hollywood Records and are writing their first album now. Think Runaways meets Foos meets Muse. Cherri Bomb has been playing together for three years already. Kinda nuts that the band’s median age is only 13!
 

 
Photos courtesy of Torry Pendergrass and Ron Lyon.

–Brent X Mendoza

 

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