STEWART COPELAND

Just curious, We have heard the story of how Stewart got his deal with Tama and how that relationship started out. What about the story with Paiste? I know he had mainly Zildjian's in the beginning. What led him to Paiste? Did Paiste come to you guys or vice versa?


Steve Ettelson may have been the A&R guy back then but I know he has passed away. I have the PASIC drum clinic video from 1985. I think Steve is standing behind you for some of that show. Do you remember him?

Thanks in advance!

Jeremy

Do you have a proper video of that event because mine is very rough ... perhaps you can share it with the community.
Thanks

Mine isn't that great either. I got it on VHS(2nd or 3rd generation). I transferred mine to DVD because the VHS was getting worn. We probably have the same quality.

tamajt wrote:Mine isn't that great either. I got it on VHS(2nd or 3rd generation). I transferred mine to DVD because the VHS was getting worn. We probably have the same quality.

Too Bad !!
Thanks

[quote="tamajt"]Just curious, We have heard the story of how Stewart got his deal with Tama and how that relationship started out. What about the story with Paiste? I know he had mainly Zildjian's in the beginning. What led him to Paiste? Did Paiste come to you guys or vice versa?


Steve Ettelson may have been the A&R guy back then but I know he has passed away. I have the PASIC drum clinic video from 1985. I think Steve is standing behind you for some of that show. Do you remember him?

Thanks in advance!

Jeremy[/quote]

Sometime in '81, I believe, Paiste approached Stewart with an endorsement proposal. We had been purchasing the Zildjians up to that point.

Yes, I remember Steve Ettleston very well. He was the US A&R rep for many years.
I don't even have a copy of that PASIC show! LOL

I'm kind of surprised that Zildjian hadn't offered a deal as soon as Roxanne became a US hit. At least by the time Don't Stand became a big hit they should have seen that The Police were going to be huge. Personally, I'm glad Stewart sealed a deal with Paiste, because I've always preferred them. In the late 70s, Paiste offered something new and different cymbal-wise, where Zildjian was kind of ho-hum to me. I think Stewart appreciated that Paiste was an innovative company and offered a lot of new sounds, but he sounds good on anything he plays.

Thanks Jeff! We may have to get you a copy of the clinic somehow(surprised it hasn't made it to you tube by now). You are in most of the show(catching the falling mike stand crashing over the Rudes)

drummike wrote:I'm kind of surprised that Zildjian hadn't offered a deal as soon as Roxanne became a US hit. At least by the time Don't Stand became a big hit they should have seen that The Police were going to be huge. Personally, I'm glad Stewart sealed a deal with Paiste, because I've always preferred them. In the late 70s, Paiste offered something new and different cymbal-wise, where Zildjian was kind of ho-hum to me. I think Stewart appreciated that Paiste was an innovative company and offered a lot of new sounds, but he sounds good on anything he plays.

I'm not really surprised that Zildjian missed that boat. They were still promoting Jazz guys like Buddy Rich and Louie Bellson back then. They didn't latch on to the rock/session guys until the end of the 80s. Now they're having the same problem. A lot of their best players have left: Neil Peart, Tommy Aldridge, JR Robinson, Dave Weckl, Vinnie Colaiuta. Sad tale - they finally figured out who their bread and butter guys were, but then Armand passed away and now it seems Craigie is clueless or apathetic. That said, I still love them. I have some nice Paistes and Sabians, but I've got a whole fleet of Zildjians that give me what I want in a cymbal - although it's still hard to find the gems. Ninety percent of my collection I purchased used. Why spend good money on a manhole cover?

I started out with Zildjians in the early eighties(in my youth). My teacher sold me on them because I didn't know any better but I never liked them. Then I saw that paiste ad with Stewart and all those Rudes! My first Paiste was a 16" Rude. Added 2002's and 602's as the years went on. Now I play Signatures. What I like about paiste is that they go off one master cymbal. It is trashed if that cymbal doesn't sound like the master. Every Zildjian 16"thin crash will sound different. Not for me. If I break a Paiste 16" fast crash, I want that sound again. Erik Paiste invited me to the office in Brea a few years ago. Super nice people and I was able to pick out some cymbals while I was there. They even made me my own custom "Blue" cymbal. It is a 22" 2002 Ride in the blue color. I am prettty sure it is the only one in the world also....

tamajt wrote:I started out with Zildjians in the early eighties(in my youth). My teacher sold me on them because I didn't know any better but I never liked them. Then I saw that paiste ad with Stewart and all those Rudes! My first Paiste was a 16" Rude. Added 2002's and 602's as the years went on. Now I play Signatures. What I like about paiste is that they go off one master cymbal. It is trashed if that cymbal doesn't sound like the master. Every Zildjian 16"thin crash will sound different. Not for me. If I break a Paiste 16" fast crash, I want that sound again. Erik Paiste invited me to the office in Brea a few years ago. Super nice people and I was able to pick out some cymbals while I was there. They even made me my own custom "Blue" cymbal. It is a 22" 2002 Ride in the blue color. I am prettty sure it is the only one in the world also....

Yeah, Erik is a really great guy. I wrote him a letter years ago telling him how much I liked the Sig Rough Ride and not only did he write back, but I got a Christmas card from him the next year!

I just got a 22" Zildjian Impulse ride. They were Zildjian's answer to the Rudes. I have been searching for one ever since they came out, since I wanted a Rude like Stewart's but I'm a Zildjian guy. Now I have two 22" Rudes and to my ears, the Impulse sounds more like Stewart's Rude ride than my two Rudes. I'm pretty sure that the alloy is different - it's more gold in color and brighter in tone. The bell is smaller than on the Rude, but it's just killer! Fantastic stick definition also. I close my eyes and I hear the Synchronicity Rude. I read in another thread that Stewart's Rude was custom made. Any truth to this, Jeff? At the very least, his must have been hand picked, because neither one of my 22"s sound as good as his did.

I just got a 22" Zildjian Impulse ride. They were Zildjian's answer to the Rudes. I have been searching for one ever since they came out, since I wanted a Rude like Stewart's but I'm a Zildjian guy. Now I have two 22" Rudes and to my ears, the Impulse sounds more like Stewart's Rude ride than my two Rudes. I'm pretty sure that the alloy is different - it's more gold in color and brighter in tone. The bell is smaller than on the Rude, but it's just killer! Fantastic stick definition also. I close my eyes and I hear the Synchronicity Rude. I read in another thread that Stewart's Rude was custom made. Any truth to this, Jeff? At the very least, his must have been hand picked, because neither one of my 22"s sound as good as his did.[/quote]

The Rudes were sent to Stewart by Paiste. They may have been custom made for him and vetted before shipping. There may have been a ride cymbal or two to choose from but he mostly used what they shipped.

I don't believe we ever used the Rudes in the recording studio, although I can't confirm this. There were some Rudes in the Demolition Man video, however that was not the actual recording. The Rudes were used in the Godley and Creme produced Synchronicity live in Atlanta video.

As far as the sound of his cymbals remember, recording technique is a major factor in the sound of drums and cymbals.

[The Rudes were sent to Stewart by Paiste. They may have been custom made for him and vetted before shipping. There may have been a ride cymbal or two to choose from but he mostly used what they shipped.

I don't believe we ever used the Rudes in the recording studio, although I can't confirm this. There were some Rudes in the Demolition Man video, however that was not the actual recording. The Rudes were used in the Godley and Creme produced Synchronicity live in Atlanta video.

As far as the sound of his cymbals remember, recording technique is a major factor in the sound of drums and cymbals.[/quote]

That was another question for you Jeff...did you know what cymbals were used on Synchronicity & Ghost then? That splash on wrapped around your finger...2002? And were the Synchronicity sessions done on the Imperialstar kit with black dot heads like Ghost?

I have a 22" Rude also and is still one of my favorites. From the photos I have seen(Andy's photo book being one of them)Stewart used a 24" for the Ghost and Synchronicity tours. Those Impulse cymbals were pretty cool. They were taken over by the Z line in 85'ish.

tamajt wrote:[The Rudes were sent to Stewart by Paiste. They may have been custom made for him and vetted before shipping. There may have been a ride cymbal or two to choose from but he mostly used what they shipped.

I don't believe we ever used the Rudes in the recording studio, although I can't confirm this. There were some Rudes in the Demolition Man video, however that was not the actual recording. The Rudes were used in the Godley and Creme produced Synchronicity live in Atlanta video.

As far as the sound of his cymbals remember, recording technique is a major factor in the sound of drums and cymbals.

That was another question for you Jeff...did you know what cymbals were used on Synchronicity & Ghost then? That splash on wrapped around your finger...2002? And were the Synchronicity sessions done on the Imperialstar kit with black dot heads like Ghost?

I have a 22" Rude also and is still one of my favorites. From the photos I have seen(Andy's photo book being one of them)Stewart used a 24" for the Ghost and Synchronicity tours. Those Impulse cymbals were pretty cool. They were taken over by the Z line in 85'ish.[/quote]

Yeah, I had a 22" Z Light Power Ride. Total manhole cover. The splash and power smash were awesome, though. I remember wanting the Zs just because they looked so cool. According to my Paiste 2002 brochure, Stewart did use a 24" Rude. I've seen pics of it on the Ghost tour, but in the Syncro. concert video, it looks like he's using a 22". He also used a Rude ride with Animal Logic.

This conversation is magical. Thanks Jeff for indulging these awesome questions!

I used my 22" Impulse ride at a backyard party last weekend, unmic'd. It kicked major butt! Cut through so well and the bell is awesome! That is definitely going to be my go-to ride for loud stuff. Also used the Copeland snare for the first time in about seven years. Slapped an Evans Genera coated on it and off we went! Boy, I've missed that one!