I was invited to NAMM by my good friend, and fellow drummer, Scott (who is in the Guns n' Roses tribute band RocketQueen). Seeing as though we are crazy about drumming, most of the images deal with just that. Of course there are some exceptions. NAMM was held in Anaheim, CA. at the Anaheim Convention Center (right across from Disneyland) from January 16th through the 19th of 2003. We were there the 17th. It was an amazing experience which I will never forget.

The Innovation Drum set, or Hollywood Monster feature, with The Creature From The Black Lagoon, and Bride Of Frankenstein on the other side with those odd looking green skulls. Very odd. Rikki Rockett (Poison) was shown in the ad as an endorser of ID.

Pearl has some beautiful kits which they are coming out with and the green emerald fade is no exception!

Thomas Lang shows the crowd his dazzling foot work with the double bass drum pedal. Here he perches high above the audience of onlookers at the Sonor display.

Sonor's wild looking India/Psychedelic patterned kit. The picture doesn't do this beauty justice.

World Max, one of the newer drum companies.

Tama's all new StarClassic Exotix III "Midnight Storm" made of African Quilted Sapele/Bubinga. Very nice!

Zildjian releases their latest bronze alloy snare drum with Evans head. Brilliant sound from America's #1 cymbal manufacturer. The image of Armand Zildjian providing that he may not be here but he's with us in spirit.

Parliament/Funkadelic bassist, Bootsy Collins' "Star bass." Bootsy was later seen wandering around the convention center with guitarist from the reformed version of Gun's n' Roses, Buckethead.

Famed drummer, Jim Keltner decided he didn't want to be photographed alone (as he is pictured with a Paiste representative). Jim is known for his work with The Traveling Wibury's, Tom Petty, George Harrison, and as half of the Charlie Watts/Jim Keltner Project.

Greg Bissonette gets caught by the flash of my camera as he gives directions at the same time at the Vic Firth booth soon after signing.

The nine string electric Adler bass, a marvel in itself. Handmade, a wicked looking mother board which was partially possible to see in the back. An abalone G clef was carved at the base of the neck. One must have some lengthy fingers to reach around this bass!

One of guitar virtuoso, Steve Vai's creations. (NOT your average looking guitar!) I have no idea what its proper name is but again, the picture doesn't do it justice with it's copper and olive matte tones. It was spinning in a gyro. Vai was doing signings at the Ibanez booth around noon time that day.

We had run into Bernard "Pretty" Purdie before either of these pictures were taken. He told us to meet him at the Anvil/Calzone booth where what you see took place. It was a small jam consisting of Purdie, legendary guitarist, Larry Coryell, and a percussionist on bongos. Purdie played very lightly but with enough feel that it matches him on any list with Steve Gadd. The more Purdie played, a crowd built up around the impromptu stage. Scott made the comment that Bernard played more subtely normal than what he himself would do even with ghost notes.

Scott and Dennis Chambers catch up on lost time and swap phone numbers while they're at it. (Unfortunately, I do not know who the gentleman between them is. Although I do know he is a guitarist).

British import and studio session man, Steve Ferrone (Eric Clapton, Tom Petty) stops at Hall B and has a chat with Scott. The usual drumming conversations took place between them both. Steve had informed us that he had just bought a new house in L.A. He's really soft spoken and always has that smile.

What can one say when meeting the likes of drummers, Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck, Ted Nugent, Ozzy Osbourne) and Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogerty)? I managed to talk with these guys at the Vic Firth booth (Yep. The 'Perfect Pair' as the marquee spelled out). Kenny, a real all-around nice guy and partial flirt shook my hand but didn't seem to want to let go. We went into a compliment which had us going back and forth of commenting, "You're great!" He said I was and we did this a few times. Carmine who was sitting right next to him at one point took Kenny's head in his arms and shined his bald head for one camera flash. Carmine on the other hand was subtle and not as outgoing but proved to enjoy compliments as well. I told him, "You rock! You're double bass drum playing is where it's at, man!" He thanked me and signed a Vic Firth placard that said my name and the words "You ROCK! - Carmine Appice." Now, that rocks.

No doubt, this was an extraordinary event for me in my year and three months in the drumming community so far (at the time).