Way back when we decided to convert Drumrock over from just another drum forum to a more e-zine specfic focus, our very first interview was with a local Seattle drummer by the name of Scott Rockenfield. Scott is the man behind the skins for the highly successful band Queensryche.
I met Scott in person at a charity event called Woodstick, put on annually by Donn Bennett Drum Studios every year in the Seattle area, in 2004. Scott was on the stage and displaying a kit that was wrapped in one of the wraps from his then still somewhat fledgling enterprise, Rockenwraps. Since then, he's been busy as ever, putting out a live disc, a greatest hits disc and two studio LP's (including the follow up CD to 1988's highly acclaimed Operation: Mindcrime), and starting up yet another endeavour, Bucketdrums.
Scott took some time out of his more than busy schedule to answer a few questions for us and sent along some incredible photos to put up with the interview of his kit.
DR: Thanks for doing another interview with us!
Scott: My Pleasure...!
DR: It looks like Rockenwraps has taken off with a bullet...what's going on there? There's a lot of interesting things on the website, but give us some detail from "the man at the top" perspective.
Scott: Yes RockenWraps has been enjoying some really great things lately...We recently finished doing custom wraps for the SlipKnot tour and are currently working on some drums for Kings X. We are also launching some brand new products which can be seen at our website at www.rockenwraps.com and www.bucketdrums.com.
DR: We've posted the press release and will be reviewing one soon, but tell us about Bucketdrums - where'd the concept come from? Was it difficult to implement? What's coming down in the near and long term (if you can divulge!)?
Scott: BucketDrums was an idea that I had stemming from my love of all things percussion. I am always looking for cool new percussion toys and after I spent some time watching some street drummers playing the bottoms of upside down buckets, I realized that these could actually be made into real playable drums with drum heads. I then decided to come up with an original "patented" method of installing an actual drum head on the top of a Bucket. Works GREAT!! We are now getting so much positive feedback from drummers all around the world and as well we have some great interest from different organizations such as Peace Thru Music who would like to use our BucketDrums to try and get them into the schools across the USA and help re-educate kids with music .!
DR: Aside from those two undertakings, anything else going on outside of your music?
Scott: There is always something going on with me---haha...! Otherwise, I am just trying to spend time with my wife and kids...!
DR: What's going on with Queensryche these days?
Scott: QR has just completed a huge world tour that took us from mexico to south america to europe to the UK in approx 3 months. We are now working to finish our next record (which should be released sometime early next year) and are also playing some shows throughout the USA during this summer 2008.
DR: Any new music projects outside if Queensryche that we should be on the lookout for?
Scott: I have been very fortunate in getting offers to continue my passion of doing music for film. I recently completed a full length score for a feature horror film titled "Albino Farm" set to be released sometime this year, and am now getting more offers to score more films.
DR: I noticed that you are now a ddrum artist. How did that come about?
Scott: DDRUM approached me a couple of years ago wanting to know if I would be interested in joining there great team of artists. I easily accepted. I have been a fan of their drums for many years and and so it was great to be on their team. Their drums are fantastic and they are very excited about RockenWraps being able to offer all sorts of possibilities as well.
DR: What are your opinions on their kits?
Scott: FANTASITC...GREAT...AMAZING...AWESOME...BEAUTIFUL...INCREDIBLE...!!!
DR: Are you still endorsing Pearl hardware?
Scott: NO----DDRUM has recently released a whole new line of PRO hardware and I will be checking that out asap...!
DR: What are your current kit specs? Drums? Cymbals? Hardware?
Scott: My current DDRUM kit is all Maple shells 8, 10, 12, 13, 16, 18, 2x22 kicks, 2- 5x14 snare. I use ATTACK drums heads and Paiste cyms--2-x18 china's, 2-16 crashes, 1-17 crash, 1-18 crash, 1-20 dry ride, 1-10 splash, 1-8 splash, 1 pr 13 hats. my rack is a a mix of assorted parts with my custom
CHAIN stands rounding it all out. I also have a few different BucketDrums mounted on the kit as well...
DR: Will you be incorporating any Bucketdrums in your setup? Using them in anyway performance wise? :)
Scott: YES...!
DR: I noticed you’re selling your kit from your last tour on the Rockenwraps site – is that the actual kit or a reproduction? And if it’s the actual kit – what are you planning next (or have you thought that far ahead?)
Scott: YES I normally sell all my kits after I have used them. No place to keep storing them--haha...! My next kit will a total surprise...haha...!
DR: How do you feel about the state of the music industry today, especially with all the attention centering around the RIAA and their fight against piracy? Do you think their actions are in line with what needs to happen in order to bring about any change or do you think their actions are just another symptom in general of a greater problem?
Scott: Life must go on...
DR: Any parting words of advice, wisdom, insight?
Scott: Whats in your Bucket...?----Rock on...!
Many thanks to Scott for taking the time again for our small little corner of the web! Look for review of one of Scotts Bucketdrums here in the not to distant future!
Scotts main endorsements include: