FREAKSHOW / QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali has issued the following update:

"Just a note to thank the wonderful Todd Trent (YOU ROCK TODD!) and everyone at Ontario Music at the grand opening of Todd Trent's Drum Paradise yesterday (March 21st) afternoon.

I especially thank the standing room only audience who took the time out of their Saturday to come by (YES, YOU ROCKED TOO) and for allowing me to pick up my drumsticks and find my way from one drum to another! I loved all the questions asked on a great variety of subjects from influences, to favorite tours, to recordings I've done, to the equipment I used, etc., just great questions! It was also nice of all of you to stand in line to say hello and get a autographed picture. I seldom do clinics by my own choice, but I completely enjoyed this one because of all of you! Thanks again!

For those unable to make the clinic, here is the equipment breakdown that I used for yesterdays clinic and my personal thoughts:

I decided to play my new Ludwig drum set consisting of a 14 X 26 BD, 16 X 18 and 16 X 16 FT, 10 X 14 TT and a 6.5 X 14 402 Supraphonic snare drum. This set is from the Ludwig Legacy Classic series and I just can't say enough about how I love these shells! This series brings back the shell design that to me defines the classic Ludwig sound with their famous 60's construction of thin three ply shells, maple, poplar, maple with solid maple reinforcement rings. The tone of these shells are what it's all about, full of life, clarity, projection and that unmistakable Ludwig Sound which is often imitated but never equaled! Love 'em, love 'em, love 'em! My set is wrapped in the new Ludwig Sunset Diamond Pearl finish. I play Ludwig drums not because I have to, but because I want to!

My Sabian cymbal set up was a 24" RIDE, 20" and 18" CRASH and 15" HI-HATS from the Sabian APX line. Of all the cymbals that I have played in my career and all the different models, the APX line is by far both my favorite and the most superior of cymbals for the sound that I love. The APX is a very complex sounding cymbal. Great attack and projection with a wonderful definition and sustain. One of the reasons that I love these cymbals so much is because they bring to life the cymbals sounds that I heard on record from Ringo with the Beatles to John Bonham with Led Zeppelin on record and live. That is quite a spread! The APX are my cymbals of choice, period!

I have the pleasure and honor to have recently been accepted as a endorser of AQUARIAN DRUMHEADS. Throughout my career I have at one time or another played on just about every drumhead imaginable for one reason or another. To say that I am thrilled with my AQUARIAN drumheads would be a understatement! For the clinic I outfitted my bass drum and toms with the AQUARIAN Texture Coated single ply heads (TC 26 TC 18 TC 16 and TC 14) and my snare drum was set up with a AQUARIAN Texture Coated with Power Dot (TCPD 14) to round out the set. Everyone pretty much knows that I am a fairly hard hitter, but these heads showed little if any wear or dimples at the conclusion of my clinic and they were also the same drum heads that I had practiced on the previous three days! What really impressed me was that these heads have a wonderful combination of projection, tone and attack when played loud, but most importantly, they retained those same qualities when played lightly and quietly. They never 'thinned' out in tone or sounded papery. I can only guess that it has to do with the quality of the material and the quality of the construction of their collar system. Whatever it is, don't change it, it's already all there!

Lastly, but certainly not least, I am still 'swinging lumber' with my Vic Firth Drumsticks. It is not uncommon for me to split a stick while playing and did so yesterday, but by and large, my Vic Firth sticks will continue to take my assault until the front half of the stick is about half the diameter they started out and the floor beneath my feat is a sawdust mill of stick shavings, yet they still go on. Now that's wood you can trust!

OK, enough already! Again, my sincerest thanks to all in attendance yesterday!"

Frankie Banali