HEAVEN AND HELL drummer Vinny Appice (ex-BLACK SABBATH, DIO) spoke to DavesOnTour.com recently. A few excerpts from the chat found here follow:

Dave: After Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward decided not to tour, were you handed the job or did you have to audition?

Appice: "I don’t audition for nobody, not after all these years! They were working with Bill but something didn’t work out. I don’t know exactly what all the details were. Obviously, I’m the next choice in the family. Plus, I played on most of the Sabbath-Dio records anyway. I know the band and you never know what can happen. Sure enough, I got the phone call. They said, 'It’s not working with Bill. If you want to do it, get on the plane to England tomorrow.' We all know each other so well and there was no auditioning involved. We knew what it would sound like."

Dave: Because Black Sabbath and Dio were such influential bands, you as a musician made an impact on an entire generation of metal drummers with your powerful style. What’s the number-one drumming lesson that you’ve tried to teach by example that should forever be a part of your musical legacy?

Appice: "I just tried to lead by example like many of the great drummers who influenced me. Listening to LED ZEPPELIN growing up, there were a lot of drums and Bonzo (John Bonham) did some incredible things that paved the way for future generations of drummers. His triplets on 'Good Times Bad Times' was the first rock recording to have that, and it was so tasteful how he worked in it there. Some of the insane drumming Billy Cobham did with MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA inspired me the same way. I tried to be flashy, without crossing the line of overplaying and being tasteful. I play the songs before we record them so that I can feel them in my heart. Then I have a feel for where I can put some crazy stuff in the songs for the drummers, making sure it fits the song and that it’s not overplayed. I want the things that I add to the record to stand out to drummers and music fans. Drums don’t have to be played safely all the time. You can play them aggressively and kick the band in the ass."