“Staring at the World” Podcast (Q&A with BoDeans’ Kurt Neumann and podcast Producer, T Torrence Productions.)
This week, we released a two part special with legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff. In this special, Kenny talks about serving the bands he has played alongside and what he learned in order to play with the best. What do John Mellencamp, Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Sting, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Dave Grohl, Elton John, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Jon Bon Jovi, Steven Tyler, The Smashing Pumpkins, Meatloaf, B.B. King, Rod Stewart, and John Fogerty have in common? All of these rock ‘n’ roll superstars have performed with Kenny Aronoff as their drummer, keeping the beat in the studio or on the road. Kenny is also an Influential Keynote Speaker & Best-Selling Author “Voted Top 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time” – Rolling Stone Magazine
We are so excited to go behind the scenes with Americana Highways, to discuss the podcast interview, from Kurt’s point of view!
Q&A with BoDeans’ Kurt Neumann and podcast Producer, T Torrence Productions.
T Torrence Productions: You’ve known Kenny for decades, but have most likely never talked this in depth with him. What were your key takeaways from the interview?
Kurt Neumann: I never knew the extent of Kenny’s classical percussionist education. How he spent many many years with different teachers and programs. To the point of getting scholarships with highly regarded symphonies only to walk away from that world in the end. Because of his love of Rock & Roll. His desire to be Ringo Starr.
T Torrence Productions: Kurt, what has it been like working with such a legend spanning so many years? Share an example of the good times as you discuss with him in the interview.
Kurt Neumann: We recorded the BoDeans’ Home record in our warehouse loft in Milwaukee Wisconsin in the middle of winter( think below zero temps) with a remote truck. Doberman pinchers guarding the hallways kept us from leaving the building. So we had to take the fire escape down the outside of the building in the aforementioned below zero temps.
Just another day living the glamorous life of Rock & Roll.
T Torrence Productions: Anything else you want to share with Americana Highways’ readers about Staring at the World podcast?
Kurt Neumann: The podcast is about what I call “the creative element.”
I believe creativity is at the core of almost everything we do in life. But our school systems spend almost no time helping kids develop that. I’m looking to speak with interesting people will who have interesting stories to tell. We talk about creative approaches to solving problems. Or creating successful businesses. Also…
1. Work with your strengths. Your life will go a lot smoother if you swim with the rivers current instead of swimming against it all the time. Everyone has natural talents. Instead of wishing you were this or that… be what you are and use that as your instrument to get where you want to be. Or to solve your problems. I mean… I don’t know anything! I shouldn’t even be here. I found myself Standing in the recording studio in Hollywood with a big time producer…with a guitar in my hands. Singing songs I had written by myself. But I never considered myself a guitar player or a singer. I was a drummer. I Never planned on it. But since I was a kid in school, I had learned to adapt. To work around problems. Which made “my thing” unique. Look for the thing that you do that’s different from what someone else does. Don’t just copy what other people are doing. Develop “your thing“.
2. Intuitions. Learn to listen and trust that inner voice. It will tell you what’s right for you as opposed to someone else.
(Staring at the World with BoDeans Kurt Neumann is available on all major platforms, including Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, with an audio/visual podcast on YouTube)
