Mike Saccoman

Keep up with Mike here:

www.myspace.com/kronostitan
www.myspace.com/mikekronos

A passionate drummer ever since I was 13 years-old, I was born in Epinal (Vosges) in the north-east of France on 2/21/1981. In 06/09, I joined the MAI (Music Academy International) in Nancy (France) where I was fortunate enough to study with Franck Agulhon, Alain Gozzo, Denis Palatin, Olivier Baldiserra, Gaël Féret, Richard-Paul Morellini…I won credits and honours in 09/07. A professional player since then, I have become increasingly involved with all the aspects of the job: stage and studio life with many bands, teaching, master class…

As I became more and more conversant with the instrument, my influences broadened and I gradually became open to different styles. I like groove, everything fine, musical and full of energy at the same time, everything that gives me good vibrations behind my drums in a nutshell. Here is an unarranged list of the drummers who had an influence on me as well as those who continue to be a source of inspiration now: Lars Ulrich, Jojo Mayer, Simon Phillips, Jeff Porcaro, Pete Sandoval, Derek Roddy, Inferno, Paul Bostaph, John Bonham, Nicholas Barker, Thomas Lang, Mike Mangini, Igor Cavalera, Denis Chambers, Mike Portnoy, Franck Agulhon, Ian Paice, Terry Bozzio, John Blackwell, Virgil Donati, Vinnie Paul, Phil Collins, Paul Spina, Stewart Copeland, David Garibaldi, Dave Lombardo, Gene Hoglan, Charlie Benante, Sean Reinert, Aquiles Priester, Dirk Verbeuren, Nico Mc Brain…

 

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Mike Saccoman Interview:

SD: How old were you when you started playing?

Mike: I was 13 years old.  It’s not very early, as I played bugle before.  Drums are not my first musical instrument, and I learned musical theory when I was young, too, from 8 to 12 years old.

 

 

SD: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?

Mike: In fact, I created the band Kronos just after beginning the drums.  My friend and former neighbor Grams (who is still playing in Kronos) started guitar at the same time, so that’s why we decided to create the band.  The goal was really simple: have a lot of fun playing some covers of our favorite bands: Metallica, Sepultura, Slayer…

 

 

SD: Who are your top 5 influences?

Mike: What a difficult question!  I like a lot of drummers, all coming from very different horizons, and my influences changed a lot with the years…  well, what I can say is that when I started to play double bass drums and blast beats, my first influence was Pete Sandoval from Morbid Angel.  It was, above all, because of him that I had the desire to play this kind of music.  I was and still am a big big fan of Pete and Morbid Angel!  After that, I came to really appreciate some extreme drummers like Inferno from Behemoth, Derek Roddy, Tony Laureano, Dirk Verbeuren from Soilwork, my friend James King, and many more.  I like a lot of different drummers, too, such as Dennis Chambers, Jojo Mayer, Thomas Lang, Virgil Donati, Mike Mangini, Mike Portnoy, Franck Agulhon (amazing French jazz drummer!), Nicko McBrain, Dave Lombardo, Simon Phillips, Dave Weckel, Vinnie Paul, Terry Bozzio and many more…  so, as you can see it’s very difficult for me to answer to this question, because I listen to a lot of different kinds of music and so I like a lot of different drummers.

 

 

 

 

SD: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?

Mike: Actually, my favorite drummers are a part of the ones I mentioned before, so Thomas Lang, Virgil Donati, Mike Mangini, Dirk Verbeuren, Jojo Mayer, Franck Agulhon…

 

 

SD: Let us know 5 CDs that are in your current rotation.

Mike: Nevermore – This Godless Endeavor, Metallica – Death Magnetic, Muse – Absolution, Pink Floyd – The Wall, and Shawn Lane.  As you can see, no death metal right now! 😉  I really have phases concerning listening to music.  It could be only jazz, only death metal, only progressive metal, only funk; it depends on my moods, and it changes every week!

 

 

SD: What do you do to warm up before a show?

Mike: When I was younger, I used to warm up for thirty minutes, maybe more.  Now, I think that it’s not really necessary to do such a long warm up.  I have noticed that sometimes I play better without any warm up!  So I think there’s no rule.  Maybe just this one: the key is the head, first!  If you’re fine with your brain, it will be easier to play for sure.  So, now, I only do five to ten minutes of single strokes, double strokes, and a few kinds of paradiddles.  For the legs, I only warm up for five minutes, moving my ankles to have them ready for the war about to begin against my Axis double pedals!

 

 

SD: Do request or take any certain foods or beverages while on tour?

Mike: Unfortunately, on tour it’s always difficult to have good health…  but, I always try to moderate as much as possible anything that could spoil my performance on stage; first of all, alcohol, of course!  Otherwise, nothing special except maybe some good tea and good pasta!

 

 

 

 

SD: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever?  If yes, when and where?

Mike: It’s hard to remember one in particular, but I know that sometimes you feel better, and you don’t know why!  That’s part of the mystery of drumming — above all when you play in an extreme style, and I think that’s the same for all of us.  To conclude, I would like to say that it’s extremely unusual to find myself thinking: “yes, tonight I was really good, I kicked some ass!” [Laughing]

In general, I always think instead about the things I missed! [Laughing]  I’m never satisfied with my drumming; that’s why I always try to work to play better.  In fact, it’s a never-ending sickness! [Laughing]

 

 

SD: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?

Mike: Concerning drums, my favorite brand is Tama.  I play on an old Artstar ES which sounds really great!  I’ve appreciated these drums since I began playing.  It was the brand of all my favorite drummers when I was young: Lars Ulrich, Charlie Benante, Dave Lombardo…  so, it was written that I will play Tama, too!

For the cymbals, I really like the Zildjian sound.  I’ve played some of their cymbals for a long time time.  But I like and have some Paiste, too.  Finally, I just tried some Meinl last week at the music center in Paris, and I was really surprised with the sound, which is really great!

 

 

SD: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…

Mike: Work, work, and work!  Be patient, always try to work on the basics, always begin really slowly, listen and look to other drummers, and listen to ALL kinds of drumming styles and music.

 

 

SD: In a time when extreme metal drummers are bouncing from band to band, how have you and your band mates kept it together for so long?

Mike: You know, it’s not always really simple, but if you believe in what you do, you can face all the shit that happens in a musical life.  We are still motivated to create music, and we are real friends for many years, so it’s easier for us to continue.  But you know, I do a lot of different things to make a living, because, of course, Kronos is not enough.  So, I work as a drum teacher in a music school in a city called Tours (center of France); I play in other bands: Kim’s Over Silence (progressive metal with a lot of jazz fusion influence -– album coming soon), Como Muertos (Death’n’roll with Spanish vocals –- album coming next year), a funk project with some school colleagues and Richard (one of the guitar players in Kronos), too.  When you are a professional musician, you’re obliged to do different things to live…

 

 

SD: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?

Mike: It was during a Thomas Lang master class in France.  It was just amazing!  This guy is really crazy.  He kicked some serious ass, believe me!  A really huge performance that showed me the way to play double bass drums.  It was a real, real, revelation for me!  Now, I know what to work on and what to do with my feet and my hands!  [Laughing]  Thanks a lot for this, Thomas!

 

 

SD: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?

Mike: I would try to work as a journalist (one of my past jobs), or find a job in history, my second passion (I learnt it over a lot of years in university).  Maybe a history teacher, or working in a historical site… but you know, it’s impossible for me to stop drumming! 😉

 

 

Mikes Kit Details:

 

TAMA Artstar ES drums
2 bass drums 22″
1 steel snare 14″x 5.5
4 toms 10″, 12″, 13″, 16″

TAMA Hardware

AXIS A Longboard pedals
D-DRUM 4 SE sound modul and D-DRUM bass drums triggers

AQUARIAN heads :
– Super Kick II for the bass drums
– Coated with power dot for the snare
– Response II for the toms

VATER sticks , POWER 5B

ZILDJIAN Cymbals :
1 Hi-hat Z custom 14″
1 mega bell ride Z custom 21″
2 crashs A custom 16″ and 18″
2 splash A custom 8″ and 10″
1 china Oriental thrash 16″

PAISTE cymbals :
1 china Paiste 2002, 18″