Mike Pride a.k.a. "Ned Muffleburger" is one of NYC's more distinctive and engaged
drummers/musicians. His knowledge and lust for music and his implausible compositions,
has integrated him into many diverse bands: Mike Pride Trio, Dynamite Club, Evil
Eye, Acetaminophen, Ned Muffleburger and his Band, Mike Pride's Big Sell Out,
Doppleganger,etc ..................to many to list, and this is just the Beginning.................
ER: Can you remember your very first musical experience?
MP: Very Clearly, I was very young (4 or 5 maybe?) and my older brother was
playing Frank Zappa's "Titties and Beer" for me and my younger brother at
his apartment...I had no idea what "titties" or "beer" were, but I knew what
it meant when Terry Bozio said: "...then the devil farted and he blew of
the cliff..." I thought: "This is great!" Also, I remember him playing me
these great records of Shelly Manne, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and Eric
Dolphy's OUT TO LUNCH around the same time. I always loved "all those
sounds"! My first two records were Frank Zappa's HOT RATS & Eric Dolphy's
OUT TO LUNCH...
ER: With the many different instruments you know how to play, What made you
embrace the drums as your primary instrument? And how long have you been
playing them?
MP: I started playing percussion in the 6th grade (12 yrs old), when the band
director told me I could not play the saxophone. I stuck with it because
the drums were LOUD and COOL. Plus, if you were in the percussion section
of the school concert band, you could hide behind all the big timpani and
bass drums and goof off with your friends!
ER: Can you illuminate on all the instruments you play?
MP: My fist instrument was the electric guitar...I studied with my older
brother. Then I played trombone in 5th grade and quite to play sax because
I thought the trombone was too easy(!!!), which, as stated above, led me to
the drums and percussion. Since then I have learned to play clarinet, bass
guitar, piano, flute, and alto and tenor saxes (take that Mrs. Doughty!!!),along with a myriad of other ethnic and home made instruments, most of which
I play like a fool.
ER: Which percussionists have influenced you? Are you into Latin
percussionists? If so which ones?
MP: Well, I am probably influenced by other instrumentalists more than
drummers...for instance Frank Zappa & Eric Dolphy have in some way or
another, informed everything I do. But, some drummers in no special order
are: Shelly Manne, Jimmy Carl Black, Tony Williams, Milford Graves, Han
Benink, Joey Baron, Roy Hanes, Dale Crover, Joe Chambers, Andrew Cyrille,
Bobby Previte, Barry Altschul, Matt Wilson, Ed Blackwell, Billy Higgins,
Billy Hart, and way too many more!!! I love so much and there are so many
inspiring spirits out there today!
ER: Are you a self taught musician?
MP: I consider myself largely self taught, but I have studied traditionally
since I was a child and continue to study with others to this day. I think
a mixture of the two is best for me. My most informative and influential
teachers have been my brother Don Pride, Les Harris Jr., Bill Street, Matt
Wilson, Professor. Milford Graves, and my ears.
ER: Where does the inspiration for your beautifully composed music derive from?
MP: I think a lot of the inspiration for my music comes directly from the music
I grew up with from my brother (mostly avant-jazz or rock) and the simple
melodies & spirit I grew up with in churches. I am also very influenced by
many great composers including: Edgar Varese, Morton Feldman, Frank Zappa,
Igor Stravinsky, Berg, Messian, Eric Dolphy, Captain Beefheart, & John Zorn
among many others. I am also influenced by many of the great composers &
improvisers that I currently work with including: Charlie Looker, Chris
Forsyth & Julian Hintz. Also the Melvins, U.S. Maple, the Locust, and
Richard D. James are amazing.
ER: Your suitcase of percussions is a fascinating subject; will you elucidate
on this phenomenon?
MP: Well, it is a big bag to carry percussion in...I stuff it full of little
trinkets, tape machines and sound makers, amidst more traditional percussion
instruments. When I need an interesting sound, I go there. Sometimes, the
best sounds are the sounds of me fumbling through the mess to find
something.
ER: How do you find the time to compose with your hectic performing schedule?
MP: I am an insomniac and I a can really only think clearly at night when it is
still, so I get a lot of time to compose late, after my fiance is asleep or
after I get home from a gig.
ER: Where do you see your musical progression a few years from now?
MP: Hopefully I will continue to find new things and continue to be inspired. I
am currently working on finding new ways of notating music to leave more
choices up to the performers in the way of phrasing, rhythm & harmony, while
keeping the melodic ideas relatively strict. This way, each performer can
put their own personality into each piece and make it their own in their own
way.
ER: Is there any particular musicians you wish to work with , and contribute your immeasurable talent?
MP: There are way too many people to list, and yet, I already play with so many
amazing musicians and people. But, if I were to limit myself to a few I
would have to say: Anthony Braxton, Tim Berne, John Zorn,Ornette Colemann,Han Benink, Richard D. James, Cecil Taylor, Sam Rivers, Lauren Hill, Charles Gayle,Orthrelm, Tom Waits, Ben Goldberg & John Schott.
ER: How do you choose your musical partners? Do you seek them or do they just
happen to miraculously fall on your lap?
MP: I simply choose to play with people who are creative, interesting and
inspiring. Some I seek out, but, I try to leave most things to fate & faith
and wait until the time is right. I also get a lot of calls from people,
that helps a lot too!
ER: What made you decide to move to NYC? Where you seeking musical diversity ormusicians to play the intricate music you compose?
MP: Both, I needed to leave Maine for many personal reasons and also, I needed
to be in a place where I could be around the things I love, and have more
musicians and artist to work with. In Maine I would perform once or twice a
year-with whomever I could convince to show up with me-in little art spaces
where a few friends and family would show up amidst the occasional
adventuresome listener. Ironically, there is a very energetic scene
starting up around there now.
ER: Was there an audience in Maine for your music or were you just destined to
be forsaken?
MP: See previous question. Most people I went to school with thought I was
crazy or simply were revolted by what I did.
ER: How did you meet " Ned Muffleburger and The Dirty Shit Love", and when did
you start constructing music with them?
Ned Muffleburger is me...(don't tell anyone though!) The DSL's were whoever
and whatever would pass through the studio I had in my basement, and agree
to go "on tape" with me. Most of them were friends. A few actually knew
how to play their instruments. But, we only did a few shows as an entire
band; schedules and last minute gigs were the main problems. Most of the
time it would be me and whomever else I could get on the phone and to a gig
in 30 minutes or less. I would literally walk around my college campus and
beg people to grab whatever they had and come to a show with me.
Miraculously, we made an album,I am really proud of.
ER: When was MP3 founded, and how did you get the privilege to incorporate two
very talented musicians like Mary Halvorson and Trevor Dunn in your trio?
MP: MP3 started as the Mike Pride//Mary Halvorson DUO in early 2001. I met her
through a mutual friend who kept hounding me to play with her. In the
summer of 2001 I started incorporating different people, in an attempt to
beef up the instrumentation, but nothing seemed to work right. Finally, we
added Trevor Dunn on bass in the fall of 2001 and it fell into place like
magic.
ER: Being a young musician can be a little intimidating, do you have any
opinions on Ageism?
MP: Well, I think a lot of elders look for problems in the generations following
them, even in the most loving of ways. So, I think it is important to treat
your elders with the respect they deserve, but also to not put them on a
pedestal, hence stressing the differences between you and them. I think it is
important to form relationships with people based on love, admiration and
friendship more than some demented form of idolitry. I think we should all
treat each other as equal partners and make the spiritual fulfillment of
all people - regardless of age and race demographics - our goal.
ER: Is there any major/ minor record label knocking at your door?
MP: Yes, but I fear that if I spill the beans now, I will eternally jinx myself.
I can say without reservation that a record for Big Sleep Records is
confirmed (DYNAMITE CLUB) and in the near future I will definitely be
working with Evolving Ear (Chris Forsyth) & Newsonic Records. Aside from
that, only time will tell.
ER: What musical projects will we be expecting from Mr. Pride in next to no
time?
MP: Well, MIKE PRIDE IS A BIG FUCKING SELL OUT will be starting in June of 2002
(w/ Andrew D'Angelo, Lewis Barnes, Kentaro Saito & Clayton Thomas), and I
also would like to do more writing for chamber ensembles. I hope to do more
work with Brandon Evans & Seth Misterka (respectively) very soon. Plus,
Dynamite Club will take over Asia next spring, and the yet unnamed Mike
Pride//Charlie Looker duo will rule the world. Aside from that, theMP3 &
Evil Eye will be my major projects.
ER: What's your favorite all time cartoon /character?
MP:The first Disney stuff is really great, I can't turn it off when it is on
late at night. Also, the old, ultra violent Betty Boop stuff is prettyamazing! I ALSO have to admit that I love THE IRON GIANT & THE SWORD IN THE
STONE, Merlin the wizard is a pretty amazing guy....
anything from the Mad Monster Party by Jules Bass (does that count?)
ER: Do you posses any deep, dark compulsions?
MP: How I wish I had something witty to say.....
If you haven't already seen Mike Pride live in action, I implore you to do so!
You can find lots of information regarding none other than Mr. Pride himself @ http://www.droprockpro.com/mikepride/home.asp where you will find upcoming gigs, recordings, contact info............much more!
