Spirits of Dead Drummers Play On To Set New Guinness Record in Puyallup

For the fifth year Woodstick (www.woodstick2007.com) will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for drummers with full drum kits playing one song. This year when Woodstick opens its doors at the ShowPlex in Puyallup on October 27th, it just might gain some help from the spirit world. Drums sets of deceased drumming super stars Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones will be available for participants to play on as they break the old Guinness Woodstick record of 533 drummers.

Woodstick participants are able to register for a package that includes having a drum set ready upon their arrival. This year for the first time, they may register to play on a drum set used/owned by Buddy Rich or Elvin Jones. Buddy Rich played with most of the famous big bands of the forties, fifties and sixties. A frequent guest of Johnny Carson, Buddy’s acerbic comments never ceased to amuse and delight Johnny and the Tonight Show’s audience. Elvin Jones joined John Coltrane in the early 60s and formed the definitive Coltrane jazz sound. Later Elvin formed his own Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. Buddy and Elvin are probably looking down and proud to take part in Woodstick.

In addition to Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones the live spirits of other famous drummers and their drum sets are available, also. Participants may register to use the drum kits of Hal Blaine (he played on nearly every top forty hit recording of the sixties), Carmine Appice (Rod Stewart), Simon Kirke (Bad Company), Alan White (Yes), Joey Kramer (Aerosmith), Michael Derosier (Heart), and Bun E Carlos (Cheap Trick).

Woodstick is a fundraising project of Rotarians for Hearing Regeneration (www.hearingregeneration.org). Basic registration fees are used to fund hearing regeneration research at the University of Washington. Additional money raised for the drum kits of famous drummers fund school band programs.