Kenny Aronoff: The Berkshires' Own 'Fortunate Son'
SAUGERTIES, N.Y. —- There are very few things left in the world that surprise rock drummer Kenny Aronoff. But for all his years on the road touring and recording with rock 'n' roll legends such as John Mellencamp, Melissa Ethridge, the Smashing Pumpkins and most recently John Fogerty, Aronoff does not seem jaded.In fact, this jeans and T-shirt clad musician carries himself more like a college student than a 57-year-old rock veteran. Hovering over a plate piled high with lasagna and barbecue chicken, Aronoff is ravenous after a rainy, break-neck gig keeping the beat for Fogerty.
"Oh, wow, this doesn't suck," he said between bites. “I've got to eat. I've got to put it back in."
As he eats, one begins to wonder if Aronoff will ever be satiated with anything.
"I just took my first vacation in 15 years," he said. "I'm working all the time. I'm a workaholic."
While it would be easy to blame Aronoff’s grueling schedule on the fickle trends of the music industry, he asserts that the blame lay squarely on his wiry shoulders.
"I've always been a workaholic. When you combine that with something you love doing, that's a powerful combination. Even as a young kid, it [drumming] was a way to get through life. It was a drug. That drug was more important to me than anything else."
.jpg) Drummer Kenny Aronoff takes a breather in the 'cafeteria' trailer after a grueling two-hour concert on Sunday. |
Aronoff has done more than just get through life. His razor-sharp precision and his anomalous work ethic have carried him far beyond his hometown of Stockbridge, which he said, is "like a dream." He owes his dream and his spark to the influences of home and the music of his turbulent generation.
"I think Mitch Mitchell really influenced me; you know, because my parents listened to a lot of jazz and that's what I grew up on," he said. "And, of course, there's the New Orleans style, that was cool. And [John] Bonham, he was all over the map. But Hendrix, Hendrix blew my mind."
Despite, or perhaps because of, the many influences he carries, Aronoff has developed a style all his own, one that is coveted by artists and venues the world over. But he does not see his desirability as fame; to him, it is still work, all of it.
"I have to do a whole album in two days," he said, "Two days! I have to write everything out, do everything I have to do to get it done. Then after that I might go to Mexico City for a drum clinic, I'm not sure about that yet. And they just asked me to play at a tribute for John Bonham at the Key Club [in West Hollywood]. It's been 30 years since his death. His son Jason is going to be there. I think it's going to be amazing."
Of course, this schedule does not include Aronoff's recent whirlwind tour with Fogerty that took him to Europe, a tent in Africa and a festival in Japan. It appears that much like John Bonham of Led Zeppelin before him, Aronoff, too, is "all over the map." But his gaze remains steady, even in the face of a shaky industry ruled by downloads and apps and a global recession.
"The record companies have all collapsed. There's no money for anything anymore," he said. "Music isn't the single most-desired thing anymore. It took a while for CDs to replace vinyl, and nobody thought that would happen. And it didn't take long for downloading to replace CDs. Nobody knows how it’s going to work out."
For any career musician, now would be a good time to make a graceful exit. Aronoff, whose other dream job is to be an NFL quarterback, just scoffs at the idea.
"Nah, I'm not going to retire. I'll do this forever,” he shook his head. "It doesn’t matter where I am, even now, I look around and I cherish every moment of success. I would never want to lose that."
