It has been one year since our first interview with Todd.  The band continues what seems to be a never ending tour, and the tour venues have gotten bigger and the current line-up is as solid as ever.  We also have added this website in that year and Todd  now has email.  It’s time to hit him up with questions yet again!

Todd.. you’ve been on tour now for a year with only a few months off in the late winter and early spring.  Tell us how you feel about the band now that you’ve been together for so long and experienced so many changes (ie.. first ever small venues/ casinos, the Japan tour and the now permanent status of Glen and Gowan).
 
The band has never sounded better.  There is not a substitute for experience and with 150 shows under our belt at this time, it’s getting better and better.  There are normally peaks and valleys that occur naturally during the course of a tour.  But this little rock combo is slamming whatever the venue.  You know, there has been this “venue” issue.  Some see it as beneath the band to play state fairs and festivals.  A majority of these gigs are fantastic.  We just played one in Cheyenne that had 10,000 people- They were nuts!  The crowd alone read 105 decibels on the meter.  We’re making friends wherever we go.  And the bad part is…….?
The band kills!

Can we talk about Dennis?  The last time you saw him I assume was at the Children’s Miracle Network show.  Was there a lot of tension in the air then or did all seem well?  Feel free to elaborate.

There was an awful tension.  Very uncomfortable.  To make matters worse, I was in my own personal hell.  UPS had lost half of the drum kit Sonor sent me to use.  With all their elaborate tracking devices, to no avail, the stuff was gone without a trace.  Sonor was unable to supply me with the missing drums or hardware.  We ended up renting a Sonor kit that was a low line, or student model from a local music store.  It was substandard, with wrong sized drums and too few of them to boot.

When it was time to go on the air, my in ear monitor system failed.  I heard none of the band or vocals for the entire show- quite horrible and uninspired for me.  That, mixed with obvious personal tension made the whole experience less than enjoyable.

Is there anything else you want to get off your chest pertaining to the Dennis situation?

Dennis is a very talented man, and always treated me with respect. He didn’t treat everyone that way. The bottom line is that he’s happiest at home, not on the road. He really doesn’t want to tour – and that’s fine. We maybe, and that’s a giant maybe, would’ve done 20 shows if he toured. We’ve done 150, gone to Japan, and are going to Europe in the fall – frankly, none of this would happen with him. Like I said, he’s a super talent. But I know what’s going on, and I know the history and the stories. Inside stuff, you know. Unbelievable. And it should stay inside stuff. I might get slammed for saying these things, but to my detractors I say, I know more than you do.

Now that THAT is out of the way… Whose idea was it to use the Soprano’s song as the intro song before you start the set with Everything is Cool?

I think it was Tommy’s idea.  He brought the Soprano’s CD and suggest it.

This year you retired John’s old drum riser.  What happened to it and who came up with the idea behind the new one?  Is the new one working out ok?

We have two complete rigs, the A rig and the B rig.  John’s old riser is with the B gear.  Tommy had an idea about the riser looking like the grill of a car- an old 50’s car.  The idea went to Keith Marks and John Rossi, and took the plans to the stage shop who built it.  John’s old riser has no wheels, so that made it very difficult  in some venues.  The new riser has locking wheels which really makes the crew happy.  Actually, it’s the only one like it in the world- a one of a kind.

Seems like your new schedule is working out 3 weeks on and 1 week off (or close to that).  Is that type of schedule something that y’all decided was best for your sanity or did it just work out that way?

I hope it works out that way.  That really would be the best and most “sane” way to go.  We’ll see if that actually happens!

The tour with REO appears to have been a great fit and huge success for your summer schedule.  What were some of the highlights with them?

One thing that was special was all the guys in REO are warm, friendly people.  Both bands got along so well- a lot of laughs.  It was great to hit the major markets with this current lineup-the band smoked, and business was great.  It was just a great time.

Speaking of REO, at the Today Show, you actually played on Brian Hitt’s drum kit.  What kind of challenges did that present?

It’s always a challenge to play someone else’s kit.  It’s like putting on someone else’s clothes (that doesn’t fit), and driving their car, without adjusting anything!
Brian sets up completely different from me, but it was great fun to sit in and play that day.  I just had to keep my eyes open, to see what and where everything was.

At the Today Show, you actually came out from behind the kit and played tambourine.  It was great seeing you do that.  Do you think there will ever be an opportunity to pull you out front again, just to play more rocking tambourine other than the acoustic set we are all familiar with which is more of a low key and slower type style?

Who knows?  I wasn’t expecting to do that then, so we’ll see.

I noticed (well ok, it was Annette!) that you were kind of doing hand stretches or pressing them together often before you played.  Do you have some type of hand warm up that you have to do in order to get ready?

I have a whole routine.  I stretch, and I warm up with a pair of sticks and a practice pad.  Done right, its about a 20 minute thing.   I have to do this stuff so I don’t go onstage and hurt myself.

Finally you have gotten a laptop and pc and internet account.  What are your thoughts about the on-line community and how has the access to the fan’s opinions affected you?

It’s a great thing and a bad one at the same time.  Great, because it’s so unreal for obvious reasons, bad because it’s an open forum for loonies.  It is mind boggleing.  It is interesting, flattering, enraging, eye-rolling, frustrating, enlightening all at once to read what people have to say about the band.  I have cut it down significantly, the amount I read the Aol board and such these days

Are you addicted to the 'net yet?

Yup

What is the best and worst thing about the internet for you?

The best is being able to get instant information on any topic under the sun.  The worst is weak connections, downloading times, and just time, time, time.  I don’t have DSL yet.

So far the Dear Todd portion of the website has been very popular (btw, thanks for your input).  What kind of questions do you like best?

I really enjoy them all.  I’m glad that people write in and have fun with it.  Keep ‘em coming!

Todd, a lot of drummers for major bands have the name of their band as a logo in the bass drum?  Is that something you have ever thought about doing?

And some people have purple neon lights under their cars.  Never thought of doing that one!  No really, I’ve always thought that was a little, how shall I say it, “much?”  Not for me, sorry.  Different strokes I guess!

It is my understanding that much of the ’96 tour was supported by flying into the venue town and out to the next one.  The tours since that have been more bus dominated.  Which do you prefer and what advantages does your choice provide?

The BUS!  Yes, Sweet, Sweet Bus!  Airline travel has no advantages (unless it’s your own jet.)  I have grown to despise air travel.  It’s a horrific experience more than not.  I can’t remember when I was on an on time flight last.

Just last week I sat on the plane for 3 hours at the gate at LAX to fly to Chicago.  I missed my connection to Toronto and was stranded in Chicago.  I called my mother (mom, save me!) who thankfully lives there to come get me.  The captain of the plane said the delay was due to bad weather in Chicago.  My mom said it was sunny and perfect ALL DAY.  Good excuse, huh?
 
I DIGRESS.
The bus is the way to go.  A million times, the way to go.  It’s so stress free.  We hang out, laugh, watch movies, listen or play music, eat, nap, whatever.  That’s better than waking up in the early am to find out your flight has been cancelled and you might not make the gig!

A number of the fans have been wanting a true drum solo during the set.  When Half Penny Two Penny was being played, there was a small drum solo.  Would you like to add a drum solo to a specific song, or maybe even one separate from a song?  What are your thoughts?

Really?  People want one?  Well, it was brought up by Tommy once.  Then it wasn’t mentioned again.  I’d love to do one, but more often than not, we’re on a tight time schedule on stage.  “Crystal Ball” or “Miss America” is not getting bonged from the set list in order to accommodate a drum solo.  That’s the bold reality.  I’d love to do one, though.  Maybe down the line it might happen.

These were questions responded to on paper directly from Todd Sucherman. Any mistakes could be the effect of typos.  No professional journalism exists within these words.  No copies information can be made without the consent of the webmaster of this site.