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Can you tell us a bit about the drum set-up in the studio for Them Crooked Vultures?

“We had two completely different scenes - a big room and a little room; the funny thing is that the little room ended up sounding bigger, but that’s just the magic of the way these things work. We were using a combination of three different kits; an ’80s red Gretsch that is one of Dave’s favourite Drum Fetish kits (he used it on the Grammys with Paul McCartney), an old ’60s Ludwig and a DW Timeless Timber."

"We had a heap of different snares, including Tama Bell Brass and Ludwig Black Beautys, and one of Dave’s favourites, this weird Ludwig Acrolite. It’s an unusual 14"x6 1/2" Blue/Olive badge from the ’70s and there were only 100 made. It’s pretty magical and we used it a lot.”

And how about cymbal sounds?

“Zildjians, old and new. Cymbals can be a sonic thief so, when I listen to cymbals or a set-up, I’m listening for the mixed sound and how the cymbals are going to translate sonically. You don’t want them stealing vocals or getting in the way of other things. I like a really soft cymbal - one that hits hard and goes away. It’s almost like you want them to sound like they have compression on them, but they don’t.”

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You can read the full interviews with Dave Grohl and Gersh plus see exclusive pictures of Them Crooked Vultures' live drum setup in the current issue of Rhythm Magazine, available now. Or subscribe to Rhythm here.

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Liked this? Now read: U2’s The Edge's stage setup revealed or Radiohead’s live setup revealed

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