MusicRadar

For 35 years, Bun E Carlos has been more than the big beat behind the euphoric pop-rock sound of Cheap Trick, he's also been the band's chief setlister and archivist.

"It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it," he says with a laugh, "Oh, wait! I elected myself to do it. In any event, it isn't a bad gig, now, is it?"

No, it certainly isn't. Cheap Trick have recently released their latest album called - OK, get this - The Latest, and they're curently on a tour with Def Leppard and Poison, "Not a horrible way to spend the summer, I can assure you," says Carlos. "I have a lot ot friends who still wish to hell they could be me."

Ahhh, yes. But how does one get to be Bun E Carlos? The redobtable musician recently shared with MusicRadar his hallowed list of drummers dos and don'ts, rules every stickman must adhere to. While they may not have you headlining Budokan before screaming throngs, they will certainly up your game.

"Put it this way," says Carlos. "The Dream Police will not arrest you if you follow these steps."

Next page: Bun E Carlos's dos and don'ts for drummers