METAL PULP AND PAPER: Hello David. So glad to be catching up with you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us here at Metal Pulp And Paper. We appreciate it.
How are you doing?
DAVID FRANGIONI: All is great, thank you! I’m very excited about the release of CRASH!
MPAP: Before we talk about many things, including your new book called Crash: The World’s Greatest Drum Kits From Appice to Peart to Van Halen published by Insight Edition, let’s introduce you to everyone first. You are a respected pioneer in the digital audio and video technology world. You’ve also written for Rolling Stone, Fortune, and EQ. And even before that, you started playing drums at the age of two. Does that in short, best sum you up?
DAVID: That covers some of it but there’s a lot more to the story! I’ve been working as a businessman, consultant, technologist, producer, engineer and artist development professional for over 30 years in music. Writing books is a passion and an important part of my nonprofit work.
MPAP: Shortly after that, you would lose an eye to cancer, and this is where you said you realized that music was your passion. Most kids at two-year-old are only speaking a few words, getting dressed, and maybe even riding a tricycle by now? How did you know this just being two years old?
DAVID: I had incredibly supportive parents. I actually always thought I started playing drums around age 8 but I found a box of pictures from my youth and there I was crawling out of a bass drum at age 18 months! I owe my career and life successes to my amazing parents, Silviano & Rita and, of course, God.
MPAP: I’d like to take something from JustLuxe, an online luxury publication, a Lifestyle/Tech feature by Mila Pantovich. 'A lot of kids dream of being a rock star, begging their parents to give them a guitar or drum kit and promising to never practice afterhours, but few actually make it to a band. And of those who do, even fewer make a lifelong career out of it. David Frangioni is one of the lucky ones.' Do you consider yourself lucky now when you look back on your life? What has gotten you to this point in your life and career?
DAVID: I am extremely grateful and blessed. Coming from nothing, I have worked every day without pause to improve at my craft and build a clientele. Never taken a vacation. Worked 7 days a week pretty much since I was 16. There’s been some great timing, but I have put in a lot of work and effort to help make the timing align. I feel lucky, but it’s really been a very hard journey as everything worthwhile is, in order to succeed. Blessed.
MPAP: So, let’s talk about your book now. Tell us about Crash: The World’s Greatest Drum Kits From Appice to Peart to Van Halen and what we need to know about it?
DAVID: It’s a coffee table book picturing what I think are amazing and very cool drum kits. These are all in the collection of my Foundation and each one truly inspires me. In many cases, they are historically significant and one-of-a-kind. I created the book that I would want to read every day. Exciting, truly unique photos along with some information on the drummer and the kits. Best of all, the proceeds go to my charity to help children, Frangioni Foundation.
MPAP: Besides naturally being a dedicated drummer from an early age, what made you decide to do a project like this? Were you trying to get a message out to everyone, or was this just something you found interesting, and you knew others would find it interesting as well?
DAVID: All of the above but the key reason was to share the kits with the world. Having them in my collection is too small of a reason for me to have them. The world needs to have access to being inspired by these kits for eternity.
MPAP: Is saying who the best all time drummer is like counting to infinity. It’s just not possible?
DAVID: Yes, it’s an individual preference but we’ve since covered many of the greatest drummers in history, there should be someone for everyone, drummer-wise!
MPAP: Over the years you’ve worked with great artists including Aerosmith, Shakira, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, Ringo Starr, Sting, Elton John, Styx, Journey, Bryan Adams, and Cher. This is quite the arsenal of musical talents? What would you want to say to someone that might help them accomplish their dreams, and maybe get to work with these talented musicians as well?
DAVID: Believe in yourself and perfect your craft. Then put the work in and bring a great attitude to every opportunity you create. If you’re looking for quick results and fast success, then pick a different industry. The music biz is tough and takes a while of working hard, step by step.
MPAP: What advice would you want to tell your ten-year-old self if you had the opportunity?
DAVID: See above.
MPAP: While doing some research to introduce you, it says you are considered one of the most prominent collectors of Clint Eastwood memorabilia, with more than 10,000 items. That’s very impressive. One could almost say that 10,000 is a lot? What do you think?
DAVID: That’s a marketing blurb but I just collect what I like and always work on being a completist. Why not collect the whole thing and not half-bake anything? Go big or go home.
MPAP: What is one item that is like the Holy Grail of all things, that you’d love to have of Clint Eastwood’s?
DAVID: Any of the screen used iconic props would be amazing! A few of his posters or movie items have been elusive. The fun of collecting is that new things appear from 40 year ago that no one knew existed and then BAM, one appears! That’s the fun of it.
MPAP: What’s one of your most prized possessions of his you have?
DAVID: The Good, the Bad And theUgly premier posters from Rome, one of one!
MPAP: You installed the audio system for Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler's Hennessey Venom GT Spyder, which happens to be worth well over a million dollars. That is a car you don’t want to accidentally cross the red and green wires and fry everything, right?
DAVID: That’s right and that goes for every technology installation that we do. You have to be very methodical and careful. Have a plan and then execute with great results, on-time.
MPAP: After you were finished installing everything, what was one of the first songs that came out of the speakers? Did it happen to be an Aerosmith song by any chance? And, of course, which one?
DAVID: Might have been just "Push Play" or "Get a Grip".
MPAP: On February 14, 2014, the Hennessey Venom GT set a new world speed record for 2-seat sports cars by reaching a top speed of 270.49 mph. What song would you recommend listening to going at that speed? Some classic rock, or maybe some head banging heavy metal?
DAVID: I would suggest focusing on the road and letting the engine make the music!
MPAP: On behalf of myself, and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, David, for doing this interview. We look forward to what you do to finish out 2018 and beyond.
Any last words for all the readers and your fans out there?
DAVID: I hope that you enjoy CRASH and ICON and that they bring joy to your life, even if only for a few minutes in a day, or whenever you need it, in the same way that they do for me.
CLICK ON PICTURES TO GO TO AMAZON STORE
David Frangioni/ September 21st, 2018/ Interview #122
How are you doing?
DAVID FRANGIONI: All is great, thank you! I’m very excited about the release of CRASH!
MPAP: Before we talk about many things, including your new book called Crash: The World’s Greatest Drum Kits From Appice to Peart to Van Halen published by Insight Edition, let’s introduce you to everyone first. You are a respected pioneer in the digital audio and video technology world. You’ve also written for Rolling Stone, Fortune, and EQ. And even before that, you started playing drums at the age of two. Does that in short, best sum you up?
DAVID: That covers some of it but there’s a lot more to the story! I’ve been working as a businessman, consultant, technologist, producer, engineer and artist development professional for over 30 years in music. Writing books is a passion and an important part of my nonprofit work.
MPAP: Shortly after that, you would lose an eye to cancer, and this is where you said you realized that music was your passion. Most kids at two-year-old are only speaking a few words, getting dressed, and maybe even riding a tricycle by now? How did you know this just being two years old?
DAVID: I had incredibly supportive parents. I actually always thought I started playing drums around age 8 but I found a box of pictures from my youth and there I was crawling out of a bass drum at age 18 months! I owe my career and life successes to my amazing parents, Silviano & Rita and, of course, God.
MPAP: I’d like to take something from JustLuxe, an online luxury publication, a Lifestyle/Tech feature by Mila Pantovich. 'A lot of kids dream of being a rock star, begging their parents to give them a guitar or drum kit and promising to never practice afterhours, but few actually make it to a band. And of those who do, even fewer make a lifelong career out of it. David Frangioni is one of the lucky ones.' Do you consider yourself lucky now when you look back on your life? What has gotten you to this point in your life and career?
DAVID: I am extremely grateful and blessed. Coming from nothing, I have worked every day without pause to improve at my craft and build a clientele. Never taken a vacation. Worked 7 days a week pretty much since I was 16. There’s been some great timing, but I have put in a lot of work and effort to help make the timing align. I feel lucky, but it’s really been a very hard journey as everything worthwhile is, in order to succeed. Blessed.
MPAP: So, let’s talk about your book now. Tell us about Crash: The World’s Greatest Drum Kits From Appice to Peart to Van Halen and what we need to know about it?
DAVID: It’s a coffee table book picturing what I think are amazing and very cool drum kits. These are all in the collection of my Foundation and each one truly inspires me. In many cases, they are historically significant and one-of-a-kind. I created the book that I would want to read every day. Exciting, truly unique photos along with some information on the drummer and the kits. Best of all, the proceeds go to my charity to help children, Frangioni Foundation.
MPAP: Besides naturally being a dedicated drummer from an early age, what made you decide to do a project like this? Were you trying to get a message out to everyone, or was this just something you found interesting, and you knew others would find it interesting as well?
DAVID: All of the above but the key reason was to share the kits with the world. Having them in my collection is too small of a reason for me to have them. The world needs to have access to being inspired by these kits for eternity.
MPAP: Is saying who the best all time drummer is like counting to infinity. It’s just not possible?
DAVID: Yes, it’s an individual preference but we’ve since covered many of the greatest drummers in history, there should be someone for everyone, drummer-wise!
MPAP: Over the years you’ve worked with great artists including Aerosmith, Shakira, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, Ringo Starr, Sting, Elton John, Styx, Journey, Bryan Adams, and Cher. This is quite the arsenal of musical talents? What would you want to say to someone that might help them accomplish their dreams, and maybe get to work with these talented musicians as well?
DAVID: Believe in yourself and perfect your craft. Then put the work in and bring a great attitude to every opportunity you create. If you’re looking for quick results and fast success, then pick a different industry. The music biz is tough and takes a while of working hard, step by step.
MPAP: What advice would you want to tell your ten-year-old self if you had the opportunity?
DAVID: See above.
MPAP: While doing some research to introduce you, it says you are considered one of the most prominent collectors of Clint Eastwood memorabilia, with more than 10,000 items. That’s very impressive. One could almost say that 10,000 is a lot? What do you think?
DAVID: That’s a marketing blurb but I just collect what I like and always work on being a completist. Why not collect the whole thing and not half-bake anything? Go big or go home.
MPAP: What is one item that is like the Holy Grail of all things, that you’d love to have of Clint Eastwood’s?
DAVID: Any of the screen used iconic props would be amazing! A few of his posters or movie items have been elusive. The fun of collecting is that new things appear from 40 year ago that no one knew existed and then BAM, one appears! That’s the fun of it.
MPAP: What’s one of your most prized possessions of his you have?
DAVID: The Good, the Bad And theUgly premier posters from Rome, one of one!
MPAP: You installed the audio system for Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler's Hennessey Venom GT Spyder, which happens to be worth well over a million dollars. That is a car you don’t want to accidentally cross the red and green wires and fry everything, right?
DAVID: That’s right and that goes for every technology installation that we do. You have to be very methodical and careful. Have a plan and then execute with great results, on-time.
MPAP: After you were finished installing everything, what was one of the first songs that came out of the speakers? Did it happen to be an Aerosmith song by any chance? And, of course, which one?
DAVID: Might have been just "Push Play" or "Get a Grip".
MPAP: On February 14, 2014, the Hennessey Venom GT set a new world speed record for 2-seat sports cars by reaching a top speed of 270.49 mph. What song would you recommend listening to going at that speed? Some classic rock, or maybe some head banging heavy metal?
DAVID: I would suggest focusing on the road and letting the engine make the music!
MPAP: On behalf of myself, and Metal Pulp And Paper, I’d like to thank you, David, for doing this interview. We look forward to what you do to finish out 2018 and beyond.
Any last words for all the readers and your fans out there?
DAVID: I hope that you enjoy CRASH and ICON and that they bring joy to your life, even if only for a few minutes in a day, or whenever you need it, in the same way that they do for me.
CLICK ON PICTURES TO GO TO AMAZON STORE
David Frangioni/ September 21st, 2018/ Interview #122