{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Playing the Drums, Inspiring Others, and Fighting for What You Want  with Kenny Aronoff","description":"No one gets to be a world-famous musician overnight. You need to be dedicated to your craft, open to learning new things, and willing to collaborate with others. Kenny Aronoff, world-class drummer, influential keynote speaker, and best-selling author joins us in this episode. Kenny shares his journey from growing up in a small town to playing the drums for big names in the music industry. He also talks about his numerous ventures and how he stays on top of it all. We hear some great stories about music legends, learn what it takes to be at the top of your game, and get inspired to fight for what we want. Tune in to this episode and get inspired by Kenny\u2019s colorful life!&amp;nbsp; Three Reasons Why You Should Listen to This Episode:  Discover what it\u2019s like to work with several major figures in the music industry! Kenny shares his experiences playing the drums for John Mellencamp, the BoDeans, and many more. Learn the importance of understanding who you are and why you are here.  Resources  Grady Restoration \u2014 When your home suffers serious structural damage because of water, fire, storm, or some other \u2018act of God\u2019 the feeling of uncertainty can be overwhelming. Let us help you restore your sense of normalcy! Wiser Insurance Agency \u2014 Do you want to grow and preserve your wealth? We\u2019re fully equipped to help you do so! Whatever your insurance needs are, we got you covered. Connect with Kenny: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter Uncommon Studios LA Sex, Drums, Rock 'n' Roll!: The Hardest Hitting Man in Show Business by Kenny Aronoff:  Hardcover |  Audiobook RockD' Coffee \u2014 Premium Roast Blends  Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey  Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood by Danny Trejo and Donal Logue  Episode Highlights [02:50] How Kenny Started Playing the Drums  Kenny grew up in a small rural town in Massachusetts. When he was 10 years old, he saw The Beatles on TV. This experience showed Kenny the purpose of his life: he wanted to play music in a band.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; 50 years later, Kenny gets called to do a CBS show honoring The Beatles. He was able to perform with many major celebrities like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, and more. Kenny also got the opportunity to thank Ringo for inspiring him to start playing the drums.  [06:20] Who\u2019s Better at Playing the Drums?  Comparing who\u2019s better at playing the drums is like trying to pick between apples or oranges; they're both great. Kenny shares that Ringo has a special way of playing the drums. He and his bandmates are so in sync with each other.  [07:49] Cut From the Same Cloth  Kenny comments that the Beatles were tight, had a great fee,l and had perfect timing. Back then, they recorded on four tracks, meaning you couldn\u2019t change anything. You\u2019re making commitments with sound, time, and everything. Everybody gave Ringo a hard time, but he was able to come up with parts that Kenny would never in his wildest dreams come up with.  [10:20] Do Drummers Write Their Parts?&amp;nbsp;  When Kenny was playing the drums with John Mellencamp\u2019s band, he had to come up with and polish songs.&amp;nbsp; Back in the day, there were only two music charts. You competed against bigs names like Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Elton John.  [12:14] Playing the Drums with Mellencamp  Kenny said every time Mellencamp would play a song, he wanted to come up with a beat that would direct that song. It was a lot of pressure. Solving problems takes creativity. There was also a lot of teamwork and creativity involved when working with Mellencamp.&amp;nbsp;  [16:38] Uncommon Studios LA  When downloading started, record sales went down.&amp;nbsp; And so, Kenny moved to LA and put up a studio. People would send Kenny files of their songs. Kenny would then ask them to send a demo of the song with the drum part. Kenny writes every single note down and sends back a couple of takes that he feels would make the song better. Technology is changing the way we do things, and it\u2019s no different for recording music. Tune in to the full episode to learn how Kenny uses Pro Tools in his studio!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;  [21:42] Adapt or Die  Kenny observes that humankind has adapted and survived with the help of tools and technology. With COVID, Kenny adapted his recording studio into a TV studio to do virtual speaking.  Kenny: \u201c\u200b\u200bI adapted. I adjusted to the system, to the environment I was in. You have to [roll with it]; I call it adapt or die.\u201d [22:52] The Secret to Kenny\u2019s Youthfulness  Kenny has been putting cream every day, shaving, and applying sunblock. He has kept this routine since 1994. He is incredibly health-conscious. Kenny\u2019s morning usually starts with water, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar. Tune in to the full episode to find out the foods that Kenny consumes to keep healthy.  [25:10] How Kenny Keeps Up When Playing the Drums in a Concert  Since high school, Kenny has always been into being fit and staying in shape. In 1994, his trainer introduced him to diet and supplements. Since then, he\u2019s maintained this lifestyle. Every day, he gets an hour of practice playing the drums.&amp;nbsp; Kenny keeps up with his endurance and cardio, believing that you always have to stay in shape.  [26:43] On Playing the Drums with the BoDeans  Kenny keeps a chart for every song on his iPad. For his latest collaboration with the BoDeans, Kenny had to learn 15 songs. They will also cover songs by other legendary bands.&amp;nbsp; Kenny prides himself on always being well-prepared for performances.  [28:56] On Playing the Drums with Other Artists&amp;nbsp;  Kenny has worked with many notable artists in the music industry. He would also go on tour with some. In a day, Kenny can record several songs for different artists. Find out how he manages to do this when you tune in to the full episode.  [31:44] Kenny\u2019s Audiobook  Kenny\u2019s audiobook was recorded without his voice, much to his disappointment. And so, Kenny recorded his book with his own voice.&amp;nbsp; Kenny paid an engineer to assist him in his studio. They took a while to go through the whole book because they had to redo and edit several times.   Kenny reflects that writing and recording his book was a painstaking process that compelled him to slow down.&amp;nbsp;  [39:10] Rock\u2019D Coffee  Kenny\u2019s brand was supposed to be \u2018Kaboom\u2019, but it turned out it was already a name for a toilet bowl cleaner. They offer an Italian roast espresso. It\u2019s dark, full-body, and strong. The brand has been around a couple of years, but Kenny hasn\u2019t promoted it as much. Tune in to the full episode to learn about Kenny\u2019s other ventures!  [43:57] Public Speaking  Kenny says putting together a 45-minute show isn\u2019t as easy as people think. His overall takeaway is being a team player; you need to connect and collaborate with people. You also need to be creative, innovative, and make efforts to stay relevant. Life is short. It's crucial for you to understand who you are and why you\u2019re here. He shares his story with others to inspire them.  Kenny: \u201cFeelings are the truth or your soul, your being. That's who you are. And when you act on that, you'll be unstoppable, undeniable, and authentic.\u201d [47:36] What\u2019s Next for Kenny&amp;nbsp;  Kenny is currently working on a beginner-intermediate drum book. He\u2019s recorded 12 songs with 12 different styles of drumming. The book\u2019s idea is to show people that he is playing the drums like how a method actor performs.&amp;nbsp;  [50:10] What Kenny Learned from Mellencamp  Laziness does not teach you to be great at what you do. You need to overcome this and learn to go after what you want. Go through life thinking you\u2019re on your own, don\u2019t go looking for handouts. Be accountable for your actions. Fight for what you want. Sometimes, you strike out, but that\u2019s all part of the learning process.  Kenny: \u201cIf everybody could take care of themselves, the world would be amazing. Now, not everybody can take care of themselves. But when they're teaching people to not take care of themselves, that's bringing the world down.\u201d About Kenny Kenny Aronoff, a world-class drummer who has been the sideman of many great bands for decades. He is also an influential public speaker, and now a best-selling author. He has sold over 300 million records with his talent. Most notably, Kenny Aronoff has been voted Rolling Stone\u2019s top 100 greatest drummers of all time. He currently owns Uncommon Studios in Los Angeles, CA where he records high-quality, professional drum tracks with past sessions including BoDeans, John Fogerty, Rod Stewart, and many more. To know more about Kenny and what he does, check out his website! You can also reach out to him on  Instagram, &amp;nbsp;LinkedIn, and Twitter.&amp;nbsp; Enjoyed this Episode? If you did, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends! Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your friends and family so they can get inspired by Kenny\u2019s story as well! Have any questions? You can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. You can also reach out at 612-504-6500 or by email at dkprojectpodcast@gmail.com.&amp;nbsp; Thank you for tuning in! For more updates, visit our website. You may also tune in on  Apple Podcasts or Spotify. To more real conversations,&amp;nbsp; Darren ","author_name":"The DK Project","author_url":"http:\/\/TheDKProjectPodcast.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/19975151\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/d23234\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/item\/19975151"}