Dean Butterworth
26 septembre 1966

Batteur - Il rejoint les Innocent Criminals à la fin de la tournée Fight For Your Mind en février 1997 à l'occasion d'un concert privé donné au Coach House de San Juan Capistrano, CA. Il enregistre deux albums avec le groupe : The Will To Live (1997) et Burn To Shine (1999). Il figure aussi sur le double album Live From Mars (2001). Il cède sa place à Oliver Charles après un dernier concert au RIMAC Field de La Jolla, CA, le 28 mai 2001.

De sa collaboration avec Ben Harper naîtra aussi la sublime ballade She's Only Happy In The Sun. Ben Harper : "On a écrit cette chanson en une dizaine d’heures avec mon batteur une nuit, à Cleveland." — La chanson figure sur l'album Diamonds On The Inside, 2003.

Sandra Salazar : Comment es-tu devenu un "Innocent Criminal"?
Dean Butterworth : Il y a environ cinq ou six ans de ça, Ben et moi, nous nous sommes rencontrés dans un studio d'enregistrement à Hollywood. On est devenus copains, on sortait ensemble, on se voyait souvent. Et puis à l'époque de Fight For Your Mind, il m'a demandé de venir jouer en studio avec le groupe. J'ai appris quelques chansons de Ben, je suis allé jouer au studio et le lendemain il m'a rappelé.
En fait, Ben avait choisi un batteur, JP (Plunier) un autre et Juan (Nelson) encore un autre, il y avait trois batteurs pour passer l'audition et c'est moi qui ait été choisi, en septembre 1996. On s'aimait bien, on a joué ensemble, ça a collé et depuis, l'évolution a été très concluante.

Sandra Salazar : Comment ça?
Dean Butterworth : En tant qu'amis et partenaires de boulot. Plus tu es proche de quelqu'un, capable de le comprendre, de lui faire confiance, plus cela est transcendé dans la musique. Juan, Dave (Leach), Ben et moi, on est très proches et ça se ressent musicalement.

Sandra Salazar : Le batteur précédent (Oliver Charles) était plutôt Reggae, est-ce que tu es plutôt Rock, de ton côté?
Dean Butterworth : Non, je viens du Jazz et de la Fusion, pas mal de Reggae aussi. Je n'avais pas joué de Rock'n'Roll depuis longtemps. Quand j'étais au lycée, je trouvais ça craignos, d'aimer le rock: si tu ne jouais pas de Jazz, tu n'étais pas un bon musicien, parce que le Jazz, c'est tout de suite plus technique. J'étais un batteur de jazz très snob! Et puis j'ai découvert The Police et Stewart Copeland, il m'a littéralement soufflé. Un peu comme le batteur de Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, qui apportait lui aussi des éléments de Jazz à son Rock'n'Roll. Mais à l'époque, mes références étaient Steve Gal, Chick Corea, Buddy Rich, Lenny White, tous les batteurs de Jazz fusion, la liste pourrait être longue.

Sandra Salazar : Quel plaisir en retires-tu?
Dean Butterworth : C'est plus difficile de jouer moins que de jouer plus. Il faut être juste plutôt que d'en dire trop. On peut toujours crier, mais le plus important, c'est de parler, de dire les choses avec sensibilité. C'est ce que j'essaie d'apprendre. Je me comporte comme une éponge, j'absorbe le plus de styles musicaux possible.

Sandra Salazar : Tu as un type de relation assez spécial avec David, le percussionniste?
Dean Butterworth : Nous communiquons visuellement sur scène et au travers de nos instruments, de manière à ne pas interférer, bien que parfois, on joue la même chose en même temps. On aime aussi conserver certaines bases à notre collaboration mais il y a toujours une porte ouverte à l'impro. Ça arrive souvent et ça permet de rester frais, de ne pas s'ennuyer, musicalement parlant. Le truc bien aussi, c'est que nous avons une cinquantaine de titres au répertoire, on peut changer le set tous les soirs et ne pas sombrer dans la répétition. Par ailleurs, David et moi, nous sommes des amis très proches, même les jours de repos, on est toujours ensemble.

Juan Nelson et Dean Butterworth forment la rythmique idéale pour soutenir Ben Harper. Le duo respecte scrupuleusement les règles d'accompagnement blues en trio.
Butterworth est à l'aise sur toutes les couleurs choisies par Ben Harper. Les ballades sont soutenues par des ambiances cymbales-balais (shuffle ou binaires) avec pour certains titres (I Want To Be Ready) des mises en place de climats basés sur des riffs séquentiels très originaux. Son jeu de Reggae est typique également avec emploi des rim-shots, splash et charlestons adéquats. Des influences R'n'B sont notables également dans son emploi des toms basse en croches (The Will To Live). C'est dans ce style qu'il semble être le plus libre sur la musique de Ben Harper puisqu'il intervient de façon plus soutenue sur ce type de titres. Professionnel dans son jeu et sa gestion du son, Dean Butterworth est l'archétype du parfait musicien de sessions.

Dean Butterworth : "Mon set de batterie est le suivant : Tama Star Classic - a maple drum set. The kick drum is 18x22. The first rack tom is 8x10. The second rack tom is 10x12. The first floor tom is 12x14. The second floor tom is 14x16. My main snare drum is 5 1/2 x14. My auxillary snare is 5 1/2 x10. My timbale is 6 1/2 x14. I have 3 splash cymbals: 8, 9 and 10 inches. I have 15" high hats a 14 inch china cymbal and 16 inch china. I have 2 - 18" crashes: a 17 and a 16 and a 22 inch ride. I also have an Iron Cobra double pedal... and all hardware is Tama. The drumheads are: G2 clear on the toms the kick drum has an EQ-3. The snares are G1 coated (like a white coat of paint). Then the timbale is a clear resonant."

"J'utilise des baguettes 5 B Pro-Mark non vernies. J'ai essayé beaucoup d'autres modèles mais je préfère les sensations que celles-ci me procurent. Elles sont aussi très très résistantes."

"J'essaye de m'exercer tous les jours, d'une demi-heure à deux heures généralement. Note que j'ai précisé "j'essaye" parce que ce n'est pas toujours le cas".

"Je casse plus souvent mes baguettes pendant un concert que pendant mes exercices, probablement parce que l'énergie du public me survolte!"

— source: benharper.net - retranscription du chat du 30 janvier 2001.

Drum : SC Maple - Pedal : HP900RTW - Hi Hat : HH905 - Throne : HT510 - (source: www.tama.com)

"Dean utilise des caisses claires 5.5" x 14" et 6.5" x 12" (solid cooktown ironwood). Sur l'intro de Alone on peut distinguer très clairement la 5.5" x 14" (Jim E. Hall - spiritdrums.com).

Dean Butterworth : "Le fait que les caisses soient extraites d'une seule pièce, dans le tronc de l'arbre est dèjà remarquable en soi. La réponse et la chaleur des caisses est vraiment incroyable. Pour moi, Spririt Drums fabrique des éléments de batterie de classe internationale".

Pro-Mark Stix In Session
Chat www.worldwithoutborders.com - 30 janvier 2001

GCSBinker: Dean, could you please begin by briefly telling us a bit about your style of drumming?
Dean Butterworth: Back when I was in junior high school, I played jazz and marched in the band so as a young drummer I focused on playing jazz and swing. I also marched in high school in the drum corp and continued to play jazz, then about age 16 or 17, while I was still focued on playing fusion and jazz, I got into rock; was turned on by a drummer called Stewart Copeland from the band called the Police. Basically, as a young drummer, I focused on my jazz and fusion drumming. I was always into playing jazz, funk, Latin, reggae and all styles of music. I always wanted to be a diverse drummer: my step-father told me (he played with Rick Nelson) that it was essential to be a diverse drummer. He instilled in me that I should be as proficient in all styles of drumming as possible so that I would have more options as a drummer.

Amy J. : Will we hear any new songs on the upcoming tour?
Dean Butterworth: Amy J, we are working on some new stuff, but we probably won't be playing them live on the upcoming tour. We will probably save them for the next record, but sometimes we pull things out! You just never know. We get inspired and pull out new songs to do.

thomas laborde: Hello Dean. I'd like to know what your drum set is (exactly). Thanks.
Dean Butterworth: My drum set is: Tama Star Classic - a maple drum set. The kick drum is 18 x 22. The first rack tom is 8 x10. The second rack tom is 10 x 12. The first floor tom is 12 x14. The second floor tom is 14 x 16. My main snare drum is 5 1/2 x 14. My auxillary snare is 5 1/2 x10. My timbale is 6 1/2 x 14. I have 3 splash cymbals: 8, 9 and 10 inches. I have 15" high hats, a 14 inch china cymbal and a16 inch china. I have 2 - 18" crashes: a 17 and a 16 and a 22 inch ride. I also have an Iron Cobra double pedal...and all hardware is Tama. The drumheads are: G2 clear on the toms, the kick drum has an EQ-3 The snares are G1 coated (like a white coat of paint). Then the timbale is a clear resonant. I use 5 B Pro-Mark sticks. That's it! Thanks for asking.

christian: Dean, when are you guys coming back to NewZealand? I'm building a guitar to give to Ben, so I just want to know when to have it finished. Cheers.
Dean Butterworth: We are not going to be in New Zealand until probably after we make our next album, but the closest we will be to NZ will be in Australia, playing The Big Day Out festival and headlining two nights at the Byron Bay Blues Festival, and that is in mid April. New Zealand is one of my most favorite places on the whole planet and I cannot WAIT to get back there.

ryanminer: What is it like for you to play in a foreign country like Japan where there is a language barrier? (I'm assuming you don't speak Japanese)
Dean Butterworth: Music crosses all language barriers! But for me, I am very intrigued being in foreign countries and I try to absorb as much as I can. It is very inspiring to be in other countries and I love it! It is very educational as well.

thomas laborde: Did you play in another band?
Dean Butterworth: I have played with LOTS of bands, Thomas. I played with a band called Slapbak and we were signed to Warner Bros. about 8 years ago. I've also played with an R & B group called IV Example, MCA Records. I also played with a band called Novacaine on Mercury Records. I've played with those along with many bar bands - all types of stuff - then I joined Ben Harper in late September, 1996, and we have been busy ever since! I'll go out and play with other people as well. I have a fusion group as well. I also do a lot of studio work, I sing, I write. I just stay busy playing because I love playing!

Ravi: What is your contribution in the songwriting process?
Dean Butterworth: For the last few records, my contribution has just been to help arrange the music along with the rest of the band. Ben has done the majority of the writing, then he brings the songs to the band and we arrange the songs and bring them to life as a band. Ben and I have written one song together, and we're in the middle of working on a second one, and we hope to have some co-writes on the next record with all of us having our creative input in the writing process. I usually tend to sit down with Ben and write one-on-one. We usually have two guitars, meet while on the road and write. Thanks for asking that question!

chiefcrowe: Tell us about some of the artists that were the most rewarding to work with outside of the Innocent Criminals.
Dean Butterworth: I got a chance to work with John Lee Hooker. Also, I also played with Sheila E, Alana Davis... Charlie Wilson from the GAP band... Dave Wakling and Ranking Roger of General Public and the English Beats... Jack Grishum from TSOL... Jazz saxophonist, Ernie Watts... and many more! I got to sit in one time with John Popper of Blues Traveler... Al Anderson, guitar player from The Wailers... Ronald "Stepper" McQueen, the bass player from Steel Pulse... and I hope to share creatively with many more artists during my life.

wvhardcore: Do you consider Neil Peart from Rush an influence?
Dean Butterworth: I think Neil is an amazing drummer, but he was never a major influence in my drumming. During that time, rather than listening to Rush, I listened to the Police and was influenced by Stewart Copeland.

dinodrumz: Dean, Why do you choose Pro-Mark drumsticks?
Dean Butterworth: I feel that I've played almost every drum stick out there, and I play the Pro-Mark naturals (no lacquer on the wood) and I like the way they feel. They are very, very durable. I love the balance as well. Thanks for asking, dinodrumz!

Ryan Foster: Whose idea was a college circuit tour?.... the band's idea...Virgin's idea....or Rosebud's idea?
Dean Butterworth: Well, the thing is that we have already been though all the major cities in the US and we are trying to get our music out to people as much as we can, both in and outside of this country, so we feel collectively that focusing on the college market is the thing to do because college students love music and we love playing to college students!

thomas laborde: What are the differences playing with Ben?
Dean Butterworth: The difference playing with Ben is that we have been friend for over six years and we've been playing music together for over four years and that is the longest that I have ever played with anyone in my playing career, so with that, we have learned how to read each other which makes it really comfortable and a lot of fun. I feel that between the four of us in the band, and our different musical backgrounds, I feel there is a magic that takes place when we play that I have never experienced before. Again...thanks for your great question!

dinodrumz: Dean, How long do you practice drums & how often do change your drumsticks? I mean break your drumsticks?
Dean Butterworth: dinodrumz, I try to practice everyday. It can vary anywhere from one half hour to ..uhm..two hours usually. Remember! I said I *try* to practice everyday, but I don't always get around to it. I break my sticks more when I am playing live than when I practice - maybe because the energy of the audience gets me fired up!

Ravi: Tell us about a concert that changed your life and why?
Dean Butterworth: Ravi, we were playing last year in Paris at a huge arena... and there were 18,000-20,000 people in the audience. We went into one of our softer tunes, the lights were off, and the whole audience put their lighters on, and from my perspective, it felt like I was Captain Kirk flying through space in the Enterprise... The lighters looked like stars. It was amazing! I really felt like I was in space - a very moving experience - very weird and I was blown away.

thomas laborde: Is this true you were a teacher?
Dean Butterworth: I taught privately, Thomas. A couple of years after graduating from high school, I went back and taught the drum corps for my high school marching band.

chiefcrowe: Tell us about your work with guitarist Stevie Salas.
Dean Butterworth: Stevie Salas is a friend of mine and a phenomenal guitar player, and we worked together on a few funk gigs a few years back and we have also worked on a few studio dates in LA. I just saw him at the NAMM show, had not seen him for a while,and we're going to be getting together when I get back from my tour just to jam.

Dean_is_the_man: Are you planning on doing any new covers in the new tour coming up?
Dean Butterworth: Maybe...but I don't know which ones. (love your screen name, Dean_is_the_man)

husky: Can you expand on how the live album is coming along?
Dean Butterworth: The live album is mixed and mastered it, and we're waiting for it to go into mass production to be released sometime in March. We're all *extremely* excited about it! Thanks for asking, husky.

GCSBinker: Your background includes exposure to several diverse styles of music. What are your main concerns when you switch between or try to blend different styles in your playing?
Dean Butterworth: A great question! My main concern is to make sure that the different style that I go into "feel right" because each style that I play (for example, funk, rock, reggae,etc) need to have a specific feel for the style. So the main thing within the change is to execute the feel within that style. Different feels and styles can also be better expressed by using louder of softer dynamics to express that feel.

dinodrumz: What do you think of Promark's Hotrods? Have you tried them out before?
Dean Butterworth: Yes, I have used them; I have some in my stick bag at all times, and I have actually used them in our concerts and in the studio. I think they are great!

Ursus: Dean any chance of you all covering a hip-hop song or too in future setlists?
Dean Butterworth: Yeah! We're pretty open-minded as a band! Anything is possible with the Innocent Criminals, but I can't say for sure exactly which song we would pick.

ryanminer: What direction/sound do you see the IC's music heading in?
Dean Butterworth: Wow! I think that embracing the styles that have been created on all four records created to date and then just moving forward as a group... I think that we'll just mold into whatever comes out because whatever is in our soul is what comes out. It is just a natural evolution that is created with us as a band.

tjc1: How did you join the Innocent Criminals?
Dean Butterworth: Thanks for your question, tjc1... I met Ben a little over six years ago and we became friends. A year and a half later, he called me and asked me to show up at his studio in Hollywood to play with him and Juan. That was the beginning of my journey with the Innocent Criminals. I joined the band the next day.

GCSBinker: What's coming up on the horizon for you, Dean?
Dean Butterworth: Just touring with the Innocent Criminals... Getting into doing some drum clinics - both in and out of the country. Working on a movie soundtrack with my songwriting partner in March... and basically, just practicing and trying to become a better player. And staying healthy! Towards the end of July, we will be taking some time off the road to be making a new studio record for Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. Just playing some local gigs and sitting in with friends in LA. Doing some studio work with other people...staying busy!

GCSBinker: Unfortunately we are almost out of time. Do you have any final comments or insights for our audience before we wrap up?
Dean Butterworth: I'd like to thank Jeff Hartsough at Pro-Mark Stix for making this chat possible and for all the support that they have given me over the years. I'd also like to thank all who joined me tonight, who took their time to come here and chat with me - hopefully making this a successful chat! I would very much like to do this again! Thank you all for your support. Let me leave you with some words that I live by... Try and enjoy each day that you live in and each moment that you live in because life is truly a gift.