OAK CUSTOM KIT IS MORE THAN A "MEMENTO"
FOR STEVE CLARK

—Drummer Signed As New Yamaha Artist—

BUENA PARK, CA (May 9, 2003)—With the appropriately-titled debut album Beginnings released in March 2003, hard-rocking quartet Memento has already become the second most added band to rock radio. Drummer Steve Clark, recently signed as a Yamaha artist, keeps the beat pounding on the Yamaha Oak Custom kit.

Memento Rocks With Yamaha

"Playing in Memento, I have to have drums that have diversity and range," Clark says. "The Oak Custom drums are perfect. They're responsive, tonal beyond belief and loud...I mean outrageously loud! The first time I hit the 12-inch tom I was blown away—and knew I had to play the whole kit."

An Orange County, CA native with a background steeped primarily in jazz, Clark's influences include U2, Alice in Chains and Tool. Clark and vocalist Justin Stewart Cotta, who plays piano and guitar, left the comfort and security of an already-signed act (Vast) to form another. The two recruited bassist Lats from the popular Aussie metal act Devolved, and guitarist Space (Cotta's former bandmate from Gold Coast rock band Tower). Memento soon embarked on a grueling schedule to sharpen their new sound. Within weeks of their first club appearance, Memento flashed on the radar screen of nearly every A&R person in L.A., and the quartet soon signed with Columbia Records.

Memento's Steve Clark and his #1 fan (Daughter Lulu)

"I've always been a fan of music that is somewhere between jazz and rock," notes Clark. "Growing up, some of my favorite drummers were Steve Gadd, Mike Bordin and Dave Weckl. Yamaha drums always sounded amazing on those guys' recordings and live performances. The drums were the perfect tool to let them create and be musical in a band setting. From the Stage Custom series all the way up to the Recording Custom—the Yamaha drums always blew me away."

Produced by Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn) and mixed by Brendan O'Brien (Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots), Beginnings fuses the sonic hallmarks of classic heavy rock with twisted modern textures. Memento recently completed a tour with Papa Roach and is in the midst of a North American club tour. The band will join Ozzfest this summer.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, Drum Products, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com.