THE NAKED CHEF "COOKS" WITH YAMAHA DRUMS

—British Chef Jams with the HipGig Kit—

BUENA PARK, CA (October 25, 2002)—Since the spring of 1999, Jamie Oliver, a.k.a. "The Naked Chef," has appeared on the BBC Food Network's high-rated show of the same name with his simplified approach to cuisine of "stripping back to the bare essentials." The 27-year old is not only an accomplished chef but also an accomplished musician, and has been playing drums since age eleven. Oliver currently plays with his band, Scarlet Division, and incorporates drum sessions with a Yamaha HipGig into his cooking program.

The Naked Chef 'Cooks' on the Yamaha HipGig

"I got the HipGig when it first came out two years ago," says Oliver. "I used to drive around London with the whole kit strapped on my scooter—it was small and easy to get around—but I wouldn't recommend everybody doing it that way! What I really like is that the HipGig sounds so bloody good."

The Yamaha Rick Marotta HipGig signature kit, named after the drumming legend, has incredible sounding drums and the portability that has made the HipGig popular with gigging musicians.

The HipGig features a punchy 16" (diameter) by 20" bass drum, with Yamaha's special floating bass drum system; a pair of ultra-dynamic Toms (10" x 6" and 13" x 7"); and an articulate 12" x 5" snare. Drums are constructed of high-quality, seven-ply Birch/Mahogany shells in Cherry Wood, Mellow Yellow and White Marine Pearl. All hardware stores in the tubular drum throne, and all the drums store inside the bass drum for easy transport.

"My cooking keeps me really busy, but I still manage to rehearse with my band at least once a month," says Oliver. "I play and recorded the backing drum tracks on the custom CD that's out now. I started drumming on the show about a year ago. What I'm trying to do, more than anything is to not take the cooking so seriously—everything in cooking is about empowerment, so people can think, 'I can do this.' The drums help with that, and the young ones like it. It's really about having fun. And besides, I love the drums—the drums are a really wicked thing."

In addition to his numerous cook books on the market, the CD, Jamie Oliver's Cookin: Music to Cook By, a compilation that includes Scarlet Division and other favorite British bands such as Fatboy Slim, Happy Mondays, Oasis and Duran Duran. The Naked Chef will be seen drumming on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno,' the first week of December.

For more information on Yamaha Drums, 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.