YAMAHA DRUMS HIT THE ROAD WITH WARPED

Brian Ireland of Something Corporate

BUENA PARK, CA (August 23, 2002)—The Vans Warped Tour, now in its eighth year, is the longest running music tour in the world, drawing thousands upon thousands of its fans each year. This year's tour has been traveling across the country with Yamaha drummers Brian Ireland of Something Corporate, Gabe Mantle of gob, Joe Sirois of Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and George Schwindt of Flogging Molly.

"I've been playing [drums] for about four and a half years," says Something Corporate's Brian Ireland. "After about a year, I picked up a Yamaha Maple Custom, and it's exactly what I wanted. I've been extremely happy with it. It sounds great in the studio and tunes up really quick and easy. They're awesome! It's easy to brag about them." Formed in early 2000, the Southern California punk-pop band's members were barely out of high school when their debut EP Audioboxer was released in late 2001, establishing the band as local club favorites. Their debut full-length release Leaving Through the Window was recently released on Drive Thru/MCA and is gaining speed as it makes its way to the top of the charts.

Brian Ireland of Something Corporate; Gabe Mantle of Gob; George Schwindt of Flogging Molly; and Joe Sirois of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Gabe Mantle of gob plays a custom-finished black sparkle Yamaha Beech Custom Absolute kit. The punk-pop foursome from Vancouver, Canada was formed in 1993 and has three albums already under their belts – the latest, The World According to Gob was released in early 2001. Having recently signed with New York-based label Arista, Gabe and the guys of gob have been in the studio working on their newest album, Foot in Mouth Disease, due out in early 2003. About his Yamaha drums, Gabe exclaims, "I love it! They're really good."

For the driving backbeat for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Joe Sirois uses his custom-finish red sparkle Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute kit. Formed in 1985 in Boston, the ska band signed with Mercury in 1993. Their latest album A Jackknife to a Swan was released this Summer on Side One Dummy and is getting rave reviews. "It sounds unbelievable and feels good," says Joe of his Yamaha kit. "It rocks!"

Joe Sirois of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Drummer for Los Angeles-based band Flogging Molly, George Schwindt, plays the new Yamaha Oak Custom. The oak set produces a distinctive, bright, and remarkably loud, yet harmonically rich, sound that is ideal for any live performance application. Flogging Molly is a fabulous mix of traditional Irish music and punk rock. Says George, "For Flogging Molly you have to cut through a lot – like the accordion and the mandolin. [The drums] project so well and sound great!" The band released their debut album Swagger in March 2000; the follow up, Drunken Lullabies, was released earlier this year on Side One Dummy and is quickly climbing the charts.

To learn more about these rockin' Yamaha drummers, check them out on the web: www.somethingcorporate.com, www.gobnet.com, www.bosstones.com, www.floggingmolly.com.

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.yamahadrums.com.