INTERVIEW WITH STEVE DiSTANISLAO
BY
BUZZ PERSON
CONDUCTED BY BUZZ PERSON FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2002

PHOTOS BY BUZZ PERSON UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED

BP: Its my pleasure this afternoon to be sitting here with Steve DiStanislao, otherwise known to his friends and fans as Stevie "D," drummer extraordinaire for Crosby, Pevar and Raymond. Welcome, Stevie, and thanks for stopping by.

SD: Thanks for having me.

BP: Stevie, on a bunch of occasions when Ive been at some of the gigs Ive heard David Crosby refer to you as the best drummer in the world. That must be a real honor to have a rock legend such as Croz refer to you as the best.

SD: It is quite an honor coming from Croz, and hes very supportive and encouraging and Im really glad he likes my playing, and we have a lot of fun playing together.

BP: About a year ago, Steve, when I was at one of the gigs, you and I got talking a little bit about our backgrounds and found out that we have a few things in common. Can you kind of tell us a little about your roots and what those things were and where you grew up and stuff like that.

SD: Well, I was born in Connecticut and my family is originally from the East Coast, and when I was two we moved out to Southern California to Newport Beach and I was raised in Newport. My parents still live there, in the same house I grew up in. Theyre still alive and well and I have two older brothers and a sister and they also live in the Southern California area and I see them quite often, actually, so, yeah, were rooted in Southern California.

photo by sqb in Sausalito CA.

BP: Are any of the other members of your family into music the way you are?

SD: Not professionally. My brother and my sister played in the band in school. They both played, actually, the clarinet. They were never really as into it as I was, so Im pretty much the only, the black sheep of the family, if you will.

BP: And you went to?

SD: I went to, actually the schools I went to are all on the same street. I went to Mariners Elementary, Horace Ensign Junior High School, and Newport Harbor High and, from I understand, you went to Horace Ensign Junior High as well, and I remember I was a journalism, in the journalism class, the name of the, of the newspaper was the Sea Bee Buzz, and it was named after you, so that was quite interesting when I found that out.

BP: Yeah, but I was there a couple of years ahead of you.

SD: Just a couple.

BP: Yeah, thats all. Whereabouts do you live now?

SD: I live in Long Beach.

BP: Steve, when did you first become interested in music?

SD: I was around six years old. I saw a parade and the drums went by, the drum line went by and I just felt the drums right through my chest and that was it. It was all over. I knew I wanted to be a drummer. So I was around six years old when I, when I got the bug.

BP: And did you start with a drum set immediately at six?

SD: Actually no. The funny thing was I really, really wanted a drum set desperately but my father was informed by my, I was taking, actually taking lessons back then, my teacher, John Ferraro, who was pretty much my mentor and, you know, first teacher, he told my father dont buy Steve a drum set. Get him a practice pad and some sticks and so from first grade all the way to fifth grade I had to play on a pad. It turned out to be the best thing I could have done. By the time I was in fifth grade, I had all my rudiments completely together and I got my hands together and I thought about drumming all the time, so by the time I got my drum set, which was four years later, I could actually sit down and play, and my family, my parents couldnt believe it. It was pretty wild but, so the power of imagining really kind of paid off, and also it was, it really helped me get my fundamentals together.

BP: So during that four years you never actually ever hit a drum?

SD: Well, when I was taking lessons, Id sneak, when John would go to the bathroom or something, Id jump on his drums and start wailin away and hed come in, all right, off, you know, that kind of thing, but I was really good at finding kids who had mini-bikes and drum sets. They could ride the mini-bike great but they couldnt play the drums, and they had these beautiful new drums, so Id say, hey, man, could I come over and ride your mini-bike, you know. So Id end up playing their drums all afternoon and theyd be sitting there like, how do you know how to play? And so I kind of got some practice in on other peoples drums, like some friends around the, around the neighborhood.

BP: And did you learn any other rudiments of other instruments at that time or ?

SD: Well, I was singing in plays and doing that kind of thing when I was a young, you know, young guy and that came pretty easy. I didnt really pick up any other instrument at the time though. I didnt play piano or guitar or any of that until later. And I used to act as a kid. I did a lot of stage productions where I actually was like the lead singing full voice, but when I got into high school I kind of decided not to be in the drama department anymore, which I kind of regret a little bit. I think I could have been a very good actor, and I may still do that. I still have that in the back of my head. But I sing, too, and now Im starting to get into producing, and so I do play a little guitar and I play keyboards and stuff like that.

photo by sqb in Glen Ellen Ca. (BR Cohn)

BP: Cool.

SD: Yeah.

BP: So in terms of the formal music training, did you just do it through the public school system or did you have private lessons also.

SD: Um, I played a little bit in the school bands um, but, however, there was some problems with some of the directors getting fired and what no, so between, like I said, John Ferraro was my biggest influence. I used to go, I studied with him at an early age; he taught me my rudiments, and then, by the time I got into high school, I studied with a guy named Richard Neal, who really taught me how to read music and, so that was, I pretty much learned privately and just playing in bands. It was more organic than, than actually going to the school and doing it.

BP: So when you got out of, out of school, how did you continue your music endeavors?

SD: Well, I basically continued, I went to Orange Coast College and played in the jazz band there and I, I also just started doing gigs. I mean, I was doing gigging by the time I was 14 and around here played at the Studio Cafe and a lot of different gigs and, you know, just trying to get my name out there and played a lot and then, so thats how I did it. I just; my dad didnt know anything about the music business and he loves music and he always wanted to be a musician, but he gave me some of the greatest advice. He said to me, play with whoever you can and wherever you can, and thats what I did.

BP: That kind of leads me to my next, next question about your early groups and gigs and learning, what kind of music, was it always rock or, I know Studio Cafe is, is kind of known for its jazz.

SD: Right. Well, I grew up playing, you know, typical, like Elton John. I was really into Chicago, and that was like, you know, elementary school, I got. I was really into rock and roll, you know, Beach Boys, all that stuff. When I got into junior high, I got in the jazz band and went on, we went on playing a bunch of competitions and I kind of got the bug for jazz and I also, my dad used to take me to see Buddy Rich every year at Disneyland, so I really kind of got interested in Big Band music around junior high. And then in high school I met this guitar player, who Ill keep anonymous, but he really helped me learn jazz and he got me really hooked on jazz, and Id say about my junior year in high school I really turned the corner with that.

BP: Tell us about some of the early groups that you were in.

SD: I had a band called Sundance. I mean were going way back, Im talkin like, you know, fifth grade here. I had a band called Spectrum in high school. This was a power trio. I played with a lot of just great people. I was in a band called Wizard for a long time. There was a teacher at Orange, Golden West College, Jerry Schrader and Tom Kubis, who I played with, and that was a really great experience for me, and I worked at Disneyland and I did all that stuff as a kid and, you know, started doing recording sessions and you know.

BP: How did you find CPR or how did they find you? Whats the story behind that, Steve.

SD: Well, going back to, you were saying how did you continue your music? That kind of leads me into James, and I was 17 years old and I was bored and I was burnt out on the local music and I was like, you know, theres got to be something more challenging for me, and a trumpet player said, hey, theres a band, a great jazz band happening out in the Inland Empire and theres a great instructor and you ought to go out and play. Theyre gonna, youve gotta audition for this guy because theyre gonna go tour and do a live album and everything and theyll really push you. So I thought, all right. I remember driving an hour out to San Berdoo out to Chaffey College, and I just remember setting up my drums and sitting there waiting for the instructor to come in. I remember this kid walking in, sat at the piano, looked right at me, started jammin, and it was James Raymond, and we looked at each other and we started instantly playing. We didnt even say "boo" to each other and we started playing together. By the end of that day we were best friends.

BP: Great.

SD: Yeah.

BP: Great story.

SD: And thats how it all started with James.

BP: Well CPR has been quite an experience for you. You know theres a, theres four other guys in CPR. Can you tell me a little bit about your impressions of each of the, each of guys? Lets start out with Andrew.

SD: Andrews a dear friend. Hes somebody I really look up to. We call him our spiritual advisor because hes so centered in his beliefs and hes We also call him the invisible man because hes, hes one of the greatest base players Ive ever played with and whats so great about him in CPR is the fact that since it is such a vocal dominant band and, it still rocks, he has a way of playing and staying out of the way completely. Like you almost dont know hes there, but his, his role is so important and hes just a great guy to be around and hes just a great friend and, and he inspires all of us because he really, he, his way of life is really, he really sticks to what he believes and hes very, hes a devout Christian. He lives by it and hes a great example for all of us so, its really great being in a band with Andrew.

BP: Super. How about Jeff Pevar, the Peev man?

SD: What can I say? Hes, hes not only a dear friend and like a brother to me, hes definitely a family member to me. We really are very similar in a lot of ways; we have a lot of the same desires and the same approach to things and we, I have to say hes one of the greatest guitar players alive today. I mean, hes so versatile, hes so committed to the music. Whenever, I remember seeing, the first time I saw Jeff play with CPR when they were a trio, I mean I couldnt keep my eyes off of him. Im like this guys unbelievable. Very passionate guy, very sensitive guy, and I love him, I love him to death.

BP: When was that when you first saw CPR?

SD: I guess it was in 97, towards the, maybe towards the end of 97 I believe, and James invited me to come, James had Stacia, with him, and invited me to come to down to the Belly Up to see them and I literally was holding back the tears because Id never, I had no, I mean, I knew James was great and I knew we had a exper, we had history playing, but to see him with Croz and Jeff at that level and the way they sounded and the interaction, I mean, I just, I was hold, I was really fighting the tears that night. It was a really a meaningful, emotional night; it was amazing.

BP: That kind of leads, leads me into asking about James.

SD: Uh huh. Hes my best friend. I love him. I hold James in the highest regard. Its kind of hard to put into words, really, we go, we have so much history together and he means so much to me. I mean, his whole family, hes just a, hes a great guy, hes a very loving guy, extremely talented guy, very humble, you know, hes like a brother to me. He truly is like my brother and, you know, Im so, I feel so lucky to have him in my life. I mean, every time I leave their house or say goodbye to him and Im drivin away, Im just thanking God every day. Im like thanks so much for having him in my life.

You know, I mean this goes back 20, I mean, 1982 was when I met him, and its, yeah, and its just, and the fact that I can be in a band with my best friend. I used to set up my drums in his parents den and I used to spend the weekend there, you know, it was a big deal driving all the way out to San Bernardino, right? But we used to, at the end of the day, we used to decide, you know after dinner, wed drive up to the, up Big Bear area and wed sit and overlook the whole valley and, one of these days, man, were gonna be in a band together. I dont know what its gonna be, but you know its gonna be cool. And who knew it was gonna be CPR? But yet James is one of the most special people Ive ever met, and not just cuz hes my buddy but, really, I mean hes just a great guy and a super talented guy.

BP: And youre not only in the band with James, but youre in the band with his dad, who is a legend. Tell us about Crosby.

SD: Oh, man, Cros, I feel the same connection I do with James when Im with Cros. Its really weird. Its like its definitely a blood thing but Croz is one of the, first of all, I think hes one of the most brilliant minds Ive ever met, um, on many levels. I mean, the guys a, the guys a pilot, hes an avid sailor, hes a, hes a poet, hes a great musician, scuba diver, great father, I mean, hes just

BP: Philosopher.

SD: Philosopher, I mean he really is a renaissance, a true renaissance man.

BP: Great description.

SD: Yeah, he really is, and out of anybody Ive ever worked with or for, and Ill say for because, you know, he does hire us to play, but he is the only artist Ive ever worked with that says, said to me, Steve, play whatever youre hearing, sing whatever youre hearing. I mean, thats unheard of in this business. Its always, drummer can you do this, drummer can you do that? I dont want, lay out here, can you go to the bells, the cymbals. I mean, hell give you suggestions but hell do it in a way thatll encourage me to come up with the idea. You know what I mean?

BP: Super.

SD: And that alone is brilliance, so.

BP: How long has it been since the band went from a trio to having you and Andrew, and did you both come at the same time?

SD: Yes we did, as far as the live show. What happened was they got together as a trio and they decided to do a studio record, the first studio record, as you recall, and its kind of interesting just how it all came about. I had met David, I was playing in a band with James actually just prior to that with this artist named Savore, who was on Sony, and James helped produce the record and Croz came to one of our shows and heard me play and then we met at the Belly Up. I dont think he remembered me, it was kind of funny. When it came time to do the record, they had a whole roster of guys they were gonna use. Russ Kunkel, of course, Luis Conte, they had Curt Pesquera, all these heavy-weight cats, and there was a couple, there was one track particularly that James not only knew that I knew, cause I had hear the demo that James did, but he envisioned me playing it, and it was Morrison, and so he basically begged David to let me do it and because he was saying, you know, I really want Stevie, you gotta hear my friend Stevie play, blah, blah, blah, so, and Peev was cool because he had met me and thought, yeah, bring him in, you know, what the heck. And I had never played with Peev.

Well, it was one of those magical days where it was at Jackson Studio and, and uh, we basically got sounds from the drums and we ran it down once, the next take was the record. Well, so Croz was like, wow, you know, you know, wow, I really dig it, you know, he was so excited. So we went and had lunch, he was like, you know, ecstatic, like we got a record, yeah, this is it, you know, so then we had lunch and then James said why dont we try out the edge since Stevies here and were set up, so James had this, an idea of how it was gonna go and we tried it.

It didnt really work with the vocal and then Jeff wanted to play base on it and went back and forth, so finally, actually chimed in and said, you know, I had an idea of what I want to play, and Dave just looked at me and he just kinda goes, man, youre the drummer. Lets do what you wanna do, which was so cool because it gave me, Im like, okay, great. We went out there and not only was that the take, the fir, that take we took, but he kept the vocal from that and it was like live, so that, to me, is the most special track on that record, maybe the most special track of all the tracks weve ever done, only because it was so magical and the way it went down it was such the moment, and Davids vocal performance went down at that time, too, and after that it was like, do you wanna be in the band? It was like youre our guy.

BP: When was that in terms of perspective?

SD: Oh, Im sorry. It was probably, the album came out in what, 97?

BP: I think so.

SD: So it was, it was just during that tracking time. It was like towards the end of the tracking because they had the whole record done except for a couple of those pieces, so, fortunately, it was enough to get in there.

BP: Steve, over the last, I guess, three or four years theres been some, Im sure, some up moments, a lot of up moments, and a few down moments. What are some of your highlights from your favorite moments of CPR shows and recording and things like that?

photo by buzz person in Lucca, Italy

SD: Well, as far as the shows concerned, Id have to say the Wiltern and it was, that was one of the heaviest nights of my life. I think we, we gelled as a band the most that night, the fact that Graham was there and Mark Cohen was there and Phil Collins was there, and the other thing that was a pretty big deal for me, and this might not seem like it to other people, but my brother, I have an oldest brother, Tom, whos a very successful businessman and a, and a father and a husband and hes got a lot of responsibility, and he doesnt really get a lot of chance to get out and hear me play. He heard me as a, as a, when I was younger and stuff, but he never really heard me in my adult life.

Well that was the first show he came to as me as an adult to hear me play, and I mean hes been a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young fan, I mean I used to listen to their records. My brother Joe and Tom, I mean thats, those are the records I listened to, you know, growing up. Joanie Mitchell, and they had all those albums, Cat Stevens, you know, that was their era, so, you know, I used to lay on the bed and break out all those albums. Well, Tom was blown away. He couldnt believe it was his little bro up there playing with these guys and that was just, so that was a big deal for me because it kind of gave, and I always looked up to Tom and it kind of gave me a feeling of, you know, got his approval almost. I mean, it seems a little superficial, but thats, that was a heavy thing for me.

BP: I can understand that. I was there that night. It was a very, very special night. I feel what youre feeling right now; it was a super night for me too. What about some of the tours and things, uh, the Europe tour last year?

SD: That was a lot of fun. I have to say, though, that the very first tour we did was my favorite.

BP: Yeah. And which shows were those?

SD: Well, lets see. The very first tour we did, well we did a bunch. We did a whole U.S. tour and then we went over to Europe <inaudible>, and that, that was also a highlight because we got over there and we had a couple days and were watching like, you know, Billy Cobin was playin and I think, uh, we saw Al Jureau and a lot of our friends were over there and stuff and we got a chance to play in the Miles Davis Hall, and it was just one of those things. They actually had a PBS special and they used a lot of footage.

BP: Right.

SD: Which was really great. It was kind of interesting because we hadnt played in like a week and we were all kind of, you know, jet laggin and, and, you know, reeling from all the, all the goodies over there, so, you know, we were havin a lot of fun, food and hangin out and the music and everything, so that was a biggie. And then we went, then we went from there to Italy and the highlight was La Rosa, which is this restaurant we ate at, and then there was this restaurant that James took us to because James had been over there with Georgia before, and it was like the best meal of my life, so I really remember that vividly.

BP: A couple months ago I ran you into, at the Arrowhead Pond. You were there to see the CSNY show. Was that the first time youd seen the four guys in the group?

SD: No, I saw them the last time around.

BP: In 2000.

SD: In 2000, and it was amazing, I mean.

BP: What was your impression of CSN&Y together?

SD: Magic. And how, this is how committed to the music they are, and what a, what a rare blend, you know, and how they complement each other, and each, each, each member is so, has such a strong individual voice, not necessarily just vocally, but voice in terms of an artist, that it is such a rare thing to see.

BP: Outside of the CSN, CPR, CSNY family, what are some of your favorite other artists, musicians?

SD: Um, I like a lot of, I like such a variety of music, I really do. I mean I like everything from Keith Jarrett, you know, I like trio jazz a lot, I play jazz too. I like a lot of the heavy rock bands like Sound Garden and, you know, there was a band called Will Call thats very good that I like, and theres a lot of great artists out there. I just like it all, really. I love being a huge Beatles fan, Zeppelin, I mean Im actually writing music right now with this guitar player Frank Simes and its very Zeppelinesque just because Im deeply rooted in that, that stuff. So I like the heavy stuff, too, I mean I really do. So I like all kinds of stuff.

BP: I understand that James and Jeff are going out with Graham Nash on his tour this fall. Any thoughts about your band mates taking off on you?

SD: Yeah, I think its great, I think its awesome. Grahams one of the coolest guys Ive ever met and, not only that, but hes such a huge talent that Im thrilled. I know Jeffs played with Graham before and David, but Im so happy for James because it gives him a chance to kind of stretch out a little bit and, and, you know, be not so much the focal point, I mean which he doesnt mind, but its kind of nice to see him play behind Graham because he has such a respect for Graham. So I think its great. I think, hey, you know, keep workin, thats my philosophy.

BP: What do you have planned for during that time?

SD: Well, Ive been writing a lot. I have a partner named Matt Cohen whos, weve started a little thing called, a production team called the Space Heaters, and we just got representation, so weve been writing like crazy and getting, trying to get pieces placed and also the thing with Frank Simes, so Im gonna be, Ive been delving into writing and producing, and that is, its been kinda nice taking the summer off because usually Im touring, so it really forced me to really buckle down and do that. So Ill probably continue with that.

BP: Super. What do you know that CPR has coming in the next few months?

SD: Good question. I think we have a, we have a couple jobs in August, a couple gigs, and then I think in October theres talk of maybe, you know, maybe doin another record. I dont know, I really dont know. At least be creative and start writing, hopefully a bunch of gigs. Im ready to play with these guys because its, its one of the coolest bands Ive ever been in. I mean, its, it encompasses everything, so, hopefully, well be, well be workin. Thats what Im hoping for.

BP: What about Solvang? Any hints on when that might be?

SD: Solvang? Hopefully, you know, in the first part of October. Im probably, probably on with that one because I think, yeah, those guys are done the first week of October, so probably right after that and, hopefully, Graham will be involved, so itll be a cool night.

BP: Well, I want to tell you what a pleasure its been to have you stop by my place and share, share a few moments with me.

SD: Thank you, its great.

BP: Its fascinating.

SD: You have a beautiful home.

BP: Thanks.

SD: Happenin.

BP: Thanks, Stevie.

SD: Thank you very much.