I play guitar not drums, but Brad Carlson (aka Bun E Carlos) is a great example of what a professional musician can be and is long time hero of mine for many reasons. Thanks for this interview, sure wish the Hall of Fame ceremony was not the last time the classic lineup got together.
I started drums recently. Bun E Carlos is one of the reasons why. Not that I like his playing or anything... I just started watching his interviews and he seemed down to earth which lead me to watch more and eventually I decided to try drums myself.
I've met him a few times, but watching this I realize that I never really "met" him. (Hard to concentrate when Rick is around) Seems like he is a great guy and you did an excellent job of interviewing him. You are worthy of your first name! ;-)
Sweetwater is about 2 miles from my house and it is neat to have these high end musicians this close.The last time I seen Bun was, Cheap Trick backing up Kiss in the 70s.
Around 2009 into 2010 he had to stop touring with the band. He had lower back disc problems. Couldn't sit on the drum stool. No support there. Ask any drummer. Anyways about 2 years later his back was much better and ready to get back into the band. But with Rick Nielsen's son on drums, Rick didn't want him back and was shut out of all business dealings. So Bun E. filed suit and the band countered suit. Went to court and the Judge sided with Bun E. because Cheap Trick was a 3 way Corporation with Bun E. one of them. Judge ordered 1/3 back pay of all the money and 1/3 of all future money. He owns 1/3 of Cheap Trick as their Corporation originally states. Good for you Bun E. Carlos. You are part owner of Cheap Trick!
Nice interview. Always a Bun E. fan. I hope things are cool between him and the the other guys in the band. Daxx had been the touring drummer for a while and is Rick's son so I hope everything worked out.
Brings back memories as I grew up during the same period, with essentially the same interests. Unfortunately, I never took advantage of those opportunities to meet the pro's. Frankly, I was just a fan-boy and not much more so often times I just didn't feel worthy.
IT IS A COMMON PLOY . VAN HALEN BEACHBOYS CHEAP TRICK . HAVE YOUR CHILD REPLACE ICONIC BAND MEMBER .... GLAD THEY DID NOT GET AWAY WITH IT AT LEAST MONEY WISE . .
Daxx is a fine drummer ...and..of course...it must be cool for Rick to share the stage with his son But Bun is so unique and such an integral part of Cheap Trick's sound.. that ...without him...it's simply not the same. It reminds me of the Phil Rudd/AC DC scenario.
I hope Bun E. has quit smoking cigarettes.... I started smoking when I was 14 and now I am 48 years old- SMOKING WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I'VE EVER MADE!! I am gonna stick at quitting before they diagnose me with cancer.
It is interesting to me how the narrative has evolved about his "retirement" from the road and how we go from 2010 where it was a federal lawsuit to what it is today. But you can't make this stuff up. It's in the public domain. He owns 25% of the Cheap Trick brand and as be was quoted about his relationship with the band. He said "friends don't sue their friends" (in Federal court). I have nothing but love and respect for the man. He's part of the reason I wanted to play drums. I saw him 40 years ago with Cheap Trick in Biloxi, Ms they were phenomenal. It is a bit surreal looking back on it. John Lennon was killed Dec. 8, 1980, (Bun. E. and Rick sat in on a video after they played on a couple of tracks on "Double Fantasy' for John) then in February 1981, I caught their act. Life is full of irony.
Me bad. I apologize. He owns 1/4 of the band. Not 1/3 of the band. Robin Zander also didn't want him. Robin and Bun E. always fought and never got along during their tenure together. Bun E. just couldn't do a 2010 Summer Tour because of his back. Word is Robin told Rick it's either him or me. Add this to my comment below. I apologize fellow rockers. ROCK ON!!
Ummm...there was a lot more to it than a bad back. He would miss shows (because of his back). He did NOT like changing up the set list. He did NOT like playing long shows. And he got pissy with Robin for not wanting to take his kids out of school and move them to Vegas so they could double their Sgt Peppers stint there. Robin and Bun E now basically hate each others guts....no way that's gonna work.
I don’t think the band “kicked” him out! He said he “retired” from the road, so he no longer tours w/ the band- but he’s still a member, he states so in the interview!
david elliott just did some research; last year (2013) Bun E. sued the band, claiming he’d been shout out of band business, though he was still a “member” (just no longer touring)- the band countersued him claiming he was “out of line.” So I guess the relationship is strained. :( I miss Bun E., but I do think Daxx is a fine drummer & still Cheap Trick “family” being Rick’s son! I’ve seen them, and they’re still great!
Bun E. is so generous. And a real gentleman.
I play guitar not drums, but Brad Carlson (aka Bun E Carlos) is a great example of what a professional musician can be and is long time hero of mine for many reasons. Thanks for this interview, sure wish the Hall of Fame ceremony was not the last time the classic lineup got together.
I started drums recently. Bun E Carlos is one of the reasons why. Not that I like his playing or anything... I just started watching his interviews and he seemed down to earth which lead me to watch more and eventually I decided to try drums myself.
Bun E .. one of my favorite drummers.
I've met him a few times, but watching this I realize that I never really "met" him. (Hard to concentrate when Rick is around) Seems like he is a great guy and you did an excellent job of interviewing him. You are worthy of your first name! ;-)
Good interesting questions , not all interviews are done so good . Thank you , Love Bun
Bun E's a gem.
Great interview explaining the progress over years, of stage setup and equipment.
Love Bun E.
I really liked this interview. Excellent!
One of my heroes got to see em twice back in their prime great shows. A humble man and I like the way he simplifies everything about music.
What a cool guy. Great drummer.
Bun is the real deal. 100% authentic.
He seems super cool and that !
Fun interview
great great drummer and fellow...
Bun, your video FB page is the best thatnks for being a great archivest!
I LOVE BUN E CARLOS!!
Sweetwater is about 2 miles from my house and it is neat to have these high end musicians this close.The last time I seen Bun was, Cheap Trick backing up Kiss in the 70s.
I have been Playing drums for 34 years, I like his playing style
love this guy
Thanks Mitch, Love the Interview.
He is so Midwest and I mean that in a good way.
He’s got that typical personable nice guy from the Midwest aura about him
The interviewer doing an amazing minnesota smile at the beginning that then there. heck.
Bun is the coolest.
Around 2009 into 2010 he had to stop touring with the band. He had lower back disc problems. Couldn't sit on the drum stool. No support there. Ask any drummer. Anyways about 2 years later his back was much better and ready to get back into the band. But with Rick Nielsen's son on drums, Rick didn't want him back and was shut out of all business dealings. So Bun E. filed suit and the band countered suit. Went to court and the Judge sided with Bun E. because Cheap Trick was a 3 way Corporation with Bun E. one of them. Judge ordered 1/3 back pay of all the money and 1/3 of all future money. He owns 1/3 of Cheap Trick as their Corporation originally states. Good for you Bun E. Carlos. You are part owner of Cheap Trick!
Hmm. I hear a lot of different versions of what happened including straight from Bun. I don't know what to believe. I guess it doesn't matter.
THEY CAN'T JUST SHUT HIM OUT . LAW .
How’s could it be 1/3 with 4 members?
Wrong. It's a 4-way corporation.
Nice interview. Always a Bun E. fan. I hope things are cool between him and the the other guys in the band. Daxx had been the touring drummer for a while and is Rick's son so I hope everything worked out.
Bun! U the King.
Brings back memories as I grew up during the same period, with essentially the same interests. Unfortunately, I never took advantage of those opportunities to meet the pro's. Frankly, I was just a fan-boy and not much more so often times I just didn't feel worthy.
As always, Mitch is the man.
Sweet interview...>!
I just picked up drums mainly due to watching some Bun E. Carlos interviews. No reason. I just felt liked doing it.
Bun E is a master of the groove: inventive, and ALWAYS right in the pocket. Daxx... not so much.
IT IS A COMMON PLOY . VAN HALEN BEACHBOYS CHEAP TRICK . HAVE YOUR CHILD REPLACE ICONIC BAND MEMBER .... GLAD THEY DID NOT GET AWAY WITH IT AT LEAST MONEY WISE . .
Bunny Carlos.
AWESOME !!!!!!!!!😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁🎈😁
Is that Rob Ryan?
Christmas Single? I thought that was Daxx? Great interview but I wish that Bun was still in the band. Too bad that is coming to an end.
Daxx is a fine drummer ...and..of course...it must be cool for Rick to share the stage with his son
But
Bun is so unique and such an integral part of Cheap Trick's sound.. that ...without him...it's simply not the same.
It reminds me of the Phil Rudd/AC DC scenario.
BEC !!
I hope Bun E. has quit smoking cigarettes.... I started smoking when I was 14 and now I am 48 years old- SMOKING WAS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I'VE EVER MADE!! I am gonna stick at quitting before they diagnose me with cancer.
Good to hear... thanks!
lurch321 a
Eve B. Drew?
They took him off the Christmas Single without him knowing it !
It is interesting to me how the narrative has evolved about his "retirement" from the road and how we go from 2010 where it was a federal lawsuit to what it is today. But you can't make this stuff up. It's in the public domain. He owns 25% of the Cheap Trick brand and as be was quoted about his relationship with the band. He said "friends don't sue their friends" (in Federal court). I have nothing but love and respect for the man. He's part
of the reason I wanted to play drums. I saw him 40 years ago with Cheap Trick in Biloxi, Ms they were phenomenal. It is a bit surreal looking back on it. John Lennon was killed Dec. 8, 1980, (Bun. E. and Rick sat in on a video after they played on a couple of tracks on "Double Fantasy' for John) then in February 1981, I caught their act. Life is full of irony.
Me bad. I apologize. He owns 1/4 of the band. Not 1/3 of the band. Robin Zander also didn't want him. Robin and Bun E. always fought and never got along during their tenure together. Bun E. just couldn't do a 2010 Summer Tour because of his back. Word is Robin told Rick it's either him or me. Add this to my comment below. I apologize fellow rockers. ROCK ON!!
Ummm...there was a lot more to it than a bad back. He would miss shows (because of his back). He did NOT like changing up the set list. He did NOT like playing long shows. And he got pissy with Robin for not wanting to take his kids out of school and move them to Vegas so they could double their Sgt Peppers stint there. Robin and Bun E now basically hate each others guts....no way that's gonna work.
Robin Zander is a fink.
Why did Cheap Trick kick him out??????/
I don’t think the band “kicked” him out! He said he “retired” from the road, so he no longer tours w/ the band- but he’s still a member, he states so in the interview!
david elliott just did some research; last year (2013) Bun E. sued the band, claiming he’d been shout out of band business, though he was still a “member” (just no longer touring)- the band countersued him claiming he was “out of line.” So I guess the relationship is strained. :( I miss Bun E., but I do think Daxx is a fine drummer & still Cheap Trick “family” being Rick’s son! I’ve seen them, and they’re still great!
Rolling Stone has an online interview with Bun E that covers it all.
I believe it was between Bun and Robin.
Dang, he's lost weight since the 90s!
I noticed that too. He looks good.
4000!!! Shows!!! No wonder he "retired"... :)
+BossaNossa1 he did retire!! his health wasn't going well..
Robin retired him.