Dicki Fliszar

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Interview

Dicki is the drummer for Deccatree and Skin. He was previously in Wonderlove and Bruce Dickinson’s solo band. – Interview by Clint

Dicki 1 CM: Bruce Dickinson (of Iron Maiden) once stated in Kerrang Magazine “Dicki Fliszar is the most awesome drummer on the planet.” Do you think this hurt Nicko McBrain’s feelings?
DF: Well, as you know Bruce is a singer, and singers like to talk ;0) I wouldn’t be surprised if Bruce also said “Nicko McBrain is the most awesome drummer on the planet” at some other point in time. But the drummer that Bruce has the best stories about is the drummer in Samson, Bruce’s first “proper” band. That guy was called Thunderstick and was only ever seen in a Leather fetish mask. He also liked to play drums in a cage. Good times……

CM: When you go to a concert and the drum solo starts, do you go to the bathroom and the concession stand like most people?
DF: It depends on the drummer. I haven’t really seen a band with a drum solo in so long, I might actually stick around for the next ten solos that I will see! I actually think drum solos are pretty cool if they are short or if things explode and people fly around in spinning cages.

CM: Speaking of drum solos, I watched yours from the Bruce Dickinson tour on youtube. It was awesome, but my question is: What do the other guys in the band do while you are doing your solo? (I always assumed it was drugs and a pee break.)
DF: See, mine wasn’t that long back in the day and I actually never asked the guys what they did. Something like a swig of beer and a quick tune-up is probably all that happened. I don’t wanna know what the guys in Led Zep got up to back in the day while Bonham cut loose…..

Dicki 2 CM: I did an interview with Mark Metzger from Chainsaw Kittens not to long ago and I asked if drummers should get writing credits. Mark said, “there is a reason that the Alesis SR16 is so popular. Really the only thing they do is pick out which cymbal to hit (hmmmm should I go with my 13″ crash, or go with the China here?).” Do you agree?
DF: My reply to that is: Dave Grohl. Oh, and I have never seen anyone play a 13″ Crash ever – too small for a crash. It’s like me saying – all guitarists care about is how fast they can shred on their new set of .06 Elixirs. Or how about them guitarists and their Sheriff amps – always way too loud!!

CM: Like me, I know you are a huge Kiss fan. Which album has the coolest artwork?
DF: “Rock And Roll Over” has a really cool design, but I gotta go with “Destroyer” for the front. It made them larger than life. “Hotter Than Hell” for the back – those pictures are just crazy…..And the inside of “Alive II” is what got me into the band in the first place – when I saw that picture with the flames and the 12 foot drum riser with the tigers I just flipped out and had to give all my hard earned pocket money to the record store owner. If KISS wouldn’t exist and someone would come out with a show like that right now, the kids would still love it.

CM: Have you ever had a giant gong behind your drum set. If so, did it catch fire like Alex Van Halen’s? If you didn’t have one, WHY NOT??
DF: My roadies never wanted to carry something as huge as that. And when I don’t have a tech, do you think I would schlepp that thing around? It must weigh 50 pounds or something. And where do you put it in the van? It’s just crazy…..then again, maybe they make inflatable ones now – let me google that…..

Dicki 3 CM: What happened to Wonderlove? I really liked you guys – got any demos you want to send my way?
DF: Hey, thanks – I can send you the two albums we made! Jesse, the keyboard player, plays with me in Deccatree, the singer Chris is the singer in the Oingo Boingo follow-up band, Dave (bass) played with Rocco DeLuca and Bryan, the guitarist, is working on a creepy claymation musical – no joke!

CM: What’s your favorite Spinal Tap quote?
DF: There are so many!! I haven’t seen the movie in 15 years, but I still know it by heart. A random one is “Mime is money” which some boss-man says to Billy Crystal at the “Tap Into America” release party. “No Bones!” “This one goes to eleven” “No, we’re not gonna do fucking Stonehenge tomorrow” etc.etc.etc. The list goes on and on…….

CM: Rank these drummers (best to worst) – Tommy Lee, Dave Grohl, Matt Camron, Bobby Blotzer, John Stainer, & Peter Criss.
DF: Well, the poor cat Criss will have to be last, although I probably listened to him most when I was a kid – The Blotz grooves better. All the other guys have been really influential in many different ways and – they all rock!! Seriously, I have listened and learned from all of them – thanks guys!

CM:Beatles or Stones?
DF: The Stones have some great songs, but it’s gotta be the lads from Liverpool all the way.

CM: What obscure or under appreciated bands would you recommend people check out?
Earl Greyhound
Black Stone Cherry
Skin
The Dead Weather

Dicki’s Top 5

DF: Man, just when you think you get to the last question and you are almost done there comes Clint and hits you with the hardest question of all time!!! Whatever I write now, I probably will kick myself later tonight and think – I forgot this! And that! And how about…Let me answer it this way – there are CD’s that I listened to 500 times or more and which still can give me goosebumps.