In the fall of 2004, Bogie started touring with Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Toward the end of this tour, Kenny’s band, along with Joe Bonamassa, was invited to tour with BB King, to celebrate his 80th birthday. This was how Joe and Bogie met. In November 2005, Joe invited Bogie to join his band on tour.
TLC: What has been your favorite venue to perform at?
BB: The Paradiso in Amsterdam was awesome. Carnegie Hall was special because of all the history. Those two come to mind first.
Bogie has endorsements with all the gear that he performs with.
BB: As far as drums go, it's Yamaha all the way. An Absolute Maple Nouveau kit with 24x18 bass drum, 12x9, 14x12, and 16x14 toms, 14x6 1/2 Mike Bordin Signature model(Bell Copper) snare drum and my newest addition the 14x6 1/2 Manu Katche Signature model (Nickel over Brass) snare drum. I also use the Subkick; I get a lot of questions about that thing. It's the little drum looking thing in front of my bass drum. It's actually a microphone that picks up low end frequencies and sends that to the sound board out front. That, combined with a Shure SM91 mic mounted inside the drum, gives me the sound I've always wanted.
I use Remo heads, coated ambassadors on the snare, and clear emperors on the toms and the Powerstroke 3 on the Bass Drum. I also do NOT have a hole in the front bass drum head. My Cymbals are, 14" Signature heavy Hi Hats, then my crashes and ride are 2002's 20" medium, 19" Rock Crash, and 18" medium. My ride is a 22" Power Ride. All these are Paiste Cymbals. Bogie also uses Vic Firth sticks.
Special thanks and photo credits to Pierre Catellier and Joan Hunt at Laughing Rhino Photos.
Article comments
1 - Jane Hall
cool interview! I have been wondering what Bogie's story was. Great links also.
Thanks
2 - Lars P
Yes, nice reading the interview
Hope Bogie has "recovered" since my "attack" on the tourbus in Malmö, Sweden
/L
3 - David
I just attended the 2008 portland Blues festival where I saw him drumming with Joe. Amazing strength and endurance! Actually the entire band was amazing!
As a side line... at the end of the gig, the band came forward to bow. I was right down front center with my camera taking shots. Bogie threw his drum sticks out at the crowd. I didn't see them coming because I had the camera at my eye. Just as I pulled it down, a drum stick hit me in the forehead. My instinct was to catch what it was that it me. I did. Woohoo! Thanks for the stick! I think I earned it! It has his autograph on it!