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SMASHING PUMPKINS DRUMMER KENNY ARONOFF
CREATES SOUNDTRACK FOR NEW IU ADS
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Never one to shrink from a new musical challenge, drummer Kenny Aronoff recently wrote and recorded the dynamic solo soundtrack to a new series of television commercials for Indiana University, during a break from his touring duties with the Smashing Pumpkins.
Widely recognized as one of contemporary music's finest drummers, Aronoff has provided the musical foundation for artists as divergent as John Fogerty, Neil Diamond, Travis Tritt, B.B. King, Celine Dion and many others -- all on top of spending the better part of 20 years as a member of John Mellencamp's band.
Even with the Smashing Pumpkins tour schedule and the steady demand for his studio services, Aronoff -- who received his Bachelor of Music degree from IU in 1976 -- was eager to donate his time and talent to his alma mater. "I enjoyed going to IU," Aronoff said. "I learned a lot about music, working hard, and achieving long- and short-term goals. I'm glad I could be involved with this ad campaign."
The solo soundtrack by Aronoff is the perfect counterpoint to the energy and life of the university that is captured in the student portraits and hard-hitting statistics that make the ads visually exciting.
"I saw a rough version of the video and just used my intuition and objectivity to make the decision on what to play," Aronoff said. "I tried to put myself in the viewer's position. I was going for a feeling of excitement. People relate to rhythm and dance beats, so I tried to play a beat that was happening now but add my own energy and spirit to it."
Aronoff's energy seems boundless these days. After the Pumpkins' Halloween gig with KISS in Los Angeles -- where he and the band walked out dressed as The Beatles -- he was back in the studio. "I just recorded a very exciting, powerful song with Billy Corgan and Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) this week. I also did a song with Rod Stewart for a Robin Williams movie. I have more Melissa Etheridge coming up and lots of other sessions all over the country."
Aronoff said his drive and desire for professional growth were nurtured at IU and that the lessons he learned did more than hone his chops as a drummer.
"George Gaber, my private instructor, not only was an amazing teacher of percussion, but he also taught me a lot about life situations," Aronoff said. "It's not just the course work. It's the work ethic, the responsibility to yourself and your life that will eventually affect others around you and therefore the world."
Aronoff, in turn, has passed along those values to other students. He served as an associate professor of music from 1993 to 1997 and continues to teach master classes as his schedule allows. "It was an honor to be able to come back and teach at IU for awhile," he said, "plus I really enjoy working with up-and-coming drummers."
(Jeff Austin, Office of Communications and Marketing, 812-855-0084, jeaustin@indiana.edu)