Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

Hi all,
Ah yes, the old "favorite drummer" string. Always an interesting 
one. Actually, I tend to split my "favorites" into two categories:

1) Drummers that I like to listen to or watch. These are the guys 
that blow me away with technicality or are in a class by themselves 
for sound or style. In fact, these are they types that most of you
have already put down on your lists. In no particular order:
Neil Peart, Stewart Copeland, Bruford (I was also woken up to the
potential of e-drums from K. Crimson), Carter Beauford (if you 
haven't seen the PBS TV special "Listener Supported" by Dave Matthews 
Band, or seen them live, you must do so asap. This guy has limb 
independence and musical sense to rival any great jazz drummer), 
Bonham, Mitch Mitchell, Terry Chambers (XTC), Mick Fleetwood, etc
etc. Probably forgetting someone.   

2) Drummers that I like to play along with or emulate (for lack of
a better word). These are the guys that I can pretty much keep up
with and have in the cd player next to the DTXpress. The rock-solid 
rythm-section types that most non-drummers never notice. I don't 
even know all their names off the top of my head:
David Robinson (The Cars), Charley Watts, Ringo Starr, Sib Hashion 
(Boston), Andy Newmark (Roxy Music), Bill Berry (REM), Clem Burke 
(Blondie), Larry Mullen, Chris Franz (Talking Heads), Rob Hirst 
Midnight Oil), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), and others too numerous
to mention.  

Hey Graham, you mentioned that you had had a bit of glory. 
What band was that with? Would we have heard of you guys? 

Ok Giles, here's a tip (of the distinctly non-technical type for
which I am best known):
Rotate your pads. It seems to me that the hi-hat and snare pads
are going to get the crap beat out of them and wear out much more
quickly than the "floor tom" or other tom pads. Switch 'em around
now and then to allow for more even wear. 

Sorry for the long post. Later,
Rick