John Hummel & Lady Gaga

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Yes, it’s true, DEVI drummer John Hummel played drums on LADY GAGA’s track “Rock Show” from Disco Heaven: The Fame B=2.0.

Our beautiful drummer also played on her beautiful songs “Fooled Me Again, Honest Eyes” and “Wonderful.” Check them out and you’ll hear John’s deep, heavy-ass groove.

Here’s what John has to say about playing with Lady Gaga:

Q: How did you wind up playing on several early Lady Gaga songs?

John: My house was on the market back in 2006 and [Gaga's then-boyfriend/producer] Rob Fusari came to look at at it. I was playing my drums and didn’t realize the real estate agent had brought someone in to see it. Rob heard me playing and said he was a producer and asked me if I’d like to do some session work for him, so we exchanged phone numbers. I had no idea who he was at the time. He started hiring me to lay down drum tracks for some different artists he was developing at the time at his studio. One of those artists was Stefani/Lady Gaga.

Q: Did you meet her? What was she like at that time?

John: Yes, I first met her at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, at that time I’d already laid down some drums on a couple of her songs, but hadn’t met her yet. She came to see this kid Tom (another artist Rob was producing) perform, and I was drumming for him on the gig. She was at some of our recording sessions after that. I really liked her a lot, she was really fun to work with, really enthusiastic and excited, great energy, and obviously a really talented musician, especially for her age. I think she was like 20 at the time.

Q: I can definitely hear your heavy groove on these songs. Did you get to use your favorite Ludwig kit? What kind of direction did Rob give you, as far as what to play?

John: No, it’s not my kit, but it was a Ludwig–a little Ringo style Fab Four set up. I always used my own snare drum though. I used a few different ones, all Ludwigs. I mostly used a late ’70s Supraphonic 402, but the one that’s actually on The Fame is an 1966 Acrolite.

Rob would usually play me rough tracks of the songs with either a click or a loop, and just have me play what came naturally. He really didn’t give a lot of direction. I really enjoyed working with him, he always made things feel so easy, and he made that tiny drumkit sound ten times it’s size!

Q. What was her look at that time? Had she gone blonde and gotten into her style yet?

John: She looked a lot different; her hair was dark, long and straight with bangs.

It’s so fun and inspiring to hear Lady Gaga in a more “rock” context on these songs – she sounded fantastic even then! And John’s playing always turns me on, even when he’s playing with another girl.