It never stops being a little weird talking to famous people.

When I spoke with Carlos Santana last year, it was quite surreal. It would never leave my brain that I was casually chatting with one of the proto-legends of rock and roll... Someone who'd played at Woodstock... Someone who knew people like Jerry Garcia. Then recently I also spoke with Ian Hill from Judas Priest.

Ian was so cool too. Totally the other end of the spectrum of Carlos. Very British, very proper. Carlos basically gave me a 15-minute lesson in the meta-physicality of rock and roll. So yeah, when you talk to someone who's basically never done anything in their life besides tour and play in a band, it can get a little odd.

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This was not the case with Todd Sucherman from Styx.

I know a solid handful of people who are pretty good friends with Todd, so when I talked to him, I already kind of felt like I knew him, in a way. So our conversation was just so casual and cool. Obviously, being a fellow drummer, there were a hundred questions I wanted to ask him that just weren't relevant to most folks.

Styx & Foreigner with John Waite Renegades and Juke Box Heroes Tour - Nashville, TN
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But I learned how important something like drum education is to him. In many of the towns he travels to, he also holds Master Classes. It's little different than a "clinic". At a clinic, there's a lot of flash and soloing. At the Master Classes, it's nothing but trying to help drummers get better at what they do. Check it out:

He also had some great insight on how he feels about Foreigner's farewell.

Styx In Concert - Nashville, TN
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He thought that maybe this wasn't totally the end for them, or that maybe they'd do it Ozzy or Elton style, and say goodbye for several years...

I got him to say something most celebrity musicians wouldn't say.

Styx In Concert - Nashville, TN
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I actually got him to admit what his favorite song is to play live. He even went a step further and talks about which album is his favorite, and why. Amazing stuff...

Todd is such a cool dude, and I would've loved to talk to him even longer, but he's a busy man with plenty to do besides let me fanboy out over him as a drummer. Besides, that's what Instagram is for, hahahaha.

Believe it or not, the Bangor Auditorium was once the biggest concert venue north of Boston. Styx is on this list, for sure.

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These classic rock artists and their history with Bangor go back to the early '70s. Check out everyone who played the old Bangor Auditorium.

Gallery Credit: JStew

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