A Norwich business, which has been running for less than two years, has enticed one of the world's best-known musicians to the city to lead a drum masterclass. Chad Smith is used to playing to thousands of fans around the globe with US rock supergroup Red Hot Chili Peppers, but he will host a sellout showcase in front of just 800 people in Norwich on Sunday 9 October. Norwich Drum Academy owner Matt Goom has lured a list of top percussionists including Thomas Lang and Billy Cobham to the county to stage drum clinics, but he believes the Chad Smith date is a coup for the city. "It's great for us, but it's great for the city too," said Matt. "People tend to see Norwich as off the beaten track, but the city has got a really good music scene." Glenn Hughes Although Chad has spent most of his career recording and touring with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, he has played on more than 100 albums and also records and gigs with ex-Deep Purple singer Glenn Hughes.
 | | Chad and Matt Goom |
The pair were due to perform at the Waterfront last year, before Chad's commitments to the Red Hot Chili Peppers meant the tour was dropped. Although the date didn't go ahead, Matt had already got to know Glenn and his manager, Carl Swann, and it was through Carl that the deal for Chad to appear in Norwich was eventually brokered. "Glenn hired a drum kit from me for his European tour and we got to be friends," said Matt. "Earlier this summer Glenn was doing some shows and I went out to Holland. It was a great opportunity to see one of my favourite vocalists and Chad, watching from the side of the stage," he added. Seminar guest Each year Chad takes part in a seminar at a London music college, and following the shows, he invited Matt as his guest. "It was surreal. I thought I'm sitting around a table with the drummer from Feeder, the editor of the magazine Rhythm and Chad!" But there was a bigger shock in store when Chad announced that after his autumn gigs with Glenn in Spain and Portugal he would come to Norwich to give music fans his tips on how to play the drums. "I didn't even ask him, he just said he'd come," said Matt. "He just said get me there, I'll do it, no problem." The showcase will feature Chad jamming and Glenn is hoping to bring his bass guitar along to the date too, which is open to all music lovers regardless of age and ability. "There will a lot of drummers there, but a lot of music fans too," said Matt. Raising profile Matt, who plays in local rock band Fallen Ikarus, set up the Norwich Drum Academy just off Ber Street at the start of 2004 after working as a session musician and tutor. Now he feels he is starting to realise his dream in helping to raise the city's profile. "When I started I wanted to put Norwich on the map in the drumming world," he said. "When I opened the shop last year clinics were happening in other parts of the country but not in Norwich." But Matt still can't believe he's managed to book a masterclass with a musician who played to around 100,000 people at last year's string of Hyde Park gigs. "I've been drumming for 20 years and I can't think about it. I don't want to analyse it because then I think Holy Christ!" added Matt. Tickets are sold out for the event. | 
