We recently joined Maná drummer Alex González in the midst of the band's record-breaking residency at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Formed in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1986, Maná is the most successful Latin American band of all time, having sold more than 40 million records worldwide.
Alex talks us through his and the band’s incredible bond with the city of Los Angeles, as well as his custom DW Collector Series maple drum set, created specifically for this residency. Designed with artist John Douglas, his one-of-a-kind DW kit pays tribute to the City of Angels, with nods to some of his favorite places in LA, including the world-famous Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
Alex’s long history with GC stretches back decades, being the first major music store he visited as well as the place he met one of his drum heroes (and fellow Rockwalk inductee) Alex Van Halen.
Alex’s drum choices of DW, Remo, Paiste, Vic Firth, and LP, demonstrate a deep loyalty to brands that still maintain the smaller custom-shop ethos. For the legendary run of Kia Forum residency shows Alex went with a set-up that would give him precisely the right blend of versatile tools to balance the powerful low-end while giving just the right attack to stay in the pocket and cut through w/ a steady driving beat. Complementing the range of Manà sounds from explosive rock to Latin grooves and the higher pitched tone of a reggae swing, Alex takes us through the set-up he arrived at for these special performances.
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