The National Association of Music Merchants, as described on their site, is a ” not-for-profit association that promotes the pleasures and benefits of making music and strengthens the $17 billion global music products industry.” NAMM annually and famously holds a convention yearly in Anaheim, California, the largest trade-only event pertaining to music industry. As you might imagine, there’s usually a few stars attending. There’s hundreds of vendors and booths, but for AlternativeNation readers we found some names of interest attending their 2016 convention, January 21st-24th, 2016.
Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins will be there Thursday at the Reverend booths signing autographs celebrating the release of his new Reverend guitar model. Jim Fairchild of Modest Mouse will be showcasing his use of Red Panda pedals Thursday as well. The Audix Corporation will be hosting a Drummer Extravaganza and Stephen Perkins is part of a huge team of drummers at attendence for that booth. Juan Alderete of the Mars Volta will be a participant in several events, such as Red Panda pedal demonstrations, autograph signing, a EarthQuaker demonstration with his bass guitar, the latter two event occurring Friday. The EarthQuaker demonstration with Alderete will also occur Saturday.
Ron Saint Germain, who produced Sonic Youth’s Goo as well as several Bad Brains and 311 albums, will also be in attendance in a demonstration with Lynx Studio Technology, Inc. He has also worked with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool, Soundgarden, U2, Killing Joke and yes, Jimi Hendrix. Richie Ramone, one of the only living Ramones, will be at the Los Cabos Drumsticks booth on Saturday. DJ Ashba and Nikki Sixx, of Guns n’ Roses and Motley Crue fame, will be at the Korg booth with the Sixx A.M. bandmate James Michael for autographs. For more information on exhibitions, see here.
