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Sunday, October 4, 2009
Lewisville resident breaks Guinness World Record for longest drum roll
We watched (and listened) in awe as Collin Gouldin rolled continuously for four hours and 10+ minutes.
Drum roll, please
Plano's Haggard Park plays host to a lonely drummer and a bunch of people having their engagement pictures taken.
(Click photo to see entire gallery)
When Collin Gouldin first approached us about documenting his assault on the Guinness World Record for longest drum roll -- and we heard that it would only take a couple hours out of our Saturday (Oct. 3) -- we said "sure thing, Collin, no problem!"
However ...
Between the time that Collin started arranging for the official attempt (which involves a large amount of planning, preparation, and coordination with the Guinness people), someone else sat down and drummed for FOUR HOURS AND SIX MINUTES.
DAMN THEM!
This meant that Collin would have to rise to new, heretofore unimagined levels of athleticism, as well as exercising a degree of mental discipline reserved primarily for yogi mystics. (They call me Mr. Hyperbole.) More importantly from a journalistic standpoint, it meant that Mike Bullock and I would now be required to hang out at Plano's Haggard Park right through the sweet spot of Saturday.
And there was this: I figured that observing (and listening to) Collin work the snare would be about as thrilling as watching paint dry. Which I've actually never tried, but I hear there's an iPhone app that simulates it.
Anyhow, an agreement is an agreement, so there we were at 9 a.m. as Collin and his dad Noel hung the banner touting Collin's sponsors and set up their recording equipment. The attempt was slated to begin at 9:30 sharp, but things were delayed by the late arrival of one of the two judges of record. So Collin actually started drumming around 9:50.
Here's the interesting thing: It was kind of nice just sitting out in a park with nothing much to do for four hours plus. And, frankly, the experience was not as dull as watching paint dry (I'm pretty sure). In fact, there was a palpable tension involved, at least in my mind. What if Collin didn't make it? How awkward would that be, eh? I'd have to do one of those "agony of defeat" interviews. And -- let's face it -- it wouldn't be a world record if just anybody could sit down and do it, now would it? Who's to say that Collin had the right stuff for this marathon feat of drumming?
As one and then two hours passed, I began to think that Collin might actually be able to pull this off in terms of arm strength -- but what if he cramped up? That would be tragic indeed, and he'd probably leave the field of battle with a hooked claw of a hand.
Well, all such concerns proved groundless, because Collin did succeed in beating the record -- and the drum -- for four hours, ten minutes and 12 seconds, by the official timer.
Guinness, you've been served.
By the way, the video encapsulation of events gets really pretty interesting when the glamour models who were doing a photo shoot elsewhere in the park came over to see what was up. (We like to refer to this a teaser.)
Loneliness of the long distance drummer
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The Latin Pimps
I worked with Eric Guerrero in the mid 1990's on a cruise ship. He was in the orchestra & could
Photos: Dallas Heritage Village Charleston'd its way through history on Saturday
SUCH a great party - thanks for covering! I hope they do this again next year. Great fundraiser for
Photos: Homegrown hopmasters debut new beers at Brew Riot in Oak Cliff
enj0y every day in life ummm.,its a very nicepic
Travis Bush, verified:
Most excellent! Way to go, Collin! So um...what's next?
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Russ Vandeveerdonk, verified:
Good job Collin,.....now I want to be in the Guiness Book of World Records. I have re-enacted the motorcade "kill-scene" of JFK,.. more than anyone else on earth. Did it many times while Oliver Stone was filming "JFK" here in 1991 and then in countless other films "RUBY" in 1994 and other many other tv documentaries. I always portrayed President Kennedy getting shot while riding down Elm Street in a motorcade. The same motions over and over and over. It was even on the cover of Time Magazine,... there was a picture of that re-enactment. So that could be a world record and also something no-one else has done before. But drumming, now that is also cool. Seems like nowadays it is easier to get into that book of world records.
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Pavel Lishin, verified:
"Most excellent! Way to go, Collin! So um...what's next?"
Obviously, four hours, ten minutes and <strong>13 seconds</strong>!
Also, sorry I didn't make it out to this. Especially since there were models!
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Scott Doyle, verified:
Had no idea it was happening, would have headed out to show some support!
Grats mang, very awesome.
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Mike Orren, verified:
Should be noted this is Collin's second record: http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/...
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alexander troup, verified:
Yes, Collin... your fan club is with you and with all good support we are here to continue to make news out of the lives of mundane and dynamic...Keep it up...A/T, Another page is made to record human endurance...
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carissajaded, anonymous:
Wowsa! That is awesome!
So what happened after the drum roll? I would have to imagine something really REALLY amazing...
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John Meyer, staff:
carissaj., speaking for myself, I went home and had a cigar. I saw a post from Collin a few hours later stating that his wrists were still aching. (No big surprise!)
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Collin Gouldin, verified:
Thanks to everyone who came out, including Mike and John! There's always something next, but like usual, it's a secret. <br><br> Mike I think you meant to post this link: http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/...
And after the drumroll, i ate!
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bettsemr, anonymous:
Way to go Collin!! Awesome!
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ch0, anonymous:
faster slower, faster, slower... congrats! a roll is a roll!
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ch0, anonymous:
You ate strawwww-burys?
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Russ Vandeveerdonk, verified:
Good job Collin,....they should name a county after you for drumming along so long!
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Collin Gouldin, verified:
You're not too far off Russ. If only you knew my rich Texas heritage. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collin_McKinney">Collin McKinney</a>)
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Russ Vandeveerdonk, verified:
Cool Collin!
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John Meyer, staff:
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Collin Gouldin, verified:
haha, I think my head moved more than my arms.
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ROCKN, anonymous:
The record for the longest continous drum roll was set back on March 7th 1991 by 3 guys in North Charleston, SC. One guys name was Chris, the other two were David McLaughlin & Brian Kennedy. They played nonstop with NO breaks of any kind for 26 hours & 30 minutes. It was a local radio statiosn(96 Wave) 1st drum roll off contest. It took place in front of Fox's Music Store who also sponsored the contest. It was witnessed by hundreds of people and was filmed & reported by all three local news stations. Video footage exists. The record was not entered into Guiness because at the time the category did not exist. I know. I was there.
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John Meyer, staff:
Wow, amazing stuff, ROCKN. Can you shoot us a link to the video?
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ROCKN, anonymous:
Sure, have to upload it and edit it to Youtube. Try to get it on there tonight after work. The videos grainy, its 17 18 years old off a VHS tape.
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ROCKN, anonymous:
Any one interested, I'll title it "Longest drum roll ever" just search for it.
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Collin Gouldin, verified:
All 3 guys played for that long? or did they trade off?
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ROCKN, anonymous:
We all played that long. It started with about 50 drummers after the first few hours about half the field dropped out. We started at 10:00 am in the morning by 9 pm there were only a few left. One was a real young kid he hung in there like a trooper. He finally gave up the ghost about 10 PM after midnight it was just the three of us. We played throught the night watched the sun rise again and played into the next afternoon. None of us were going to quit and we all knew we had done serious damage to our hands, which we did. We agreed to stop playing together at the same time. Originally the owner of the music stores said if we all quit together there would be no winner declared and the prizes would be forfieted. He had put up about 2500.00 in drum equiptment as prizes. He actually bribed the little kid to stop playing that night with a nice Zildjian cymbal. He tried with us but we wouldn't. After he the owner of the music store was shuffled inside his store by several members of the radio & tv crews & one of the fathers, he quickly changed his mind when they told him what they would do. He realized he would look like a horses a if he screwed us out of the prizes after playing this long. Plus with all the tv crews there he knew it would be good advertising. The drum roll we played was closed, no open rolls allowed. We did not have any breaks, bathroom included. If you stopped playing for any reason you were out of the contest. Friends & family were there to provide food & water.
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Russ Vandeveerdonk, verified:
"drum roll",.....this story won't die off/away, I like it. Even a month later!
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Jason Rice, verified:
Now Collin, don't you feel pwned. I mean you didn't even hold out for a Zildjian.
All you got were bouncy models... that you didn't even get to watch. Harsh.
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Collin Gouldin, verified:
Not at all, i got a Guinness World Record. (and um... you did see that sweet snare right?)
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Jason Rice, verified:
ok that snare is definitely DEFINITELY hot.
True enough.
(no really, witness, ye, a moment of non-sarcasm. It's a transcendent snare sound.)
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ROCKN, anonymous:
Well, found the video footage. About an hour worth of footage from the day starting in the morning through the day to evening then the following morning & afternoon when news crews were there interviewing. Had to convert about 45 minutes of vhs to mpeg 4 then to wmv to shrink it to a size small enough to post. Here's what I'll do. Have one of the news clips cut out and some snipets from the end. Guess I'll edit them as nice as I can and try to get them up tonight. Couldn't get it done in time last night.
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ROCKN, anonymous:
Here's the link guys. I'm havin major problems with my PC, so it isn't pretty & yea is crappy quality but it's off a VHS tape that's been sitting in my attic for 18 years. Didn't have the patience to do a nice dit job and clean it up but there's the proof in the pudding! Enjoy.
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Collin Gouldin, verified:
Doesn't look like a closed roll (or any other kind of roll for that matter) to me. Playing for 26 hours is different than rolling for 26 hours.
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Russ Vandeveerdonk, verified:
How about "world record" for most blogging comments on an old news story?
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bettsemr, anonymous:
Yes that Spaun Snare is HOT. It's even more beautiful in person. The craftmanship with the inlays is amazing.
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hermadite, anonymous:
Guinness Book of Records probably didn't exist in 1955. That was the year New York drummer par excellance set a world's record by playing a closed roll on his snare drum in the window of Henry Adler's Music Store for 58 straight hours! No steroids either. When Sam had to go to the bathroom he had a sling to hold the drum, still playing, a nurse fed him and a masseur gave him hourly back and shoulder rubs.A LIFE Magazine photographer took 700 photos and a two-page spread was planned. But the editor didn't think the story was exciting enough and killed it. (Even LIFE magazine employed idiots). I staged this event, as a publicist, to promote the store and Sam's career. My own too. (www.abelraisescain.com). One recent event was a CANINE CONCERT for dogs on a high frequency only they could hear in Austin,TX. This was for the celebrated guru motivator Dr. Joe Vitale.
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Mike Orren, verified:
Wow. If that was really Alan Abel - and I think it was - I'm floored. Longtime hero of mine. I have that iconic picture of him and his daughter in front of the White House in my "gallery of greats" screensaver.
OK, Chris Farley moment over...
Alan, do you have any of those photos from the drumroll day? We'd love to see 'em. (Or are we being honored with a hoax?)
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ROCKN, anonymous:
If that truly happened then, WOW. Friggin AWESOME. It took me about 15 minutes to be able to go to the bathroom after the contest, I thought I'd done some kind of internal damage. Wish I could've pee'd but my firlfriend wasn't there to give me an extra pair of hands. I remember Brian's girlfriend was & she did "assist" him going to the bathroom. He never stopped rolling though. Amazing. Proofs in the pudding though, any photos or articles to back it up. I never heard that story before. I don't doubt it, amazing things happen all the time. I was just trying to make Colin aware that someone had done it longer and could prove it. Seems he got a little miffed. As for my his comment about my rolls.... well the sound you hear on that clip is not really my drum. I was playing a Pipe band snare as you can see which is higher in pitch than the kit snares everyone was playing. If you'd like Colin I could post a clip of my roll AFTER 26 hours of playing and yours for the 6 up on youtube and take a survey of drummers worldewide as to what an open rolls is who's playing one & who's roll is better?..... Lighten up dude. You still have your plaque on the wall...for now. Seriously would love some more info on the NY story. I have no problem believing a drummer COULD play longer than we did. We all COULD'VE played a little longer but there was no point. We all found after about the 12 hour mark you reach your Zen....the rest just happens. If you can get to that point...there's no stopping you.
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ROCKN, anonymous:
Hey.......wait a minute your not a friend of Stoidi Puekaw are you?....
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Jason Rice, verified:
::Seems he got a little miffed.
You need to meet Collin. He's not the type easily miffed. His goal on these World Records is along the "What the hell, there's a hole in the fabric and I can slip in as well as the next guy" kinda thing. Healthy.
And seriously... you need to hear his snare.
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ROCKN, anonymous:
All good.
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Collin Gouldin, verified:
Guinness World Records Limited started in 1954.
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kaylanboyd, anonymous:
Let Me Speak As His Arms WWWWHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYY UUUUUUUUSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Collin Gouldin, verified:
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What do you think?