Q: Has the type of student you get changed over the years?

Yes. Guys now are asking me to talk about time playing and jazz playing and getting to the roots of the instrument, whereas a few years ago it was, 'Can you show me how to do the lick off this track?' They wanted to be instant rock stars. To get to the top you have to start at the bottom, but they weren't interested in looking back at what had gone before, even though it influences what we do now. But now I'm getting drummers asking where they can get recordings of Baby Dodds, which is great. Also the whole thing with electronic and acoustic kits has changed; drummers are more into the real thing. There's kind of shift, people want to know again.

Q: Your tuition is highly sought after. Do you demand total dedication from your students?

I have to tell you about this young guy called Callum Smith who comes down from Aberdeen for lessons. I had a long chat with him and said it was a great compliment that he wanted to come all that way to see me, but ' Manchester is nearer, why don't you go and see Dave Hassell?' But he said he wanted to see me and he's been coming nearly six months. This kids is so dedicated, he gets up at 5am to get the 6am train from Aberdeen, which gets here at 5pm. He has his hour's lesson from 7pm, then gets the overnight train back to Aberdeen, arriving the next day at noon. When people do things like that I take it as the greatest compliment to what I do.

Q: I'd just like to mention a couple of names, so you can tell me your memories of them as students. Firstly, Darrin Mooney . . .

I used to call Darrin 'Mr. Angry' because if he made a mistake he would jump up off the drums and kick the stool around the room. But he was a great worker and a lovely guy and he got there.

Andy Gangadeen . . .

Andy came to me pretty much as a beginner. At first he played with his palms up. He stayed with me for about five years and I remember one time he came in with tears in his eyes saying that he'd seen Neal Wilkinson performing the night before, and that he didn't think he could ever be that good. I got hold of him and said, 'Don't ever talk like that again, because believe me, you are going to be one of the most sought-after drummers in this country, if not the world'. He asked if I really thought so and replied I knew so.

My own little brother, Al . . .

I couldn't get him to practice! Alan knew exactly what he wanted to do. He did take on board what I said, but he just knew what he wanted - to be in a huge band. Don't worry Al, it'll happen one day! (laughs).