Chad Smith Dick Van Dyke Leslie Bixler: Press

Chad Smith Collaborates With Dick Van Dyke on Children's Record

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Posted on Sep 18th 2009 2:00PM by Steve Baltin

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Some musicians take a break from one of the biggest bands in the world and go on vacation, party it up, lay low with the fam or do some good old fashioned housework. But not Chad Smith. As we've previously told you, the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer has spent the group's hiatus doing not one but two other bands, or so we thought. It turns out doing the Chilis, Chickenfoot and his Meatbats combo still isn't enough.

So, Smith tells Spinner he has yet another project in the works. "I'm doing a record with this woman, Leslie Bixler, that actually sings for my four-year-old's pre-school," he says. "It's so funny. It's very kid oriented. The record's coming out pretty soon and it's called 'Rhythm Train.'" To make things more interesting, the album has a pretty high-profile guest on it. "Dick Van Dyke's on it," Smith says excitedly.

Despite having shared stages with some of the biggest names in music, Smith still recognizes the coolness of recording with a true television icon. "It's such a gas," he says. "I'm standing there with my headphones on and I'm with Dick Van Dyke. Surreal. He is the coolest f---ing guy. He's sharp as a tack, funny, so cool. He's friends with Leslie."

The combination of Smith and Van Dyke is intriguing enough on its own, but it gets better. "We were like pirates on the record," Smith says. "He raps. He rapped on the record, that's all I need to say."

Unfortunately, Smith didn't reveal the most burning question -- did Van Dyke rap in his Cockney chimney sweep accent from 'Mary Poppins'?

Red Hot Chili Peppers Drummer Makes Kids' Album

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By Warren Truitt, About.com Guide to Children's Music

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Friday September 25, 2009

That's right: Chad Smith, 20-year veteran drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers, and latest of supergroup Chickenfoot, has put together a kids' music album with children's performer Leslie Bixler, featuring Dick Van Dyke rapping!

The album, called Rhythm Train, is a concept album of sorts, full of songs about rhythms and cadence. Bixler is a teacher at Smith's son's school, and funnyman Van Dyke is a friend of hers, so the collaboration was a natural. Check this out, Chili Peppers fans: Smith even plays guitar and sings one of the songs on Rhythm Train!

Here's a YouTube promo video for Rhythm Train 

Getty Images / Kristian Dowling

Modern Drummer Quote

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..So that’s another cool project. Then I’ve got this children’s record called Rhythm Train, which is really fun. I did it with Leslie Bixler, who’s a teacher at my son Cole’s school. It’s kids’ songs that are rhythm-based and it teaches about different instruments. The funny thing is, she knows [legendary actor] Dick Van Dyke. So, next thing you know, I’m doing this rap song with Dick Van Dyke, who is hilarious. He’s eighty-one and he’s doing great—sharp, funny…. So I’d be playing grooves and showing him how to rap—like I have any idea! [laughs] But it was a blast. And there’s a book that goes along with it. I actually played guitar and sang on one of the songs. Dave Grohl I’m not, but for a kid’s song it’s okay. It was a labor of love and we had a good time doing it. "

- Chad Smith

Leslie Bixler at McCabe's: Chugging along

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May 15, 2008, Los Angeles Times

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CHUGGING ALONG

Leslie Bixler's charming children's songs explore the transcendent power of cadence on her forthcoming CD, "Rhythm Train."

Featuring the talents of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, the lighthearted concept album is based on the ultimate rhythmic vehicle: the train.

"Chad's son loves trains," says Bixler, "which was part of the album's inspiration."

Like an aural locomotive, the songs traverse various musical terrains to give kids a sense of the sheer joy of rhythm and movement.

"It's the most fun I've ever had working with a drummer," says Bixler.

Chad Smith - Chads Collaboration With Leslie Bixler

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Featuring the talents of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, the lighthearted concept album is based on the ultimate rhythmic vehicle: the train. "Chad's son loves trains," says Bixler, "which was part of the album's inspiration. ...»

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"Estoy haciendo un disco con esta mujer, Leslie Bixler, que actualmente canta para mi preescolar de cuatro años"

"Es tan divertido. Es orientado a los niños. El disco está saliendo muy
pronto y se llama 'Rhythm Train." Para hacer las cosas más interesantes
el álbum tiene un invitado muy importante, Dick Van Dyke está en él" ,
dice Smith con entusiasmo.
A pesar de haber compartido escenario
con algunos de los nombres más grandes de la música, Smith todavía
reconoce la frescura de la grabación con un verdadero icono de la
televisión.
"Estoy de pie, con mis auriculares y estoy con Dick Van
Dyke. Surrealista. Él es el mejor tipo. Está afilado como una tachuela,
divertido, muy cool".
La combinación de Smith y Van Dyke es
suficientemente intrigante por sí sola, pero se pone mejor. "Éramos
como piratas en la grabación", dice Smith.
"El rapea. Rapeó en la grabación, eso es todo lo que tengo para decir."