I vote Fleetwood or Baker from that group. I suppose I'd favor Fleetwood because at least he still plays. Baker stopped playing years ago as far as I know.
Among the still-living legends are Hal Blaine, John Densmore (Doors), Ringo, Charlie Watts.
Dead rock drummers who were great: John Bonham, Keith Moon, Levon Helm, Mitch Mitchell.
I think jazz drummers got more respect than rock drummers. Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich headlined their own bands...... Heard Tommy Lee was good at banging,
None of the above - I tried to listen to those clips, but when I got to Toad I became acutely aware of my own mortality.
Watch Buddy Rich - rock drummers start with a disadvantage - they don't grip their sticks properly. Buddy was old school. Speed, virtuosity and a profoundly simple drum kit. Basic. Is there an inverse relationship between the number of drums in the kit and talent?
Ginger Baker had a big band - Air Force. Too bad they sucked.
I would rank Buddy Rich as one the all time best drummers ever, but I wouldn't call Rich a "rock drummer" though he may have dabbled. This is why I didn't mention Krupa either. Did Buddy play on records like Blaine did for example?
Buddy was a jazz drummer, I was just pointing out that proper technique helps one drum better.
Bruce Gary of The Knack once said he was disappointed to find out that 10 of his favorite drummers were Hal Blaine. Yeah, Hal may have an ego, but he also backs it up.
Watch the Wrecking Crew movie for more information on just how ubiquitous those session players were, then watch the movie that features Carol Kay, bass player - now there is a musician!
Good to see Michael branching out into normal pursuits and interests. As he will inevitably learn, Neil Peart is unsurpassed. (And still alive - even as the normal features of aging take their toll on his body and highly demanding craft).
Blaine's ego is on full display in the great documentary, The Wrecking Crew. However, unlike some egotistical assholes who roam these parts, Blaine does show some self reflection. He talks about losing his mansion, Rolls Royce, $$$$$$$'s to nasty divorces. He is honest in saying he had to take menial jobs just to survive.
I have to put in a plug for the Funky Drummer, Clyde Stubblefield. He was the drummer for James Brown along w/ John "Jabo" Starks. I've sat down w/ both down to earth, nice men. They do have some stories to tell about James Brown and the road. Rolling Stone did a list of the 50 or 100 greatest drummers a while back. They paired Clyde and Jabo @ I think #4 or 5.
There is a good doc on Ginger Baker[who I think was also in the Rolling Stone top 5] called Beware of Mr. Baker. It starts w/ Ginger attacking the documentary maker.
Sixty, Carol Kay was one of my favorites in The Wrecking Crew. One tough and talented broad in a man's world. Just like my bride. I'll seek out the doc on her. I'm sure you'll remember, that's her playing the intro to Wichita Lineman for Glenn Campbell.
Carol Kaye on the "Wrecking Crew" (film and concept):
Q. Where did the term "wrecking crew" come from?
A. That is Hal Blaine's self-promotional invented name of his auto-bio book, published in 1990. He said in his book, the older studio musicians tho't we 60s studio musicians are going to "wreck the business"...we worked around the clock, even as many as 4-5 recording dates a day and not dressed well). NONE OF that is TRUE! The older studio musicians never said that! Hal was never a part of the movie and TV-film industry and so I believe that is the cause of him saying that.
To be honest with you, no-one heard that term until he put out his book. He got his term from the 1980's east coast rock group "Wrecking Crew" that backed Darlene Love . And no, I never heard any of the older studio musicians ever say any unkind or critical word about us at all...if anything, they praised and admired us for creating such a great recording business.
Our group, 50-60 of us, TOTALLY INDEPENDENT Studio Musicians, out of the 350-400 heavily working group of Hollywood Studio Musicians, were individual free-lance 60s studio musicians, responsible for many of the hot-sellers of the 1960s coming out of Hollywood. Most of us had very big careers before ever doing studio work, we were NEVER part of "Hal Blaine's band", and were known only as "studio musicians", or the "CLIQUE" never Hal Blaine's touted self-promotional name at all. Phil Spector probably used Earl Palmer on drums as much as Hal, so the phony term didn't come from Phil either...we were all making great monies (about like "doctor pay") in recording in LA studios at that time, but most of us are retired now. Piracy has almost shut down the entire industry in recent years. Please do NOT donate any money to that wrecking film either, it's skewered, misogynist, prejudiced, and not about us. It's false that older studio musicians ever complained about the younger studio musicians - in fact, they actually admired us and complimented us for helping to expand the recording business, it doesn't list many of the #1 call musicians, but instead presents a biased and prejudiced view, and making money "using" us fraudulently for that purpose (don't believe the "charity status" either).... that film, rightfully called a "piece of Hollywood fluff" by creditable journalists, is a skewered wrong film which maligns me and others, It's not about us.
spinelli wrote: There is a good doc on Ginger Baker[who I think was also in the Rolling Stone top 5] called Beware of Mr. Baker. It starts w/ Ginger attacking the documentary maker.
That is a good biopic and is where I learned that Baker no longer plays.
Conga get another question? Or is another chance just another cymbal of my ignorance?
I knew this line of question wasn't gong my way but I was a snare breath away from getting it filled to the rim shot through with antisyncopation but I was beat.
So I was reading this book about a layabout who built a little hut on a neighbor's property near a lake and he lived there for a season in his broken down hut, a slave quarter were it the South and were it attached to an elegant farm home, in an effort to avoid rent and taking regular baths.
It is a somewhat interesting book. A sweet little book. A philosophical dude because he hadn't any proper industrious activities to engage himself. He just thought and thought and thought and wrote and I get the the part of a guy not keeping pace with his companions and maybe he's hearing a different drummer one going rat-a-tat-tat-do dippity-BOPdippity dippity bop, rat-a-tat-tat-a-tat-tat, let him keep stepping no matter how whacked. And I'm all, "Oh man, you fucker, you STOLE THAT FROM HALLMARK CARDS !!!!11!11
Oh, bloody hell. Hallmark stole it from you. It's like this is the original thing! The drummer thing came from the Where's Waldo pond tarot card reading guy.
Where's Waldo's Pond, indeed! The one in that work of fiction was in the slave state of Massachusetts. Wiki - "Massachusetts was the first colony in New England with slave ownership and was a center for the slave trade throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. No legislation was passed that abolished slavery until the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 was ratified by the state. Technically it remained legal until the end of the Civil War..."
As long as we are talking about studio bands, we should include the Motown version of the Wrecking Crew - the Funk Brothers. They had several drummers - Pistol Allen was the best.
33 comments:
I vote Fleetwood or Baker from that group. I suppose I'd favor Fleetwood because at least he still plays. Baker stopped playing years ago as far as I know.
Among the still-living legends are Hal Blaine, John Densmore (Doors), Ringo, Charlie Watts.
Dead rock drummers who were great: John Bonham, Keith Moon, Levon Helm, Mitch Mitchell.
I forgot Carl Palmer
Was Doc Severinsen Tonight Show band they had a drummer if I remember correctly who it was said was very good.
@Lem: Ed Shaughnessy
You got it
Budgie
Shelia E.
Neal Peart and Mick from the list.
Ed Shaughnessy was an old school bebop jazz drummer. So was Hal Blaine. Ginger baker and Charlie Watts are also jazz drummers.
There was direct continuity between jazz and rock in the 40's, 50's and 60's. I found a remarkable "separated at birth" drum track here.
Who?
edutcher said...Who?
Here's Ginger Baker at age 65 reprising his greatness.
I think jazz drummers got more respect than rock drummers. Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich headlined their own bands...... Heard Tommy Lee was good at banging,
Phil Collins headlined his own band, too.
Chickelit - I'm surprised that you didn't mention Ron Wilson, drummer for the Surfaris.
None of the above - I tried to listen to those clips, but when I got to Toad I became acutely aware of my own mortality.
Watch Buddy Rich - rock drummers start with a disadvantage - they don't grip their sticks properly. Buddy was old school. Speed, virtuosity and a profoundly simple drum kit. Basic. Is there an inverse relationship between the number of drums in the kit and talent?
Ginger Baker had a big band - Air Force. Too bad they sucked.
I would rank Buddy Rich as one the all time best drummers ever, but I wouldn't call Rich a "rock drummer" though he may have dabbled. This is why I didn't mention Krupa either. Did Buddy play on records like Blaine did for example?
Ten years ago or so, Hal Blaine was an "invisible" rock drummer. Time has been good to him. I understand that he has quite an insufferable ego.
Buddy was a jazz drummer, I was just pointing out that proper technique helps one drum better.
Bruce Gary of The Knack once said he was disappointed to find out that 10 of his favorite drummers were Hal Blaine. Yeah, Hal may have an ego, but he also backs it up.
Watch the Wrecking Crew movie for more information on just how ubiquitous those session players were, then watch the movie that features Carol Kay, bass player - now there is a musician!
Good to see Michael branching out into normal pursuits and interests. As he will inevitably learn, Neil Peart is unsurpassed. (And still alive - even as the normal features of aging take their toll on his body and highly demanding craft).
Blaine's ego is on full display in the great documentary, The Wrecking Crew. However, unlike some egotistical assholes who roam these parts, Blaine does show some self reflection. He talks about losing his mansion, Rolls Royce, $$$$$$$'s to nasty divorces. He is honest in saying he had to take menial jobs just to survive.
I have to put in a plug for the Funky Drummer, Clyde Stubblefield. He was the drummer for James Brown along w/ John "Jabo" Starks. I've sat down w/ both down to earth, nice men. They do have some stories to tell about James Brown and the road. Rolling Stone did a list of the 50 or 100 greatest drummers a while back. They paired Clyde and Jabo @ I think #4 or 5.
There is a good doc on Ginger Baker[who I think was also in the Rolling Stone top 5] called Beware of Mr. Baker. It starts w/ Ginger attacking the documentary maker.
Sixty, Carol Kay was one of my favorites in The Wrecking Crew. One tough and talented broad in a man's world. Just like my bride. I'll seek out the doc on her. I'm sure you'll remember, that's her playing the intro to Wichita Lineman for Glenn Campbell.
Anton Fig. Hands down. From the list, Ginger Baker.
Carol Kaye on the "Wrecking Crew" (film and concept):
Q. Where did the term "wrecking crew" come from?
A. That is Hal Blaine's self-promotional invented name of his auto-bio book, published in 1990. He said in his book, the older studio musicians tho't we 60s studio musicians are going to "wreck the business"...we worked around the clock, even as many as 4-5 recording dates a day and not dressed well). NONE OF that is TRUE! The older studio musicians never said that! Hal was never a part of the movie and TV-film industry and so I believe that is the cause of him saying that.
To be honest with you, no-one heard that term until he put out his book. He got his term from the 1980's east coast rock group "Wrecking Crew" that backed Darlene Love . And no, I never heard any of the older studio musicians ever say any unkind or critical word about us at all...if anything, they praised and admired us for creating such a great recording business.
Our group, 50-60 of us, TOTALLY INDEPENDENT Studio Musicians, out of the 350-400 heavily working group of Hollywood Studio Musicians, were individual free-lance 60s studio musicians, responsible for many of the hot-sellers of the 1960s coming out of Hollywood. Most of us had very big careers before ever doing studio work, we were NEVER part of "Hal Blaine's band", and were known only as "studio musicians", or the "CLIQUE" never Hal Blaine's touted self-promotional name at all. Phil Spector probably used Earl Palmer on drums as much as Hal, so the phony term didn't come from Phil either...we were all making great monies (about like "doctor pay") in recording in LA studios at that time, but most of us are retired now. Piracy has almost shut down the entire industry in recent years.
Please do NOT donate any money to that wrecking film either, it's skewered, misogynist, prejudiced, and not about us. It's false that older studio musicians ever complained about the younger studio musicians - in fact, they actually admired us and complimented us for helping to expand the recording business, it doesn't list many of the #1 call musicians, but instead presents a biased and prejudiced view, and making money "using" us fraudulently for that purpose (don't believe the "charity status" either).... that film, rightfully called a "piece of Hollywood fluff" by creditable journalists, is a skewered wrong film which maligns me and others, It's not about us.
link to source
PS, I enjoyed the film too.
spinelli wrote: There is a good doc on Ginger Baker[who I think was also in the Rolling Stone top 5] called Beware of Mr. Baker. It starts w/ Ginger attacking the documentary maker.
That is a good biopic and is where I learned that Baker no longer plays.
Beats me.
Conga get another question? Or is another chance just another cymbal of my ignorance?
I knew this line of question wasn't gong my way but I was a snare breath away from getting it filled to the rim shot through with antisyncopation but I was beat.
So I was reading this book about a layabout who built a little hut on a neighbor's property near a lake and he lived there for a season in his broken down hut, a slave quarter were it the South and were it attached to an elegant farm home, in an effort to avoid rent and taking regular baths.
It is a somewhat interesting book. A sweet little book. A philosophical dude because he hadn't any proper industrious activities to engage himself. He just thought and thought and thought and wrote and I get the the part of a guy not keeping pace with his companions and maybe he's hearing a different drummer one going rat-a-tat-tat-do dippity-BOPdippity dippity bop, rat-a-tat-tat-a-tat-tat, let him keep stepping no matter how whacked. And I'm all, "Oh man, you fucker, you STOLE THAT FROM HALLMARK CARDS !!!!11!11
Oh, bloody hell. Hallmark stole it from you. It's like this is the original thing! The drummer thing came from the Where's Waldo pond tarot card reading guy.
Where's Waldo's Pond, indeed! The one in that work of fiction was in the slave state of Massachusetts. Wiki - "Massachusetts was the first colony in New England with slave ownership and was a center for the slave trade throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. No legislation was passed that abolished slavery until the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865 was ratified by the state. Technically it remained legal until the end of the Civil War..."
As long as we are talking about studio bands, we should include the Motown version of the Wrecking Crew - the Funk Brothers. They had several drummers - Pistol Allen was the best.
A great way to begin this day - Joan Osborne singing Heat Wave, backed by the Funk Brothers and then a second cute with Martha Vandella singing. BOTH have Pistol Allen on drums.
Coal Miner's Daughter and Ray were biopics. The aforementioned, Beware of Mr. Baker, is a documentary.
Reality TV is the inbred, mongoloid, outside marriage, cousin of documentaries.
@Haz: You should check out Muscle Shoals to round out "Wrecking Crew" and "Standing In The Shadows." The descriptions of Duane Allman are priceless.
Bohnam, Tommy Lee, Dave Grohl, Stuart Copeland, Tomas Haake, Alex Van Halen.
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