Nine drummers

 

Kick, snare, vox.  The key to a great performance, get those elements right and everything else will slide into place.

 

Earl Palmer, born New Orleans 1924, was a vaudeville tap dancer at five, studied piano and percussion and played sessions in New Orleans in late 1940s, moved to Los Angeles, invented the rock and roll backbeat, played on thousands of songs that you know, owned a club in LA and would show up every night to sit in with the band until near his death in 2008.

 

Benny Benjamin, born Birmingham 1925, played swing and jazz, moved to Detroit where he met Berry Gordy and James Jamerson and if you don’t get Motown, stop reading now.  He had a beautiful way of playing all over the kit but never losing the essential beat, playing behind, ahead, on top, playing the song.  You have danced and romanced to Benny, guaranteed.

 

Hal Blaine, born Holyoke 1929, started playing when eight, learned from the legendary Roy Knapp after his family moved to California in 1943. Played in jazz and swing bands, likely played on more hit songs than anyone who ever lived, Hal is the sound of California as much as Brian Wilson.  Set up with eight toms, small to huge, rolled across them with power and rhythm, played the intro to ‘Be My Baby.’

 

Ringo Starr, born Liverpool 1940, started drumming with his hands on his knees when he was in hospital for several months at seven, became the best drummer in Liverpool and Hamburg, recruited by Beatles.  Played a right-hand kit southpaw, a wonderfully musical style that was the perfect complement to the songwriters in his band.

 

Keith Moon, born London, 1946, drumming was an outlet for his manic energy.  The Who is the perfect example of a rock and roll band of disparate personalities and energy colliding to magnificent effect.  Keith is the lead player, he accents the vocals, he set up his drum kit so there was always something to hit, no matter where he went.

 

Neal Smith, born Akron 1947, grew up with his bandmates, played high school shows in Phoenix, moved to LA, moved to Detroit where Alice Cooper really got its act together.  Early 1970s, when qualuude inspired boom-thunk was everywhere, he played riffs and rhythms and drove the best American rock and roll band.  Neal should be celebrated a thousand miles more than he is.

 

Dennis Thompson, born Detroit, 1948, grew up working class truculent, played high school gigs w pals, they met a uni student 1966, MC5, by 1970 the celebration had faded but ‘High Time’ is a fantastic record, a masterpiece of drumming, rock and roll and soul and loose free jazz and a rare ultimate example of how to play everything all at once.

 

Clem Burke, born New Jersey 1954, his dad was a drummer, he was a fan, a pop nerd, a cool dresser, he loved playing, would sit in with anyone.  Met Debbie and Chris when he had long hair, he beat the hell out of his kit but knew when to stop, when to do a subtle fill, when to go hard.  Played w the Ramones once, it didn’t work out.

 

Mark Haley, born Sydney, 1964, took on drumming cos his mates formed a band, had a lovely subtle style, the Charlie Watts way of dropping a straight beat into different rhythms and making it work.  I’ve played with some technically phenomenal drummers, but Mark had a feel for music and the song that I wouldn’t swap for anything.

 

Some drummers would’ve been  great no matter which band they played with, like the session drummers that opened this list.  Some were the right drummer at the right time, The Who is the best example of spectacular fortune.  Some, like Clem and Mark, loved playing and would show up for the joy of it.  This writer has played in enough bands to know that it’s the drummer who really matters.

 

 

 

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