The news that Mark Chapman, who shot dead John Lennon 32 years ago, will have his seventh parole hearing this week reminds me of one of the best conspiracy theories that i have ever heard, that the former Beatle killer was actually Stephen King and not Mark Chapman at all.That always makes me laugh but not as much as the wag on one of the newspaper comments section who commented that he should have shot Ringo instead as he would have been out by now.
Cruel indeed but Ringo was always seen as the least talented one in the Beatles, even John Lennon replied when asked if Ringo was the best drummer in the World that he wasn't even the best drummer in the Beatles.
Because they sit at the back out the way, drummers don't receive the spotlight like the rest of the band so if we ask the question who is or was the best drummer, i couldn't even begin to answer and wouldn't know what makes one drummer stand out from another because they all sound the same to me.
A website like Total Drumsets should know and they have a top 100 drummers ever posting and they have a few i have heard of such as Tommy Lee, Dave Grohl, Steven Adler, Lars Ulrich, Phil Collins, Roger Taylor, Stewart Copeland and Keith Moon as well as the other 92 who i wouldn't know if they were introduced to me wearing a name tag and carrying a pair of drum sticks including the drumstick wielding rocker they put in top spot, Neil Peart of Rush.
According to them 'Neil has demonstrated extraordinary technical ability, musicality, creativity, groove, and feel. His drum solos and fills are exquisite. Stylistically, he can do so much that it's a little bit scary' and who am i to argue, i had never even heard of him until 10 minutes ago.
When it comes to drummers i'm firmly in the Malcolm McLaren camp of drummers just being there to keep the beat going as he explained to Sex Pistol's snare drum tickler Paul Cook when he hired him.
So the drummer from Rush may be the best but would anyone who isn't interested in drumming or a Rush fan actually know who he is which is a shame really because it must be like winning the Shot Putt Olympic gold at the exact same time as Usain Bolt breaks the 100m sprint record on the track alongside you.
Oh, and by the way, long drum solo's. Very boring guys.
3 comments:
Please read this book, I promise you wont be sorry. http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Rider-Travels-Healing-Road/dp/1550225480/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345412555&sr=1-3&keywords=neil+peart
Cody, you old devil, you! Where have you been hiding?
FOAB needs you to return to break the narrow commenting duopoly that has all too often spoiled it.
And could you speak to Obama and request that he gets off Assange's back. The world needs more truth-tellers like him who expose evil nations for what they are.
Take care and please give your dog a pat from me.
Cheers.
I used to play a bit myself so I've always been interested in drummers... I think one of the most under-rated drummers in rock music is Charlie Watts. A more belligerent tub-thumper would have made their distinctive sound very different (i.e. worse) but Charlie came from a jazz background so he had an unusual light-touch and a great understanding not only with Bill's bass, but also the lead guitars - watch them live and he's always keying in Keith. Gimme Shelter is a particularly great example of this work and how he gave the Stones a bit of 'swing'...
My other favourite drummers are Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Topper Headon (The Clash), Clem Burke (Blondie), Reni (Stone Roses) and of course Keith Moon.
Post a Comment