Great Forgotten Drummers In Rock Music

Hal Blaine
In one of Neil Peart's books that I recently completed, he mentions Mr. Blaine is living on Social Security these days.

 

John Garner, drummer and vocalist of Sir Lord Baltimore (R.I.P.)

 

Simon Phillips.....
Andy Newmark....

 

I can't remember...

 

Bobby Graham of the Hollies is amazing, and on tons of stuff as a session drummer. Also, the little appreciated Michael Giles, who is on the first two King Crimson records is incredible.

 

One of my air drumming favorites.

Also Michael Stuart of Love, especially on Forever Changes.

 

Steve Upton - Wishbone Ash.

 

Alphonse Mouzon.....and Steve Gadd.

 

Maybe not truly forgotten, but JethroTull's Barrimore Barlow. Ian Anderson should have gone down on his hands an knees in 1980 and begged him to stay (assuming the story that he quit and wasn't fired is true).

 

Ian Pace, Deep Purple, way underappreciated

Kenney Jones although not with the Who

Clem from Blondie

Another vote for Stan Lynch

Al Jackson Jr, Booker T

 

And originally was going to replace Phil Rudd on Flick of the Switch.

 

I know Keith Knudsen of The Doobie Brothers once drummed for him

 

I was trying to remember his name. Really liked his playing

 

R.E.M.'s Bill Berry. Forgotten AND underrated.

 

A couple I didn't see mentioned...

Jerry Mercer from April Wine
Clive Burr from Iron Maiden
Jerry Fuchs from Maserati

 

Topper Headon of the Clash

I also liked Stan Lynch, although in the recent Tom Petty bio, there's some negative comments on his drumming, from Jimmy Iovine I believe.

 

I'd nominate Malcom Mortimore, Gentle Giant's drummer for about a year between 1971 and '72, who plays on their "Three Friends" album, and also have been with GG cover group Three Friends for several years now. There is a good reason he is overshadowed by his replacement John Weathers, whom instilled a different sound to the new 5-piece line-up, as of 1973, and whom was also excellent - I gather he is disabled and can't play any longer - plus contributed to the group other skills such as singing, playing some keyboard percussion, a bit of guitar and writing. ...And attitude galore and some great bits of MC-ing on the stage!

Yet Mortimore sounds to me like being technically superior to both Weathers and Martin Smith, GG's first drummer. And he also had that groove!

 

B.J. Wilson was always one of faves from that era.

Another was George Suranovich. Love his rolling style.

 

Not disagreeing...but the guy is in the "rock 'n' roll hall of fame."

 

From what I've heard he didn't sound great. Solid drummer, but even George Martin heard room for improvement.

 

I think you mean Bobby Elliott.

 

Another from Todd Rundgren's camp - John Siomos.

He was the drummer on Something/Anything and played on Frampton Come Alive (and co-wrote Do You Feel Like We Do and Doobie Wah under the name John Headly-Down).

You can hear his beautifully sensitive playing on Carly Simon's That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be.

He trained as an EMT and was working for the New York Fire Department and died far too young at 57 ("too young" being defined, for me, as "one year older than my current age".)

 

Two of my favourites. The drumming on the McDonald & Giles album is superb.

 

A

I think this has been posted on other threads. A "turn it up to 11" song for me and a little tie-in to Christmas. As Gary Brooker says at the beginning, "Mr. Wilson, help us." And some nice guitar work from the late Dave Ball.

 

My other nominees would be Jerry Edmonton of Steppenwolf, Dale "Buffin" Griffin of Mott the Hoople and Bev Bevan of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra.