What happened to drummer Eddie Hoh?

I love Eddie Hoh's drumming with The Monkees. However, if I Google his name, his album credits seem to end in the early 1970s. Is he still playing, did he retire, or is he no longer with us?

J. D.

 

Here's a post from the fab Spectropop site about Eddie Hoh:
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2001 03:02:57 -0500
From: "Cheryl Jennings"
Subject: Re: Hoh, Hoh, Hoh & Hoh boy
I just joined this group after a friendly soul emailed me about the Eddie Hoh string. I knew Eddie and he was a well known road & studio drummer in the 60's. When I first met him he was with the MFQ, later he was with the Mamas & Papas, Gene Clark Group, worked with Tim Buckley, Harvey Mandel, Charlie Musselwhite, Donovan (Sunshine Superman lp), was on the Bloomfield-Kooper-Stills Super Session, on the first Flying Burrito Brothers album and many Monkees sessions. Sometime in 1969 or 1970 he went to northern California with Dino Valente to work on a new group and had kind of
breakdown there and never could get himself back together. He went home to live with his family in Illinois. He was a super guy, well respected and loved by everybody he knew.
There is also a photo of Eddie on the Super Sessions LP. I haven't heard the recently released CD of Dino Valente's that was recorded in 1969- 70 but it wouldn't surprise me if he was on some of those tracks. Eddie was always working and in demand in those days, both in the studio and on the road.
Cheryl Jennings

 

When one magazine("Rolling Stone",I believe) praised Eddie's performance on the album of The Mamas & The Papas live at The Monterey Pop Festival,the magazine received(and printed) a response from a drug rehabilitation center where Eddie was(then) being treated for drug addiction.

 

And what was the story about the other drummer, Kim Capli then?

 

Kim Capli was in a group called the Sundowners. They toured with the Monkees in '67. Kim actually performed most of the basic track himself on The Monkees' "Hard To Believe", which he co-wrote with Davy and other members of The Sundowners.


Interesting about Eddie Hoh. I've always wondered where he disappeared to. So is he still alive and well here in Illinois?

 

I hope so... when I first saw the booklet from the Listen to the Band boxed set, I read all of the session listings. I had to see when the Monkees played, or Glen Campbell, etc... I remember seeing Eddie's name and thinking what a great drummer, and I was interested in what else he did. Before the internet was everywhere, I could only wonder.

 

Wouldn't it be funny if he lived right down the street from either of us, Matt?

I remember seeing his name on the back of The Monkees "Pisces..." LP where it reads "Fast" Eddie Hoe (misspelled like this too, IIRC). When I was a kid, I thought that meant he plays drums really really fast. Weird things we remember...

His drum fills on "Salesman" are just so tasteful and perfect. Not to mention his work on PVS.

 

I'm amazed someone else asked about Eddie Hoh- I've tried for years to find out what happened to him - I've spoken with Larry Knechtel, Paul Leim,
Carole Kaye, and who knows how many others, and hardly anyone had any
recollection of Eddie-except Al Kooper, who believed he had passed away....

I actually found a post a couple of years ago on some drum discussion board from someone in Illinois who had sold Eddie Hoh a drum set, and I was able to track down his home address and telephone number with pretty good certainty (I'll try and find the info -I have the town name but can't remember what it is - not where you guys live, though... also his age - 60 at the time ....

I wanted to contact him but chickened out , thinking he's been out of sight for a reason ( mental and /or drug problems )...

Cnath

 

Interesting info, Cnath. This thread has me very curious all of a sudden. I wonder how he's been making a living all these years. Might not be wise to post his personal info though. Like you said, he's been laying low for a good reason. I would imagine he's in some remote part of the state where folks won't bug him. Such a legend though. It's such a shame that he stopped playing out though...

 

Thank you everyone for the information.

J. D.

 

FWIW, whenever I listen to "Star Collector," I turn down the left channel so I can concentrate on Hoh's drumming. He just goes bananas for the long instrumental coda (even moreso on the extended version that appeared on the Rhino single-disc remaster from the 90's), a rock version of Elvin Jones if I ever heard one!

 

...and do you know what's strange? The fact that both men never had their name changed on the "Pisces..." Lp until now!! (The Lp misnames them as " (Fast)Eddie Hoe" and "Kim Copli"!!) Michael Boyce

 

I remember him from the Los Angeles scene in the mid sixties 66-68 ... I did a session with him and I believe Lee Micheals ( May have been someone else ? )at Sunset Sound . A one off as it were . Everybody referred to him as "FAST EDDIE HOE "
He was lot like Kerim ( Kim Capli ) they both flew under the radar ,while other session players became well known .These two drummers did play great and God knows Eddie was well known in the session clique ...

 

does anybody know why hal blaine is sitting on the side of the stage when the M&P performed at Monterey? I think he either replaced or there were 2 drummers at some point, cos i seem to recall Hal playing. Wonderful to HEAR Joe Osborn even if you can't see him!

 

And it's even more wonderful (and hysterical) when he plays the wrong bass note after the break in "Monday, Monday" causing everyone to come in out of tune!

 

I believe Hal was there to back Cyrus Faryar in the Group with No Name.

I heard the same story about Eddie Hoh-- that he became an acid casualty. Still, a great drummer no matter how you slice it.

 

I think Chuck Day played bass on Sunday,Sunday ...

Chuck Day just dies last year . I think he did a lot of Mama/Poppa saessions .

 

Al Kooper response to Eddie Hoh

I was always curious as to what became of Eddie Hoh, some how I stumbled upon Al Kooper's web site and asked him, here is my question to Al.
Greetings Al,

Just a little note to say thank you for the Super Session LP from a number of years ago, played the hell out of the first LP bought a second album, and low and behold it’s out on CD and is still “fresh” sounding today. I do have a question, what ever happened to Eddie Hoh the drummer, I found him to be a very taste full drummer, and I learned a lot by listening to him play on Super Session “less is more” is what I came away with.If you find the time I would appreciate an answer always wondered what became of Eddie Hoh thank you in advanced.

From: Al Kooper [mailto:al@alkooper.com]
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 1:05 PM

Subject: Re: Super Session!



Eddie Hoh passed away young. A car crash maybe.

When you get Super Session on CD, make sure you get the remastered version, distinguished by the GOLD upper left panel on the cover as opposed to the brown panel formerly. BIG difference in sound and extra tracks included.
Just thought I would pass this along.
Zawinul

 

I emailed Al Kooper about Eddie a few years ago - he also told me he thought Eddie had died - however, I've corresponded with a guy in Forest Park,Illinois who sold Eddie a drum set about 8 or 9 years ago - said he last saw him about 2 years ago.... And there is an Edward Hoh listed in Forest Park, who previously lived in California, and is currently 64 years old.... seems like a good match...

As a drummer, i would love for Eddie to get the recognition he deserves, however, it seems he's not in too good a shape mentally, so unless a relative or friend realizes the interest people still have regarding his career, it's probably better he's left alone...

Cnath

 

I had also read somewhere that he became homeless, although I'm guessing it was just a rumor. I predict that he's still around, but probably not a computer guy, and definately not a guy who is connected with drumming any more.

 

To give you guys an update, I am a police officer in the Western Suburbs of Chicago and Eddie Hoh is alive. Unfortunately Eddie has suffered from mental health issues for years and lives a very quiet life. I see Eddie walking down the street frequently talking to himself and he is what you would call almost homeless. He is reluctant to talk about his past, but does have a couple of close friends who help take care of him. Hope this helps answer some questions.

 

Thanks for the update. Good to know he's still alive. And I'd take this as probable notice that one wouldn't want to try to contact him directly.

 

I just saw this thread & Am glad to hear that fast eddie is still with us
It is sad to hear however that this guy is in bad mental shape & Is homeless?
This guy played on a LOT of great music released during the 60's & early 70's, Did he not ever receive royalty's?
Maby the music co.'s screwed him out of any payments?

 

Sounds like the right reason for his nickname to me...love his playing on the Monkees "Goin' Down".

 

The funny thing is,As a kid I originally thought he only played a few songs on the Pisces,Aquarius LP.
Later i found out he played on the whole album (minus- Two songs)And some of the 45's & I always loved his drum sound,with the hi- pitched toms.
I believe he's on more than a few birds & bees lp tracks as well. Daydream believer & tapioca tundra are at least two of them