I’ve had the opportunity to meet some fascinating people and many of my childhood heroes. And one thing that I’ve discovered about all drummers: you couldn’t meet a nicer bunch…
Drummers Are Sound…
Drummers are good blokes. Or good girls. At least, they are always nice to each other. It’s a bit like a kind of fraternity. We tend to help each other out. For example, we often share drum sets at live jam sessions. This is partly to do with practicality, as it takes too long to dismantle and erect different drum kits every time someone else takes over. But this sharing procedure also seems to be accompanied by an unspoken, mutual respect. Something which drummers tend to nurture for one another in a much broader sense…
HOME JAMES
One of the founders of Status Quo, John Coghlan played drums on some of the best rock singles of the ’70s. His drumming was the backbone of all-time powerhouse greats that filled auditoriums like the Hammersmith Odeon with mops of flying hair and dandruff. It also inspired the famous bikers’ headbanging dance. With six hit singles and seven gold albums behind him, John now plays at his leisure with his own band, John Coghlan’s Quo.
Unassuming and extremely approachable, this 24-carat rock legend was helping me prop up the bar in his local village pub in the Cotswolds when he recalled a brief incident a few years ago at the famous racetrack at Donington….
The year is 2004 and I’ve just been watching my mate Nick Mason (drummer with Pink Floyd) racing around the track at Donington. He’s a pretty impressive racing driver, that having been a passion of his for many years.
The after-race party is about to start and I am at the bar in the marquee, having set my drum kit up on stage. John Coghlan’s Quo are playing tonight, plus an assortment of other notable musicians. Once again, it seems to have fallen to me to do the honours and provide the drum kit, but even though I’ve never been mad keen to lend the kit out, it’s better than all that changing over nonsense.
After a while, Nick comes up for a chat.
‘Hi John, how’s it going? When’s the gig kicking off?’
‘About an hour I reckon…’
‘I wouldn’t mind doing a bit – OK if I use your kit? I know it always seems to be you that gets lumbered…’
‘Yeah, no problem…’
I spend the next hour or so mixing with various old musician mates at the bar. Then suddenly Nick taps me on the shoulder.
‘Sorry mate, thanks anyway but it looks like I’ve gotta go!’
‘Oh, how come?’
‘I’d forgotten it’s going to be dark in about half an hour and my driver prefers not to take me home in the dark.’
‘OK, no probs! See you next time.’
Nick leaves the marquee and I get back to my mates, but something strikes me as a bit odd. Why would a professional driver have a problem taking Nick home in the dark? Oh, well, it takes all sorts I suppose.
A few minutes later, I’m dying for a piss so I leave the marquee for the Portaloo just across the car park. As I’m crossing the car park, I hear a whirring sound about a hundred yards to my right.
I turn to look. As it’s not quite dark yet, I can just make out Nick Mason waving goodbye from the cockpit of his helicopter.
There are, of course, always exceptions to every rule. While most drummers are happy to let others play their kits at jam sessions, the same doesn’t usually apply to big shows with support bands, so they supply their own kits. There are occasions, however, when using just one kit can make sense. Usually, whoever is playing last will allow the support drummer to use his kit (perhaps with a changeover of snare drum). In this case the exception proved the rule…
ALL’S FAIR IN ROCK’N’ROLL
Don Powell is the man wielding the sticks on the most widely played Christmas pop record ever, having been the drummer with Slade since they formed in the 1960s as The N’Betweens, before changing their name to Ambrose Slade. Initially a skinhead group, they encouraged their fans to stomp their Dr Martens boots to the music. They soon shortened their name, grew their hair and changed their image to avoid being associated with football hooligans, instead becoming notorious icons of ’70s glam rock. They are still touring today. This particular incident occurred back in the ’90s.
Imagine. You are a young, starry-eyed kid of 10 or 11 years old. You love pop music and because it’s the 20th century, so do your parents. Their favourite band is the ’70s glam heroes, Slade. You’re really into them, too. In fact, you’ve got loads of posters of them on your bedroom wall: Noddy Holder and all the rest of the band. Your favourite poster is one of Slade’s drummer, Don Powell. That’s because your ambition is to be a famous drummer one day. Sometimes, as you look at your second-hand drum kit stacked up in the corner of the room, you wonder what it would be like to be Don Powell of Slade: travelling the world, being on all those hit records, having any drum kit you want with loads of cymbals.
Then, one early evening as you are daydreaming about the glamour of a rock’n’roll lifestyle, you hear a knock on the front door. You hear your mum open the door and there follows a conversation that you can’t quite make out, but you can hear whoops and gasps of delighted surprise. You think perhaps your Aunt Helga has paid a surprise visit and you’ll have to forget about Slade and rock stardom and go downstairs and be polite.
Instead though, your mum comes upstairs and, poking her head round the bedroom door, says: ‘You’d better come downstairs for a minute – there’s someone to see you!’
‘Who?’
‘Don Powell.’
‘Don Powell?’
‘Yes, Don Powell.’
‘Don Powell from Slade?’
‘Yes!’
You suddenly feel a little nervous and you ask incredulously: ‘W-what does he want?’
‘He wants to borrow your drums!’
‘What???’
By this time you can hear more footsteps on the stairs and your father’s voice talking to someone: ‘My favourite was always “Mama We’re All Crazee Now”.’
All of a sudden, Don Powell is in your bedroom with both your parents. You get up, slightly dazed as he offers to shake your hand.
‘Hi, I’m Don. I know it’s a bit of a cheek but I need to ask a favour. Can I borrow your drums?’ Don looks apologetic. ‘I was going to use someone else’s kit but they let me down at the last minute!’
Your mum says: ‘Of course he doesn’t mind! Where’s the concert, Don?’
‘Just a few blocks away, at the Delta Arena. Do you know it?’
In return for lending Don Powell your drums, you and the whole family are invited to the concert, complete with backstage passes, free posters, T-shirts and CDs. What amazes you is how quickly it all happened. A few hours ago you were lying on your bed wondering what it would be like to be a famous drummer, in particular Don Powell from Slade, and then here you are standing in the hospitality area backstage at