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Drumming Up A Storm
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:04 am
by admin
When I first became interested in music in the late 1950s, I was taken by the drummers at first and one that comes to mind is Sandy Nelson.
He did well in both the US and the UK with "Teen Beat" in 1959 and "Let There Be Drums" in 1961.
Who was the drummer that made you sit up and take notice during the late 50s and early 1960s?
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:51 am
by admin
I also can't resist commenting on the "Wipe Out" classic by Ron Wilson drummer of the Surfaris. Quite a workout to be sure.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:30 am
by royclough
http://mailaccelerator.dapdrive.com/AV.asp?ID=12F6C384-B778-4AFB-B6CA-A678E8F23AFC
Inspired another RC classic, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan ( two Ex Shadows) from 1963 number 1
Brian bennett of the shadows he replaced Meehan is an excellent drummer, always had a solo spot on any Shadows tour and playe dfor about 20 minutes whilst others left the stage, always got a great ovation.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 6:10 am
by admin
Roy: A great number Roy. Definitely a "wild west" feel with some nice drumming as well.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 7:46 am
by jingle_jangle
Mel Taylor of the early Ventures. A classic SoCal/Las Vegas type of guy. Not only could he rock, but you know he had some stories to tell just by looking at him!
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 9:20 am
by dale_fortune
I was a minor jazz fan back then and the likes of Charlie Byrd, Stan Getz and Dave Brubeck had already caught my ear, so drummers like Gene Krupa with his snappy snare and big bass drum were miles ahead of the country and rock-a-billie rhythms.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:17 am
by rictified
Sandy Nelson was similar to Gene Krupa wasn't he in some ways such as doing a lot of jungle drum solos etc. I liked both Sandy and Gene. I even think of Ringo and Dave Clark as being a couple of good drummers from that era. Ringo did a lot of nice fills that were buried in the mix, he did stuff like the big one, that is a lost art unless you are a jazz drummer today, he accented with the bass drum, not very common anymore.
It was a bad decade to be a drummer however as they were usually buried in the mix. Great era for bass players though.
Yes a lot of the stuff you've played has had that western movie sound track to it Roy, I expect to see Clint Eastwood come walking out any second.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:21 am
by admin
Bob: You have made my day.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:48 am
by ozover50
My Dad was a huge fan of Gene Krupa - therefore I was. "Sing Sing Sing"!!
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 6:23 pm
by rictified
I forgot to say I also think Teen beat is about the coolest drum tune I've ever heard, I actually tried to get my last band to do it but they hemmed and hawed, I was surprised as especially the guitarist was really in to the 50's music.
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2005 7:07 pm
by jerrymac51
Keith Moon
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 2:39 am
by rictified
I had him and a few others until I noticed the question was about the late 50's early 60's.
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 2:54 am
by admin
OK Bob. Let's go over the top an include drummers in the mid to late 1960s as well.
Keith Moon from July 30, 1966

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:00 am
by rictified
OK, Ginger Baker was one of my favorites. I was always a huge Cream fan anyway.
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:39 am
by shinynewtoy
My unofficial short list...
John Bonham (best feel of any drummer, period)Ginger Baker
Ringo (Never gets enough credit)
Keith Moon (Pushed the beat, sometimes a little too much)
Mitch Mitchell (when he wasn't overplaying)
Bill Bruford (where'd I put that pesky downbeat?)
Sorry I stuck so much to late 60's Brit rock... I'm available for lashings if I went too far off topic!