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November 2008 Archives
Happy birthday to John Charles Alder better known as Twink. It was hard to find a good photo of Mr. Alder online ... do not do a Google image search for "twink" unless you are prepared for the consequences.
So who is this Twink? He played drums on one of the best psych-pop records of the late sixties (The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow), formed one of the most under-appreciated bands of the seventies (The Pink Fairies), released some ahead-of-their-time solo albums, formed a post-Pink Floyd band with Syd Barrett (the sadly undocumented Stars) and even dabbled in punk rock.
Twink on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twink_(musician)
The beat and the soul of the legendary Stax sound, Al Jackson, Jr. was born today. A founding member of Booker T. & the M.G.s, Jackson contributed his remarkable rhythm to countless hits by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Al Green, Isaac Hayes and many many others on the Stax label.
On October 1, 1975, Jackson was shot to death in his home - a crime that is still unsolved.
Tomtomtime Episode 3 - Season 1 featuring Sinead Vaughan, The Twin Towers, Frank Difficult & 2x4 and Lady Ty.
Watch more episodes at http://www.veoh.com/channels/tomtomtime
I went cymbal shopping last week and found this place, run by the very knowledgable and amenable Sean Kennedy, to have the most impressive collection of cymbals I've ever seen in one place. Check 'em out online.
I ended up getting a Zildian Earth Ride, which I've been searching for for YEARS.
Beverly Bevan of ELO, Black Sabbath and the Move grows older and older . . . this year he can start collecting Social Security.
Some say the other Beatles were jealous because Best was actually the most handsome of the group, not to mention he wouldn't do drugs with them, and preferred to be alone. Sir George Martin also didn't like his style too much. Poor guy was doomed from the get-go. Well, they can't take the Pete Best Band away from him.
Jean from Tomtomtime Season 1 Episode 3
Watch more clips at http://www.youtube.com/tomtomtimetv
Gus (Tiny Hawks) from Tomtomtime Season 1 Episode 3
Watch more clips at http://www.youtube.com/tomtomtimetv
Tomtomtime Episode 3 - Season 1 featuring Jean, Gus (Tiny Hawks) and Matt McLaren (Barnacled, Alec K. Redfearn and the Seizures, The Eyesores, Gutterhelmet ... and on and on)
Watch more episodes at http://www.veoh.com/channels/tomtomtime
Let's heap some praise on Jeff Nelson. What a force, what a monster. He helped up the ferocity of Minor Threat to scary levels. I wish I could share my VHS copy of this concert with you all, but this shitty youtube clip will do. Young Jeff's spry drumming and ASTOUNDING stamina really make the case for being straight-edge. He certainly wouldn't be playing like this with a belly full of beer.
Colin Burgess? If he had only not had that spiked drink before a show in 1973, maybe he'd still be in AC/DC. If it weren't for his misfortune, though, would we even know about Phil Rudd?
Here's a rare AC/DC track featuring Colin.
Colin was in a bunch of bands before and after AC/DC. Sounds like they were tough times.
Was it that massive sound from "Some Like it Hot" that prompted Led Zeppelin to ask Tony to replace John Bonham? Sadly, this plan was spoiled for Tony by a car accident. Tony would be 54 years old today, but he died in 2003.
Tony with his boys from Duran Duran
Scott Reber (Work/Death) from Season 1 Episode 2
Work/Death on Corleone Records
Watch more clips at http://www.youtube.com/tomtomtimetv
It's John French's CD of solo drum kit compositions, and it smokes. French plays so many simultaneous rhythms that after a few numbers, my equilibrium gets a bit off. People with pacemakers should beware. Here's a taste of the CD. There's an appropriately respectful review at this link, too.
Sad news - Mitch Mitchell, the legendary drummer of the Jimi Hendrix Experience has died.
Here's Mitch in action (Sweden, January 9, 1969)
John Knudsen (Denim Venom, Head of Horns) from Season 1 Episode 2
Watch more clips at http://www.youtube.com/tomtomtimetv
Here's Sexy Thoughts - Kevin Shea from Talibam! and Puttin' on the Ritz.
One of the best Tomtomtime segments ... and so far the most popular. I sense a viral breakout video here ... email the link to all your friends and have them email all their friends ... and on and on ... it's a pyramid scam where everyone wins.
Watch more clips at http://www.youtube.com/tomtomtimetv
Tomtomtime Episode 2 - Season 1 featuring Sexy Thoughts (Kevin Shea), Steve Balsavage, Andy Plaisted, Steve Chagganis, Jerome Deupree, Jonathan Knudsen and Scott Reber.
Watch more episodes at http://www.veoh.com/channels/tomtomtime
"We took some cheap wine, 35 cents a bottle, 'Death Valley', 'Thunderbird' shit, and we cooked it, we heated it up, and we took some nutmeg, a spoonful of nutmeg and then we smoked some J... And I played and I played and I played (nobody complained in those days!), and then I lay on the bed and - this is still clear in my mind - I was so smashed that I began to levitate and honest to God I saw SID CATLETT standing there, and he was like smiling, and I was looking at Sid Catlett and I was tripping and he... dissolved right inside me. I swear today, I'll never forget that. (Pause) And I fell boom back on the bed. I got back on the drums and I was playing, man! And three years later I was playing with Cecil. Six years and I was playing with John. I went up like that in drums, man... I still believe that's still some part of my success, that the spirit of this man has been... not haunting but, part of me. I find now Catlett's spirit is one of the most liberating in music. It's one of those burning bush experiences for me."
Pariah? Genius? Well, he read the Helmholtz book, that's an accomplishment.
We here at tomtomtime consider him elemental. It certainly takes some cojones to play alongside Elvin Jones and Art Blakey, never mind Cecil Taylor.
Sam Sheperd turns 65 years old today. Now we could talk about his prestigious awards and seminal writing and directing career BUT this is tomtomtime and really our concern is his psycho-delic drumming with the Holy Modal Rounders.
Preston Epps, another guy like Sandy Nelson who made a brief solo career as lead percussion player. Epps is known for his bongoing on classics such as "Bongo Rock", "Bongo Bongo Bongo", "Bongo in the Congo", "Bongo Rocket", "Bongo Boogie", "Flamenco Bongo", "Mr. Bongo", and "Bongo Shuffle".
Maybe he's still out there . . . playing bongos . . . God willing.
Raw. Beautiful. Check out Othar Turner too.
Sad news - Jimmy Clark Black of The Mothers of Invention (the Indian of the group) has passed away.
Here's the The Mothers Of Invention live in France 1968:
Nikki and Melanie from Tomtomtime Season 1 Episode 1
Happy birthday to Rick Allen (born November 1, 1963, Dronfield, Derbyshire, England) of Def Leppard. Rick joined the band when he was 15 and enjoyed their rise as a popular metal band of the 80's. Tragedy struck when he was involved in a car accident that left him armless in 1984. He recovered and they continued on to even bigger success.
Here's Rick playing and talking about his custom drum set:
Drummers! Write to us.