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The Current Music Blog: July 16, 2009 Archive

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Today In Music History: Give the Polyrhythmic Drummer Some

Posted at 6:18 AM on July 16, 2009 by Steve Seel (3 Comments)


1941 - Desmond Dekker, Jamaican singer (1969 No.9 single "Israelites") was born. He died in May of 2006.
1962 - The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records.
1966 - Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton formed Cream. The band only lasted 2 years, leaving behind such hits as "White Room, " and "Sunshine of Your Love."
1981 - Singer songwriter Harry Chapin was killed when a tractor-trailer crashed into the car he was driving, causing his gas tank to explode. He was 38.
1995 - Rapper Queen Latifah was the victim of a car-jacking attempt that went wrong, leaving her bodyguard shot and wounded.
2007 - The White Stripes played their "shortest show ever" at George Street, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Jack White played a single chord accompanied by a bass drum/crash cymbal hit from Meg. Jack then announced, "We have now officially played in every province and territory in Canada." They then left the stage and performed a full show later that night in St John's.

Stewart Copeland (drummer, The Police) is 57 today. In addition to The Police, Copeland has had a quirky solo career on his own over the years, first performing under the alias "Klark Kent" in the late 70s, and later writing soundtracks for movie and television. A long lost gem this morning (from a nearly forgotten movie as well): the song "Don't Box Me In," from the Francis Ford Coppola movie Rumblefish (which starred Matt Dillon, Mickey Roarke and Tom Waits). Stan Ridgeway from Wall of Voodoo sings lead vocals.

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A Rhythm Record

Posted at 8:57 AM on July 16, 2009 by Steve Seel (0 Comments)

A few days ago, a new world record was set for number of drummers playing together in one place at one time. 582 drummers gathered at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham England and held a beat for five minutes. Probably pretty tough, actually, considering the number of folks involved (amateurs were welcome). The previous record had been 533.

Have a look at the massive proceedings here.

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The Least Comprehensive Tribute To Drummers Ever Attempted

Posted at 11:55 AM on July 16, 2009 by Steve Seel (0 Comments)

We weren't going for anything greater than a sloppy, impressionistic, stream-of-consciousness nod to great drummers today for the 9:30 Coffee Break, bouncing off the drummer theme echoed in the "Today In Music History" and "Rhythm Record" posts below. We just wanted you to suggest some tunes featuring great drummers - new, old, well known, lesser known, and obvious. The set:

1) Buddy Rich, "Jumpin' At the Woodside" (your actual, full-blow drum solo for the day)
2) Jimi Hendrix, "Fire" (Mitch Mitchell, a great rock drummer who's known by many drumming affecianados but not necessarily a household name among casual listeners)
3) Love-Cars, "Lovesick Sigh" (Dave King, the Minneapolis drummer's drummer, active in probably six to ten bands at the moment and a member of Happy Apple, The Bad Plus, and Halloween Alaska)
4) Rush, "Bastille Day" (Of course, Neil Peart. Obvious, cliched and thoroughly enjoyable)

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