Topper Headon

As far as punk rock goes I think Rat Scabies (of the Damned) is one of the better drummers but even he doesn't compare to guys like Keith Moon, John Bonham etc.

Best "punk drummer"? I'd argue for Chuck Biscuits.

http://www.an-irrational-domain.net/images/bigpaul/paul22.JPG

I missed Paul Ferguson all thogether...his recorded stuff is OK (I think his influence was greater than he actually was), but I prefer Martin Aktins. I wonder what "Pandemonium" would have sounded like if Ferguson did it? (as rumoured he would).

None of the mentioned beat Rat Scabies :o)

Rat Scabies, meanwhile is a brilliant choice, if not for "New Rose" alone!

The conoisseur's punk drummah shortlist would have to be Eater's Dee Generate, The Adverts' Laurie Driver, and Palmolive.

Are you referring to his peculiar push/pull feel or just the actual pattern? The pattern itself should be dead easy although there's a little bit of interplay between snare and open hihat on the roll I referred to above that you would have to take care to get in the right place.

I assume you're partly referring to 'punk' becoming a set style for later drummers to master. But with regard to the Clash, I've mentioned before that a friend of mine, Rob Harper, played with the Clash (Anarchy tour and Roxy club gigs) and from what he's told me he was ordered to play in a very specific way by other band members (presumably Strummer/Jones). I think the same thing probably applied to Chimes and Headon in that there was little leeway for personal expression in their drum parts (although Headon became more important in the group later on). So in a sense there was a Clash drumming style that any drummer had to reproduce.

The Clash's style of very fast rock required quite a high technical standard from any drummer (despite the apparent simplicity of the parts). In the early days there were no drummers meeting that standard within the small punk community so it was inevitable that they would come from the pre-punk/non-punk muso pool.

Yes, yes indeed. Martin Atkins could be great when he wanted to be, though -- and Budgie, meanwhile, is a god separate from all this.

But back to Topper--definitely better, more versatile, precise and under-appreciated. He played like a punk-rock studio musician, professional, energetic, and right on the money.

Does he belong up there with my other faves like Ginger Baker? Yes, I think so because he was very good at what he did and meshed perfectly with the band he was in.

Black Sabbath had some odd people play drums for them when you consider that Bev Bevan and KISS drummer Eric Singer also were with them for a time. Who would have thought the connection between ELO and The Clash would be through Black Sabbath? Waitaminute...that makes sense in an odd way.

That's really interesting that they were so specific about the drum parts, David. I remember listening to that record and thinking 'see, you don't have to play eighth notes, quarter notes sound just fine!'

And Chimes' stepping stone to Black Sabbath was Hanoi Rocks, who did some great Clash thievery in their day.

70 years old today! Happy birthday Topper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzPMAE93hcc

Ouch, perilously close to the Rolling Obituary thread.

He was perilously close to the Rolling Obituary Thread in the Clash days! Amazing he's made it this far, and doing well as far as I can see.