Apologies to @smudger, shamelessly picking up on his comment about Rialto over on the forgotten bands thread, but have any band successfully and convincingly demonstrated the added benefit of dual drum kits? From the Dead and the Allman Brothers onward this conceit has given entertainment to the eyes, less so, I would say, to the ears.
Anyone care to present a case for the contrary?
Are 4 hands better than 2?
by 38 Comments
Certainly the double-drummer line up of The Fall live in the eighties was a mighty thing.
Adam And The Ants.
The twin drum of Merrick and Terry Lee provided a tribal African-y thing
What about the latest King Crimson lineup – 3 drummers!
I saw them. It’s a visual experience as much as anything; they don’t necessarily all play at once but you can see a rhythm passing from one side of the stage to the other. It’s fascinating to watch and I think it has the bonus of making the drums a more considered part of the music when it’s shared around, rather than one person keeping time in a loud manner. Well I enjoyed it anyway.
I remember seeing Showfuckinwaddybastardinwaddy at a cabaret club in Blackburn (works Christmas outing in the `70`s), first time I remember** seeing a band live with dual drummers and I remember enjoying the `Wadd`s set(s) of early rock`n`roll covers. The dual drummers enhancing atmospheric revivalalabilityness of the chicken in a greasy basket establishment.
Were the Wadd recycling the grease on their coiffures?
The singer pinched one of Baroness Vs 1`s chips then ran his fingers through his quiff, so yes.
@Baron Harkonnen What Baroness Version 1 was a man? Never knew that about you.
Finally managed to catch Massive Attack live a couple of years ago. If I’d’ve had to have guessed beforehand I might have thought that there would be no drummer at all, so to see two was quite a surprise. Not convinced it was necessary mind.
Def Leppard fans might say that one hand is better than two.
re one hand better than two, Moulty & The Barbarians fans may have an opinion also.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
The recent John McLaughlin ‘Farewell USA’ tour featured a set where John’s band were joined by co-headliner Jimmy Herring’s band to recreate Mahavishnu music – with two drummers. This is my favourite clip from the tour. But of course, in the original Mahavishnu Orchestra they already had the power and capability of two drummers in one person – Billy Cobham. As shown in the second clip, the MO in 1973.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVhurrTDFHE
When he returned after his accident, Def Leppard had a second drummer on stage (Jeff Rich?) to support Rick Allen.
He was unable to make one show leaving Allen to do it all himself.
A case of one hand being better than three.
Interestingly, and this may be more to do with the electronic/synthesised/sequenced kit that Rick Allen now uses, the drumming on Hysteria is more definite and “on tempo” than the earlier albums.
1 hand is more technically competent than 2, but doesn’t sound/feel as good
In retrospect, it was probably fortunate (with all the caveats you can imagine, with using that word in Rick’s situation) that if that scenario had to happen it happened at a time that (a) the technology was just about available to make it viable for him to remain sole drummer in his band and (b) not least, it happened right in the middle of a period where rock/pop drumming became very rigid and rigorous, with everyone mercilessly playing to click tracks and producing machine-like sounds. The role of a ‘swinging’ drummer or one with real personality was over for a decade or more. Andy Powell talks about how Wishbone Ash’s drummer Steve – a quirky, eccentric style player who was nevertheless ‘right’ for WA, struggled in this new recording environment/regime.
One of my few items of rock memorabilia is a Rick Allen drumstick from his two-handed days.
I still get the feeling that it is mainly the look: hence the Gltterband clip, and Adam & the Ants, whereby they play identically, which looks good and is louder. When 2 different drummers play differently does it add or detract? I confess my only live experience stems from the Rise Up Like the Sun period Albion Band, and Cropredy style reunions when Dave Mattacks plays alongside Gerry Conway. Where it looks good but Mattacks alone always sounds better on record. I really want someone to defend why the Dead or the Allmans needed 2.
Conway’s facial contortions always seem OTT – like a manacled rower in an ancient Greek ship rowing at full capacity and somewhat in pain. Compare with Billy Cobham who generated many times the power while barely breaking sweat. The same applies in the guitar world to bizarre gurning from the likes of Gary Moore and Robin Trower. It’s just not necessary.
I get the impression that musicians who gurn, do so because they can’t help it. A bit like Keith Jarrett or Thelonious Monk’s “singing” as they play.
I imagine Chick Corea probably found it annoying playing keys in Miles Davis’ band for a period along with Jarrett. Everybody else on stage is looking at each other, growing the music organically, and there’s this nutter on one side writhing about, eyes closed and playing his keyboard as if there’s nobosy else there – least of all another keyboard player. It’s no wonder he went. Who would choose to work with that?
I believe the majority of Motown hits have two drummers plus a percussionist. I suppose to get a loud sound with minimal trickery. Sometimes it sounds like someone kicking a drumkit down the stairs (Behind a Painted Smile…) but mostly it’s fantastic. No flies on any Motown hits really.
Looking for a drum summit between Jeff Porcaro and Jim Gordon? It doesn’t happen very often but it’s gob-smacking when it does.
Steely Dan – Parker’s Band
The latest Thee Oh Sees lineup had two drummers and they were exceptional. Could play in perfect synchronisation at speed or they could pay off each other.
Very impressive.
Chester Thompson and Phil Collins did a lot of double drumming in Genesis.
An acquired taste maybe. I like it.
Works well with Genesis….
Works less well at the Led Zeppelin reunion segment of Live Aid with Tony (“don’t call me Chester”) Thompson….
https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/phil-collins-why-im-not-blame-led-zeppelins-live-aid-reunion-show
Chester Thompson was used to playing in a double-drummer lineup from his days with Frank Zappa’s early ’70s Mothers.
Sometimes he played on his own, sometimes Ralph Humphrey played on his own and sometimes they played together, depending on who was available at the time.
The 200 Motels line-up had two drummers – Jimmy Carl Black (the Indian of the Group) and Aynsley Dunbar (the, er, Liverpudlian of the group)
The original Mothers Of Invention acquired a second drummer in Billy Mundi, to play alongside Jimmy Carl Black and then later replacing him with Artie Tripp, as in this clip.
Billy Mundi, older brother of Me No Pop I hitmaker Coati.
Gloria Mundi. Punk band.
Manic Mundi
Mappa Mundi. Thousand Yard Stare*’s second album.
(*too forgotten even for the Forgotten Bands thread)
Mundi Mundi. Can’t trust that day.
Sometimes it just turns out that way.
Also very good is his duet with his son, Simon, on the track “Big Bang” (from the album U-Catastrophe by Sound Of Contact)…….
The great Ginger Baker playing alongside the equally great Tony Allen in the great Fela Kuti’s Band. Featured on a live album and yes, it’s great.
His Airforce of course featured six hands, his good self, Phil Seaman and Alan White. None of them were known for their subtlety so it must have created a substantial racket.
Isn’t it curious that in the 21st Century the bands of both Ringo Starr and Pete Best feature two drummers. Maybe they could call each other and work out a merger…
The outro to Roger Daltrey’s ‘Under a Raging Moon’ is a twin drummer job, with Mark Unpronounceable (L) and Zak Starkey (R) attempting an impression of Keith Moon; it starts around 5:22. Bonus points to anyone who can remember all the drummers (in sequence) for the solo – I think I’ve got them all.
Were the other 2 Cozy Powell and Carl Palmer?
Sorry,can’t remember the order they appeared in!