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BLOG: 01/06/08 Firstly, hi to everyone we met on the gigs in Sheffield, Worthing, Rotherham and Leicester since my last blog. Our journeys seem an endless stream of motorway service stations, hotels, Facebook status battles with the Aynsley Lister Band, and searches for wifi access at venues! The gigs are great fun, and it's been good to do a few of our own shows recently rather than shorter support slots. I was lucky enough to have a few days off over half term, so I managed to spend some time with my girlfriend, and also my godaughter. Secondly, my drum heroes.. There are so many drummers who have influenced me in some way. When I was growing up, my parents were big Cliff Richard fans so around the age of 11 upwards, I learnt my drumming from drummers like Trevor Spencer and the late Graham Jarvis. This I think was actually a very good thing, as I learnt how to drum FOR the song rather than how to play OVER a song. As I got older I grew more independent in my musical adventures, and bands such as Faith No More and Primus really turned me onto the more alternative side of rock. Mr Bungle was also a band I took great inspiration from - not necessarily that I would copy their ideas, but I really got into their songs and absorbed the wide range of influences THEY showed through their music. I don't claim to be able to play like any of the drummers listed on this page. Rather, I have enjoyed their music immensely and (I hope) have soaked up at least some of their musical messages. Coming right up to date, Porcupine Tree are always on my mp3 player, in the car or on my laptop. Gavin Harrison's drumming is incredible - his tasty grooves mixed with double bass, razor-sharp tom fills and rhythmic illusions galore! And all with a drum sound to die for. Other drummers who have inflluenced me include: Hal Blaine, Ronnie Tutt, Lindsay Jamieson, Liberty Devitto, Mike Bordin, Tim Alexander, Billy Ward, Doug Vipond, Vinnie Colaiuta, Omar Hakim, Will Calhoun, Ben Folds, Stevie Wonder, Thomas Lang, Mikkey Dee, Buddy Rich, Pete Riley, Rich "Doc Spoons" Spooner, Neal Wilkinson, Eddie Christmas, Raymond Pounds, James Gadson, Phil Collins, Abe Laboriel Jnr, Chester Thompson, Terry Bozzio, Ralph Humphrey, Simon Phillips, and Jeff Porcaro. I urge you to check these drummers out! More soon, and thanks for reading :) Simon |
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