Give the Drummer Some
What role do drums play in Rock? Should that be keeping the beat or leading from the front? Who are some of the greatest drummers in rock music? The beat goes on as Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot focus on the contributions of drummers to rock music with drummer Joe Wong. Wong also hosts a podcast on drummers called The Trap Set. There’s also an interview with Bernard Purdie.
Joe Wong
The beat goes on as Jim and Greg focus on the role of drummers in rock music with drummer Joe Wong. Wong also hosts a podcast on drummers called The Trap Set. They also pick some of their favorite drummers and favorite drum beats in rock.
Favorite Drum Moments in Rock
Jim and Greg share some of their favorite drummers as well as some notable drum fills, beats and more:
Greg
- Martin Atkins, "Under the House" by Public Image Ltd.
- Janet Weiss, "Youth Decay" by Sleater-Kinney
- Clyde Stubblefield, "I Got the Feelin’" by James Brown
Jim
- Terry Chambers, "Senses Working Overtime" by XTC
- John Bonham "When the Levy Breaks" by Led Zeppelin
- Charlie Watts "Honky Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones
Bernard Purdie
Bernard Purdie was one of the most prolific session drummers of the 1960s and '70s. His distinctive style is known as the “Purdie Shuffle.” Former Sound Opinions producer Ayana Contreras spoke with Purdie about his career and contributions to popular music.
Featured Songs:
- The Beatles, "Come Together," Abbey Road, Apple, 1969
- The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
- James Brown, "Funky Drummer," Funky Drummer (single), King, 1970
- Wild Flag, "Romance," Wild Flag, Merge, 2011
- Little Richard And His Band, "Heeby-Jeebies," She's Got It (single), Specialty, 1956
- Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean," Thriller, Epic, 1982
- Earth Wind and Fire, "Can't Hide Love," Gratitude, Columbia, 1975
- Rush, "Tom Sawyer," Moving Pictures, Mercury, 1981
- Elvin Jones, "Agappe Love," Poly-Currents, Blue Note, 1970
- The Rolling Stones, "Paint It Black," Paint It Black (single), Decca, 1966
- Battles, "Atlas," Mirrored, Warp, 2007
- Can, "Paperhouse," Tago Mago, United Artists, 1971
- The Who, "Young Man Blues," Live at Leeds, Decca, 1970
- The Who, "I Can See For Miles," I Can See For Miles (single), Track, 1967
- Dennis Coffey, "Scorpio," Evolution, Sussex, 1971
- Queen, "Fat Bottomed Girls," Jazz, EMI, 1978
- Violent Femmes, "Blister In the Sun," Blister in the Sun (single), Slash, 1983
- Phil Collins, "In The Air Tonight," Face Value, Virgin, 1981
- Fela Kuti, "Zombie," Zombie, Coconut, 1976
- Aretha Franklin, "Rock Steady," Rock Steady (single), Atlantic, 1971
- Led Zeppelin, "Rock and Roll," Led Zepplin IV, Atlantic, 1971
- Led Zeppelin, "Dazed and Confused," Led Zeppelin, Atlantic, 1969
- Led Zeppelin, "Stairway To Heaven," Led Zepplin IV, Atlantic, 1971
- Public Image Ltd., "Under the House," The Flowers of Romance, Virgin, 1981
- Led Zeppelin, "When the Levee Breaks," Led Zeppelin IV, Atlantic, 1971
- Sleater-Kinney, "Youth Decay," All Hands on the Bad One, Kill Rock Stars, 2000
- XTC, "Senses Working Overtime," English Settlement, Virgin, 1982
- James Brown, "I Got the Feelin'," I Got the Feelin', King, 1968
- Rolling Stones, "Honky Tonk Woman," Honky Tonk Woman (Single), Decca, 1969
- The Stairsteps, "O-o-h Child," O-o-h Child (single), Buddah, 1970
- Doris Troy, "Just One Look," Just One Look (single), Atlantic, 1963
- Gil Scott-Heron, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Flying Dutchman, 1974
- The Exciters, "Tell Him," Tell Him (single), United Artists, 1962
- Melvin Bliss, "Synthetic Substitution," Reward (single), Sunburst, 1973
- Public Enemy, "Don't Believe The Hype," It Takes a Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Def Jam, 1988
- Ultra Magnetic M.C.s, "Ego Trippin'," Ego Trippin' (single), Next Plateau, 1986
- Naughty By Nature, "O.P.P. (instrumental version)," O.P.P. (single), Tommy Boy, 1991
- EPMD, "I'm Housin'," Strictly Business, Fresh, 1988
- Wale, "Lacefrontin'," The Eleven One Eleven Theory, Maybach Music, 2011
- Steely Dan, "Home At Last," Aja, ABC, 1977
- The MC5, "Kick Out the Jams," Kick Out the Jams, Elektra, 1969
Dear Listeners,
For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!