Tony's drum technique

[pjk47]

Here's the hard question (I think) - where did Tony get his "dum didi dum dum" riff from - I don't recall ever hearing it before the Shads. Pete47.

[JimN]

Here's the hard question (I think) - where did Tony get his "dum didi dum dum" riff from - I don't recall ever hearing it before the Shads. Pete47.

Taking that literally, it sounds like the first half of the drum figure known almost universally as the "Bo Diddley Beat". Although Bo "invented" it, it was also used by others, including Johnny Otis.

So... will you take my assurance that the "dum didid dum dum" figure came from... Bo Diddley and Johnny Otis (not to mention Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison, who used it on Not Fade Away in 1958)?

HTH,

JN

PS: The best use of the Bo Diddley Beat I ever heard was on the record Game Of Love by Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (1965).

[pjk47]

Thanks for the info Jim. I've always rated WF & Mindbenders very highly - especially the outstanding drummer. I just listened to Apache without rhythm guitar on Sound Files - it really lifted the lid for me on the drumming. I was amazed at the inventive bass drum work. Pete 47.

[pjk47]

Oh, and yes, I accept your assurance without question - Bo D was brilliant wasn't he! And Otis of course. Lot of special performers in those days. Pete.

[pjk47]

I assume Tony developed his technique as a regular drummer at the 2I's. Does anyone know what age he started at the 2I's. Also are there any recordings of Tony's playing before he joined the Drifters? Pete J K.

[roninnes]

If memory serves me he was 16 when he started

Ron

[Derek Mowbray]

Tony would have only been fifteen when he joined The Drifters in early 1959,I think that he played drums for The Vipers in 1958 along with Jet Harris,he could be on Summertime Blues and the other side Liverpool Blues.

[pjk47]

Derek - do you have/know of any recordings of the Vipers? Cheers, Pete JK.

[JimN]

Tony would have only been fifteen when he joined The Drifters in early 1959,I think that he played drums for The Vipers in 1958 along with Jet Harris,he could be on Summertime Blues and the other side Liverpool Blues.

The official version is that Jet and Tony are on the Vipers' recordings of Liverpool Blues and Summertime Blues. These were the duo's first commercial recording sessions and as important to the history of The Shadows as the Chesternuts' Teenage Love and Jean Dorothy.

Both tracks are newly available on a very reasonably-priced double-CD of The Vipers' complete catalogue:

"Don't You Rock Me Daddy-O" - The Vipers Skiffle Group - CDx2
DeltaLeisure/Performance 38306 (UK; 2009).

See: http://www.deltaleisuregroup.co.uk

http://www.deltamusic.co.uk/cd-product-details.php?delta_product_id=2015&delta_search=Vipers&type=1

JN

{who suspects that Delta Leisure are taking advantage of the UK's fifty-year copyright expiry law in issuing that and other CDs in their roster)

[dave robinson]

I don't understand the technical side of drumming, but I know what is good and what isn't. Tony was absolutely exceptional at the tender age of 16, as was Brian Bennett. It may be because rock & roll was in it's infancy here in Britain and the jazz and big band influences are part of their make up.