Come off it or should I say, pull the other one!
A masked musician who plays gravity defying solos has beaten stars such as Phil Collins and Dave Grohl, to be named the greatest drummer of the past 25 years.
The top 10:
01. Joey Jordison (Slipknot, Rob Zombie)
02. Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre)
03. Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)
04. Neil Peart (Rush)
05. Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Them Crooked Vultures)
06. Travis Barker (Blink-182, Transplants)
07. Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden)
08. Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa, Sting, Jeff Beck)
09. Phil Collins (Genesis)
10. Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chickenfoot)
Is there no one around today who heard of Gene Krupa? He was one of the most influential drummers of the 20th century, when it came to developing the drum kit and he made history in 1920s as the first kit drummer ever to record using a bass drum pedal. The methodology for which, was published in 1938 and immediately became the standard. He also invented the rim shot on the snare drum.
Gene Krupa by the 1930s was using Slingerland drums and at his urging, tom-toms were developed with tuneable heads. These immediately assumed importance in virtually every drummer’s kit. He developed cymbal techniques too, which were standardised and in collaboration with Zildjian standardized the use of various cymbals, crash cymbals, splash cymbals, pang cymbals, ride cymbals and the swish.
In a Warner Brothers cartoon, a version of Krupa’s drumming was used in an impromptu jam session. While in 1937 recording of Louis Prima's ‘Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)’ by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra featured Krupa on drums and entered the Grammy Hall of Fame.
By the 1970s, Krupa had become the first drummer in the Modern, Hall of Fame. That’s just a taster of the influence Gene Krupa had on modern day drumming and he had no need of silly gimmicks like tilting stages and lighting affects or silly masks.
By the 1970s, Krupa had become the first drummer in the Modern, Hall of Fame. That’s just a taster of the influence Gene Krupa had on modern day drumming and he had no need of silly gimmicks like tilting stages and lighting affects or silly masks.
Gene Krupa was a giant of the drumming world and his influence lingers, as people today try to be outrageous, just for the hell of it. Probably to cover up for a lack of the talent that drove Gene Krupa to the pinnacle.
On a personal note:
Back in the 1960s wandering around near Times Square, I stood on the sidewalk and watched barnstorming performance by Gene Krupa on a raised dais, through the open frontage of a bar, which is as vivid to me today as it was that July evening fifty odd years ago.
Where would all these modern day drumming fanatics be today, were it not for this giant of a man?
Watch this space, I'll be back!
Tom.
No comments:
Post a Comment