Episode 187 - Bobby Elliott

 Bobby Elliott is an iconic English rock drummer best known as the powerhouse driving force behind the classic pop/rock band The Hollies. Widely considered one of the finest and most influential drummers of the British Invasion era, he has remained a continuous member of the band since joining them in 1963.

 * Jazz Beginnings: Growing up in Burnley, Lancashire, Elliott discovered jazz at a young age. He initially emulated big-band legends like Gene Krupa and Chico Hamilton by practicing on makeshift biscuit tins and Cadbury's chocolate boxes with paintbrush handles.

 * Signature Sound: Renowned for his exceptional timing, dynamic tom-tom rolls, and precise fills, his drumming style provided a fiercely energetic yet sophisticated foundation for The Hollies' famous three-part vocal harmonies. * Peer Recognition: He famously won the 1965 Beat Instrumental Drummer Poll—relegating Keith Moon to third place. Renowned players like Cozy Powell, Ian Paice, and Max Weinberg have cited him as a major influence. 

* Hit Machine: Alongside guitarist Tony Hicks, Elliott anchored the band through decades of massive hits, including "Bus Stop", "Just One Look", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)", and "The Air That I Breathe". * Wings Invitation: In 1973, Paul McCartney personally invited Elliott to join his band, Wings. Elliott turned the offer down because his loyalty and "heart" belonged entirely to The Hollies. 

* Hall of Fame: He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. However, he and Hicks skipped the ceremony in New York because they refused to cancel a pre-booked gig at the London Palladium. 

* In late 2020, Elliott published his official autobiography, titled It Ain't Heavy, It's My Story, which offers a firsthand look into his six decades on the road and inside iconic studios like Abbey Road 

Huge thanks to Bobby for taking the time to chat with me about his incredible career, what a truly wonderful gentleman. 

Equally huge thanks to another legend of the British drumming scene and a good friend of the podcast Bob Henrit for introducing Bobby to me.

Percussion Discussion Podcast Episode 186 - Rufus Tiger Taylor
Rufus Tiger Taylor  is a prominent English rock drummer, best known as a permanent member of the British rock band The Darkness. He is the son of legendary Queen drummer Roger Taylor.

The Darkness: Rufus joined the British hard rock group in May 2015,  He has since recorded on several of their albums, including Pinewood Smile and Easter Is Cancelled, and continues to tour with them globally.

Queen + Adam Lambert: He served as a touring percussionist and drummer for Queen + Adam Lambert from 2011 to 2015. During live shows, he famously engaged in "drum battles" with his father on stage.

Foo Fighters Connection: Rufus had a close bond with the late Taylor Hawkins, who described him as a "little brother". Following Hawkins' death in 2022, Rufus performed at the tribute concerts in London and Los Angeles.

I was very honoured to grab a very rare podcast interview with Rufus, what an absolute pleasure to spend 45 minutes with him, we talked about everything from We Will Rock You and Queen through to Jeff Beck, The Darkness and of course Rufus’ friendship with the late great Taylor Hawkins.

i know you are going to enjoy this conversation - please feel free to share it with your fiends.

Rufus, Thanks so much for giving up your time so generously.

Cindy Blackman Santana is a virtuoso American jazz and rock drummer celebrated for her powerful, explosive style and technical versatility. Originally known for her deep roots in jazz fusion and a long tenure as the drummer for Lenny Kravitz (notably appearing in the "Are You Gonna Go My Way" video), she has been the regular touring drummer for Santana since 2016. She is married to guitar legend Carlos Santana, who proposed to her on stage during a concert in July 2010. 

Musical Career and Influence Blackman Santana's career spans over four decades, beginning as a street performer in New York City in the 1980s. 

Jazz Foundations: Heavily influenced by Tony Williams, she has released numerous jazz albums as a bandleader, including the critically acclaimed Another Lifetime (2010). 

Collaborations: She has performed and recorded with a diverse range of artists, such as Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Bill Laswell, Joss Stone, and Joe Henderson.

 Lenny Kravitz Era: She spent roughly 18 years touring and recording with Lenny Kravitz between 1992 and 2015. 

Current Projects: She continues to release solo material, such as the 17-track album Give the Drummer Some (2020), which showcases her skills as both a drummer and vocalist. 

Huge Thanks to Cindy for gicing me some time from her crazy schedule, i really appreciate it!

 Equally huge thanks must go to friend of the podcast and legendary Free/Bad Company Drummer Simon Kirke for putting us in touch, Simon i am eternally grateful for all you do to help.

 www.cindyblackmansantana.com

 www.santana.com

Joining me today is Chris Allan
Chris is a prominent UK-based rock and metal session drummer known for his high-energy style and extensive touring experience. He is currently the drummer for Ronnie Romero, Marco Mendoza and performs in the popular theatre show The Story of Guitar Heroes. 

Career Highlights
* Ronnie Romero Band: Currently touring and recording with the acclaimed rock vocalist, including work on the album Backbone.
* Marco Mendoza: 
* The Story of Guitar Heroes: Performs extensively in UK theatres, showcasing drumming styles that have shaped rock history.
* Malefice: Spent four years (2010–2014) as the drummer for this Metal Blade Records outfit, touring with heavyweights like Anthrax, Testament, and Arch Enemy.
* Session Work: Has recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios and contributed drums to TV broadcasts including Radio 1 and the UEFA Champions League.
* Tributes: A lifelong fan of Cozy Powell, Chris performed a tribute solo at Powell's memorial plaque unveiling in 2016 also performing at the last Cozy Powell Birthday Bash

Equipment and Endorsements
Chris is an official artist for several major industry brands, often featuring them in his studio and live setups: 
* Cymbals: Paiste Artist, frequently using the 2002 and Formula 602 series.
* Drums: Pearl Drums.
* Drumheads & Sticks: Endorsed by Remo and Vic Firth. 

www.chrisallandrums.com

Huge thanks to Chris for taking the time to do this interview.

Bob Henrit is a prominent English rock drummer best known for his long-term memberships in the bands Argent and The Kinks 

* Early Years: He first gained attention in the 1960s with The Roulettes, who served as the backing band for singer Adam Faith.

 * Argent (1969–1976): As a founding member, he played on hits like "Hold Your Head Up" and remained with the group until they disbanded.

 * The Kinks (1984–1996): Henrit replaced original drummer Mick Avory and performed with the band until their split in the mid-90s. 

* Session Work: He has a prolific session history, contributing to tracks such as Unit 4 + 2's "Concrete and Clay" and working with artists like Roger Daltrey and Dave Davies.

  * Author & Historian: In 2013, he published his autobiography, Banging On, and has written extensively for music publications like International Musician.

 * Business: He owned Henrit's Drum Store in London, a famous hub frequented by legendary drummers including Ringo Starr and Keith Moon. 

* Recent Years: Henrit has been open about his Parkinson's disease diagnosis, discussing how he manages the condition while staying active in the music community. 

 Bob is without doubt one of my favourite people and a fabulous drummer, he has so many remarkable stories to share and is always happy to do so! if you are lucky enough to see Bob at a drum show or event go and have a chat with him, you won’t regret it! Thanks for your time Bob!

Joining me for this episode is Vicky O'Neon. 

Vicky O'Neon is an award-winning session drummer, percussionist, and educator originally from Finland and currently based in the UK. She is widely recognised for her high-energy performances and her extensive work as the touring drummer and percussionist for American pop star Anastacia. 

* Collaborations: Vicky has worked with legendary artists such as Brian May (Queen), Hans Zimmer, Nile Rodgers, and Clean Bandit. 

* TV Appearances: She is a member of the house band for the American TV show Name That Tune. 

* Technology Integration: A specialist in Ableton Live, she often incorporates electronic loops and hybrid drumming setups into her live sets and masterclasses.  Education

 * Academic Background: She graduated with a BMus (Hons) in Popular Music Performance from BIMM London (formerly Tech Music School), where she received the "Top Overall Drummer Award". 

* Social Impact: Vicky is a co-founder of the non-profits Girls Rock London and Rock Donna, which aim to empower girls and gender non-conforming individuals through music education. 

* Online Content: She created the educational YouTube series Drumming Through The Decades, exploring the history of female-identifying drummers. 

 Huge thanks to Vicky for finding time in her busy schedule to chat. 

www.vickyoneon.com

Episode 181 - -Brandon Toews

 Brandon is a professional drummer, author, and educator best known as the Content Director and on-camera host for Drumeo, the world's leading online drum education platform. Drumeo Host & Producer: Since 2014, he has produced and hosted popular series like "Hears For The First Time" and "Genius Of," where he analyzes the styles of legendary drummers.

 Author: He is the author of The Drummer’s Toolbox and co-author of The Best Beginner Drum Book.

 Educator: Beyond digital content, he is a seasoned educator who has taught thousands of students through Drumeo and private lessons. 

Performer: He performs internationally, including a 2025 appearance at the UK Drum Show. Education: He holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music from MacEwan University. 

Influences: His playing style is influenced by a diverse range of drummers, from classic rock legends like Neil Peart to modern técnicos like Matt Garstka and Larnell Lewis.

 Gear Endorsements: He is an official artist for Gretsch Drums, Istanbul Cymbals, Vater Percussion, and Evans Drumheads. 

Huge thanks to Brandon for giving up his lunch hour at Drumeo to chat to me! much appreciated. 

www.drumeo.com

Percussion Discussion Podcast - Episode 180 - Derek Roddy

Derek Roddy is a world-renowned American drummer and multi-instrumentalist, widely celebrated for his pioneering role in extreme metal drumming. Known by the nickname "One Take" for his legendary ability to record complex tracks in a single attempt, he is a primary authority on speed and precision in the death metal community. 

Hate Eternal & Nile: Roddy gained international fame as the powerhouse behind Hate Eternal and has performed or recorded with other titan acts like Nile, Malevolent Creation, and Today Is the Day.

Serpents Rise: In 2007, he founded this instrumental extreme metal project to explore obscure sounds and complex percussion without the constraints of traditional metal vocals.

Anthrax - Derek finds himself standing in for Charlie Benante on the dates that he couldn’t make due to be on tour with Pantera.

Dream Theater Audition: In 2010, he was one of seven elite drummers chosen to audition for the vacancy left by Mike Portnoy.

He continues to be prolific, currently performing with bands such as Isotropy, Imperishable, and The Deboning Method. 

A prolific clinician and educator, Roddy has produced definitive resources for modern drummers: 
* Blast Beats Evolved: A comprehensive instructional DVD focusing on the mechanics of blast beats and conditioning for speed.
* Playing With Your Drums: An enlightening programme that addresses ergonomics, gear setup, and positioning for all drumming styles.
* Technique Innovations: He is famous for his specific double bass technique and "finger-on-top" snare muting technique to enhance sound clarity during fast

Joining me today is Bob Knight.

 Bob Knight is a prolific London-based session drummer, musical director, and "fixer" who has worked with some of the biggest names in the international music scene for over two decades. 

Bob Knight - Session Drummer.

 A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music's jazz performance course, Knight is widely recognized for his versatility across live performances, studio recordings, and television shows. His extensive list of high-profile collaborations includes:

 Pop & Soul: CeeLo Green, Jason Derulo, Nicole Scherzinger, and Rita Ora.

 Rock & Folk: The Pogues, James Taylor, and Nik Kershaw. 

Jazz & Standards: Alison Moyet and Rumer.

 Musical Directing and "Fixing" In addition to playing drums, Knight is the founder and director of BEK Music, a agency that supplies musicians for major recording projects, tours, and TV/radio promotions. He often serves as a Musical Director (MD) and a "fixer"—a person responsible for sourcing and managing the right musicians for specific high-level gigs. 

Huge thanks to Bob for giving us a fascinating insight to his crazy busy career (at least a part of it, we can talk about his role as "fixer" next time.)

Joining me today is Ross Garfield AKA The Drum Doctor! 

Drum Doctors LLC , owned by Ross Garfield (aka "The Drum Doctor"), is a premier drum service and rental company in the Los Angeles area known for providing expert tuning and vintage drum rentals for countless platinum-selling albums and major artists. 

Known for their expertise in achieving specific, high-quality drum sounds, Ross Garfield and his team have worked with artists like Metallica, Nirvana, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Michael Jackson. 

Join Ross and myself for a very rare podcast appearance where Ross tells us all about his amazing career so far from his humble beginnings through to working with the late great Jeff Porcaro throught to supplying the now legendary snare drum The bell brass drum nicknamed " The Terminator" that has been heard on so many legendary recordings including Nirvanas classic album Nevermind and also tells us how he supplied set up and tuned the Gretsch set to Metallica to record the iconic Black album featuring the single Enter Sandman. 

huge thanks to Ross for this incredible conversation. 

please checkout the Drum Doctors Website www.drumdoctors.com