I have always wondered why isn't a drummer of any rock band, the most famous member? This question has been in my mind for a long time now. All the greatest bands have had great drummers like Pink Floyd - Nick Mason, Led Zeppelin - John Bonham, The Doors - John Densmore, Nirvana - David Grohl, Metallica - Lars Ulrich and so on. They have been superb performers for their respective bands. But why is it that the members like Jimmy Page, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, James Hetfield etc. have always basked in more limelight than their respective drummers?Is it because their contribution to the band is limited only to the background in most cases? or is it that they are expected to maintain a low profile? I haven't come across any kind of explanation for this tradition. I have always thought that the drummer is equally responsible for making any performance a success or a failure. I cant give you better examples than songs like Time by Pink Floyd and Fade to Black by Metallica. These songs cannot be performed without significant or for that matter any kind of contribution by the drummer.
I have been a fan of Nick Mason, Lars Ulrich and David Grohl. I think they have created some magic in the past. The best example for this is the drum piece played by Nick Mason in their song Echoes from their album Meddle. The same song was pictured in their album, Live at Pompeii. The energy displayed by Nick Mason while playing that extremely vibrant and terrific piece of music in that video is a spectacle. Another example is the song Whole lotta love by Led Zeppelin. Amazing song. Supreme drumming. Spectacular video.
Keeping all this in mind, I think, a drummer is as important as any other member and I think he deserves the same kind of respect. If not more.
2 comments:
hey deepak,
that was some food for thought!!!!!!!!!!!!! iam in complete agreement with you about drummers being out of the mind's eye! Maybe it has something to do with them being in the background and the vocalists and the guitarists being in the foreground. No band is complete without the drummers like you rightly pointed out. Good writing buddy!
I think drummers are quite famous in their own right. As we all know and I think it's more than obvious why the guys doing vocals and lead are the most popular. Most of the times, they write the songs and compose it themselves too. And of course, they take the center stage, when the time comes.
Bassists and Drummers are happy being in the back taking the control. We all, fans, know a song is nothing w/o a good bass line and drums. They do get the recognition they deserve. Only not as much as the vocals and lead.
That being said, I think Keith Moon (The Who) and Bonzo (LZ) were very famous. They still are very famous today.
BTW, did you know David Grohl went on to start another band called Foo Fighters where he does vocals and guitar.
Post a Comment