Spike Webb has been a drummer for more than four decades, most notably with Sid Sideboard and the Chairs in the late 1970s. He was also a copywriter in advertising for 25 years, working for top agencies such as J Walter Thompson, Proximity London, and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Mad Bad and Dangerous

The Book of Drummers’ Tales

By Spike Webb

John Blake Publishing Ltd

Copyright © 2010 Spike Webb
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-84454-984-9

Contents

Title Page,
Dedication,
Contributors,
Acknowledgements,
Introduction,
SECTION 1 ALL RIGHT MATE?,
SECTION 2 YOU’VE GOT TO BE CRAZY,
SECTION 3 DANGER,
SECTION 4 MONSTROUS BEHAVIOUR,
SECTION 5 NAUGHTY!,
SECTION 6 UP TO MISCHIEF,
SECTION 7 IT’S JUST A SCRATCH!,
SECTION 8 EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED,
SECTION 9 A COMPLICATED BUSINESS,
SECTION 10 SEX, DRUGS AND ROCK ‘N’ ROLL,
SECTION 11 NATURE’S CALL,
SECTION 12 TECHNICAL HITCH,
SECTION 13 SOMETHING STUPID,
SECTION 14 FAME,
SECTION 15 THE CODA CLUB,
SECTION 16 THERAPY,
Copyright,

CHAPTER 1

ALL RIGHT MATE?

Drummers Are Sound …

Drummers are good blokes. Or good girls. At least, they are always nice to each other. It’s a bit like a kind of fraternity. We tend to help each other out. For example, we often share drum sets at live jam sessions. This is partly to do with practicality, as it takes too long to dismantle and erect different drum kits every time someone else takes over. But this sharing procedure also seems to be accompanied by an unspoken, mutual respect. Something which drummers tend to nurture for one another in a much broader sense …

Home James

One of the founders of Status Quo, John Coghlan played drums on some of the best rock singles of the ’70s. His drumming was the backbone of all-time powerhouse greats that filled auditoriums like the Hammersmith Odeon with mops of flying hair and dandruff. It also inspired the famous bikers’ headbanging dance. With six hit singles and seven gold albums behind him, John now plays at his leisure with his own band, John Coghlan’s Quo.

Unassuming and extremely approachable, this 24-carat rock legend was helping me prop up the bar in his local village pub in the Cotswolds when he recalled a brief incident a few years ago at the famous racetrack at Donington. …

The year is 2004 and I’ve just been watching my mate Nick Mason (drummer with Pink Floyd) racing around the track at Donington. He’s a pretty impressive racing driver, that having been a passion of his for many years.

The after-race party is about to start and I am at the bar in the marquee, having set my drum kit up on stage. John Coghlan’s Quo are playing tonight, plus an assortment of other notable musicians. Once again, it seems to have fallen to me to do the honours and provide the drum kit, but even though I’ve never been mad keen to lend the kit out, it’s better than all that changing over nonsense.

After a while, Nick comes up for a chat.

‘Hi John, how’s it going? When’s the gig kicking off?’

‘About an hour I reckon …’

‘I wouldn’t mind doing a bit – OK if I use your kit? I know it always seems to be you that gets lumbered …’

‘Yeah, no problem …’

I spend the next hour or so mixing with various old musician mates at the bar. Then suddenly Nick taps me on the shoulder.

‘Sorry mate, thanks anyway but it looks like I’ve gotta go!’

‘Oh, how come?’

‘I’d forgotten it’s going to be dark in about half an hour and my driver prefers not to take me home in the dark.’

‘OK, no probs! See you next time.’

Nick leaves the marquee and I get back to my mates, but something strikes me as a bit odd. Why would a professional driver have a problem taking Nick home in the dark? Oh, well, it takes all sorts I suppose.

A