February 16, 2024

Give the Drummer Some

What role do drums play in Rock? Should that be keeping the beat or leading from the front? Who are some of the greatest drummers in rock music? The beat goes on as Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot focus on the contributions of drummers to rock music with drummer Joe Wong. Wong also hosts a podcast on drummers called The Trap Set. There’s also an interview with Bernard Purdie.

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Joe Wong

The beat goes on as Jim and Greg focus on the role of drummers in rock music with drummer Joe Wong. Wong also hosts a podcast on drummers called The Trap Set. They also pick some of their favorite drummers and favorite drum beats in rock.

Favorite Drum Moments in Rock

Jim and Greg share some of their favorite drummers as well as some notable drum fills, beats and more:

Greg

Martin Atkins, "Under the House" by Public Image Ltd.
Janet Weiss, "Youth Decay" by Sleater-Kinney
Clyde Stubblefield, "I Got the Feelin’" by James Brown

Jim

Terry Chambers, "Senses Working Overtime" by XTC
John Bonham "When the Levy Breaks" by Led Zeppelin
Charlie Watts "Honky Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones

Bernard Purdie

Bernard Purdie was one of the most prolific session drummers of the 1960s and '70s. His distinctive style is known as the “Purdie Shuffle.” Former Sound Opinions producer Ayana Contreras spoke with Purdie about his career and contributions to popular music.

Featured Songs:

The Beatles, "Come Together," Abbey Road, Apple, 1969
The Beatles, "With A Little Help From My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
James Brown, "Funky Drummer," Funky Drummer (single), King, 1970
Wild Flag, "Romance," Wild Flag, Merge, 2011
Little Richard And His Band, "Heeby-Jeebies," She's Got It (single), Specialty, 1956
Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean," Thriller, Epic, 1982
Earth Wind and Fire, "Can't Hide Love," Gratitude, Columbia, 1975
Rush, "Tom Sawyer," Moving Pictures, Mercury, 1981
Elvin Jones, "Agappe Love," Poly-Currents, Blue Note, 1970
The Rolling Stones, "Paint It Black," Paint It Black (single), Decca, 1966
Battles, "Atlas," Mirrored, Warp, 2007
Can, "Paperhouse," Tago Mago, United Artists, 1971
The Who, "Young Man Blues," Live at Leeds, Decca, 1970
The Who, "I Can See For Miles," I Can See For Miles (single), Track, 1967
Dennis Coffey, "Scorpio," Evolution, Sussex, 1971
Queen, "Fat Bottomed Girls," Jazz, EMI, 1978
Violent Femmes, "Blister In the Sun," Blister in the Sun (single), Slash, 1983
Phil Collins, "In The Air Tonight," Face Value, Virgin, 1981
Fela Kuti, "Zombie," Zombie, Coconut, 1976
Aretha Franklin, "Rock Steady," Rock Steady (single), Atlantic, 1971
Led Zeppelin, "Rock and Roll," Led Zepplin IV, Atlantic, 1971
Led Zeppelin, "Dazed and Confused," Led Zeppelin, Atlantic, 1969
Led Zeppelin, "Stairway To Heaven," Led Zepplin IV, Atlantic, 1971
Public Image Ltd., "Under the House," The Flowers of Romance, Virgin, 1981
Led Zeppelin, "When the Levee Breaks," Led Zeppelin IV, Atlantic, 1971
Sleater-Kinney, "Youth Decay," All Hands on the Bad One, Kill Rock Stars, 2000
XTC, "Senses Working Overtime," English Settlement, Virgin, 1982
James Brown, "I Got the Feelin'," I Got the Feelin', King, 1968
Rolling Stones, "Honky Tonk Woman," Honky Tonk Woman (Single), Decca, 1969
The Stairsteps, "O-o-h Child," O-o-h Child (single), Buddah, 1970
Doris Troy, "Just One Look," Just One Look (single), Atlantic, 1963
Gil Scott-Heron, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Flying Dutchman, 1974
The Exciters, "Tell Him," Tell Him (single), United Artists, 1962
Melvin Bliss, "Synthetic Substitution," Reward (single), Sunburst, 1973
Public Enemy, "Don't Believe The Hype," It Takes a Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back, Def Jam, 1988
Ultra Magnetic M.C.s, "Ego Trippin'," Ego Trippin' (single), Next Plateau, 1986
Naughty By Nature, "O.P.P. (instrumental version)," O.P.P. (single), Tommy Boy, 1991
EPMD, "I'm Housin'," Strictly Business, Fresh, 1988
Wale, "Lacefrontin'," The Eleven One Eleven Theory, Maybach Music, 2011
Steely Dan, "Home At Last," Aja, ABC, 1977
The MC5, "Kick Out the Jams," Kick Out the Jams, Elektra, 1969

Dear Listeners,

For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!

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