STEWART COPELAND

Wow, After all these years I thought I was the only person who experienced the panic of having to replace a bass drum head, which happened during The Police's 1981 MSG show. I've just been watching The Who at the Isle of Wight Concert on VH1C and during the jam in My Generation, Keith Moon and his tech can be seen removing and replacing his right bass drum head!

Oh yes!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZch2VZOF5A

It's at 3.15 ish if this link works.

They make it look cool.

I'll admit that I have no experience as a drum tech, especially for a top name act like The Police, but I always sort of assumed that bands carried extra drums for just this kind of situation. Maybe it's just extra snare drums, like when Stewart popped his snare head on live TV and Jeff was there to switch it out. I guess it would take up too much room to haul around an extra bass drum. I do remember an interview in DownBeat magazine where Jeff explained how often he changed snare and tom heads, and that he "rotated" the bass drum head so that the beater would impact a different spot each night. I've seen pictures of Stewart's drums in the 80s and sure enough, you can see a circle of beater dents that go around the black dot of his bass drum head. I guess that old head finally said enough's enough at MSG. Dang, I bet that Imperialstar bass drum had T-rods all the way around making it even more of a pain. Jeff, you earned your money that night: pull snare drum and throne out of the way; disconnect bass drum pedal; loosen and remove 10 T-rods and claws; remove bass drum hoop; remove old head and put new head on; put hoop back on and screw t-rods back into the lugs, etc., etc.

[quote="drummike"]I guess that old head finally said enough's enough at MSG. Dang, I bet that Imperialstar bass drum had T-rods all the way around making it even more of a pain. Jeff, you earned your money that night: pull snare drum and throne out of the way; disconnect bass drum pedal; loosen and remove 10 T-rods and claws; remove bass drum hoop; remove old head and put new head on; put hoop back on and screw t-rods back into the lugs, etc., etc.[/quote]

Sorry, more to follow!

I smell the genesis of a chapter for a future book which details the behind the scenes excitement and drama as a band conquers the world

[quote="conroy"]I smell the genesis of a chapter for a future book which details the behind the scenes excitement and drama as a band conquers the world [/quote]

BINGO! However, I am crafting a tale to post here. I'm not as speedy with the words as I am with the music notes!

[quote="jeffseitz]BINGO! However, I am crafting a tale to post here. I'm not as speedy with the words as I am with the music notes![/quote]

Very much looking forward to it.

jeffseitz wrote:

conroy wrote:I smell the genesis of a chapter for a future book which details the behind the scenes excitement and drama as a band conquers the world

BINGO! However, I am crafting a tale to post here. I'm not as speedy with the words as I am with the music notes!

Sa-weeeeeeet...!

Sir Jeff, perhaps you could elaborate on Stewart's tale about Prince Charles denting his car on Stewart's horse van at the polo field.

Regarding the bass drum head, at least it wasn't as bad as Bill Bruford's whole Simmons kit going dead at MSG right before his big duet with Alan White during a Yes concert.

jeffseitz wrote:

conroy wrote:I smell the genesis of a chapter for a future book which details the behind the scenes excitement and drama as a band conquers the world

BINGO! However, I am crafting a tale to post here. I'm not as speedy with the words as I am with the music notes!

Wooooooooo!!!! Can't wait!!!

+1

This will be awesome!!

Just Do It, Jeff!

Go for it Jeff!!!!

[quote="jeffseitz"]BINGO! However, I am crafting a tale to post here. I'm not as speedy with the words as I am with the music notes![/quote]

Yes please sir Jeff!