Thanks for all your input everyone....these sessions Stewart did with Peter really intrigue me, as I agree with you Mercury Rising in that Mr. Gabriel is a very top tier artist. I only regret that it takes him 7-8 years to put out an album. But then, if he didn't take that long his work wouldn't be the sonic bliss that it is.
I just busted out my copy of So to take a closer listen to the album version of Big Time, and I have to say that given what I'm hearing with slight tonal variations in the snare, and with what the liner notes that the Equalizer noted earlier, that this IS indeed Stewart on the drums here. What I'm hearing sounds like he played the kick, snare, and hats and in addition to that there is some programming going on as well.
Let me know what you think...
Also of interest, I googled "drumstick bass", and ran into a forum discussion with Kevin Killen who is an Engineer/Producer/Mixer that worked on the So sessions. Some of his posts that might interst the Stewart Copeland forum are as follows:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/q-kevin- ... -time.html
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/q-kevin- ... -hats.html
If you're into audio engineering in any way, check out the entire Q&A forum with this guy. His credentials are impeccable, working with folks from Elvis Costello, to U2, & the Commitments....lots of other thread in regards to his involvement with So as well...
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/q-kevin-killen/
Nice website name too BTW!!