I didnt know until later. I have no idea. Not too many of them sing even backing vocals. Chester Thompson Drum cam - Inside Out (live 1990) - YouTube Also note that Onion Head didn't do much writting on the good Genesis LPs like: Foxtrot, Trespass, Selling England, Lamb, Nursery, Trick of the tail, EWnd and Wuthering. But after reading the (excellent) interview, I have to say I'm quite surprised at how Chester was treated by the guys through the years. The worst thing you could do in Weather Report was play the exact same thing you played the night before. Phil Collins / Chester Thompson (Genesis) Drum Duet 1980 - 84 - YouTube 0:00 / 6:04 Phil Collins / Chester Thompson (Genesis) Drum Duet 1980 - 84 Seven Stones 2.15K subscribers Subscribe 1.5K. We didnt do a lot of shows, but at the very last show [at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 1st, 2010], he wasnt the happiest hed ever been. The peak of Genesis on a commercial level was the Invisible Touch period. But with Phil, youre one of a cast of thousands. Some info from Hugh Fielders book:In 1965 Ant Phillips formed the band Anon with Richard Macphail, Rivers Job, Rob Tyrrell & Mike Rutherford. It was a different situation in Chicago. It was just there. It was really brilliant. Why didn't Chester Thompson get the drum gig after Collins quit Genesis note: They chose instead to record with drummers Nir Zidkyahu and Nick DVirgilio. To be honest, the problem started with all the band specially because many people believe (I also do) that the relation between Tony and Steve wasn't good since he recorded Voyage (Tony was clear, no solo projects, and Steve didn't invited him but calling Mike and Phil), plus the fact that Tony was suposed to be the main songwritter, but Steve wanted to fight this position with him. Phil Ehart: owner of the name "Kansas", who also worked as their manager sometimes, he is not one of the main composers in the band. I enjoyed it though. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. So I continue quite off topic! Phil helped survive Genesis. This was so clear that inSeconfsOutduring the mixture they recorded guitar parts withan incredibly low volume. He wasnt a fan of the music. I believe I saw him on that same clinic tour 84-85 in NJ. PHIL COLLINS: ON AMERICAN DRUMMER CHESTER THOMPSON DRUMMING - YouTube I had a conversation with Mike Rutherford, not knowing what they were going to be doing. Why dont you come and jam with the band? I said, Man, Id love to, but I dont really want to audition.. After I left, Robin got really ticked at me. The only person I didnt see was probably Otis Redding. At least 50% of the already mentioned are composers also, and yes there are few drummers who are lead singers, because they would need to hire another musician to replace them while singing. It was going to be South America too. You must log in or register to reply here. The first few stadiums, its like, Oh, my goodness! And then it starts feeling normal. Mike Portnoy, Lars Ulrich: I don`t know nothing about them. The band was really good. I still remember that. Oh, goodness. It was the biggest adjustment Ive ever had to make, musically and culturally. Behind a login thing. I started playing clubs at 13. I didnt see Phils tour. I got back to L.A. and I called them up and said, When are we going back in the studio? They were like, Well, you dont need to go back in. I was like, Whats going on here?. What are you talking about?. It was really disturbing because for the first two weeks. Thanks guys and gals for more than one million views and almost 6000 likes. That stuff smokes. . I started thinking, Now what did I do? And so I kind of froze. I like ballads like Lucky Man, Still you Turn me On, Redezvous 6:02, Soon, Lonely Wind, July Morning, Carpet Crawlers, and a lot more. When my mom showed me that letter I wrote in fourth grade where I had outlined I hadnt done everything in that letter, but so much of it had already happened it kind of blew me away. But he still had that American stuff. It sounds like ever thing thing is scripted and being read by a bad actor. In this 2014. I always thought he was a pretty good friend to me. I dont know when he slept. At the very beginning, did they make it clear that youd be playing on the tours but not the albums, because Phil does all his own drumming? Weve been swapping ideas back and forth, writing and tracking. For lack of a better word, they are really, really British. And then I ended up doing Phils Motown thing and that didnt go well. There was quite a bit of Louis Jordan. I was playing with adults. It was really interesting because I never considered that I might learn to play other instruments. The Edge Calls it a Quantum Leap Forward, Neil Young and Stephen Stills Honor David Crosby, Revive Buffalo Springfield at Light Up The Blues, You Are Grimes Now: Inside Music's Weird AI Future, Pharrells Something in the Water Fest Cancels Final Day Due to Severe Weather, Stagecoach: Kane Brown Breaks Mental Health Stigma With 'Memory,' Talks Depression, Kiss Paul Stanley Has 'Thoughts' About Parents Who Support Kids Gender Identities, Kanye West Fallout Sparks Class Action Lawsuit Against Adidas, Roy Wood Jr. Thats where I started. Phil Collins (onion head) <-nickname), is a great drummer and that is where i believed he should have stayed. They limit the amount of times you can access their site. [Ed. It ended up being a little awkward since they were going to be down there for seven weeks. Thank you, I agree with you about the intelligent debate and even if we disagree about somethings in the end its down to a matter of opinons. He spent 30 years in Genesis as a touring drummer, but he had a falling out with Phil Collins in 2010 and they haven't spoken since, "Culturally, we were on opposite sides of the world," says Chester Thompson of touring with Genesis. So, he had to be at the front of the stage. I didnt really know what was happening in the background. I love the Tokyo Tapes show you did with Steve Hackett and all the prog guys in 1996. I mean, as a matter of fact, the seed got planted on Phils tour at the end of 2005. Im just really enjoying life. Im not 100 percent involved, but its really interesting, the stuff that happens here. Chester Thompson - IMDb George shared with me that [violinist] Jean-Luc [Ponty] didnt enjoy it so much because he couldnt stand being silly. Hed recently wrapped up stints with Frank Zappa and Weather Report that lasted about two years each, and Genesis previous touring drummer, Bill Bruford, bailed after just four months on the road. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History He was already going on tour in summers between school. I want to go back here and talk about your life. The difference being I wasnt so much into the English drummers, like Keith Moon, and he was. How was Frank as a bandleader? The news that he left didnt come out until 1996 or so. But back to the point, the investment in this album was big, Bruford, Levin, Wetton, Ian Mc'Donnald, Julian Colbeck, etc are not cheap, and he knew from thestartthis album would never be a hit. He's a good drummer. Id always be checking out the rhythm section because some of them brought their own rhythm section. How did he know you? I don't think Phil Collins can be fully blamed for the change of direction. We always opened and usually left afterwards, though Carlos sometimes came out with Bob and I stayed to watch two or three times. The guys work ethic he just worked. I actually kind of felt bad for him, he was trying to impart what it takes to be a working drummer (discussing things like getting no sleep with Zappa, his approach to odd times, prepping for touring, being versed in many styles, reading etc..) part of the audience was peppering him with Genesis questions like "what is Phil Collins like?," and the other half just wanted to hear some blazing solo.. odd crowd. He was a virtuoso, no question, but most of his stuff was straight 16ths. He ended up with a recording contract. Say It Right, Aug 16, 2018 #152 The_Windmill likes this. He's probably one of the nicest, most down-to-earth guys in music (and that should be a good thing). Why? Theyve got a studio. After 20 years, it was enough. And Id known Daryl for years. At one point, he toured with us. Man, what an education to see all those people in their prime. but it was some kind of fight for the power and Tony won. Hes sort of a quiet guy. And I dont want to ever only play one thing. Carmine Appice, Cozy Powell: composers as soloists, mainly. Nothing against Phil's son, I'm sure he's good, but why hasn't anyone said anything about Chester? The Cover Looks Like An portrait Onion. As it turned out, I wound up doing a little, brief drum-clinic tour down there in Australia. We picked what we wanted from them and made something new. If you know the history, Joe [Zawinul] and Wayne [Shorter] were real good friends. The very first one, and I had to beg my older brother to take me, was Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. He actually went over everything and duplicated it, put everything down twice. 1; 2; 3; . He was a phenomenal player oh, my goodness. The whole interview is a really good read. I worked with him during a really happy period in his life. He had proven to be really close friends with those guys and I never related culturally, so there was always this gap between us. I was okay one-on-one, but they speak much, much faster than we do. I knowsome people are not going to like my commentaries . Turns out it was purely a union thing. He was a drummer deep down in his very soul, one that would take on occasional backing vocal or songwriting duties only if he had to. How about if I come in and play some percussion along with Alex [Acua]? But it was uncomfortable. I did not write this, but it always makes me laugh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7_vNpVXubA, What happened from there? I dont know details of what happened with that, but I think Peter was busy putting something else together. How was that? They were in town and Alphonso said, The guys are in town. In fact, most of the names of the drummers appear almost always at the end of the credits in the album covers. It is an impressing line up. Hed then go off to a studio and work on whatever he had in the can. But since I had been in his band and on the road so much, I hadnt had time to do any networking or meet many people in L.A. (I am totally serious, the tamborine dance is amazing), Phil Colinskilled my friends younger brother, I saw him do it i swear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im sure if you spent time with him one-on-one it would be different. When Phil Collins moved from the drum kit to the front of the stage in 1976, Genesis hired former Yes drummer Bill Bruford to join them on tour. Yeah. Im always very aware of whats going on. But at this point Id be curious to see it. But doing it was really fun. Just like Dean Martin or Perry Como were passe by the 70s prog was out of fashion in the late 80s and I don't think anyone could really change that. I could not follow a single conversation. Ive already played stuff for the guys. So Phil did pop some good , some average and some contrived but all big selling. You could hear that it was something special. A lot of well-known names. But there was always a second kit near him, and. Right. The studio had tanks in the studio since they dealt with it all the time. Not too many of them sing even backing vocals, not too many of them are composers, not too many of them become famous as soloists, not too many of them are very good lead singers. Hed teach me how to play along with albums and where to put the fill and how to sing along with the melody and not get lost in the solos and how to make it swing. yet (see the forest thru the trees) don't miss the interesting and insightful drum life Chester has led. They all put in something that made their music special. It's just horrible. I might. The difference being I wasnt so much into the English drummers, like Keith Moon, and he was. Don Henley: another drummer who is lead singer, and main writter with guitarist Glen Frey, and he also sings ballads without being "hated" as Collins is. Ill get back to you. Sure enough, he got back and said, You were right. I go down there and jam with the band. But I was fortunate. [Laughs] Not very much. She scored one of Spike Lees movie. Phil jokingly said, Well, were all together. Phil Collins and Chester Thompson Interview for Drummer in 1977 during the period of Seconds Out And goodness, the emails I get! It came up again [in 1984] and it was just great. Chester Cortez Thompson (born December 11, 1948) is an American drummer best known for his tenures with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, Weather Report, Santana, the progressive rock band Genesis and Phil Collins as a solo artist. He might have some fives and sevens instead of triplets, things like that. Hed come home and always put on some Billie Holiday. After a year with him, I spent some time in Boston with a keyboard player named Webster Lewis, who was phenomenal. During that same conversation, I said to him, As a matter of fact, I need to take a break from doing both. I guess he is as close as you can get being a Genesis member without being one. When Phil said that his 2004 tour was going to be his last one, did you believe him? But I had let him know on the last Genesis tour that I was going to take a break from doing his tours since I thought he was going to keep doing the same every-year-in-between thing. Great drummer. !-REACTION RisbyDaCreator 10K views 2. It was a rare thing where the lead singer of a band is also the drummer. Theyre such great singers. I think the first song that really stuck in my head was On the Sunny Side of the Street. I have no idea whose version it was. But Steve wa always a Genesis fan, even when he wanted to make some modifications, he only could achive that making it himself, and lets be honest, he used an expensive cast: LOL. He was part of a band in Milwaukee that played a place that was the place to stop and jam when you were on tour. Hes just turned into this monster musician. No. In the latter years, he had a pretty clear picture. Did you watch Bobs show a lot? -Drummers who are lead singers "better should stay behind the drum kit and not to sing". I said to those guys, I dont care if you use another drummer on parts of the album. Oh, my goodness! Thompson believed hehad landed a short-term job when Collins asked him to join Genesis without an audition in 1977, but he went on to take part in every road trip until 2007 and was also a stalwart of Collinssolo group fromthe initial Hello, I Must Be Going tour in 1982. Chester Thompson and Phil Collins Chester Thompson - From Jazz to Genesis Aug 17, 2018 by Bill King Comments Its been 42 years since drummer Chester Thompson, bassist Jeff Breeh, and myself were the backing/touring piano jazz trio for the Pointer Sisters. I also think he made a very significant positive contribution to Genesis' heyday. Keith Moon, John Bonham: great drummers, yes, key members, because their band never sounded the same without them, butthey weren`tthe main composers in their bands. Some of it was Frank. Frank was playing guitar. If you listen to the title track, there are two different drummers on two different days of recording. Apparently Phil and Bill grew up near each other and knew each other fairly well. And theyd never had an American in their ranks. I imagine it was frustrating. Part of me is not disappointed that Im not playing those same tunes again after 30 years. Im constantly writing, constantly trying new stuff. Maybe once in a lifetime. He must have a contract for a hundred and one sappy stereotypical songs for Disney movies. So I continue quite off topic!Actually I havent heard Hacketts Genesis revisited - is it good? By then, my son was starting college. Playing that stuff from the Seventies was full of charge. Had they said, Were going to change the feel a bit, I would have been fine with that. Ive never not played jazz. Theyre just sitting there like, Impress me. It really annoyed them that they reached event status as opposed to just playing to fans. Thats because it was getting close to time to go back out with Phil. Fortunately, the bass player [Bob Babbitt] stepped in and started the tune. Let me remember: Leee Kerslake. I have mixed feelings about Phil Collins. This edition features drummer Chester Thompson. Yeah. I have no idea where they would play. Like I said, it was never a band in that sense. Beans and Corn Bread was probably my favorite Louis Jordan tune. None of that. Even though he played with Brand X, he was not comfortable with soloing. We arent, like, chums, but we stay in touch. They assumed I was going with Alphonso. Yeah. But they had so many new tunes they were promoting. That was just rhythm section, [keyboardist] George Duke, [bassist] Tom Fowler. It must have been interesting to watch them evolve from And Then There Were Three to Duke to Abacab and see them embrace New Wave to some degree and change up their sound. Thats where I met my wife. They said to me, Youre playing it wrong. But the manager had gone out of his way to call me before we took the Christmas break since they were so happy with the tracks wed done. Did you take a crash course in Genesis before you went in? [1] Thompson has performed with his jazz group, the Chester Thompson Trio, since 2011. Phil Collins was always skittish about leaving the drum stool. That is when we actually had soul music stations. And even though I listened to the cassettes, I didnt get a real feel for what was going on before I got there. I seem to recall Chester had a falling out with the post-Collins duo too, when they rejected his request to become a full member in the band. And again, if you werent busy enough, you joined the Bee Gees for a tour in 1989. A Godly man a class act. I could track one guy, kind of, but then somebody else would jump in. Their manager was someone I knew from L.A. We had worked on a couple of things together. I was kind of surprised that Daryl wasnt doing it, either. I learned some people don't like unpleasant realities like a great drummer describing a falling out with Phil Collins followed by a decade-long silence between them. Man, it was wonderful. How was your experience in the Pointer Sisters touring band after that? [Laughs] Again, Im loving what Im doing with my band. You are using an out of date browser. Feb 7, 2021 #34 . It was fun. and (apart fromthe bluesalbum)he hasstayed on the same ground, progrelated and close to classical guitarmusic. I cant scroll fast enough to the good parts! I have a big MS Word file with interviews about the "Union" album of YES. I wasnt aware of any of that. Phil Collins - Gesang, Piano, Schlagzeug; Daryl Stuermer - Gitarre; I was asked by Genesis's manager if I would go and photograph the band at a secret location in Surrey (which may have been Mike Rutherford's studio) and take some pictures while they rehearsed ahead of the Knebworth show in 1978. It was really awesome. It was perfect timing and what a fun tour. Breaks Down His Killer White House Correspondents Dinner Set, Bernie Sanders: Many GOP Leaders 'Don't Even Believe in Democracy'. Sat 27th Nov 2021 20.00 GMT. [Laughs] But Ive really been enjoying my life. He put everything into it. Whats going on? He said, Didnt you quit the band? I said, No, what are you talking about? Didnt you quit with Alphonso? I go, Alphonso quit? [Laughs] He figured it out pretty quickly. I was thinking back to the clinic I saw in 84-85 at DRUMS in Crafton PA. Those two weeks, man, I dont think we ever laughed that much all the years wed been together. I still thought it would just be a couple of tours. It turned out he was Ben E. Kings musical director. A couple of the Drum Duets were released as singles in several places in South America and some countries in Europe, which is kind of cool. We were out there hitting it together and theres something about that. It was a weird, lonely feeling to be in the room with people that supposedly speak the same language and not be able to understand what was going on., Phil Collins and Genesis Sell Song Rights for Over $300 Million, Phil Collins Son Nic Joining Mike and the Mechanics Tour, Phil Collins Is Definitely Retired According to His Son, Jimmy Page Blasts Phil Collins Playing in Led Zep Live Aid Show, Phil Collins Sells Stunning $40 Million Miami Beach Estate, Watch Phil Collins in Lost Footage of Pre-Fame Band Flaming Youth, Phil Collins Sues Ex for Alleged Armed Occupation of Miami Home, Viral Video Sends Phil Collins In the Air Tonight Up the Chart. Did they audition you? Influenced by the likes of Max Roach, Art Blakey, Elvin Jones, and Tony Williams along with the popular music . Pat Mastelotto: I don`t know about his status with King Crimson. Ive got a studio here. Then it got weird because they got comfortable with two drummers playing. Except the horrible version of Your Own Special Way (Already horrible) because Paul Carrack sounds as Elmer Fudd , the mediocre Bossa Nova version of I Know What I like and the hard to swallow Waiting Room Only, the rest of the album (8 more tracks) is outstanding. [Laughs] There was no way I could learn it by the next day. Again, Ive got no grudge. The way my life has gone down, I cant say that I planned any of it. Drummers and keyboard players don`t have the same status as them". No. A little bit later he goes, Man, I think I broke my finger. We all went, Come on. I mean, how many damn sings can one guywrite for Disney? I think he got a little annoyed since I had done an interview and they asked which I enjoyed [Genesis or Collins solo] more. But after reading the (excellent) interview, I have to say I'm quite surprised at how Chester was treated by the guys through the years. That aint me. But basically, for 14 years hed tour every other year and Genesis would tour in the off years. If hedidn't have considerable good qualities the band would not have stayed together for sixteen years which is like an epic length.As for him selling out I think what everyone underestimates is that the taste of the public had changed by the 80s. It got awkward. Wed just sit in a side room because all they really wanted was the three guys. Absolutely. Watcher of the skies is very good and solid vocals by John Wetton, Fountain of Salmacis is great with an acoustic guitar intro and Steve singing ections with vocodsr , but my favorite is the Orchestral version of Firth of Fifth, very beautiful. Everybody had a say. I think that Bruford said that in 1992-93 for the "Notes of the Edge" website. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, I dont think that far ahead. Yes, please explain the secret to bypassing the RS paywall. IvanI think we have reached the end of our discussion wether Phil is nasty or not. I dont think hes holding a grudge. Were drums your first love as an instrument? I no longer teach at the university, but I have taken on some private students. And its fine. The manager of Chicago [Jim Guercio] supposedly bought it as a tax write-off. Even though [guitarist] Daryl [Stuermer] and I werent technically in [Genesis], we toured as the band. He played beautifully on that ballad Cannon Ball. I had already tracked most of Black Market. He was into a lot of the American jazz drummers. Long story short: Collins turned up in a bad mood for the 2010 "Going Back" tour and griped at Thompson because Thompson hadn't prepared the Motown drum parts in enough detail. Id hang out with these guys and theyd play all sorts of crazy stuff Id never heard before. I probably heard more Elvis than anything in the Fifties. the Amazon Associates Program via amazon.com. !11, Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation, Piano, Programming, Orchestration, Fender Rhodes, Fortepiano, Keyboards, Keyboards, Programming, Orchestration, Engineer, Keyboards, Mixing, Orchestration, Engineer, Programming, Guitar, Orchestration, ?, Main Performer, Harmonica, Percussion, Vocals, Producer, Vocals (Background). I managed to get 11 songs tracked with my own band in L.A. because we decided a while back not to just sit around. I agree, one weak album, because GTR was a multi members enterproce that involved even Steve Howe, but it wa a disaster. He jokingly referred to it as a "selection of shows". He said, I double-track everything anyway, so it would be great if we could just do it together. But they all live very close together and they always had a set writing period where theyd be like, Okay, from blank to blank, were writing. They would each do that, come back with what they had and basically it was just too easy to go, OK, lets put this down. And thats what they did. But on that first tour, Id be like, Come on, man. I did most of my tracks like Inca Roads with George on piano. This version mainly shows the American drummer Chester Thompson playing on this amazing performance. Everyone had gotten over themselves by then and it was just really fun from top to bottom. And I think its a fantastic opportunity that his son gets to play with him because his son drummed backstage when he was five. And initially, that was so families could travel. Phil Collins lost ability to drum on 2007 Genesis reunion tour He asked if Id consider coming in. Chester Thompson sheds some light on relationship with Phil Collins I wasnt enough of a diplomat to just say, Oh, everything is wonderful. The Genesis stuff was more musically challenging and interesting to me. Phil Collins is a top ten drummer, a good backing vocalistr, an average lead singer and a lousy songwritter, that's my opinion. Yes, it`s true, but none of them became the permanent lead singer in their bands like Collins. I read it and just wept because most of it had happened by that point. Her daughter was this quiet little kid, but shes turned into this monster artist named Judith Hill. This means nothing at all, it's almost a tradition. Bill knew that world. Does Phil Collins seem a Christmas card kind of guy to you? Phil was in pain, and Chester makes it sound like 2008 didn't happen because Phil was just being difficult. I was there just a week and I actually ran across them in Sydney. Genesis, as soon as they could afford it, started chartering planes for tours. My problem is not even Phil the singer (Even when I like Pete's voice and singing more), my problem is wiyth Phil the songwritter. By the time I was eight or so, maybe a little older, you started hearing some Motown. Oh, my goodness. All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public. Basically, Phil flipped at Chester during the Going Back tour, for not playing exactly what he wanted to play, and they haven't spoken since. In fact, I had called. Playing in bars must have really sharpened your skills. How were the Phil solo tours? Do you think if Genesis come to America, youd want to go see the show? It was a weird, lonely feeling to be in the room with people that supposedly speak the same language and not be able to understand what was going on. Chester Thompson sheds some light on relationship with Phil Collins I certainly never dreamed it would go on and on like it did. Among other things, in one interview Bruford said: "In YES, the most important members are the singer, the bassist and guitarists like Rabin and Howe. Man, it was fun. When I was 13 and able to go on my own, I pretty much went every other week. Tom Fowler would stand onstage with a pointer and would point to the notes he was supposed to play. It was just different. Yeah. Most of the drummers have musical studies, to make arrangements you need to read and write music, even if you don't make the arrangements, you need to read music in order to understand the new arrangements that bands do after every tour in old songs. Oh, boy. I know my reaction to Hacketts "Genesis revisited" was- Hmm, I guess hes running out of money As I wrote, I find Hacketts soloalbums uneven but on the other handhis music is solid (apart from that GTR-thing, didnt like it!) "This album is dedicated to Richard MacPhail who left April, 1973.". It was a much bigger band, Thompson told Rolling Stone in a new interview. Do you recall first hearing In the Air Tonight? He figured it out pretty quickly. There were all these conversations going back and forth that Id try to track. Everything wasnt that, but a lot of the tunes went that way. It was definitely different musically since the band was much bigger with horns and backup singers. In the book Tony says that Phil liked Yes and brought some of their playing ability to Genesis. It really was. He's also a competent singer, whether with prog., jazz, or pop. But hed get more comfortable with it and be really involved with putting it together. During this time, the drummer somehow also found time to tour with Santana and the Bee Gees and maintain a solo career.
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