Smokin drummers
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Gene married Ethel McGuire in 1934. She was the switchboard operator at the Dixie Hotel where Gene was living while he was working in the pit band of "Girl Crazy." They were divorced in 1942 and remarried in 1946. Ethel died in 1955. Gene then married Patty Bowler in 1959 and they adopted two children, Mary Grace and Michael, who Gene nicknamed "BG." They were divorced in 1968.- Actor
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Buddy Rich was born on 30 September 1917 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Whiplash (2014), Motherless Brooklyn (2019) and Ship Ahoy (1942). He was married to Marie Allison. He died on 2 April 1987 in Santa Monica, California, USA.- Sound Department
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Neil Peart was one of the most universally respected rock drummers, and was best known for his nearly superhuman, pyrotechnic drum playing, and for providing intellectual lyrics for his band's songs. Neil served as both drummer and lyricist for the rock band Rush since 1974, joining bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson. (Rush's lineup remained unchanged since Neil's arrival in 1974.) Rush is the most successful Canadian music group in history, and is the third most prolific seller of consecutive (American) Gold and Platinum Records and videos, behind only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Beginning on August 10, 1997, immediately following Rush's "Test For Echo" tour, Neil endured concurrent, seemingly unendurable tragedies when his daughter (and only child) died in a car accident, and then his wife died from cancer 10 months later. This put Rush on indefinite hiatus for the first time, and prompted Neil to write "Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road", his second book. In September 2000, Neil married Los Angeles photographer Carrie Nuttall. They had a daughter, Oliva, in 2009.
Neil rejoined Rush in the studio for 2002's "Vapor Trails," their 17th studio album, which was met with high praise and considered a stellar "comeback" both for Peart and the band. A highly successful 2002 tour brought about the band's long-awaited return to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tour ended with Rush's first-ever shows in Brazil, where they played to 125,000 fans in three nights. The final performance of the 2002 tour was captured on DVD as Rush in Rio (2003), which was certified double-platinum within weeks of its release.
After the Vapor Trails album and tour, Neil's writing became more personal. His subsequent live performances, including his trademark percussion solos which showcased his superlative adroitness as a drummer, were regarded as his best to date. His final tour with Rush was 2015's R40 tour, which marked forty years since Neil joined the band. At the end of the tour, Neil announced he was retiring due to arthritis and tendinitis.
Not long after his retirement, Neil was diagnosed with brain cancer. He fought it privately for three and a half years, keeping it secret until he passed from it on January 7, 2020.- Actor
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Cozy Powell was born on 29 December 1947 in Cirencester, England, UK. He was an actor and composer, known for Hot Fuzz (2007), MacGruber (2010) and Uutishuone (2009). He died on 5 April 1998 in Bristol, England, UK.- Writer
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Dave Weckl is known for Turning Red (2022), Dave Weckl: Back to Basics (2003) and Drum Together (2021).- Music Department
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John Bonham is still regularly voted in polls as the greatest and most influential rock drummer of all time, an opinion which has also been expressed by the likes of Roger Taylor of Queen, Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
He started playing drums at the age of five using a makeshift kit and later progressed to real drums. His influences included great American jazz drummers such as Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. He played in a series of bands and formed an association with Robert Plant through Band of Joy, who combined blues, psychedelics and extended musical workouts. According to Plant: "Bonzo was totally and absolutely devoted to getting it right. Everything that he listened to he could go beyond, not only could he recreate it but he could take it somewhere new. He knew that he was a powerhouse among drummers... we seemed to have a great affinity for each other."
Although Bonham and Plant went their separate ways after Band of Joy, they reunited in The Yardbirds, which already featured Jimmy Page. John Paul Jones joined and this led to the formation of Led Zeppelin, who released their first album in 1969. They went on to become the biggest rock band of the 1970s, achieving extraordinary success in the United States in particular.
Bonham died aged 32 in 1980. He had a reputation as a heavy drinker and had consumed too much vodka in the 24 hours before his death, which caused vomiting and asphyxiation. The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death. Led Zeppelin announced they were finished as a band. According to Page, the band could not have continued without him, he was so integral to their sound. They didn't play again as Led Zeppelin until Live Aid (1985), which included Plant's solo drummer Phil Collins and The Power Station's Tony Thompson replacing him in a performance which has been disowned by the band. Bonham's son, Jason Bonham, has become a successful drummer himself and a member of Led Zeppelin for subsequent reunion performances.- Actor
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Keith John Moon was born to working class parents in Wembley, London, England, on the 23rd August, 1946. At the age of 12, he had joined the Sea Cadet Corp and was given his first musical instrument, the bugle. He left school by 15 and was in his first band, The Beachcombers; this was around the summer of 1963. There was rumour that Keith was self-taught, but history says otherwise, he was shown how to play by the late Carlo Little (1938-2005), Carlo was the original drummer in The Rolling Stones and Screaming Lord Sutch's band, The Savages.
By the age of 18, he had joined a local London band, The High Numbers; this was to consist of what is now known as The Who.
With his own unique style of drumming, rolling the sticks along the skins as to banging the typical beat, he was to become extrovertly charismatic in his life as well as his playing. With a desire, a need if you like, to be the centre of attention, this hyperactive, and largely, self destructive, personality became his own worst enemy.
With a flair for theatrical and ridiculous behaviour, he was the centre point and self-publicist for, if they liked it or not, The Who.
In the meantime, he had fathered a daughter, Mandy, to Kim. He may have been the perfect showman, but behind the scenes, he was often a very aggressive man to live around and with. Kim soon left him, taking their young daughter with her.
He started to live the high life in California, with the likes of John Lennon, Harry Nilsson and Ringo Starr, Ringo's son, Zak, was his godson, ironically, it was Zak who played with The Who in their later career, during the nineties and beyond.
While in California, he made his only solo album, Two Sides of The Moon, for MCA Records, a 1975 release, with many guest artists. Keith rarely played the drums while away from The Who, he sang on the album, and played the drums on only three of the tracks.
His on-stage aggression, destroying his drum kits while still playing them and wrecking hotel rooms, apart from being an obvious publicity stunt, was fuelled with an over use of drugs and alcohol. This addictive side to his nature flowed into the 70s, playing against the band, his family and friends. His drumming became irregular and unpredictable. He put on weight, so much so as to have him sit in a chair with the backrest toward the camera, to hide his paunch, on the cover of the last The Who album with Keith, the 1978 Who are You.
He died in September 7th, 1978; his death was an accident, by the overuse of the prescribed medicine that was designed to ease him off his drink addiction. He died in the same London apartment as Cass Elliot, from The Mamas and the Papas, who had died there some four years earlier.- Composer
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Ian Paice was born on 29 June 1948 in Nottingham, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Point Break (1991), Twister (1996) and Almost Famous (2000). He is married to Jacky. They have three children.- Director
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Mike Portnoy is an American drummer, songwriter and producer, born on April 20, 1967 in Long Island, New York, USA. In 1985 he founded the progressive metal band Dream Theater together with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung while they attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After 25 years with Dream Theater, Portnoy left the band in 2010 and has since then played in a variety of projects and bands including Adrenaline Mob, Avenged Sevenfold, The Winery Dogs, Sons of Apollo and The Neal Morse Band. In October 2023, Mike Portnoy returned to Dream Theater.- Actor
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Lenny White was born on 19 December 1949 in New York, USA. He is an actor and cinematographer, known for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), House Party (1990) and The Best Man (1999).- Music Department
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Gregg Bissonette was born on 9 June 1959 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Payback (1999), The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Waiting for Guffman (1996).- Actor
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Rod Morgenstein is known for Winger: Miles Away (1990), Winger: Madalaine (1988) and Winger: Proud Desperado (2023).- Music Department
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Steve Gadd was born on 4 September 1945 in Rochester, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for The Last Mimzy (2007), One-Trick Pony (1980) and Hors-la-loi (1985).- Camera and Electrical Department
Carl Palmer is known for ...So Goes the Nation (2006) and Yellow Belly End (2009).- Music Artist
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Phil Collins was born in Chiswick, London, England, to Winifred (Strange), a theatrical agent, Greville Philip Austin Collins, an insurance agent. He spent most of his early entertainment life as a young actor and model. He played the "Artful Dodger" in the West End production of "Oliver!" alongside the future movie screen "Artful Dodger," Jack Wild. His interest in music and drumming began at school, where he drummed with a stage school band "The Real Thing," subsequently joining "Freehold" and "Flaming Youth." "Flaming Youth" recorded an album to some critical acclaim, although the group disbanded shortly afterward. Collins later successfully auditioned for Genesis, taking over vocals from Peter Gabriel when he left the band in 1975.
After separating from his first wife, Collins recorded his first solo album, "Face Value." The album was well received and Collins started to become a household name after the song "In the Air Tonight" was featured on the US TV show Miami Vice (1984). This instigated a guest appearance on the show playing a game show host. His third LP, "No Jacket Required," produced multiple chart hits and awards.
Collins is an active musician and entertainer, contributing and guesting regularly on many albums, ranging from Gary Brooker and Camel (Peter Barden's old band) to Eric Clapton. Collins also played as the drummer for the jazz fusion group Brand X and later formed his own big band to play swing and jazz music.
Collins was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. With over 200 million album sales (when his solo career and Genesis career are combined), Collins is one of the most successful musicians of all time, as well as probably the most successful British pop star to have been consistently overlooked for the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British music.
Actress Lily Collins is his daughter (her mother is his second wife, Jill Tavelman).- Actor
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Bobby Rondinelli is known for Rainbow: I Surrender (1981), Rainbow: Stone Cold (1982) and Rainbow: Death Alley Driver (1982).- Actor
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Carmine Appice was born on 15 December 1946 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for No Way Out (1987), A Night at the Roxbury (1998) and So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993).- Music Department
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Anton Fig was born on 8 August 1952 in Capetown, South Africa. He is an actor and composer, known for Beethoven's 2nd (1993), Man on the Moon (1999) and Perfect (1985). He has been married to Laura Sametz since 14 November 1999.- Tommy Aldridge was born on 15 August 1950 in Jackson, Mississippi, USA. He is an actor, known for Ozzy Osbourne: Iron Man, Live (1983), Whitesnake: Still of the Night (1987) and Whitesnake: The Deeper the Love (1990).
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Jeff Porcaro was born on 1 April 1954 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Aquaman (2018), Moonfall (2022) and Dune (1984). He was married to Susan Porcaro Goings. He died on 5 August 1992 in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
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Bill Bruford was born on 17 May 1949 in Sevenoaks, Kent, England, UK. He is an actor and director, known for Apollo 18 (2011), Mandy (2018) and Buffalo '66 (1998). He has been married to Carolyn since 2 March 1973. They have three children.- Actor
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Dave Lombardo was born on 16 February 1965 in Havana, Cuba. He is an actor and composer, known for Thunder Force (2021), Punisher: War Zone (2008) and Dawn of the Dead (2004). He has been married to Paula Lombardo since 25 February 2018. He was previously married to Theresa.- Composer
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Stewart Copeland was born on 16 July 1952 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Rumble Fish (1983), South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) and Highlander II: The Quickening (1991). He has been married to Fiona Dent since 1993. They have three children. He was previously married to Sonja Kristina.- Actor
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Virtuoso drummer Terry John Bozzio was born on December 27, 1950 to Italian-American parents in San Francisco, California. Terry started playing the drums on makeshift sets at age six. Inspired by the Beatles' famous appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Bozzio begged his father for drum lessons at age thirteen. He played in the 60s garage rock bands Blue Glass Radio, The Yarde, and Tamalpaias Mountain Boys. Terry majored in music at both Sir Francis Drake High School and College of Marin. Following graduation from college, Bozzio played drums for productions of the rock musicals "Godspell" and "Walking in My Time" as well as performed with various local jazz groups. He joined Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in 1975. Terry played drums on ten albums for Zappa which include "Bongo Fury," "Joe's Garage," and "Baby Snakes" (he also appears in the latter rock concert documentary of the same name). Bozzio left Zappa in 1978. In 1980 he co-founded the excellent New Wave band Missing Persons. Missing Persons recorded three albums and almost cracked the Top 40 with the songs "Words" and "Destination Unknown" prior to breaking up in 1986. Terry was married to Missing Persons lead singer Dale Bozzio from 1979 to 1986. After the disbanding of Missing Persons Bozzio went on to work with a huge array of musical artists who include Robbie Robertson, Gary Wright, Frank Zappa's son Dweezil, Paul Hyde, Herbie Hancock, Richard Marx, Jeff Beck, Duran Duran, Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In the summer of 2005 Terry filled in for drummer Dave Lombardo in Fantamos for the group's European tour. More recently he worked with the nu metal band Korn on their eighth album. Bozzio's major innovations as a rock drummer are creating the melodic ostinato for the drum set and creating orchestral compositions on the drum set by playing polyrhythms and metric modulations. Moreover, Bozzio performs clinics for fellow drummers on a regular basis all across the country. He was inducted into Guitar Center's RockWalk in Hollywood on January 17, 2007. Terry Bozzio lives in Austin, Texas with his second wife Ev Kvamme and son Raanen.- Ansley Dunbar is known for Four Drops of Poison (2013), Naklin (2014) and For Love of Zombies (2011).
- Simon Phillips is known for The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (2010), Blade (2011) and Killing the Cure.
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Virtuoso drummer Terry John Bozzio was born on December 27, 1950 to Italian-American parents in San Francisco, California. Terry started playing the drums on makeshift sets at age six. Inspired by the Beatles' famous appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Bozzio begged his father for drum lessons at age thirteen. He played in the 60s garage rock bands Blue Glass Radio, The Yarde, and Tamalpaias Mountain Boys. Terry majored in music at both Sir Francis Drake High School and College of Marin. Following graduation from college, Bozzio played drums for productions of the rock musicals "Godspell" and "Walking in My Time" as well as performed with various local jazz groups. He joined Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in 1975. Terry played drums on ten albums for Zappa which include "Bongo Fury," "Joe's Garage," and "Baby Snakes" (he also appears in the latter rock concert documentary of the same name). Bozzio left Zappa in 1978. In 1980 he co-founded the excellent New Wave band Missing Persons. Missing Persons recorded three albums and almost cracked the Top 40 with the songs "Words" and "Destination Unknown" prior to breaking up in 1986. Terry was married to Missing Persons lead singer Dale Bozzio from 1979 to 1986. After the disbanding of Missing Persons Bozzio went on to work with a huge array of musical artists who include Robbie Robertson, Gary Wright, Frank Zappa's son Dweezil, Paul Hyde, Herbie Hancock, Richard Marx, Jeff Beck, Duran Duran, Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. In the summer of 2005 Terry filled in for drummer Dave Lombardo in Fantamos for the group's European tour. More recently he worked with the nu metal band Korn on their eighth album. Bozzio's major innovations as a rock drummer are creating the melodic ostinato for the drum set and creating orchestral compositions on the drum set by playing polyrhythms and metric modulations. Moreover, Bozzio performs clinics for fellow drummers on a regular basis all across the country. He was inducted into Guitar Center's RockWalk in Hollywood on January 17, 2007. Terry Bozzio lives in Austin, Texas with his second wife Ev Kvamme and son Raanen.