Drum Shtick: Newcastle Drum Centre’s New Beat On The Street

Welcome to the Newcastle Drum Centre Blog, and thanks for reading. Allow me to introduce myself.
I’m Elliott, and I’ve recently joined the Newcastle Drum Centre team as a ‘roving reporter’, scouring the both the world-wide web, and the web-wide world to bring you the latest and most interesting developments in drums and percussion, as well as provide a drummer’s perspective on the news.
Alongside our frustrated air drummer Jamie Penfold, I’ll be posting each week, with a diverse mix of exciting bands, playing tips, unbelievable drumming feats, and some of the best videos online.

The evils of Facebook

A recent article in The Telegraph featured an ‘academic’ study stating that social networks like Facebook create extra stress for their users – especially those who have a large number of contacts through these services. Methodological issues aside, this is clearly rubbish!

I have a Facebook page with 221 friends, that keeps me up-to-date with what’s going on in the lives of my business associates & old school friends; the live music scene; music blogs and brand new DJs; and of course the drumming world. If it weren’t for social networking, how on earth would I find new bands and comedians to admire?

I would certainly not have heard the news that Phil Collins is apparently going mad.

The man who defined the sound of the 80s, dominating the charts with Genesis and selling 150m units of his solo albums – and of course, all-but invented that infamous gated drum sound that has since been tamed into the standard drum sound of stadium rock – has retired from both singing and drumming at the age of 60. Irreparable damage to his hearing and vertebrae has meant that his latest album – a collection of Motown songs – may well be his last.

Remember the Alamo

These days, according to a Rolling Stone interview printed last year, Collins prefers the full name ‘Phillip’, and divides his time between his family in Switzerland, and attending conventions to swap memorabilia from the Alamo. He has also reportedly apologised for his 40-year career, and expressed a wish to murder the image of ‘Phil Collins’, as long held in public vilification.
This man was ubiquitous for almost 30 years; unfalteringly loved in the 80s, universally loathed in the 90s, and ironically respected during his career revival. On top of all that, in 1985 he performed at both LiveAid concerts, crossing the Atlantic mid-gig! Collins seems to have been quiet for a fair while, and news of his injuries at least explains his absence, if not his apparent mental breakdown and sudden interest in memorabilia.

The story has recently been well covered in Rhythm magazine, MusicRadar and elsewhere, but I think it’s about time we gave some respect to a drummer who has created so much music that is loved, and has lasted generations. I would even tentatively suggest that his early work with Genesis could go some way to inspiring forgiveness for the Tarzan soundtrack.

What a fantastic career – no apology needed. Check out this drum duet with Collins’ Genesis replacement Chester Thompson!