But did they have two drummers playing at the same time? I would imagine bands like The Eagles and Genesis would have to have a second “auxiliary” drummer to play when their vocalist drummer wanted to come out front.
Apollo 440 has two drummers, but i think one concentrates more on operating mixers and electronic stuff rather than drumming. He sits at a kit tho.
The Moody Blues toured with two drummers. I think (!) age is an issue.
I think there are three situations in which a band tours with two drummers:
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The drummer is also the lead singer, and he needs to move around the stage during shows. He may play drums on a few tracks, but it’s easier to have a hired man play the drums for most of the concert. Examples? Genesis (usually had Chester Thompson play drums for them in concert) and the Eagles.
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The original drummer is getting old and can’t play as well as he used to. This drummer is beloved, and the band doesn’t want to fire him, but he’s there for show, more than for his musical chops. The band lets him play, but also has a younger, better drummer, to handle the real work. Examples: Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues (Graeme Edge isn’t that great on drums any more; as for Nick Mason, I suspect he’s kept around just so Gilmour can claim they’re the “real” Pink Floyd when ROger Waters grumbles).
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The band’s music is complex, and two different styles are needed at the same time. King Crimson is an example. Robert Fripp likes having a steady, standard rock beat to build his guitar tapestries upon, while Bill Bruford gets bored with such simplistic drumming, and likes to improvise. Hiring Pat Mastelotto allowed Bruford to go off on his own tangents, while giving Fripp the steady rock beat he wanted.
A little off subject here. Ned’s Atomic Dustbin of “Kill Your Television” and “Grey Cell Green” fame had two bass players.
Erm, that’s it.
Levon Helm (of The Band) could sing WHILE he was playing the drums!
Damn kids today, need to hire a back-up drummer to sing…
At the risk of being annoying, Rush has one guy who plays like two.
The venerable professor on the drums - Neil Peart.
Yes, I’m a shameless fanboy.
No knock on Levon, but when Phil Collins is on stage, he’s a real showman. He has a whole Steve Martin-esque, Las Vegas lounge lizard persona, and likes to wander the stage, cracking jokes and hamming it up. If Phil wanted simply to play the drums and sing, he could do it. But he thinks (and his fans seem to agree) that he’s more entertaining when he gets out from behind the drums.
Some more to add to the list:
Fugazi has started touring with two drummers, with the second being a stripped down bass/snare/hihat setup, used on only a few songs. Beta Band does this too. Also, Isotope 217 as well.
Crash Worship had three drummers most of the time, but I’ve seen them with six.
The fantastic HiM, led by ex-June of 44 drummer Doug Scharin, tours with two drummers, notable because they’re both playing full kits, as opposed to the more common “second-kit-stripped-down” thing.
As long as we’re throwing things out, The Lonesome Organist plays drums, zylophone, guitar and sings…at the same time! Granted, it’s a gimick that works better live, but the man is amazing. For those who know, he’s John from Tortoise, 5ive style, and Euphone… more talent in one finger than I posses in my whole body. The trick is to tie the drumsticks to your wrist, like a pair of mittens you don’t want to lose.
I’ve got this problem: I like rock bands that just kinda STAND THERE, and play music. If I wanted to see a Vegas show, I’d go to Vegas.
Yes, I know I’m not the Prime Demographic.
Hey, opinions vary. Personally, if I’m going to pay a lot of money to see a concert, I’d like the band to entertain me. A band that just stands there and plays (like the Cars, for instance) is boring to me. If I just wanted to hear note-for-note recreations of songs exactly as they were on the album, I’d stay home and listen to the album… for FREE!
Feank Zappa in the 60’s and in 1973.
What about Santana? I think their set up was more of a drum kit handled by Mike Shrieve, and several percussionists. I only saw them live once - and it was back in 1970 - but I seem to recall it took several people beating on a whole lot of stuff to get that rhythm.
Yeah following Slipknot’s lead (3 drummers woo!, some of the new metal bands are going with multi drummers). Of course most death metal drummers could toast 2 regular drummers, so 2 drummers are often not needed.
I saw BB King in concert a couple of years ago. There were 2 guys on two drumsets, and they kicked ass! I believe they were telepathically linked at whatever part of the brain deals with the sense of rhythm.
Paul Simon’s Born At The Right Time tour, after his Rhythm of the Saints CD, had Steve Gadd plus 4 Brazilian percussionists. Awesome.
As was mentioned, the Butthole Surfers played with two drummers for quite awhile. I think it added a rather unique, low-end heaviness to their music. Either way, it was good stuff. Also, Captain Beefheart and his magic band played with two drummers for awhile.
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros (?) had two drummers when I saw them at the Big Day Out a couple of years ago. One had a regular kit and the other had a more percussiv one (bongos, toms etc).
Steely Dan was also a practitioner of this, with documented proof on their albumPretzel Logic, with “Parker’s Band”.
I saw .38 Special around '77 and their two drummers was sort of an Allman Brothers schtick more than anything, IMO. They were good though and yes they did both play full kits.
Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Opened for The Outlaws. Damn good show.what I remember of it
Oh, you folks mean more than one drummer AT THE SAME TIME! I guess my thought of Spinal Tap wouldn’t count then.
Um, let’s tighten the definition here. You mean more than one drummer on a trap set or one drummer on trap set and one or more on congas, tablas, etc…?