Small Kit Drummers in Classic Rock

[groovemastergreg]

And Michael Shrieve @ Woodstock did fine with a 4-piece

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AND just two killer AZ crash ride riveted cymbals!

 

[Elvis]

Jon Hiseman already used a "Double Kit" (2 up, 2 down, 2 bass drums) with John Mayall. This was right after Ginger left Mayall for Cream.
The story goes that Mayall got Ginger riled up by telling him: "my new drummer plays TWO bass drums"! This of course prompted Ginger (never to be outdone) to IMMEDIATELY get a second bass drum!
January 1967:

Jon Hiseman performs on stage with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers,...

Jon Hiseman performs on stage with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Peterborough, 1967.

www.gettyimages.co.uk

I thought Baker was playing with Graham Bond before Cream?
How does John Mayall fit into that time line?

 

[groovemastergreg]

Danny Seraphine for a while

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Ian Paice

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When Chicago first began, before that picture above was taken, there's a YouTube video of 25 or 6 to 4 where Danny is playing what appears to be a tiny 20" bass drum 4 pc jazz kit, or what I'd refer to as such, i.e. 12" tom., 14" floor tom.

 

[swarfrat]

Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick

Oh the irony. But I suppose one at a time is the operative condition here.

 

[311Club]

Elvis, you are of course correct thanks for pointing my mistake out! I mixed up Mayall and Bond because the picture of Jon with the double bass kit is from his Mayall years. The Graham Bond Organisation is the band in which Jon Hiseman replaced Ginger Baker.
The source is Jon Hiseman's autobiography: https://www.temple-music.com/project/playing-the-band-the-musical-life-of-jon-hiseman/ great read btw.

 

[groovemastergreg]

I thought I'd add the killer flamed Ludwig 4 pc kit that Denny Carmassi used with Montrose beginning in 1973. Black kit had a flame job added. As a young teen and young drummer, I thought it was pretty cool.

 

[ludwigmod72]

2 great Camco guys……Dennis Wilson and Nick Ceroli

 

[Elvis]

Elvis, you are of course correct thanks for pointing my mistake out! I mixed up Mayall and Bond because the picture of Jon with the double bass kit is from his Mayall years. The Graham Bond Organisation is the band in which Jon Hiseman replaced Ginger Baker.
The source is Jon Hiseman's autobiography: https://www.temple-music.com/project/playing-the-band-the-musical-life-of-jon-hiseman/ great read btw.

No worries. We're all human.

 

[Elvis]

When Chicago first began, before that picture above was taken, there's a YouTube video of 25 or 6 to 4 where Danny is playing what appears to be a tiny 20" bass drum 4 pc jazz kit, or what I'd refer to as such, i.e. 12" tom., 14" floor tom.

Are you referring to the 1970 Tanglewood performance?

 

[multijd]

Groovers and Shakers: Bill Bruford - Mike Dolbear

William Scott Bruford was born on May 17, 1949 and he and I were without doubt contemporaries. We’ve sat together talking about drums and drumming quite a few times over the years. Argent, Yes and several others were happily beating the same progressive rock path around the world so we were...

mikedolbear.com

 

[TonyVazquez]

There were many.
But right now these two were on
my mind for quick reference...

...and...

...although the Spin Doctors drummer's kit aint "small" it's still quite simple. I like his kick sound, and I like how he plays for the music instead of choppin all over the place.
Nothing wrong with Chops, but there's a time and place for everything.

I like the Yardbirds drum kit, its really simple. The stage mic'ing of that era gives a nice warm headroom for the drums to be heard tone for tone.
Having a small drum kit often sounds nice in these live mic situations.

 

[drumflyer]

And don’t forget:

 

[TonyVazquez]

Another cool "small" kit...

...I'm feelin nostalgic!
I was a junior in high school in the
Bronx when this song got released.

 

[Plaid Sabbath]

Bonzo’s tiny drums were the key to Zeppelin’s success.

 

[Charlie in Ky]

Steve Upton of Wishbone Ash.

Love that band. Got to see them in the 70's.

 

[Houndog]

Phil Rudd.

I never thought he had a small kit ??

I often wondered why he had the amount of toms that he did …

He later used a one up : the era I remember he had quite a few toms

 

[charlesm]

Dave Mattacks

And Joe English on the Wings stuff.

 

[ludwigmod72]

Can’t forget this guy who’s been rockin it with literally the same setup for over 50+ years…… John Cowsill and he can sing!!

 

[Ray Dee Oh King]

Don Brewer

 

[Ncrhythmman]

The first 2 that came to mind were Charlie Watts & Simon Kirke...