Smoking! Top Drummers Who Smoked While Drumming in the Rock Era

[TheElectricCompany]

I smoked for a few years in my early 20s. I gave it up cold turkey and went seven years without a cigarette until my buddy's bachelor party last month. The first drag hit me like a Mack truck. The buzz was unreal. I had five or so over the course of the night and felt like complete garbage the following day. I'm not really interested in taking the habit back up, but I loved the ritual of it. That's really all I miss. And they sure look cool in photos.

 

[Matched Gripper]

I tried smoking a cigar during a set. Once.

Cigars are different on several levels. But, they can also be addicting and deadly.

 

[mfry2112]

I can’t believe I smoked. I smoked a brand new corvette, how’s that for perspective?

 

[EvEnStEvEn]

I meant Lenny.
Typo.

I first met Leonard Haze in the early 70s in Hayward, Ca. and knew him (and his bandmates) for the next 30 years. As stated before he never went by "Lenny".

 

[dyland]

And no one mentioned Vinnie.

View attachment 529135

Oh man. From one of my favorite performances ever. I believe Vinnie was subbing for Weckl here. This stuff is straight up scary.

 

[piccupstix]

I thought it was cool too. I think I told my story about wanting to be as cool as Larry Bunker and I mail-ordered Shermans. Problem was, and thank goodness, I could never stand trying to smoke while playing. Hot ashes would fall and put pin holes in the snare batter, eyes tearing up from smoke, etc. Trying to smoke and drive I'd set my pants on fire. The final draw, literally, was when I accidentally set off a firecracker I forgot was sitting in my car's ash tray while driving on the freeway. That made for one confusing exciting hasty exit....done!!

 

[drummer]

Add Mitch Mitchell to the list of smokers.
I quit cold turkey both alcohol and cigarettes on the same day 8 years ago.

 

[bigbonzo]

God I loved smoking

God had nothing to do with it.

 

[JimmySticks]

I can’t believe I smoked. I smoked a brand new corvette, how’s that for perspective?

I'd love to know what you were driving to do that!

 

[DBT]

I'd love to know what you were driving to do that!

I think he meant he could pay for a Corvette Jimmy .

 

[Bandit]

View attachment 529119

Great pic, but I don't think Neil smoked while actually drumming.

 

[DBT]

God had nothing to do with it.

God has everything to do with it when it comes to the annoying people around me when I’m trying to quit .

 

[HoorayGuy]

Dumbest thing I ever did was start smoking. Smartest thing I ever did was quit.

 

[DBT]

Dumbest thing I ever did was start smoking. Smartest thing I ever did was quit.

Truest words ever spoken . Hopefully I’ll stay on the horse at some point soon .

 

[frankmott]

I quit cold turkey in 1987, and certainly don't regret it. I was smoking about 2 packs of red-label Winstons a day (just like Frank Zappa!).
I was able to light, smoke, and put-out an entire cigarette while playing! It just took some practice. That was back when we smoked in restaurants, airplanes, even in class at college! I don't miss those days, other than I was actually making a bit of money playing drums.

 

[bigbonzo]

God has everything to do with it when it comes to the annoying people around me when I’m trying to quit .

Yup god made those people smoke in the first place.

 

[DBT]

Yup god made those people smoke in the first place.

It’s the people around me that need God when I’m trying to quit . Readily admit I’m not pleasant :

 

[bigbonzo]

It’s the people around me that need God when I’m trying to quit . Readily admit I’m not pleasant :

Smokers don't have god?

 

[Houndog]

Which God are we talking about here ???

 

[DBT]

Smokers don't have god?