Simon Phillips- (Protocol, The Who, Jeff Beck, Toto)
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2024
- For Episode #119 we caught up with legendary drummer Simon Phillips. This is an extensive look at his amazing career. The whole chat is indexed so you can surf around specific subjects, if you like. See below... We start with his earliest memories of gigging with his Father's Dixieland big band as a teen. We then discuss his needs for a bigger kit and the session work he started doing in the mid 1970s. Including notable albums by Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Gary Moore and Michael Schenker. Of course we discuss his work with Jeff Beck on the There and Back album. His work on Pete Townsend's 80s solo albums, including his legendary part on "Give Blood". Talk turns to his work with The Who in the late 80s. Tales of working with Toto, Hiromi, Jack Bruce, Frank Zappa as well. Towards the end we get to the specifics of his drum choices. We also discuss his thoughts on the progressive rock scene of the 1970s. While we are discussing prog we go over how he breaks down odd meters too. Plus much more!
Index of subjects
0:45 How did you develop your ambidextrous style? How did you get into playing double bass on such a large kit?
17:51 What was it like playing in your Dad's Dixieland big band as a pre-teen?
26:20 Early session work on David Coverdale's first solo album called Whitesnake and working with producer Roger Glover of Deep Purple.
28:45 Meeting Roger Glover and jamming with him and DP keyboardist Jon Lord.
30:30 How Simon became Roger's go-to drummer for various rock albums he was producing.
35:45 Working on Judas Priest's Sin After Sin album
38:10 More discussion of how his kit evolved
39:11 Playing on Gary Moore's album, Back On The Streets. Was this the second ever double bass shuffle?
42:00 Working on Michael Schenker's first solo album.
47:48 Working on L. Shankar's debut solo album, produced by Frank Zappa. What it was like working with Frank...
55:40 Did Frank ever approach Simon about joining his band?
57:20 Playing on Jeff Beck's There and Back album. The evolution and inspiration of the double bass shuffle on “Space Boogie”. Also, the writing of other songs on that album.
1:05:24 Playing on Trevor Rabin's Wolf album
1:07:00 Discussion of the performance DVD w/Cobham & Bellson entitled Super Drumming.
1:08:45 Meeting Louie Bellson
1:12:30 Playing on Pete Townshend's first five solo albums and how “Give Blood” came together.
1:21:40 Talk of Simon's time with The Who in 1989.
1:25:15 The “unknown” supergroup Simon was part of called The Best. Featuring John Entwistle, Joe Walsh, Keith Emerson and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.
1:31:00 Playing with Toto
1:36:00 Playing with Hiromi's trio including bassist Anthony Jackson.
1:41:50 Drum specific discussions and the creation of his group Protocol.
1:45:35 Is he the longest tenured endorser of Pro Mark drumsticks and Tama kits?
1:49:45 His lack of any deadening on his drum heads and it's inspiration.
1:52:08 Thoughts on cymbal placement.
1:54:27 Ever had any “kickback” for always using a 'huge' kit?
2:03:40 Discussion of various phases of Protocol and the possibility of a new Protocol lineup.
2:07:17 Jeff Babko and the straight ahead jazz album Vantage Point.
2:17:00 Simon's thoughts on the progressive rock scene. Also, joining Brand X, briefly.... Plus, the offer to join Genesis.
2:22:30 Playing on the Burning For Buddy tribute album, spearheaded by Rush's Neil Peart.
2:28:20 Parting thoughts on playing odd meters and more!
Index of subjects
0:45 How did you develop your ambidextrous style? How did you get into playing double bass on such a large kit?
17:51 What was it like playing in your Dad's Dixieland big band as a pre-teen?
26:20 Early session work on David Coverdale's first solo album called Whitesnake and working with producer Roger Glover of Deep Purple.
28:45 Meeting Roger Glover and jamming with him and DP keyboardist Jon Lord.
30:30 How Simon became Roger's go-to drummer for various rock albums he was producing.
35:45 Working on Judas Priest's Sin After Sin album
38:10 More discussion of how his kit evolved
39:11 Playing on Gary Moore's album, Back On The Streets. Was this the second ever double bass shuffle?
42:00 Working on Michael Schenker's first solo album.
47:48 Working on L. Shankar's debut solo album, produced by Frank Zappa. What it was like working with Frank...
55:40 Did Frank ever approach Simon about joining his band?
57:20 Playing on Jeff Beck's There and Back album. The evolution and inspiration of the double bass shuffle on “Space Boogie”. Also, the writing of other songs on that album.
1:05:24 Playing on Trevor Rabin's Wolf album
1:07:00 Discussion of the performance DVD w/Cobham & Bellson entitled Super Drumming.
1:08:45 Meeting Louie Bellson
1:12:30 Playing on Pete Townshend's first five solo albums and how “Give Blood” came together.
1:21:40 Talk of Simon's time with The Who in 1989.
1:25:15 The “unknown” supergroup Simon was part of called The Best. Featuring John Entwistle, Joe Walsh, Keith Emerson and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter.
1:31:00 Playing with Toto
1:36:00 Playing with Hiromi's trio including bassist Anthony Jackson.
1:41:50 Drum specific discussions and the creation of his group Protocol.
1:45:35 Is he the longest tenured endorser of Pro Mark drumsticks and Tama kits?
1:49:45 His lack of any deadening on his drum heads and it's inspiration.
1:52:08 Thoughts on cymbal placement.
1:54:27 Ever had any “kickback” for always using a 'huge' kit?
2:03:40 Discussion of various phases of Protocol and the possibility of a new Protocol lineup.
2:07:17 Jeff Babko and the straight ahead jazz album Vantage Point.
2:17:00 Simon's thoughts on the progressive rock scene. Also, joining Brand X, briefly.... Plus, the offer to join Genesis.
2:22:30 Playing on the Burning For Buddy tribute album, spearheaded by Rush's Neil Peart.
2:28:20 Parting thoughts on playing odd meters and more!
Thanks
That was fantastic, what a treasure trove of memories. Thank you!
2 and a half hours!! You've made my monday!!
Very nicely done guys!
Amazing interview with a drum legend.
Thanks!
Looking forward for another interview with an emphasis on the Simon Philips/Derek Sherinian partnership.
It's great to get such a long interview with someone at Simon's level, and I'm sure drummers are going to eat up all the tech talk. But I'm sure this was like half the questions you wanted to ask. 😃 It's especially interesting to get his insight into the current state of touring. I didn't realize the difficulties he's facing because of all the conflicts going on around the world. And I'm not surprised he's not super fond of the Burning for Buddy album. His take on it is similar to Bill Bruford's. I'm annoyed that the upcoming Protocol tour is so short. I really hope they come back around and hit the rest of the country.
Great interview.. thanks for posting. I recall an interview I saw with him talking about playing on Smallcreeps Day where he discussed being asked to join Genesis.