Aynsley Dunbar

[Ardent15]

Didn't find a thread devoted to him. One of the most overlooked rock drummers ever IMO. He was ridiculously good on those early Journey albums, with Zappa, and with his own band, the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, among many other great musical works that he's been a part of. He auditioned for the Jimi Hendrix Experience and it came down to him and Mitch Mitchell, but Hendrix couldn't decide who to pick, so he flipped a coin: needless to say, we all know who got that gig!

Any other Aynsley fans here?

[Ian Williams]

I love his drumming with Whitesnake. He played songs such as Still Of The Night, Children Of The Night, Here I Go Again...

Cheers,

[rmandelbaum]

I have always been a fan

Check this out http://www.wcr.com/page.cfm

[Nodiggie]

A friend bought me Journeys first album (i think) with Aynsley. He kept telling me about him for months lol.

He is awesome, I really enjoyed the tracks he did.

[SimSalaBim]

One of the best. Great feel and thunderous sound. Always a pleasure to listen to his playing.

[bermuda]

Big fan here as well, I don't think he's overlooked at all. He's definitely got his place in drumming history and is well respected. He currently plays with a bunch of ex-members of bands, something like the Classic Rock Allstars.

Bermuda

[Royal]

[QUOTE
Any other Aynsley fans here?[/QUOTE]

Enjoy listening to him.
Did he also record with Bowie on an album of cover versions?
Liked his flying solos.......

[rmandelbaum]

thats the link I posted.

[Ian Williams]

Aynsley Dunbar, taught this to Bill Ward:

Aynsley Dunbar, years and years and years ago, years ago, man—this is when Aynsley was playing with Zappa, years ago—he watched me, and I had this technique of playing up here like this, when I was a kid. I'm 22, 23 years-old and I like to play up high, and he suggested to me one time—I can always remember this; I don't think Aynsley would remember this, but I know I do—and he said, "Why don't you lower your cymbals and play from the shoulder a little bit more?" And today, I have lower cymbals and I play from my shoulder just like Aynsley taught me (laughter).

Very useful and interesting.

[Derek]

I'm another longtime Aynsley Dunbar fan. I've seen him live a few times, the first in 1978 when Journey was the opening act for ELO at Anaheim Stadium ( I was the only one of my friends at that time attending to see the "opening " band).

Great drummer and an inspiration to me when I was a young man. I'd love to see him play in person again.

[joeybeats]

I used to listen to Zappa's, Just Another Band From L.A. in college, over and over. Dunbar"s drumming on that album stands right out. Amazing stuff. I have it on CD and now on ipod ... still listen to it once or twice a year. Highly recommended. Joey

[Pollyanna]

Some standouts for me were:

Most of Apostrophe - Uncle Frank
Topaz - Journey's first album
You Nearly Did Me In - Ian Hunter.

[slingerland755]

I saw Ansley play with Jefferson Airplane back in the early 80's. He played a 20 minute drum solo, which I loved. Too bad a large portion of the crowd thought this as a good time for a bathroom break.

[Ian Williams]

I saw Ansley play with Jefferson Airplane back in the early 80's. He played a 20 minute drum solo, which I loved. Too bad a large portion of the crowd thought this as a good time for a bathroom break.

What a disappointing crowd, for Aynsley.

[DrumEatDrum]

He does a wonderful job on Journey first album, and on "Infinity"

I also have the three Jefferson Starship albums he played on.

He's certainly had a long career playing with so many different artists. If you listen to any classic rock radio station, he's bound to be played a few times a day with one band or another.

[Pollyanna]

More classic Aynsley ... he was outstanding on David Bowie's Pinups album and did some excellent jazz-rock playing on Uncle Frank's Grand Wazoo and Waka Jawaka.

Contrast his playing on See Emily Play (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaGBXJmKGAU) to The Grand Wazoo (http://www.ilike.com/artist/Frank+Zappa/album/The+Grand+Wazoo).

Different genres, both excellently played, especially his use of toms.

[donv]

First time I saw him was in 73 when he was playing for Flo and Eddie. He was awesome. Anyone gets a chance to listen to "Feel older now" they're in for a treat considering that was 72 or 73. He plays on top of the beat like no one else. Steve Smith has discussed how difficult it was for him to learn Aynsley's playing style, especially the slow ballads like Lights. Last I heard he was touring last year with Eric Burdon.

[pushpull]

I love Dunbar's drumming, very versatile blues, rock, jazz with great time, feel and his career is huge, played with the greats = Mayal, Zappa, Bowie, Reed to name just a few and some of his near misses are even bigger, meaning he was in line for such drumming slots as The Beatles (he's from Liverpool), The Experience and Zepplin. The Experience was a flip of a coin but Chas Chandler has expressed some regrets over the outcome. He was also the most in demand highest paid session player through much of the 70's. He is my favorite Zappa drummer next being the combo Thomson-Humphreys-Underwood but Anysley is a power house and held so much on his own and he's cool too, plays with style, power, grace with great solid beats and inventive signature fills. Am I a fan, yes and is he over looked? I think he is a professional that keeps a low profile and works hard and is in the hearts of many. He has been the motor behind so much music we have all heard through the air waves and if one of those near misses had paid off then he would be perhaps a household name. We should all be so lucky to have his ability and career but there is only one Anysley Dunbar.

[volvoguy]

"Just Another Band from LA" is one of my faves. Great drumming on that.

-Ryan

[Ser-k]

Just wanna say congrats to Travis Dunbar for winning his very first feature at Hudson Speedway on 9-7-08. Great job buddy.

[ellenvannin105]

Excellent drummer! I loved his work with Zappa and I especially loved the first Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation album. His solo on "Mutiny" is always fun to listen to. Didn't he play with John Mayall as well? Anyway,here are some links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3ShGHCx3sU. Also,Aynsley co-wrote this rather famous piece that ended up on Black Sabbath's first album: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ6flwRot9c&feature=PlayList&p=34D6AE6A797E7932&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13
Enjoy.

[Jim Penebaker]

The self titled Whitesnake record from the late 80s is some of the best most solid playing by Aynsley. It's just rock solid and fills up just the right amount of space. And for some serious fills and chops, the intro track "Cryin In the Rain" is excellent. There are a bunch of drum breaks after the exteded guitar solo (which is also amazing). The fills are played with such conviction. I've tried to emulate this vibe. And he can swing real good to. Great shuffle feel on "Give Me All Your Love".

[Chris_D]

I met him last month when I was in Vegas. The WCR played a gig at the convention I was attending. During their last song I jumped up on stage & sat next to his drum tech & watched him from literally 2 feet away. When he finished he handed me his sticks & showed me over his DW kit, we had a great chat for well over 5 minutes. A mate took a heap of photos of me with him, he's the nicest, friendliest person you could hope to meet in that situation. It was a great show too.

[DrumEatDrum]

I stumbled upon some footage from 1974 when Aynsley first joined Journey in their fusion days.

Kohoutek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwRSjLXIIYc&feature=related


To Play Some Music" Which features an Aynsley Dunbar drum solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz1HioljzLI&feature=related

It's also interesting to see that he used a one up two down single bass kit at the time, given he would go on to use a much bigger kit with Journey and later, Jefferson Starship.

[BonzoBonham]

Those are Haymans he's playing in those videos.

I stumbled upon some footage from 1974 when Aynsley first joined Journey in their fusion days.

Kohoutek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwRSjLXIIYc&feature=related


To Play Some Music" Which features an Aynsley Dunbar drum solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz1HioljzLI&feature=related

It's also interesting to see that he used a one up two down single bass kit at the time, given he would go on to use a much bigger kit with Journey and later, Jefferson Starship.

[JohnW]

Ansley Dunsbar is a BEAST!!!

One of my favorite cuts from the Grand Wazoo, 'Eat That Question':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jymHINLcjlw

Also,

This is worth re-re-posting:

I stumbled upon some footage from 1974 when Aynsley first joined Journey in their fusion days.

Kohoutek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwRSjLXIIYc&feature=related


To Play Some Music" Which features an Aynsley Dunbar drum solo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz1HioljzLI&feature=related

It's also interesting to see that he used a one up two down single bass kit at the time, given he would go on to use a much bigger kit with Journey and later, Jefferson Starship.

Just superb.

-John