Black Crowes Drummer Steve Gorman on Ringo Starr

BeatlesFan · #1 08-29-2010, 09:27 PM

By Annie Zaleski, Thu., Aug. 26 2010 @ 12:45PM Categories: Story Outtakes

On Ringo Starr and how Ringo influenced his playing as a drummer:
RFT: I know that Ringo Starr is a big influence on you as a drummer, which I find interesting because while he is revered by many, he hasn't always been labeled critically as a great drummer. So I'm curious to know how he influenced you as a player.

People still argue about [basketball players] Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, you know what I mean? And if that's an argument you're going to actively [pursue] - anyone who says Wilt Chamberlain, I don't even listen to them. I don't want to know anything else about their life. It's like saying Ringo or Neil Peart - that doesn't even make sense to me. Of course Neil Peart is an amazing drummer, as is John Bonham, as is Charlie Watts, as is Glenn Kotche from Wilco - that guy is insane! I would honestly say even more so than Bonham and Led Zeppelin, I can't imagine another drummer playing in The Beatles. The sound and feel of that band, people just take them for granted as far as how great of a band they were, because they're the biggest band ever.

You go back and listen to their live tapes from '62 and '63, when they're just playing six hours a night, they are swinging like crazy! Ringo is such a swinging drummer and he's very much a groove drummer. Everyone talks about Ringo because he's the most famous drummer ever and they miss the point on him. The other guy that no one ever talks about is John Densmore from the Doors, who's just a monster part of what the Doors were. The Ringo thing, you just can't hear anybody else playing those tunes. You just can't imagine any of that stuff making more sense. I hear "The Ballad of John and Yoko" and it just makes my skin crawl to hear Paul McCartney play that drum kit the way he plays it. It's hard for me to even know where to start because there's hardly been anybody more musically in tune with what the song needed than Ringo Starr. Who knows how it must have been like to be in the Beatles, but the fact is he was the one in The Beatles. You look at the scoreboard and they won the game, you know what I mean?

Definitely. You hear certain drummers, and you know by the sound of their playing, exactly who it is behind the kit.

Totally. The best example is on the "Sgt. Pepper" reprise at the end of the album, when it counts in and he just plays that little beat for eight measures, that is my favorite drum pass of all time. I can listen to that on a loop for an hour. It just feels perfect to me - that's what everything is supposed to feel like, right there. And every drummer in the world can play it, but nobody can make it feel like that. Drumming is about something feels.

Source: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/ato...tlist_2010.php

BeatlesFan · #2 08-29-2010, 09:27 PM

Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman gives nice props to Ringo Starr

Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman used his column on the group's website to give some unabashed praise to fellow drummer Ringo Starr. Here are his comments, which Gorman graciously allowed us to reprint (and thanks to Allen Stearns for telling us about this):

Hey Steve,

Here’s my question- I’ve recently been playing The Beatles: Rock Band and I’m realizing more now just how different Ringo was as a drummer.

His playing is pretty simple and very connected to the songs, yet less intuitive than a lot of subsequent rock drummers.

I can’t really put my finger on why, but learning the tunes is actually kinda difficult.

Any thoughts?

Spencer
San Francisco, CA

Long time fan. Saw you guys with Joan Jett and Aerosmith in Miami in 1990, I think.

Spencer

First things first – I don’t remember ever having played a show in Miami with Aerosmith and Joan Jett.

We certainly did some shows with Aerosmith in 1990, but none were anywhere near Miami.

And, as much as we do in fact love rock n’ roll, we never were party to anyone putting another dime in any jukebox, baby, either.

So, with that cleared up, let’s move on:

Ringo Starr’s drumming is infallible, untouchable, and he is quite simply the greatest drummer in the history of rock n roll music.

So, there’s that.

With this in mind, it would stand to reason that you might struggle to learn his parts, even on so rudimentary a level as Rock Band provides. I will resist the urge to write an endless screed about why Ringo’s drumming is beyond reproach and instead offer a quick “Q and A” to examine your specific points.

Q) Was Ringo actually “different as a drummer”?

A) Was Magic Johnson “different as a point guard“? Was Frank Lloyd Wright “different as an architect”? You bet your ass. As much as people try to disparage Ringo’s playing, no one ever seems to have a suggestion as to what drummer would have made those recordings better. And that’s because there was not, is not, and never will be, a drummer more perfectly suited for the Beatles.

Q) Was his playing “pretty simple and connected to the songs”?

A) If by “pretty simple”, you mean “pretty perfect” and if by “connected to the songs”, you mean, “integral to the execution of these rock n’ roll masterpieces”, then the answer is a resounding YES.

Q) Was Ringo “less intuitive” than a lot of subsequent rock drummers?

A) Absolutely not. Few if any drummers in rock history have been more intuitive. Ringo understood exactly what every song needed to have, and bear in mind he was working with not one, but three songwriters.

Q) Any thoughts?

A) Yes. Don’t argue with me about this. I know what I know.

I love John Bonham, Charlie Watts, Phil Rudd, and the nutjob from Wilco (and about a million other drummers) as much as anyone could. They are all perfect for their bands. They are all irreplaceable. But Ringo was in THE BEATLES.

Check the scoreboard.

Ringo wins.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/beatles-in-n...to-ringo-starr

brady · #3 08-30-2010, 12:22 AM

Thanks for the story and link, BeatlesFan.

If anyone has read a few interviews from Steve Gorman he is always talking about Ringo being a huge influence on him.

I actually had the pleasure of meeting him briefly last night as the Black Crowes played Omaha. (Council Bluffs, IA technically...) I saw him heading back to the bus after soundcheck, got a handshake, an autograph, and briefly talked some Beatles. But unfortunately, no picture.

With his 'What's Wrong...With Steve' advice column in mind from the BC website, I asked him what is the first record one should own from The Beatles. He pretty much recommended their first...and proceeding from there.
I also admitted I rip him off quite often in my own drumming. He said he knew exactly how that goes; that he's been ripping off great drummers for years.

Another thing about him is that he is very tall. So maybe it's a good thing I didn't get that picture after all. I doubt we could fit in the same frame. He's probably a full foot taller than me...

KBadd · #4 08-30-2010, 12:26 AM

I pretty much............................love this!

BeatlesFan · #5 08-30-2010, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brady

Thanks for the story and link, BeatlesFan.

If anyone has read a few interviews from Steve Gorman he is always talking about Ringo being a huge influence on him.

I actually had the pleasure of meeting him briefly last night as the Black Crowes played Omaha. (Council Bluffs, IA technically...) I saw him heading back to the bus after soundcheck, got a handshake, an autograph, and briefly talked some Beatles. But unfortunately, no picture.

With his 'What's Wrong...With Steve' advice column in mind from the BC website, I asked him what is the first record one should own from The Beatles. He pretty much recommended their first...and proceeding from there.
I also admitted I rip him off quite often in my own drumming. He said he knew exactly how that goes; that he's been ripping off great drummers for years.

Another thing about him is that he is very tall. So maybe it's a good thing I didn't get that picture after all. I doubt we could fit in the same frame. He's probably a full foot taller than me...

I'm interested to know what brief discussion about The Beatles you had. :)

brady · #6 08-30-2010, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeatlesFan

I'm interested to know what brief discussion about The Beatles you had. :)

Just the record question pretty much. He had a hard time thinking of which one to start with. (I felt a little bad putting him on the spot, but it was just a fun, frivolous question.)

He said all their records were so good. (Truth.) His first record was Meet The Beatles. I can imagine many Ringo obsessions started with that record. Personally, mine was Revolver.

Redbeard · #7 08-30-2010, 06:45 AM

Ringo was my first and probably greatest drumming influence, and The Black Crowes are my favorite band, so Steve has also influenced my playing (and is an all-around cool guy). I'm not getting in to the neverending Ringo debate, but like Steve said, the fact is Ringo was the drummer for the biggest rock band in the world. Couple that with his well-known effect on sales of Ludwig drums, and it's hard to argue that Ringo has influenced countless drummers over the last 40+ years.
As for first Beatles record to recommend, I'd probably say Revolver.
And since Steve Gorman's involved, I'd go with Southern Harmony & Musical Companion as the Crowes record to start with.

BeatlesFan · #8 08-30-2010, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbeard

Ringo was my first and probably greatest drumming influence, and The Black Crowes are my favorite band, so Steve has also influenced my playing (and is an all-around cool guy). I'm not getting in to the neverending Ringo debate, but like Steve said, the fact is Ringo was the drummer for the biggest rock band in the world. Couple that with his well-known effect on sales of Ludwig drums, and it's hard to argue that Ringo has influenced countless drummers over the last 40+ years.
As for first Beatles record to recommend, I'd probably say Revolver.
And since Steve Gorman's involved, I'd go with Southern Harmony & Musical Companion as the Crowes record to start with.

Another underrated album to reccomend is their Live at the BBC sessions...

I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry Over You (Live at the BBC): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwkYlcT6eQ

Thank You Girl (Live at the BBC): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geeI9cbYskI

Matchbox (Live at the BBC): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6dSq4X-k_Y