Alan White's Drums (Tormato Era)
Shirley Pitzer
Does anyone know the make of Alan's drums on the GFTO and Tormato tours?
Were they NORTH drums, the curved out ones? Or were they Ludwig, I had
thought he used Ludwig his whole career. Any fellow drummers who can
help??
Bob
Mike
On the 26 Jun 1998 17:28:38 -0600, "Shirley Pitzer"
<shi...@suite224.net> enscripted:q
Definitely Ludwig on GFTO ( check linear notes )
Looks like a nice set of Red Lugs on the Yesshows inside sleeve...(too
hard to tell tho)
thought he was a strict Ludwig man myself.........
Steven Sullivan
Shirley Pitzer <shi...@suite224.net> wrote:
: Does anyone know the make of Alan's drums on the GFTO and Tormato tours?
: thought he used Ludwig his whole career. Any fellow drummers who can
: help??
NOrths for the GftO tour, don't remember what he used for the later tour.
Steven Sullivan
Mike <mdc...@ptd.net> wrote:
: On the 26 Jun 1998 17:28:38 -0600, "Shirley Pitzer"
: <shi...@suite224.net> enscripted:q
:>Does anyone know the make of Alan's drums on the GFTO and Tormato tours?
:>Were they NORTH drums, the curved out ones? Or were they Ludwig, I had
:>thought he used Ludwig his whole career. Any fellow drummers who can
:>help??
:>
:>Bob
: Definitely Ludwig on GFTO ( check linear notes )
But not on tour.
Steve DeMoss
Steven Sullivan <sull...@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu> wrote in article
<B39l1.20$Gy3....@fozzy.nit.gwu.edu>...
> Shirley Pitzer <shi...@suite224.net> wrote:
> : Does anyone know the make of Alan's drums on the GFTO and Tormato
tours?
> : Were they NORTH drums, the curved out ones? Or were they Ludwig, I had
> : thought he used Ludwig his whole career. Any fellow drummers who can
> : help??
>
> NOrths for the GftO tour, don't remember what he used for the later tour.
>
Actually, IIRC he used a Ludwig kit with some North toms mixed in.
Steve DeMoss
Steven Sullivan
Steve DeMoss <mcen...@usit.net> wrote:
: Steven Sullivan <sull...@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu> wrote in article
I'll take your word for it. I recall several fluted North drums at the
MSG show -- including the bass drum? Or is that a fantasy?
Steve DeMoss
Steven Sullivan wrote:
<snip>
>I'll take your word for it. I recall several fluted North drums at the
>MSG show -- including the bass drum? Or is that a fantasy?
I found a picture from '77 at
http://www.smartlink.net/~yesman/images/bandCircus-Oct77.JPG that shows a
pretty good frontal view of AW's kit. No North BD in evidence, but he may
have used one at some point. It looks as though, judging by the photos in
the YesYears booklet, that he scrapped the North toms by the time they
toured in support of _Drama_.
He seems to be big on mixing some rather more (y)esoteric drums into his kit
from time to time. Your comments about the North drums led me to some old
tour programs, and I noticed the timbales he incorporated during the Relayer
tour. It would be no big deal now, but in 1975, it was rather innovative.
There's also a photo in the YesYears booklet showing RotoToms in his kit.
Drum hardware is so much more sophisticated today than it was then. I'm
looking at his kit in the double-page center gatefold in the Relayer
program, and it's a mess. His use of the Gibraltar rack on the current tour
really cleans up the appearance of the drum riser.
Here's another tidbit from the Tormato Era: I seem to recall his use of a
deeper snare drum on "Future Times". As I recall, NuNu Whiting, his roadie,
would hoist it to Alan from beneath the round stage for that number and then
lower it when the song concluded. I think he also kept a spare snare down
there in case of a broken batter head. (No extra keyboard players were
necessary at that time, so there was room.)
Steve DeMoss
(whose own kit could do with a little revamping)
Charles Daigle
Steve DeMoss wrote in message <6n6uie$5mr$1...@news.campus.mci.net>...
>
>Steven Sullivan wrote:
> <snip>
>>I'll take your word for it. I recall several fluted North drums at the
>>MSG show -- including the bass drum? Or is that a fantasy?
>
>I found a picture from '77 at
>http://www.smartlink.net/~yesman/images/bandCircus-Oct77.JPG that shows a
>pretty good frontal view of AW's kit. No North BD in evidence, but he may
>have used one at some point. It looks as though, judging by the photos in
>the YesYears booklet, that he scrapped the North toms by the time they
>toured in support of _Drama_.
>
Does anybody here remember Alan set revolving during Ritual on the
Solos 76 tour to reveal a white set of North drums (1st time I ever saw
one).
It was used only on that solo, then his riser rotated back to his standard
set.
Charles Daigle
Remove NOSPAM when replying
http://geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Delta/2793
Rob MTSD
yes, I remember that.
Rob Allen
Steven Sullivan
Steve DeMoss <ste...@uky.campus.mci.net> wrote:
: Steven Sullivan wrote:
: <snip>
:>I'll take your word for it. I recall several fluted North drums at the
:>MSG show -- including the bass drum? Or is that a fantasy?
: I found a picture from '77 at
: http://www.smartlink.net/~yesman/images/bandCircus-Oct77.JPG that shows a
: pretty good frontal view of AW's kit. No North BD in evidence, but he may
: have used one at some point. It looks as though, judging by the photos in
: the YesYears booklet, that he scrapped the North toms by the time they
: toured in support of _Drama_.
I checked out a 1977 poster that I had rolled up in my closet -- hard to
believe my eyes, but it looks like AW has *two* bass drums, one facing
front, and another facing viewer's left. The pic is not all that clear,
unfortunately. The latter BD appears to be a North. Other Norths are
scattered among the Ludwigs, as you said.
: He seems to be big on mixing some rather more (y)esoteric drums into his kit
: from time to time. Your comments about the North drums led me to some old
: tour programs, and I noticed the timbales he incorporated during the Relayer
: tour. It would be no big deal now, but in 1975, it was rather innovative.
: There's also a photo in the YesYears booklet showing RotoToms in his kit.
: Drum hardware is so much more sophisticated today than it was then. I'm
: looking at his kit in the double-page center gatefold in the Relayer
: program, and it's a mess. His use of the Gibraltar rack on the current tour
: really cleans up the appearance of the drum riser.
: Here's another tidbit from the Tormato Era: I seem to recall his use of a
: deeper snare drum on "Future Times". As I recall, NuNu Whiting, his roadie,
: would hoist it to Alan from beneath the round stage for that number and then
: lower it when the song concluded. I think he also kept a spare snare down
: there in case of a broken batter head. (No extra keyboard players were
: necessary at that time, so there was room.)
Interesting stuff, thanks. HAve your read Bruford's recent interview with
a small British prog magazine (the name escapes me right now, though it's
been referred to here on amy recently -- Henry?). He has some rather
*strong* views on the American drum 'establishment' that might interest a
drummer like yourself.
Simon Barrow
Steven Sullivan:
<< HAve your read Bruford's recent interview with
a small British prog magazine (the name escapes me right now, though
it's
been referred to here on amy recently -- Henry?) >>
Facelift - and it's a Canterbury magazine, rather than a prog one in
general.
Simon
Henry Potts
Steven Sullivan <sull...@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu> writes [...]
>HAve your read Bruford's recent interview with a small British prog
>magazine (the name escapes me right now, though it's been referred to
>the American drum 'establishment' that might interest a drummer like
>yourself.
The 'zine is Facelift and it covers just Canterbury stuff, although they
interpret the genre label very loosely.
--
Henry
Steve DeMoss
Steven Sullivan <sull...@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu> wrote in article
<DOOl1.114$Gy3.5...@fozzy.nit.gwu.edu>...
>
> I checked out a 1977 poster that I had rolled up in my closet -- hard to
> believe my eyes, but it looks like AW has *two* bass drums, one facing
> front, and another facing viewer's left. The pic is not all that clear,
> unfortunately. The latter BD appears to be a North. Other Norths are
> scattered among the Ludwigs, as you said.
I think that what appears to be a North BD is actually a 16" or 18" North
floor tom. The North bass drums, as I recall, were not quite as distinctive
in appearance as the toms.
>
> : Drum hardware is so much more sophisticated today than it was then. I'm
> : looking at his kit in the double-page center gatefold in the Relayer
> : program, and it's a mess. His use of the Gibraltar rack on the current
tour
> : really cleans up the appearance of the drum riser.
>
> : Here's another tidbit from the Tormato Era: I seem to recall his use of
a
> : deeper snare drum on "Future Times". As I recall, NuNu Whiting, his
roadie,
> : would hoist it to Alan from beneath the round stage for that number and
then
> : lower it when the song concluded. I think he also kept a spare snare
down
> : there in case of a broken batter head. (No extra keyboard players were
> : necessary at that time, so there was room.)
>
> Interesting stuff, thanks. HAve your read Bruford's recent interview
with
> a small British prog magazine (the name escapes me right now, though it's
> been referred to here on amy recently -- Henry?). He has some rather
> *strong* views on the American drum 'establishment' that might interest a
> drummer like yourself.
Actually, I'm a bass player who "minored" in drums. (Always wanted a set,
and finally indulged myself one day.) I think the instrumental duality
helps my playing a little bit.
No, I haven't seen the interview, but I can imagine the content. BB has
some rather strong views on most everything musical. He is an amazing
technician, with an equally amazing rhythmic vocabulary. Got to see him do
a Simmons electronic drum demo years ago in a 10' x 10' room at the NAMM
show. As a friend of mine would say, his performance was "large and
festive". I think that most types of music come so easily for Bruford that
it must take a lot to get him excited these days. Yes probably wouldn't do
the trick anymore, I'm afraid.
SD
Steven Sullivan
du> <01bda564$6926b920$b7ca...@mcentral.usit.net>
Organization:
Steve DeMoss <mcen...@usit.net> wrote:
: Steven Sullivan <sull...@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu> wrote in article
: <DOOl1.114$Gy3.5...@fozzy.nit.gwu.edu>...
:>
:> I checked out a 1977 poster that I had rolled up in my closet -- hard to
:> believe my eyes, but it looks like AW has *two* bass drums, one facing
:> front, and another facing viewer's left. The pic is not all that clear,
:> unfortunately. The latter BD appears to be a North. Other Norths are
:> scattered among the Ludwigs, as you said.
: I think that what appears to be a North BD is actually a 16" or 18" North
: floor tom. The North bass drums, as I recall, were not quite as distinctive
: in appearance as the toms.
But the tom must have been on its side then: it's 'mouth' was facing the
audience.
: No, I haven't seen the interview, but I can imagine the content. BB has
: some rather strong views on most everything musical. He is an amazing
: technician, with an equally amazing rhythmic vocabulary. Got to see him do
: a Simmons electronic drum demo years ago in a 10' x 10' room at the NAMM
: show. As a friend of mine would say, his performance was "large and
: festive". I think that most types of music come so easily for Bruford that
: it must take a lot to get him excited these days. Yes probably wouldn't do
: the trick anymore, I'm afraid.
His diatribe on the drum establishment AFAIR wasn't so much about music
,as about the 'star system' of drummers and its relationship to drum
magazines (obviously Modern Drummer is what comes to mind) and drum
endorsements. As for yes, I posted a few of his choicer comments about
the way the band worked then and now, awhile back here on amy.
Steve DeMoss
Steven Sullivan <sull...@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu> wrote in article
<VkDm1.313$Gy3.1...@fozzy.nit.gwu.edu>...
> But the tom must have been on its side then: it's 'mouth' was facing the
> audience.
No, actually the flared "horn" on the North toms curves away from the
batter head on all of the toms, including the FT. The mouth opens up at
about a 30-40 degree angle from what would be parallel to the batter head.
>
> His diatribe on the drum establishment AFAIR wasn't so much about music
> ,as about the 'star system' of drummers and its relationship to drum
> magazines (obviously Modern Drummer is what comes to mind) and drum
> endorsements. As for yes, I posted a few of his choicer comments about
> the way the band worked then and now, awhile back here on amy.
>
I'll have to try and find the magazine. Do they publish a web edition?
SD
Steven Sullivan
Steve DeMoss <mcen...@usit.net> wrote:
: Steven Sullivan <sull...@gwis2.circ.gwu.edu> wrote in article
I doubt it. I can send you a xerox if you like.
Henry Potts
Steve DeMoss <mcen...@usit.net> writes [...]
>I'll have to try and find the magazine [Facelift]. Do they publish a
>web edition?
There are some back issues on the 'Net at
http://www.ponk.com/facelift.htm or e-mail the editor/publisher, Phil
Howitt <face...@gpo.sonnet.co.uk> for subscription details.
--
Henry
jd...@doe.com
<he...@bondegezou.demon.co.uk.REMOVE-TO-EMAIL> wrote:
He used North drums.
Vince S.
In Article<6o1l80$1...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>, <jd...@doe.com> writes:
> He used North drums.
Actually, this is only partially true. On the 1978 tour,
Alan used a Ludwig Classic kit with some North toms added for effect.
The kit was multi-colored. Each drum was painted in a different laquer
finish. The Ludwig drums were made of shells composed of a combination
of maple and poplar, and the North drums were made of fiberglass. His
snare drum was a 6&1/2 by 14" Ludwig Supraphonic (he also used a Ludwig
military snare for "Future Times"). By 1979, Alan had recieved a new kit
from Ludwig, now in a natural dark wood finish. Ludwig enticed Alan to
drop the North drums from his setup my making him various odd-sized toms
to replace the North drums he had been using. If you have the video from
Phili (79), this is the kit Alan is seen playing the "Ritual" solo on.
One last note about North Drums. If you were lucky enough to see Yes on
their 1976 World Tour (the last with Moraz, often called the "Solo Albums
Tour"), you would have seen Alan's drum riser rotate completely around during
the "Ritual" solo. His stainless steel Ludwigs disappeared, and on the other
side of the riser stood an entire white kit of North Drums, used only for
that solo. This happened to be my very first Yes concert, and I was in a
daze for weeks after seeing that. For those of you not familiar with North
Drums, they were popular in the late 70's. The shells had top heads only,
and were curved toward the audience with bell-shaped bottoms. They probably
appealed to Alan because they looked very "Roger Dean-ish".
Vince