We communicate to music journalist Christopher Weingarten about why so many high-profile drummers have both been fired or retired this 12 months in what’s been dubbed the “Drumpocalypse.”
(SOUNDBITE OF FOO FIGHTERS SONG, “MY HERO”)
AYESHA RASCOE, HOST:
In terms of bands, drummers are hardly ever within the highlight, and but they supply the rhythm, the tempo, the beat that may make a track unforgettable.
(SOUNDBITE OF FOO FIGHTERS SONG, “MY HERO”)
RASCOE: However in standard tradition, they’re usually the punch line. Within the 1984 mockumentary, “This Is Spinal Faucet,” one drummer famously met a weird finish.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “THIS IS SPINAL TAP”)
MICHAEL MCKEAN: (As David St. Hubbins) Dozens of individuals spontaneously combust annually.
RASCOE: Right this moment, although, drummers are going through a brand new form of risk. Greater than a dozen high-profile drummers have both been fired or retired from their bands this 12 months in what’s been dubbed…
CHRISTOPHER WEINGARTEN: The drumpocalypse.
RASCOE: That is Christopher Weingarten, a music journalist who’s been writing concerning the development for the net music weblog Stereogum. Among the many bands parting methods with their drummers – Weapons N’ Roses, Foo Fighters and The Who.
WEINGARTEN: I feel that is unprecedented.
(SOUNDBITE OF THE WHO SONG, “WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN”)
WEINGARTEN: The Who firing Zak Starkey was headlines as a result of he is been within the band for nearly 30 years, you realize. He was – he was within the band longer than Keith Moon was within the band.
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RASCOE: One other firing, Josh Freese, the drummer of the Foo Fighters.
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WEINGARTEN: Josh Freese might be essentially the most dependable employed gun in all of different rock. He’s a machine.
RASCOE: And he is bought the resume to again it up.
WEINGARTEN: He is performed for Devo for a few years. He is performed with 9 Inch Nails, with Weapons N’ Roses, with Weezer, with The Offspring. He’s the man.
RASCOE: So what’s behind the drumpocalypse?
WEINGARTEN: Occam’s razor will let you know that it is only a coincidence.
RASCOE: However Weingarten says age is an enormous issue and…
WEINGARTEN: The financial actuality now could be totally different than it was 20 years in the past.
RASCOE: Drummers aren’t making the large bucks they used to, and the life-style is not glamorous. Years on the highway takes its toll. However when one drummer steps down, another person will get to select up the drumsticks.
JOHN HOFFMAN: I form of needed to go trial by hearth.
RASCOE: That is John Hoffman, who just lately joined the rock band Primus.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
RASCOE: He beat out greater than 6,000 different drummers for the gig.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
RASCOE: And now he says his new bandmates are watching him develop into his new position and develop into a rock star.
HOFFMAN: I feel that on one hand, they’re giving me type of room to develop and area to unfold my wings, however I feel in addition they form of in some methods, get a kick out of watching me type of expertise these new issues that they have been, you realize, concerned in for many years and many years.
(SOUNDBITE OF PRIMUS SONG, “DUCHESS (AND THE PROVERBIAL MIND SPREAD)”)
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