Читать книгу Mad, Bad and Dangerous - The Book of Drummers' Tales - Spike Webb - Страница 9

One of the founders of Status Quo, John Coghlan played drums on some of the best rock singles of the ’70s. His drumming was the backbone of all-time powerhouse greats that filled auditoriums like the Hammersmith Odeon with mops of flying hair and dandruff. It also inspired the famous bikers’ headbanging dance. With six hit singles and seven gold albums behind him, John now plays at his leisure with his own band, John Coghlan’s Quo.

Unassuming and extremely approachable, this 24-carat rock legend was helping me prop up the bar in his local village pub in the Cotswolds when he recalled a brief incident a few years ago at the famous racetrack at Donington….

The year is 2004 and I’ve just been watching my mate Nick Mason (drummer with Pink Floyd) racing around the track at Donington. He’s a pretty impressive racing driver, that having been a passion of his for many years.

The after-race party is about to start and I am at the bar in the marquee, having set my drum kit up on stage. John Coghlan’s Quo are playing tonight, plus an assortment of other notable musicians. Once again, it seems to have fallen to me to do the honours and provide the drum kit, but even though I’ve never been mad keen to lend the kit out, it’s better than all that changing over nonsense.

After a while, Nick comes up for a chat.

‘Hi John, how’s it going? When’s the gig kicking off?’

‘About an hour I reckon…’

‘I wouldn’t mind doing a bit – OK if I use your kit? I know it always seems to be you that gets lumbered…’

‘Yeah, no problem…’

I spend the next hour or so mixing with various old musician mates at the bar. Then suddenly Nick taps me on the shoulder.

‘Sorry mate, thanks anyway but it looks like I’ve gotta go!’

‘Oh, how come?’

‘I’d forgotten it’s going to be dark in about half an hour and my driver prefers not to take me home in the dark.’

‘OK, no probs! See you next time.’

Nick leaves the marquee and I get back to my mates, but something strikes me as a bit odd. Why would a professional driver have a problem taking Nick home in the dark? Oh, well, it takes all sorts I suppose.

A few minutes later, I’m dying for a piss so I leave the marquee for the Portaloo just across the car park. As I’m crossing the car park, I hear a whirring sound about a hundred yards to my right.

I turn to look. As it’s not quite dark yet, I can just make out Nick Mason waving goodbye from the cockpit of his helicopter.

There are, of course, always exceptions to every rule. While most drummers are happy to let others play their kits at jam sessions, the same doesn’t usually apply to big shows with support bands, so they supply their own kits. There are occasions, however, when using just one kit can make sense. Usually, whoever is playing last will allow the support drummer to use his kit (perhaps with a changeover of snare drum). In this case the exception proved the rule…