Leonard Smalls

Say What? - Trouble Funk

Yakkity Yak - Chas and Dave

You'd think so! But I went to see him once in a promising but bizarre mix with funk keys wizard of Woo, Bernie Worrell and bass-master-of-Mahavishnu, Jonas Hellborg at the Jazz Cafe... And he appeared to be wholly out of his depth - whenever he tried his "incredible jazz chops" they sort of fell flat, they just didn't work and he just looked out of place in such exalted company. So he started getting petulant and spent ages tuning his snare between each song, as if it was to blame. So in my experience, he's revered for being merely OK. Perhaps he was better back in the day, but bear in mind Clapton is also revered despite being nowhere near as good as yer actual blues-meisters like the Alberts!

He would be high on the list of top over-rated drummers... With Ginger Baker and Keith Moon

Arguably... Though I suspect the list of top 5 best known (not best!) drummers would be: 1. Animal (Muppets) 2. John Bonham 3. Phil Collins 4. Ginger Baker 5. Keith Moon that goes without saying

Sister Morphine - Marianne Faithful

He's a decent drummer, to be sure... But the ones I mentioned are probably at least as good as Mr. C, probably a lot better in some cases, and completely unknown outside of serious muso circles. So they're the ones who are the most under-rated in the history of history!

I suspect this isn't true at all... He's considerably better known as a drummer than some serious titans of percussion; I'll bet if you asked 100 folks to name 5 drummers he'd be in there, but the likes of Dennis Chambers, Billy Cobham, Grant Calvin Weston, Jojo Mayer, Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey, Jabbo Sparks, Clyde Stubblefield or Omar Hakim wouldn't get a single mention!

Crate Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis

Umbrella! - Rhianna

Telegram Cam(belt) - Bauhaus

As someone who doesn't really like crowds, playing in a band is perfect for me... During the day I can go climbing on some crag in the back of beyond, wallowing in the virtual solitude of just me and my partner. And at night me and my bandmates can go out and make a racket somewhere safe in the knowledge that it will be empty. Heaven!

Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley

Space is the Place! - Jonzun Crew

Working for the Yankee Dollar - Skids

Come Together! - Beatles

Being mean, I found the best way to do this was not to spend any money and do strengthening exercises every morning at home - currently doing a mixture of pilates and yoga, with crunchies (mmm!), press ups, squats (50lbs on a bar), curls and a few other bit'n'bobs . It does add getting on for 1/2 hour to my getting up routine, but no bad back for around 15 years...

Karma Sutra Police - Radiohead

Wouldn't it be Nice - Beach Boys

Su Casa es mi Casa - Infectious Grooves

Drop The Bomb! - Trouble Funk

She Shells Sanctuary - The Cult

Dinner dinner dinner dinner, Batman! - 60s tv theme by Neal Hefti

Had a decent one breaking in our new guitarist and drummer... It's made me realise that some of our songs are quite complicated and not easy to learn, especially as guitarman doesn't know music theory. While some are just a straight-ahead thrash, in the others I have to show what "this bit goes down chromatically in major thirds" or "emphasise the diminished fifth" means. And one song has ten different sections... But luckily he's got a good ear and plays instinctively. And new drummer actually listens carefully to the bassline and vocal before committing to a beat. As a result, drumming is funkier, guitar punkier and a bit more metal which I think will be a Very Good Thing!