Albert, Bob And Frankie Lee

A chap who handed me a small piece of paper outside the Albert Hall during Bob Dylan's most recent performances there turned out to go by the name of Frankie Lee – not Judas Priest, but Frankie Lee – and when I contacted him later, he turned out to be a purveyor of high-quality bootlegs.

Not your official Bootleg Series bootlegs – real bootlegs – and they seem to be so extensive that I could probably buy enough to give me listening material for what remains of my life.

After being slightly troubled by the morality of acquiring Dylan material that somehow has been sneaked away from recording studio and concert hall desks, with presumably no money finding its way to the artist, I succumbed to the temptation of ordering 'After The Empire' – allegedly the missing link between 'Empire Burlesque' and 'Knocked Out Loaded', both much panned albums but both also containing real gems.

It does not disappoint. It's raw Dylan in the studio, playing with and exploring songs that, as far as I know, have surfaced nowhere else.

It's a mark of the man's genius that even his musings, sketchings and jam sessions produce songs that no one else could come close to in terms of feel, intensity and passion.

Oh, Frankie, what have you started?

Drummer's Farewell

Sad to see that 'Drummer' magazine has just put out its final issue. It was often alone in presenting some intelligent coverage of drummers and drumming, with 'Rhythm' tending to concentrate on metal and speed, and even the once dependably serious 'Modern Drummer' starting to move in a similar direction.

The best thing in the final issue, apart from the general feeling of optimism and encouragement from the editor and her team, was an interview with Jon Hiseman, a truly remarkable musician and, judging by this and other interviews, a really good and caring human being.

The first drum kit I ever got close to and, in fact, helped to set up was Jon Hiseman's. His roadie let me into an early Colosseum gig for free on condition that I helped with the gear. A no brainer. From that first time I saw Hiseman play – right up close – I was impressed equally by his technique and his passion.

The Hiseman interview is by the excellent journalist Brent Keefe, also a drummer of course, and currently on tour with The Carpenters Show. When I met him recently, Brent recommended trying 'Drumhead' magazine, so I'm hoping that will be a worthy substitute for 'Drummer'.

Tools Of The Trades

Only just seen this picture which was snatched at the Levellers' Metway Studios in Brighton, during the recording of the Unison Bends album 'Liquor And Iron'. This and more are on the UBs' website. 

It's the only time I think I've been captured with the tools of both my trades to hand – the one for writing and the one for playing.

The laptop and the drums. I can't imagine life without them both!

Honest John

After John Densmore's 'Riders On The Storm', here's another essential rock book I should have read already and have only just got round to... and another honest John.

In 'Anger is An Energy' John Lydon certainly talks a good book. 'A paradiddle is what a drummer practises,' he explains. 'Every drummer I know, they're always in a corner going, 'Paradiddle, paradiddle, paradiddle', tapping their knees. 'As on so much else, he's right, of course. 

But he is particularly interesting when he gets to Ginger Baker (who, along with Tony Williams, played on Public Image Ltd's album 'Album').

'Look at what that fella did with drumming!' says Lydon. 'That's from the bombed-out part of London, that one, right? And in the 70s he's off to Africa to live with Fela Kuti before anybody even knew what that place was offering! He was straight into it...'

So right. Long before the discovery of so-called world music, Mr Baker had been there, done it and come back inspired.

Road Casualty

It's reported that Adele has had to cancel tour dates due to illness, telling fans that she has pushed herself too hard. Her tour started in February and is due to end in November. One UK national newspaper said that it was "not surprising", given the length of the tour.

Adele was born in 1988. That's the year that Bob Dylan started his so-called Never Ending Tour and he's been on the road pretty much ever since. That's 28 years.

Storm Trooper

I don't know why it took me so long, but I finally got around to reading 'Riders On The Storm', drummer John Densmore's account of his time with the Doors.

The Doors were an amazing band on so many levels and remain so. As I said in my previous post on the death of Ray Manzarek, they were way out ahead of the Beatles and the Stones.

If ever proof were needed of the skill, intelligence, thoughtfulness and passion of the drummer, Densmore's book is exactly that. And if you want sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, they're all there too.

Densmore's ability to use the drums to respond to other instruments but, above all, to Jim Morrison's words and almost complete unpredictability on stage continue to inspire me, and no doubt countless other players.

Complimentary Medicine

There were a couple of nice moments for me during the recent Unison Bends recording sessions at the Levellers' Metway Studios in Brighton – oh ok, ego-stroking moments.

One came in the control room when engineer Jake Rousham was playing back one of our tracks from the first day. "Do I hear Ginger Baker?" he asked, nodding towards my drumming.

"Yes, I'm channelling him from his deathbed," I said, extremely pleased at what I took to be a compliment, but knowing that I will always be many miles behind Mr Baker. *

Then, on the final day, I had to overdub a few bars of harmonica  on an epic Russ Payne song with a touch of the Westerns about it. I only did one take and wasn't at all happy with it.

"Can I do it again?" I asked.

"No, it's good," said Russ.

"I don't think so..." I began to argue.

"It's very Bob," said Jake.

And that was the end of that discussion. I was more than happy.

* For the record, Mr Baker isn't on his deathbed. According to his website, he's had heart surgery and is recovering and may even play drums again.