Chester Thompson - Unsung Hero

**FuseU1** · September 5th, 2003, 01:36 AM

LOL - u r right, ben... each time i saw CT in clinic, he took an extremely EXORBITANT amount of time tuning each & every drum b4 he'd play, explaining, "i'm a obsessive fanatic about how my drums should sound," or something close to that... then he commnenced to play/groove the SCHATT outta that kit...

CT also plays on Stv Hackett [of early-to-mid Genesis]'s solo CD, Watcher of the Skies... even tho it ends up being a weirder version, Dance on a Volcano has that unmistakeable CT groove in the 1st part [even better than the way he did it w Genesis]... & Fountains of Salmacis you'll have to listen to for yourself... it also has J Wetton, Pino Palladino; AWA Bruford, Tarquin Bombast[sp?], & Hugo Degenhardt [another incredible drummer] on there AW]... worth the buy, to me...

beat hit - 4 U, m' man -
MD Nov '99 [Jeff Tain Watts on cover]-"Reflections w VC"
VC on CT:
"I remember hearing Ralph [Humphrey] on some of the Zappa records b4 i was involved. I thought, 'Listen to THIS guy - he's really, really good.' Same w Chester. I'm sure Frank chose them for their roles... CT was the get-down, groovin', really greasy drummer. I love the way C brought FZ's music to life & the feel he put to it. He treated that complex music w such playfulness, & brought it down to earth. He didn't keep it in the cerebral realm that it was in. He became the soul of the band, executing stuff of that complexity w the gut that he did. He's such a 'joyful' player. C has so much ability, & yet is such an amazing team player. That role can be so underestimated in an age where 'evryone wants to be a star.' Very few understand how important it is to be that. C undertakes that role w such life & soul that he takes it beyond where it needs to be. Yet he never gets in the way, despite how much capacity he has. He deserves more respect & attention for the importance of what he's contributed."
VC also comments on Erskine, SSmith, Elvin, Buddy, JackD, Tony, Cobham, Aynsley, Chad, TBoz, Bruford, Harvey Mason, Ringo, Weckl, Josh Freese, Dennis, Simon, El Negro, Tain, & Abe Jr; but I AIN'T typin' all 'dat - gotsda go PLAY....

[ September 04, 2003 11:09 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]

**benrand** · September 5th, 2003, 07:25 AM

One of the best examples of Chester's playing, I think, is the You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol 2 disc by the 74 Zappa band...he plays some SCARY stuff on that disc...and at blazing speeds. With Humphrey, he is subdued, but by himself driving that band he wails.

I read somehwere that Frank's fave band was the one Chester was in.

**benrand** · September 5th, 2003, 04:04 PM

I have lying around somewhere a portion of the MAMA concert vid...it's one of my favorite drum things, well shot and Phil and Chest arejust going OFF.

The drumduet rocks, as does In the Cage...Second Home by the Sea...lots of good music.

**FuseU1** · September 5th, 2003, 05:01 PM

MAN... haven't heard a lotta that paricular FZ stuff [like Helsinki - FZ musta LOVED THAT town's name; is this the same as "YCDTOSA vol 2"?]... I'm ALWAYS sayin' - [obviously] I needs to gets me some more ZAPPA... [& since i really dig CT, & virtually almost ALL other drummers FZ had, FTM]...
I DO have/am familiar w SUAPYG, Joe'sG & TinsReb [V "the New-Hole-Ripper" C] tho [img]wink.gif[/img]

[ September 05, 2003 02:09 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]

**beat Hit** · September 5th, 2003, 05:44 PM

Fuse,

Thanks so much for doing that, appreciated.

I remembered Vinnie's words on Chester as being so gracious and right on. I couldn't say it any better... Every one has his own "role" to play.

Speaking of Genesis, there's "Three Sides Live" and also "Four Sides Live"(imported) correct? Bill Bruford plays a track on the Four Sides Live, heard it once or twice... AWESOME!!! I love Bruford's playing on Cinema Show of Second Out...

Phil COllins is another one we don't speak enough of too... Maybe 'cause he switched to front-line singing and that we've not forgiven him as of yet?? LOL!!!

Later,

**Randy walker** · September 5th, 2003, 05:49 PM

Phil rules............big fan of his playing, especially Brand X stuff.

**buga** · September 5th, 2003, 05:52 PM

Fuse what does he say about Bozzio? *ducks and covers* [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

**FuseU1** · September 5th, 2003, 06:13 PM

Beat hit - " *ding-ding-ding* [bell-ringing] - you ARE corrrect, sah!" - i totally agree - Bruford ROX the friggin SCHIZZ on Cinemashow, 2ndsOut!! - SA-MOHHHKED it... prob my FAVE version of it [i turn that one up REALLY loud on my stereo system & rok out]... u also might wanna pick up Stv Hackett's Watcher of the Skies solo CD [i need to too, as i have it on *gasp* tape]... it's a great disc; Bruford's on it, he does a fine job, esp on SH's version of "Watcher..." Chester's on there, & another ferocious drummer named Hugo Degenhardt[sp?]... anyone heard of/know anything about him?...

Phil smoked w Brand X - any1 ever hear him on "Unorthodox Behaviour," or "Is There Anything About?" - grooves his evaluvin' English-arse off on that last 1]... the great-n-funky Mike Clarke [fr Herbie Hancock's Headhunters] mops da floor on BX's "Do They Hurt?" AW... & I'll bet mebbe RW knows a li'l somethin about Chuck Burgi ["Masques"], perhaps, AW... [img]wink.gif[/img]

To Boz... "Bozzio," - WHO?!
I jest wif ya, man...
Give me some time to go & dig it back out [a few daze... mebbe weeks.... [img]wink.gif[/img]

[ September 05, 2003 03:20 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]

**BennyAndTheSkins** · September 5th, 2003, 06:36 PM

Yeah, Phil definitely had some groove goin' on.
Listen to Three Sides Live, the Third Side, the tune
You Might Recall. Great, linear, ghost-noted feel.

I just never saw how he could play that drumset, left-handed or not, his snare was always so low between his legs.... Wierd.

Gretsch sells a Phil Collins set. Check it out at their site.