The World's Wealthiest Drummer

[five eight]

Playing with a calculator the other night I arrived at a figure that I suspect is an average that Neil Peart takes home per show. After taxes and overhead it's about fifty grand. The only other drummer I can think of who may have this kind of cash is Charlie Watts. The Beatles always have had money woes so I don't think Ringo's bank account is as rosy as Neil's or Charlie's. I'm sure JR Robinson, Simon and Vinnie have probably banked a couple mill apiece though they might not be that rich on paper after homes, cars, and ex-wives.

When Bonham died he was worth a mere million and a half after 12 years' work with Led Wallet, a mighty low figure considering Bonzo's cars were figured into that figure.

But I'm talking living drummers here. Who do you think has the biggest 'pocket'?

[Mr. Acrolite]

I don't know, but typically actual band members will make WAY more than professional sidemen.

Sidemen typically don't get record royalties, publishing royalties, or merchandise money from tours.

I'm sure Neil is comfortable. But I wouldn't be surprised if a less conspicuous drummer in a more successful band that sells more records than Rush is making far more than Neil. And guys like Vinnie and JR are down several tiers from that.


Mr. A.

[FuseU1]

Pocket [Player]... [img]wink.gif[/img]

[peter c]

"Wealth" is a transient
word, 5-8. For a single
tour, I suspect that it
was what Steve Gadd
made for the first Simon
& Garfunkel reunion tour.

When Steve was asked to
do it, he first declined
because of all the lost
work he'd experience,
'reportedly' saying:

"You'd have to pay me
$_______ to get me to
go with you."

We know that he went
and we know how much
Paul loved(s) him.

It's true that it does not
matter that much but the
market is the market is
the market.

[img]cool.gif[/img]

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 12, 2003 03:24 PM: Message edited by: peter c ]</font>

[Dazzler]

Who cares? I certainly wouldn't ask any of you what you earn. Are you in it for the love of money or the music?

[five eight]

I agree, Mr. A, and chose this topic to have dialogue like your response. Would you name some bands you think are banking more money than Rush that don't have names like Kid Rock (which I believe is a sideman gig)? I'm curious about this and not looking for arguments, just opinions. I use Rush ONLY as an example because they're well beyond paying any record company advances back and are totally autonomous, etc.

[FuseU1]

...It IS financially better to be part of a successful 'band' as opposed to being a sideman... [img]eek.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [altho to be a sideman of Gadd's stature can be very lucrative]...

BTW, 5, gotcho pm, thx; i'll be respondin soon.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 12, 2003 03:22 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>

[FuseU1]

I would like to think that a guy like, say, Joey Kramer has done pretty well for himself AW....

[blake1]

<font size="8">Max Weinberg</font>

I'll bet ya one $1.00 US

[five eight]

Joey slipped my mind, good one, and Max Weinberg, yeah. Saw him on Conan last night and he was smoking some doublehand crossovers. I imagine Hart & Kreutzmann are rolling in Deadhead dollars now that I think about it.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 12, 2003 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Five Eight ]</font>