A Stray Cat Struts (31 page)
Read A Stray Cat Struts Online
Authors: Slim Jim Phantom
Â
I've never seen a drummer I didn't like. I can watch any drummer in any live situation and get something positive out of his or her playing. All drummers get along with one another, and there is definitely a universal camaraderie, unlike any other group of musicians. I always wanted to be part of this brother-sisterhood. The older I've gotten, the more I embrace my own place in and contribution to this special club.
I'd like to use this time and space to offer thanks to a few of my favorites. I'm very happy to say that I can count quite a few of these folks as real friends. Knowing and hanging out with certain people on this list were childhood drummer dreams come true. A young me would've signed any deal with the devil to have been guaranteed peerage with these cats. Dipped in blood and signed with a drumstick, of course.
Dickie “Be-Bop” Harrell | Â Â Â | Mick Fleetwood |
DJ Fontana | Â Â Â | Freddie Below |
Charles Connor | Â Â Â | Willie “Big Eyes” Smith |
Earl Palmer | Â Â Â | Al Jackson, Jr. |
W. S. “Fluke” Holland | Â Â Â | Dennis Davis |
Buddy Harman | Â Â Â | Pete Thomas |
Charlie Watts | Â Â Â | Neil Peart |
Ringo Starr | Â Â Â | Sid Catlett |
Philly Joe Jones | Â Â Â | Dennis Wilson |
Max Roach | Â Â Â | Meg White |
Gene Krupa | Â Â Â | Jim Gordon |
J. M. Van Eaton | Â Â Â | Gina Schock |
Chick Webb | Â Â Â | Max Weinberg |
Martin Chambers | Â Â Â | Roger Taylor |
Clem Burke | Â Â Â | Phil Taylor |
Paul Cook | Â Â Â | Terry Bozzio |
Jim Keltner | Â Â Â | Jughead Jones |
Nigel Olsson | Â Â Â | Chris Blackwell |
Jim Hodder | Â Â Â | Zigaboo Modeliste |
Buddy Rich | Â Â Â | Ray Lucas |
Jeff Porcaro | Â Â Â | Stewart Copeland |
Bernard Purdie | Â Â Â | Eric Singer |
Rick Marotta | Â Â Â | Tommy Clufetos |
Louis Bellson | Â Â Â | Brian Tichy |
Alan Dawson | Â Â Â | Shelly Manne |
Steve Gadd | Â Â Â | Papa Jo Jones |
Nicky “Topper” Headon | Â Â Â | Stix Hooper |
Jerry Allison | Â Â Â | Phil Collins |
Clyde Stubblefield | Â Â Â | Rick Allen |
Blair Cunningham | Â Â Â | Mousey Alexander |
Billy Cobham | Â Â Â | Terry Williams |
Tony Williams | Â Â Â | Steve Ferrone |
Elvin Jones | Â Â Â | Stan Lynch |
Joe Morello | Â Â Â | Roy Haynes |
Carmine Appice | Â Â Â | Chris Layton |
Cindy Blackman | Â Â Â | Randy Castillo |
Sandy Nelson | Â Â Â | Mikkey Dee |
Mark Craney | Â Â Â | Chad Wackerman |
Butch Trucks | Â Â Â | Larry Mullen, Jr. |
Jaimoe | Â Â Â | Mel Taylor |
Monte Yoho | Â Â Â | Mick Avory |
Paul Riddle | Â Â Â | Nick Vincent |
Joe English | Â Â Â | Chris Frantz |
Tony Thompson | Â Â Â | Jimmy Cobb |
James Gadson | Â Â Â | Lenny White |
Charley Drayton | Â Â Â | Alphonse Mouzon |
Steve Jordan | Â Â Â | Thomas Pridgen |
Paul Thompson | Â Â Â | Alan White |
Andy Newmark | Â Â Â | Ted Reed |
Bobby Z | Â Â Â | Jim Chapin |
Mel Gaynor | Â Â Â | Nicko McBrain |
Gene Riggio | Â Â Â | Supla |
Rat Scabies | Â Â Â | Danny Seraphine |
John Farriss | Â Â Â | Ronnie Tutt |
Simon Phillips | Â Â Â | Jonathan Moffett |
Michael Bland | Â Â Â | Ricky Lawson |
Larry London | Â Â Â | Ian Paice |
Keith Moon | Â Â Â | Bill Kreutzmann |
Carlton Barrett | Â Â Â | Don Brewer |
Kenney Jones | Â Â Â | Bill Bruford |
Myron Grombacher | Â Â Â | Art Blakey |
Gregg Bissonette | Â Â Â | Billy Gussak |
Tommy Ramone | Â Â Â | Robert St. Judy |
Bun E. Carlos | Â Â Â | Â |
This list has no particular order. I've enjoyed and taken something from every one of these players, some of whom I've borrowed from more than others. Sorry if I've forgotten anyone.
Â
As the legendary drummer for the Stray Cats,
Slim Jim Phantom
spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 1980s. The Stray Cats' classic album
Built for Speed
went double platinum, the band had numerous hit singles, and their song “Rock This Town” is on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of “The Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.” He lives in Los Angeles, California. You can sign up for email updates
here
.
Â
Thank you for buying this
St. Martin's Press ebook.
Â
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Â
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
Â
For email updates on the author, click
here
.
Â
Contents
 Â
1. Early Moments of Clarity and the Luck of the Draw
 Â
3. A Little Time with the Rolling Stones
 Â
4. LA to Tokyo
 Â
6. Our Day: The U.S. Festival
 Â
7. The Killer
 Â
8. Marbella
14. A Quick Flight with John Lee Hooker
15. Live from the Sunset Strip
THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS
.
An imprint of St. Martin's Press.
A STRAY CAT STRUTS.
Copyright © 2016 by James McDonnell. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Cover design by Lisa Marie Pompilio
Cover photographs: Slim Jim Phantom © Everett Collection; skull © Revoltan / Shutterstock
Title page and chapter opener art © Revoltan/Shutterstock
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Phantom, Slim Jim, author.
Title: A stray cat struts: my life as a rockabilly rebel / Slim Jim Phantom.
Description: First edition. | New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2016.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016001232Â |Â ISBN 9781250076915 (hardcover)Â |
ISBN 9781466888876 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Phantom, Slim Jim. | Stray Cats (Musical group) |
Rock musiciansâUnited StatesâBiography.
Classification: LCC ML420.P4876 A3 2016Â |Â DDC 781.66092âdc23
LC record available at
http://lccn.loc.gov/2016001232
e-ISBN 9781466888876
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at
[email protected]
.
First Edition: August 2016
