Drums
I have been playing drums for well over 16 years.
My obsession with percussion began in the first year of secondary school, after listening to the school's jazz band for the first time during one of the many long and boring assemblies. My immediate thoughts were; "Wow" we have a Jazz band?" and seeing as the drummer was more of the rock ilk, those drums are loud, I want to learn how to play like that! So after the assembly, I went to the music department and spoke to Mr. Ward, who is coincidentally one of the best music teachers on the planet in my humble opinion!
I stated my intention to learn drums and asked how to go about getting lessons.
I was told that lessons were extra curricular and they had an outside teacher that would visit once a week to teach pupils privately that wanted to learn how to play. He suggested that I go and speak to him. I did and he explained that my parents would have to pay for lessons, so I asked them, fortunately for me, they said yes.

The day of my first lesson arrives, I head up to the classroom and I am asked what I know about drums. My shaky reply; "Nothing, sir".
The teacher laughs and says "That's ok, please, call me Ric."
So he takes the snare drum and the floor tom and moves them away from the rest of the drums and starts to teach me the basic rudiments that make up drumming. He explains how to hold the sticks, what each drum and cymbal is called and how its used. He pops a sheet of music in front of me and explains what the differences between quavers, semi-quavers and the basics of drum notation, what the different lines on the staff represent and so on...

This continues and after a Term, I am playing grade one pieces of music. This takes hours and hours of practise, me constantly dropping sticks and missing beats, I was not a natural by any stretch of the imagination, but Ric was awesome, patient and never got huffy when something didn't go right.
The time comes for payment and Ric says that a cheque from my Mum would be fine. So I pop home with the invoice and give it to my Mum. She then opens the letter and calls me into the front room where she said to me rather excitedly, "Do you know who your drum teacher is?"
I reply, "Sure, he's Ric".
Mum: "He's actually quite famous. I'm not sure if you realise but he used to play in a band called Ten Years After. Your drum teacher is Ric Lee!"

So in essence I was tought my craft by one of the best and most underrated drummers on the planet: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ocSbQlDUK4
If only I knew who he was at the tender age of 11, maybe I'd have paid more attention and been able to play better than I do now!


Apologies for length, approx 16", one in each hand...
(tehmattmonster Board Sig, Board Sig? I'll give you a Board Sig!, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 10:26, 17 replies)

I question your mother's definition of "quite famous".

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 11:10, closed)

I Suppose that would depend on your age, musical taste etc...
(tehmattmonster Board Sig, Board Sig? I'll give you a Board Sig!, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 12:14, closed)

... and whether he was actually "quite famous"

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 12:28, closed)

oh, come on, now.
as if you didn't know that after several years of local success in the Nottingham/Mansfield area as a band known since 1962 as The Jaybirds (its core was formed in late 1960 as Ivan Jay and the Jaycats), and later as Ivan Jay and the Jaymen, Ten Years After was founded by Alvin Lee and Leo Lyons. Ivan Jay sang lead vocals from late 1960 to 1962 and was joined by Ric Lee in August 1965, replacing drummer Dave Quickmire, who had replaced Pete Evans in 1962.
( janet aylia y'all motherfuckers need jesus, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 12:46, closed)

or that during 1970, Ten Years After released "Love like a Man", the group's only hit in the UK Singles Chart. This song was on the band's fifth album, Cricklewood Green. The name of the album comes from a friend of the group who lived in Cricklewood, London. He grew a sort of plant which was said to have hallucinogenic effects. The band did not know the name of this plant, so the members called their album Cricklewood Green. It was the first record to be issued with a different playing speed on each side – one a three-minute edit at 45rpm, the other, a nine-minute live version at 33rpm. In August 1970, Ten Years After played the Strawberry Fields Festival near Toronto, and the Isle of Wight Festival 1970.
( janet aylia y'all motherfuckers need jesus, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 12:50, closed)

Would it meet your exacting standards had his mother said...
"He was actually quite famous"? From what little I've bothered to read, (some Wikipedia pages, that the OP is unlikely to have edited himself this morning) I reckon that's arguable. Played at Woodstock and Isle of Wight festivals, the best known years. 8 top 40 albums. More than I've got, anyway.

Edit - I see someone else got to Wikipedia before me.
(sabre-tooth monkey, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 12:52, closed)

Anyway, the OP is probably paraphrasing.
I'd take talent and respect of my peers over fame, any day. I have none of them, of course.
(sabre-tooth monkey, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 12:54, closed)

If his mum had said "He's pretty shit hot."
Or even "He once had me in the back of an old bedford van" then fair dos.

Perhaps I'm being drearily pedantic, but there have only been about half a dozen "quite famous" drummers in the whole of musical history. Being notable on Wikipedia or allmusic.com isn't quite the same.

No offence to drummers or owt. Not that they'd be able to read this anyway.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 13:09, closed)

I agree.
You're being drearily pedantic.

I thought it was a nice story. And this is unlikely to have ever happened with John Bonham, Charlie Watts, Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, Art Blakey, Dave Grohl, Phil Collins, Stewart Copeland, Jimmy Cobb (will that do? It's 6 even without the two jazz drummers), as they are either American or too rich and famous to be hanging out teaching drums at schools in Derbyshire or wherever.

Cheer up! Even some of the stories with spelling mistakes are quite enjoyable, if you can tell yourself it doesn't matter.
(sabre-tooth monkey, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 13:53, closed)

I'm awful and I must be stopped.

( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 19:41, closed)

Yup.
Drearily (maybe a bit predictably) pedantic.
(Misery McUglywife an attention seeking sociopathic fuckstain., Wed 23 Mar 2011, 21:34, closed)

Damn, he's good!
My son is learning to drum. I think that if I show him this he might find it inspirational. On the other hand he'll most likely to continue bashing them randomly (thank god they're electronic so aren't too loud).
( SteamedCleaner, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 12:59, closed)

For Great Justice! (Or inspiriation)
Neal Peart - Rush www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPuOGaoDeIE
Mike Portnoy - (ex) Dream Theater www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7pYAroZ1dc
Doane Perry - Jethro Tull www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLAImot761s
(tehmattmonster Board Sig, Board Sig? I'll give you a Board Sig!, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 13:21, closed)

Don't!
My son has to drag me away from his drums too often as it is, so don't go inspiring me!
( SteamedCleaner, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 14:08, closed)

See also: Danny Carey - Tool - Ticks and Leeches
(anvil, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 14:08, closed)

I'm so impressed that I'm going to walk round the house logging in to b3ta on all the laptops and clicking your story.
Loved Ten Years After as young'un. You lucky, lucky thing.
(Juan Quar is clinging to her front teeth on, Wed 23 Mar 2011, 17:57, closed)