Steve Shelley's Drum Influences
 

Has Steve ever talked about in interviews who he cites as influences to his style of drumming? Maybe Steve will post and tell us himself.

I'll sit here and wait until he does...

Steve's number one influence(with regards to style), I suspect, is the same as many great drummers...

his drumming influence is that he's got rhythm and has always loved playing percussion from an early age...

I imagine he could cite some examples of bands...(Gang of Four...whoever that he really digs/dug) but the greats tend to influence others more than they are influenced by others.

I still haven't listened to the most recent interview with him.

maybe he discusses it a bit with Watt.

seems a natural-enough question to ask.

in a feature about Gainsbourg where several musicians were asked what they thought of his music, i remember Steve saying that the percussions on Gainsbourg's album called, well, "Percussions" had been an inspiration/ influence to him when he first heard it... then again, I suppose this cannot count as one of his main influences...

that's the only thing I have to say about this topic right now, I'm afraid...

yes, he does actually. great interview by the way. tons of interesting info.

http://twfps.com/

well...
???

dish it
spill it, greenlight

what's with the coy act hehe?

keeping us in suspense...i still don't feel like listeningto the interview...basketball is coming on soon and I'm listening to some tunes...

well, he's talking about how during his activity in Crucifucks band was influenced by SST bands like Minute Man, Meat Puppets and that they didn't fit into "hardcore" scene, which was going on that time.

then he's talking about band he was in with Tim Foljahn. Spastic Rhythms (I'm not sure how to spell it, but it sounded like that) and his influence (which would be closer to his heart) with english post punk bands like Slids, Pop Group (?), Joy Division, Birthday Party, lots of Gang Of Four. so yeah, you were right Atari. lots of gang of four.

He also cited Bonham as an influence nearly a year ago on the board.

I just put on the interview. Man, maybe I should have waited until after to check this thread...haha

cool that Watt starts this off appropriately with "The Drum Thing" from Crescent (Impulse!, 1964) which is an Elvin Jones drum suite.
I should share this one at the group. I may have before, but I don't think I have.

you mean first track atari? the drumming at the end of that track (very end) is just crazy. it sounded like beats from turntable played by dj.

yeah, well at the end of The Drum Thing there's this snippet played which, yeah, sounds like a mash-up with a When the Levee Breaks sample...(also on a drum theme)...it's very short...but I suppose it's "Wait" by Mi-Gu. It sounds different from the other Mi-Gu track he played when Thurston was featured (2/14/07 show).

The must-hear interview (which resumes in hour two) is phenomenal, with Watt asking Steve the questions which yield an interesting first-hand account of Steve's history with Sonic Youth album-by-album.

Two Dollar Guitar is amazing. I can't take WILDING off my head, and it fits perfectly in there.

I'm sure his drumming is influenced by hardcore punk mostly (just listen to Cross The Breeze).