Manu Katche speaks about working with MK

[Peter1981]

Yeah, I agree about the sad/negative vibe in the interview. As MK gets older I think he's more appreciative of the 'fun' part of making music; being in a room with likeminded souls, playing and recording music together. Success can divert you from an essential part of making music; that it's a fun thing to do, not take it too serious. Which was a lot easier later on in life, when he was financially and legacy-wise secured ;-)
But I think it's a trap almost every musician falls in when succes comes around; to keep it up, pressure from the label, management, to keep the ball rollin' on the same level.
Anyway, for example; the current drummer Ian Thomas; he can play, got a real nice feel. Is he one of the best drummers in the world? (Define 'best' for a start ;-). I'd say you can fill a town with the same level drummers, but to me Mark's now prioritizing people's character (seems like a good and solid guy) above plain playing ability. ( But still you have to be a able to play well, of course!).
Not to be negative about him, but Danny Cummings, seems like a nice chap and and long-lasting friend of MK. Really good percussionist, but as a drummer? Sorry, not up there really. But OK enough. Still went along to tour as a drummer, while he could've hired a more capable one. Not as important anymore.

I like Mr. Whitten's take and I agree with it, that a lot of great music (and art in general) is made through conflict. It is a creative process, and it either produced unique things, that a person on his own wouldn't come up with, or breaks the band apart.

Yeah, but the interview is sad IMO. And completely vindicates everything I've posted here and at times been heavily criticised for.
They seem to agree that most drummers are bad and maybe three in the world are good enough. Good enough to play with them? Such arrogance.
I just don't think you can have blanket negative views like this.
But it totally illustrates what I was walking into. Porcaro turned down the tour, Katche turned down the tour and I WASN'T the third drummer in the world they thought was good. So there was this general attitude of 'you're really not good enough' before I'd even played a note in rehearsals.
I do remember Mark calling out a song for us to try, then immediately saying "I don't know why we're bothering, no f**king drummer has ever been able to play it right".
This was in front of the whole band.

[dustyvalentino]

I think Mike Oldfield has the right idea, do everything (almost) yourself and you don't have to worry about offending/annoying anyone, although interestingly enough he did use many different and great drummers including Simon Phillips, Phil Collins, Steve Broughton, Pierre Moerlen, Morris Pert, Graham Broad, and Ian Thomas, who we know plays with MK. I am sure these players are all familiar to Mr Chris W.

You could also avoid offending anyone by not being a complete arsehole. The behaviour displayed by MK in the post by Chris above is just unacceptable in any professional working environment.

[Chris W]

It's sad to see two great musicians (T Bone and MK) slagging off a whole group of musicians, which is basically more a prejudice than factual.
McCartney just loved playing and never questioned the ability of anyone in our band, including me.

[tobi777]

Yeah, but the interview is sad IMO. And completely vindicates everything I've posted here and at times been heavily criticised for.
They seem to agree that most drummers are bad and maybe three in the world are good enough. Good enough to play with them? Such arrogance.
I just don't think you can have blanket negative views like this.
But it totally illustrates what I was walking into. Porcaro turned down the tour, Katche turned down the tour and I WASN'T the third drummer in the world they thought was good. So there was this general attitude of 'you're really not good enough' before I'd even played a note in rehearsals.
I do remember Mark calling out a song for us to try, then immediately saying "I don't know why we're bothering, no f**king drummer has ever been able to play it right".
This was in front of the whole band.

I work in IT consulting on projects and the main reason why projects run into problems is that customers can't or won't formulate their requirements. If the customer - i.e. MK - claims that no drummer has ever been able to play a song “properly”, then with such top-class musicians, it is highly likely that the customer has not been able to properly convey what kind of sound he wanted.

As an intelligent person, it must have been clear to him that it could hardly be down to the skills of professional drummers.

That's why I find such statements from MK extremely annoying and demotivating.
But maybe that's what others say about guitarists or singers...

[vgonis]

I think that any opinion that is shared publicly via interviews, may convey information about the personality of the person. I prefer when people express themselves clearly, even if it makes me dislike them. First of all because I know it is merely my subjective opinion. Secondly  it saves time to know what exactly someone thinks, without covering it up, in order to be politically correct, or liked by the masses.
And it is not really important, because it is just a person you don't know, (even if you think you do)  that you will probably never meet (even if you have seen him play live)  and most importantly never have to work with.   
For example, I always read with extra interest, old Lou Reed interviews. He is a genuine Lou, where you expect all sorts of sharp opinions closing to abuse, (I am not talking about abusing the journalists)  and when you accept this, they are actually quite funny and to the point. He does not beat around the bush trying not to hurt feelings. And I am sure he was doing his show piece as well, I mean project the image of the outcast rebel genius, which perhaps he was.

But this is a whole different thing from the human interactions within a working relation. I know it, as everybody who has ever worked in his life. There is no excuse there to be arrogant or disrespectful or hurtful. 

We should make this distinction and never mix up the two.

[Chris W]

As an intelligent person, it must have been clear to him that it could hardly be down to the skills of professional drummers.

It's very possible that no drummer had ever played a particular song the way Mark heard it. Art is often a compromise. The 1992 show featured country tinged songs all the way to stadium rock like Heavy Fuel and Money For Nothing. So it's not many drummers that can be authentic Nashville, as Mark would like, then 1970's South London, Pick style, then hard rocking.

The thing that bugged me was that he had made up his mind before I'd even played the song, and also the unprofessional aspect of judging me out loud in front of the whole band. If we tried the song and it wasn't as good as it could be, he could take me aside later, discuss how I could improve and ask me to work on it. No....it just seemed like grumpy put down that came out of nowhere.

[ksu]

As an intelligent person, it must have been clear to him that it could hardly be down to the skills of professional drummers.

It's very possible that no drummer had ever played a particular song the way Mark heard it. Art is often a compromise. The 1992 show featured country tinged songs all the way to stadium rock like Heavy Fuel and Money For Nothing. So it's not many drummers that can be authentic Nashville, as Mark would like, then 1970's South London, Pick style, then hard rocking.

The thing that bugged me was that he had made up his mind before I'd even played the song, and also the unprofessional aspect of judging me out loud in front of the whole band. If we tried the song and it wasn't as good as it could be, he could take me aside later, discuss how I could improve and ask me to work on it. No....it just seemed like grumpy put down that came out of nowhere.

I'm new here. Because I never thought this would be possible, but the wonders of the internet...I have to take the opportunity to say, I loved your drumming on OTN (and TTLF and other PM stuff too). I was 6 when DS was in my country on the OES tour, so not able to be there at that time but a couple of years later when I got into DS.. tried to make up by listening to the OTN album 2000 times, and watched the VHS a 1000x... Crazy to hear how things were... Has anyone heard any comments from Danny Cummings later, of course he's played with MK later as a drummer but was obviously not considered on the OES tour. Probably things are/were different on his solo tours then...

[dustyvalentino]

Welcome!

Danny is still in the MK circle so I doubt he would comment publicly.

[Chris W]

Danny is known for being primarily a percussionist. And he is superb in that role.

[Pottel]

Danny is known for being primarily a percussionist. And he is superb in that role.

which does not make the earlier statement by the bald man from Aberdeen any less true

[Jules]

Danny is known for being primarily a percussionist. And he is superb in that role.

Yes he is, and he did a great job as a drummer for MK during various tours, probably the drummer with MK that played more serving to the song, without complications, just what the song asks for.

And during the MK & Emmylou Harris he was absolutely amazing, adding many special things and all songs, like mixing his role as drummer and percussionist, it was with difference the tour with MK when I liked Danny's playing the most.

Danny played during many years with the Spanish band "Jarabe de Palo" and he did a spectacular job playing with them, also did a couple of tours as their percussionist, I regret missing those a lot.

[Chris W]

I just meant I don't think he would have been the right choice as drummer on the OES tour. But he did an incredible job as the percussionist.

[Jules]

I just meant I don't think he would have been the right choice as drummer on the OES tour. But he did an incredible job as the percussionist.

Actually I never considered Danny as a drummer until I saw him doing the promo gigs with MK, he did a fine job as MK drummer but Ian Thomas, who is a jazz drummer, was another dimension.

You are right, for DS and a DS tour, you should get a drummer who is specialist in that instrument.

[dustyvalentino]

I just meant I don't think he would have been the right choice as drummer on the OES tour. But he did an incredible job as the percussionist.

Actually I never considered Danny as a drummer until I saw him doing the promo gigs with MK, he did a fine job as MK drummer but Ian Thomas, who is a jazz drummer, was another dimension.

You are right, for DS and a DS tour, you should get a drummer who is specialist in that instrument.

When was the first time we saw DC on drums, STP promo tour?

[Singlehandedsailor93]

I really loved your work on OES tour and OTN Chris! I think it was perfect for that stadium rock era ds was in at that point! After listening to the San Antonio shows ive come to appreciate Terry's drumming even more! His work on the tours from 82-86 was just briliant! I actually think he would made the studio version of MFN even better! The drumming on BIA is somewhat restrained and jazzy i feel! Terry's energy and harder style made those songs come alive on the tour in my humble opinion! Tho is sad to read about what happened on the OES tour and how terrible the atmosphere was! DS always had great drummers imo!