DRUMMERS can be somewhat maligned when it comes to rock and roll line-ups, but that’s about to be amended as a new show comes to the Cliffs Pavilion that celebrates three top “sticks and skins” men.
Let There Be Drums sees original Procol Harum drummer and Shoebury man Bobby Harrison joined by T-Rex drummer Paul Fenton and original Status Quo drummer John Coghlan for the show.
Each iconic drummer will take to the stage with their own bands on the triple-bill extravaganza, before the three join together for a thrilling percussion finale.
Bobby will play with his band Journey 2 Freedom, while Paul and John play with their own acts, which recreate the magic of T-Rex and Status Quo.
“It’s great,” says Bobby, who was also in the band Snafu. “It’s going really well. It’s fun as you can imagine with about 20 musicians touring together – there’s a lot of madness.”
Bobby – who grew up in East Ham and Brentwood – made his name drumming in a band called the Rockafellas in the Sixties, before joining Procol Harum.
“I got a call from Gary Brooker and he asked if I wanted to play with them,” Bobby explains. “So I joined in about 1966. We had that big hit, a Whiter Shade of Pale and then we recorded Homburg. It was very exciting. It takes you away from reality and it hurts when you come down, but it was probably the best time of my life.”
The shows are something of a reunion for Bobby and Status Quo man John, who often played on the same bills.
“Freedom and Snafu were managed by Quo’s management,” says Bobby.
“We didn’t see each other for about 30 years and here we are again – he’s looking balder, I’ve still got my hair but it’s all white.”
Let There Be Drums is at the Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Westcliff on Saturday, June 9, at 8pm. Tickets are £18.50-£23.50. Call 01702 351135.
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