Alan White a Prog Drummer?
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Topic: Alan White a Prog Drummer?
Posted By: The Quiet One
Subject: Alan White a Prog Drummer?
Date Posted: September 06 2008 at 23:00
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Well the question for me was that if Alan White is really a Prog drummer, at least the style, ala Bruford, Collins, Peart, Bozzio, etc. Listening to Tales gives a really bad impression of his playing, being very simple and dull. While in Relayer his playing is very powerful, but I would consider it a more Rock style playing rather than a Prog style as I imagine Bruford playing on Relayer, jazzy leanings, etc. And well in the last Yes outputs, his playing is rather simple. I don't want people to come and say: "Have you heard Yessongs?!" Of course I have, but the compositions were made with Bruford not with Alan.. BTW: This is not a poll to decide wheather(?) Alan is a good drummer or not, it's if his stlye of drumming is Prog or not. |
Replies:
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: September 06 2008 at 23:03
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White played with the Plastic Ono Band and a variety of other British rock outfits before he got the Yes gig. ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: September 06 2008 at 23:07
interesting info, thx, I should have searched a little more.. 
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tszirmay wrote:Posted By: Yorkie X
Date Posted: September 06 2008 at 23:14
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I like White more than Bruford & Collins .. his drum tuning and deep toms mean buisness he drives the beat home no sissy approach just a powerful direct at times complicated but most of the time backbone to the music, a bit like my all time favourite drummer Phil Ehart from Kansas ... He is Prog Rock no questions about it, which is why Yes hired him in the first place and that choice turned out to be a pretty good one  |
Posted By: febus
Date Posted: September 06 2008 at 23:24
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SO i guess he can play everything.
If YES kept him on the payroll for how long now? 35 years !!, i assume he can play like a progger as well, sure he is more business than subtetlies, but i didn't cry of despair when he took over Bruford
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Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: September 06 2008 at 23:28
I agree, I think White wins for tone (i.e. Drama), both Bruford and Collins also have a very nice sound but White was more powerful in the studio |
Posted By: Anderson III
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 03:36
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I've actually always found similarities in White and Peart's style of drumming. Peart sounds somewhat more precise, but both are powerful and fast. And I disagree on the notion that White's playing is simple. When I think of Yes' music, one of the first words that come to mind is complex! When the music is so multilayered as it is, it's pretty much impossible for the drums to stay simple. I think White's a prog drummer. ------------- "Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent" - Victor Hugo |
Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 06:49
| Intertsting poll - as you say there's no doubt he's an excellent drummer. His work on "Tales" struck me as a bit of a struggle to come to terms with the band; "Relayer" was just about the best drumm (and bass) perfomance on any album of any genre. Overall when I listen to White I do think he is more a hard rock drummer. |
Posted By: TGM: Orb
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 07:43
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Great poll, Pablo, been thinking the same sort of thing for a while, myself, though I don't know too much of his work. Personally, I'm veering towards a yes. Remembering the rather unusual work on The Ancient as well as his really directional work on The Gates Of Delirium. I agree that he's a bit more rock-focused than most of the 'prog' drummers I listen to, and he definitely comes from that direction, but he has done some pretty interesting and superb stuff in the prog arena. |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 08:14
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Definitely prog - just listen to his performances on Relayer and GFTO. He's a tad more muscular than Bruford (on Sound Chaser he's playing possibly the first ever example of jazz metal) but his work on tracks like Turn of the Century or Awaken is as prog as drumming gets. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 10:59
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He is not too progressive, although he sure can play so if he wants to (Relayer). I´d say he is the "rockiest" part of Yes
------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 12:52
I agree with "rockiest part of Yes" For the rest that say his playing on Relayer is proggy, I just find it to be the clearest example of what I mean. His playing on Gates of Delirium is full of power and energy as I said at the begining, but the style is clearly Rock or Hard Rock, with some Prog leanings of course. Sound Chaser well yeah, but just imagine Bill Bruford playing on this one! AGAIN! I'm not saying he's a bad drummer, just that his style isn't Prog. He's a fine Rock Drummer that plays in a AMAZING Prog band. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 13:00
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he's played with Yes for more years than many here have been alive hahahha. Sure he is.. what else would he be? If he's not..just what is Peart... as someone noted earlier.. very much in the same style.. which was suited for big stadiums and concerts.. a hard hitting rock drummer with enough chops to play prog. Bruford for example was the first to admit he wasn't.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 13:02
I really love that track because for many reasons I think it was really ahead of its time. |
Posted By: Angelo
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 13:13
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Voted Yes, for reasons provided by others already. You should also check out White's recent work with Circa some time, although he's a bit overpowered there by Billy Sherwood's bass some of the time. ------------- http://www.iskcrocks.com" rel="nofollow - ISKC Rock Radio I stopped blogging and reviewing - so won't be handling requests. Promo's for ariplay can be sent to [email protected] |
Posted By: fusionfreak
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 14:35
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Alan White surely is one of the best rock drummers(he played with Joe Cocker and John Lennon for example),a great session man and he did and still does outstanding stuff in Yes so he clearly can play
in a prog style:I very much enjoy his playing throughout Tales but he's not a prog drummer stricto sensu.
He still rocks so that's great! ------------- I was born in the land of Mahavishnu,not so far from Kobaia.I'm looking for the world of searchers with the help from crimson king |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 07 2008 at 17:15
| Not sure that there is such a thing as a "prog" drummer. A good drummer should be able to play most styles. White's background is in rock and Bruford is a jazz drummer but they both fitted into Yes ok. |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 02:12
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Well, i played drums for many years and I never known how people define a Prog drummer.
Having a well developed and technical style?
Most Jazz drummers have a great technique.
Drummers as Palmer, who is an icon, is IMO more strength than technique, not that he is bad, but he's not in the level of a Peart, Bruford, Ehart, Manu Katche or even Collins.
A good Rock drummer can play Prog, Pop or Punk, maybe not Jazz because it's a different technique, if you place Peart in The Who or The Rolling Stones, I'm sure he'll make an outstanding job.
A Prog drummer is one that has played in a Prog band, and White has played in Yes for decades, what else do you want.
Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 08:25
I couldn't have said this any better. |
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 09:40
| He's got to be prog for me, Pablo. His work in GFTO, Gates (Yesshows version) and Drama stand out. Very versatile, and very good. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 12:19
Interesting footnote. The greatly neglected Terrry Reid had Alan White pencilled in as drummer for his Isle Of Wight Festival appearance in 1970. However, John Lennon banned White from going and instead Krimson's Mike Giles deputed for the night - and the recording suggests Giles provided some nice but unexpected drumming which I don't believe White was capable of
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B0001HN5CC/sr=1-5/qid=1220890750/ref=dp_image_0/026-4471661-9028427?ie=UTF8&n=229816&s=music&qid=1220890750&sr=1-5">  .------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Alberto Muñoz
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 12:35
Is Prog. -------------  |
Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 16:53
He played with John Lennon to pay the bills. Probably not for enjoyment.  He is overall an amazing prog drummer for Yes, his main project. -------------  Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 16:59
why wouldn't a musician enjoy playing with John Lennon? Seems like the chance of a lifetime, or is there something I don't know   |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 17:10
I agree, as a fact many musicians would had played for free with John Lennon.
Who can reject the chance of playing with a living legend and one of the most prolific and influential musicians of history?
Now if you talk about musicians like Randy "The Emperor" Jackson, who after playing with Cobbham, Ponty, Journey and Aretha, accepted to play bass for N'Sync and Britney.........Well, then I would believe you are talking about somebody who made it for the bucks.
But Lennon...I would had paid to play drums with him.
Iván -------------
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Posted By: J-Man
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 17:17
------------- Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime |
Posted By: peskypesky
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 18:17
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I'll never understand the lack of respect for Alan White around here. He was Yes's drummer for all those years for a reason, people. You think Anderson, Squire and Howe were content to play with a sub-par drummer year after year after year? Just because he wasn't flashy and didn't call attention to himself does not mean he was not a prog drummer. This is ridiculous. ------------- Prog fan since 1974. |
Posted By: Yorkie X
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 20:23
No offense but this is a ridiculous poll yet it needed to happen because it has been popping its head up in places for awhile now. White replaced Bruford anybody who replaced Bruford was going to be in an unfair position to be judged as a prog drummer and I think that's the real issue. Nobody can replace Buford , Peart or even Portnoy without some copping flak, lets face it White has done a great job accept that fact ... next poll please. 
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Posted By: febus
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 20:39
Yorkie, i don't think the poll was stupid.  ....the poll was not about White being compared with Bruford , but only if White should be considered an all purpose drummer or a prog one..That was intereseting to read all the posts, i think, but maybe that's just me
I usually enjoy Pablo polls, they are different ,thanks god, and i enjoy yours too when you poll
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Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Date Posted: September 08 2008 at 20:54
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I think if Bruford had not been Yes's previous drummer there would never be a discussion whether or not Alan White is a prog drummer. Alan White is an excellent prog drummer. Bill Bruford is an exceptional prog/jazz drummer. ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |