Sad to read that session drummer Bobby Graham has died, aged 69. He was easily one of the UK's most significant session musicians, almost seeming to play on every major hit of the 1960s. Legend has it that he was also who really played drums on all the Dave Clark 5 hits, but then he was one of the busiest session drummers of the era and was hardly ever out of the Top 40.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/entertainment/8261473.stm

Very talented guy - R.I.P.

i dont get it..... he was a session drummer playing on many of the 60's groups greatest hits.... but those groups HAD drummers.... erm... dave clarke, kinks, etc, clearly had drummers... wasnt they good enough for recording or summut?

Not usually, no. Even Ringo didn't play on the first Beatles hit (Love Me Do) - he played tambourine. Session drummer Andy White played on the single release although there are recordings with both Pete Best and Ringo on drums.

In those days going into a recording studio was very daunting, and lots of young musicians were too nervous to be able to perform to the standard required by the producers, which is where session musicians came in . . . ..
Other famous session musicians of that era ( mid to late 60's ) were Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page, who, between them, played guitar on a staggering amount of songs . . .

That's right...and they only had a couple of hours to record both the A and B side. Also, only having 4 tracks to play with you had to get the rhythm section down live so you needed a very good drummer.

Here's a great clip that includes Bobby and a youthful Ginger Baker from the teen flick 'Gonks Go Beat'.

One of the other drummers is Ronnie Verrel who I saw play once and was mind-blowingly good.

RIP Bobby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqA292l9Kng