Drummers - Jet Black (The Stranglers)
Jet Black (born Brian John Duffy on 26 August 1938 in
Ilford, Essex, United Kingdom) is an English drummer and one of the
founder members of punk rock / new wave band The Stranglers. He is of
Irish ancestry and currently lives in Gloucestershire.
Career
Black was a successful businessman up until the mid 1970s, owning a
fleet of ice cream vans, and an off-licence in Guildford, called 'The
Jackpot'. This establishment was the base for the early Stranglers.
He became a full-time professional musician in the mid 1970s and applied
to join the Hugh Cornwell-led band Johnny Sox after reading an
advertisement in the Melody Maker magazine. Johnny Sox would later
evolve into The Stranglers.
Black is still currently drumming for The Stranglers, despite his
advancing years. His style is usually simplistic and jazz-influenced,
although "Duchess", and "Down in the Sewer", are frantic drumming songs
live. In the mid 1980s, Black elected to cease playing acoustic drums in
the recording studio and used a Simmons kit triggered by pick-ups , most
notably on the Feline and Aural Sculpture albums.
He has said he is particularly fond of The Raven album because it was
"the first time [The Stranglers] got major critical approval in the
newspapers."[3]
He wrote a short book, Much Ado About Nothing, which detailed the riots
in France which were blamed on The Stranglers' presence in 1981.
Customised equipment
During a long career in music, Black, like many other drummers, became
aware of certain practical limitations inherent in the basic kit design
and set about addressing the issue in the form of the now patented 'Jet
Black Power Bass Drum Pedal'. This has brought new freedoms of comfort
and technical feasibility to drummers. The 'Jet Black Power Bass Drum
Pedal' enables the bass drum to be placed anywhere and yet remain
playable.
2007 illness
In March 2007, it was announced on The Stranglers' website that he is
currently suffering from atrial fibrillation and is consequently
refraining from appearing with The Stranglers until he has recovered. He
played a full Stranglers concert in early June and is now regularly
playing with the band again, although he is unable to travel very long
distances at present.
His temporary replacement was Michael "Mikov" Sparonni.
Personal life
His second wife, Helena, left him following several arguments over the
presence of The Stranglers rehearsing in their home during the early
days of the band.[4]
He has apparently had no contact with former Stranglers singer Hugh
Cornwell since he left the band in 1990. According to Cornwell's 2004
autobiography, when he telephoned Black to announce his resignation, the
latter's response was simply 'OK, fine.'[5]
Honour campaign
On 16 July 2007, an online petition lobbying the Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom to ensure that Black is included in the next list of
honours was created on the government website.[1] It presently has over
150 signatures.
From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Black
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