Don's Q & A
2014
Don agreed to do another Q&A in April 2014.
You asked loads of questions. Here are Don's answers:
You asked loads of questions. Here are Don's answers:
Q. Do you ever travel back to the UK apart from when you are working with Slade or the NAS?
A. Of course. To visit to my parents grave, see family, school friends, rehearse.
Q. Hi Don I’ve been a fan of Slade like most people since the 70's I have just read your book and thought it was a great insight into your early life growing up and life in Slade. I also read Noddy's book but found yours more interesting and informative. I was wondering why you never played in Ireland or have you any plans to play here you still have a lot of fans in Ireland who would jump at a chance to see you and Dave still playing together. Hope to see you in the future and tell H to get his finger out and write his life story. I like a lot of songs from the early days, partly credited to you. What was your contribution – lyrics or music?
A. Thanks for your positive comments re my biog... We played Ireland several times at the Stadium in Dublin, also Belfast (I can’t remember where). Re gigs in Ireland, I would love to be there. Re H, I am afraid he has only just learned how to spell "H".
Q. Do you still write music? If you do, is it for Slade or other projects?
A. YES, I’m still writing....children's books. I've just been recording with a German band ‘Ela Rocks’. Lyrics were my part in writing, you wouldn't want to hear me sing...
Q. How many songs are still unreleased that Slade have recorded with new line-ups since the start?
A. Only a handful of Slade recorded songs haven’t been released.
Q. Could you record new versions of old Slade songs…? Would it make a difference if it was written by Lea/Powell rather than Lea/Holder?
A. We can. We are able to record what Slade songs we want......
Q. You seem very happy with your life and family in Denmark. What was the happiest time in your career apart from this – and why?
A. I love my life in Denmark, such a beautiful country. I’ll always remember ‘struggling’ to become successful and the great feeling when we got there.
Q. Did you read Noddy’s autobiography “Who’s Crazee Now”? What did you think?
A. I enjoyed Nod's book. BUT I told him, he missed SO much out.
Q. I was looking through a cutting from a teen magazine from the 1970’s. In it you said that in the future you would have liked to have owned a farm in the countryside with horses. This didn’t happen. Would you still want this though?
A. With touring so much, I wouldn’t have time to maintain a farm.... SHAME though.
Q. In the old fan club from the 1970’s did you have much input to the newsletters? They had features like “A Message from Don” or “A message from Nod”. Did you actually write them?
A. We only wrote a few of those messages, we were always away on tour during that period.
Q. Do you still get royalty cheques for songs that you wrote like “Look Wot You Dun”?
A. Every 6 months I get royalty cheques for all my songs...
Love the website. Thank you to you and Slade for the past 50 odd years I`m a massive fan and always will be. I very much enjoyed reading your book at the beach on the beautiful island of Tenerife in January, the book was a Christmas prezzie from my daughter.
Q. What was the best and the worst country you visited when touring?
A. Poland in 1979 was quite an experience, SO very heavily under the Communist rule then.....Drinking vodka to keep germs away (I think that’s what you would call them......) I JUST LOVE TOURING, full stop.
Q. Do you ever hear anything from the old roadies such as Swinn, Mickey Legge or Charlie?
A. I still see my old school mate Swinn from time to time.....
Q. Having read your book and your diaries that have been made available on your excellent website, I have seen mention of the band/side project you had with Dave and other musicians around 1982/83 called 'Life'. Are the master tapes of the recordings you made with this band still in existence and if so is there any chance the songs will be made available at some stage in the future ? Also are there any promo pictures of this band that could be
put up on your website?
A. There are some ‘LIFE’ recordings somewhere, must look them out....thanks for the reminder. No promo pics I am afraid.
Q. Have you had any feedback/response that you would wish to share from either Dave, Nod & Jim regarding your book ?
A. The other 3 were a little worried about my biog content..... ‘trembling’ actually...HA.
Q. In one word can you describe Nod, Jim and Dave?
A. Dear friends... and I could say "SLADE"
Q. What was the last tv programme you watched?
A. Air Crash Investigation - just before I went to the airport.
Q. When you are not touring, do you ever practice drumming?
A. Yes - I have a practice kit at home - and I jam with my stepson Andreas in our studio... Him on guitar or piano.
Q. What souvenirs from the Slade hey-day have you lost, but wished you’d kept?
A. My very first front Bass-Drum head - and I wish I would have kept my specially made Ludwig kit.
Q. Bibble Brick. When did you write the book and why did you do it? Did you write it by hand – if so do you still have the manuscripts?
A. That’s next to be published. YES, I did write it by hand.
Q. I know that you go to the fitness centre daily. What is your usual work-out? How long do you spend daily?
A. On the running machine for one and a half hours. Then stretching exercises...
Q. You seem pretty fit - do you ever get ill?
A. Very rarely BUT when I do I’m very ill......
Q. Popstars nowadays look perfect – and have nips and tucks. Have any of the original Slade ever had any plastic surgery?
A. Does it look like it? If so, I'd want a refund!
Q. When you travel with Slade how many Slade fans do you recognise from over the years? 20? 40? 100? 100’s?
A. I recognise a lot. They always seem surprised.....
Q. In the 1980's when Slade came-back, what was you fave venue to play in the UK at that time?
A. Hammersmith Odeon.
Q. LA Jinx. LA was always a jinx play for Slade to play. What sort of things used to go wrong there?
A. We never had a good night there. Power problems etc etc.
A. Of course. To visit to my parents grave, see family, school friends, rehearse.
Q. Hi Don I’ve been a fan of Slade like most people since the 70's I have just read your book and thought it was a great insight into your early life growing up and life in Slade. I also read Noddy's book but found yours more interesting and informative. I was wondering why you never played in Ireland or have you any plans to play here you still have a lot of fans in Ireland who would jump at a chance to see you and Dave still playing together. Hope to see you in the future and tell H to get his finger out and write his life story. I like a lot of songs from the early days, partly credited to you. What was your contribution – lyrics or music?
A. Thanks for your positive comments re my biog... We played Ireland several times at the Stadium in Dublin, also Belfast (I can’t remember where). Re gigs in Ireland, I would love to be there. Re H, I am afraid he has only just learned how to spell "H".
Q. Do you still write music? If you do, is it for Slade or other projects?
A. YES, I’m still writing....children's books. I've just been recording with a German band ‘Ela Rocks’. Lyrics were my part in writing, you wouldn't want to hear me sing...
Q. How many songs are still unreleased that Slade have recorded with new line-ups since the start?
A. Only a handful of Slade recorded songs haven’t been released.
Q. Could you record new versions of old Slade songs…? Would it make a difference if it was written by Lea/Powell rather than Lea/Holder?
A. We can. We are able to record what Slade songs we want......
Q. You seem very happy with your life and family in Denmark. What was the happiest time in your career apart from this – and why?
A. I love my life in Denmark, such a beautiful country. I’ll always remember ‘struggling’ to become successful and the great feeling when we got there.
Q. Did you read Noddy’s autobiography “Who’s Crazee Now”? What did you think?
A. I enjoyed Nod's book. BUT I told him, he missed SO much out.
Q. I was looking through a cutting from a teen magazine from the 1970’s. In it you said that in the future you would have liked to have owned a farm in the countryside with horses. This didn’t happen. Would you still want this though?
A. With touring so much, I wouldn’t have time to maintain a farm.... SHAME though.
Q. In the old fan club from the 1970’s did you have much input to the newsletters? They had features like “A Message from Don” or “A message from Nod”. Did you actually write them?
A. We only wrote a few of those messages, we were always away on tour during that period.
Q. Do you still get royalty cheques for songs that you wrote like “Look Wot You Dun”?
A. Every 6 months I get royalty cheques for all my songs...
Love the website. Thank you to you and Slade for the past 50 odd years I`m a massive fan and always will be. I very much enjoyed reading your book at the beach on the beautiful island of Tenerife in January, the book was a Christmas prezzie from my daughter.
Q. What was the best and the worst country you visited when touring?
A. Poland in 1979 was quite an experience, SO very heavily under the Communist rule then.....Drinking vodka to keep germs away (I think that’s what you would call them......) I JUST LOVE TOURING, full stop.
Q. Do you ever hear anything from the old roadies such as Swinn, Mickey Legge or Charlie?
A. I still see my old school mate Swinn from time to time.....
Q. Having read your book and your diaries that have been made available on your excellent website, I have seen mention of the band/side project you had with Dave and other musicians around 1982/83 called 'Life'. Are the master tapes of the recordings you made with this band still in existence and if so is there any chance the songs will be made available at some stage in the future ? Also are there any promo pictures of this band that could be
put up on your website?
A. There are some ‘LIFE’ recordings somewhere, must look them out....thanks for the reminder. No promo pics I am afraid.
Q. Have you had any feedback/response that you would wish to share from either Dave, Nod & Jim regarding your book ?
A. The other 3 were a little worried about my biog content..... ‘trembling’ actually...HA.
Q. In one word can you describe Nod, Jim and Dave?
A. Dear friends... and I could say "SLADE"
Q. What was the last tv programme you watched?
A. Air Crash Investigation - just before I went to the airport.
Q. When you are not touring, do you ever practice drumming?
A. Yes - I have a practice kit at home - and I jam with my stepson Andreas in our studio... Him on guitar or piano.
Q. What souvenirs from the Slade hey-day have you lost, but wished you’d kept?
A. My very first front Bass-Drum head - and I wish I would have kept my specially made Ludwig kit.
Q. Bibble Brick. When did you write the book and why did you do it? Did you write it by hand – if so do you still have the manuscripts?
A. That’s next to be published. YES, I did write it by hand.
Q. I know that you go to the fitness centre daily. What is your usual work-out? How long do you spend daily?
A. On the running machine for one and a half hours. Then stretching exercises...
Q. You seem pretty fit - do you ever get ill?
A. Very rarely BUT when I do I’m very ill......
Q. Popstars nowadays look perfect – and have nips and tucks. Have any of the original Slade ever had any plastic surgery?
A. Does it look like it? If so, I'd want a refund!
Q. When you travel with Slade how many Slade fans do you recognise from over the years? 20? 40? 100? 100’s?
A. I recognise a lot. They always seem surprised.....
Q. In the 1980's when Slade came-back, what was you fave venue to play in the UK at that time?
A. Hammersmith Odeon.
Q. LA Jinx. LA was always a jinx play for Slade to play. What sort of things used to go wrong there?
A. We never had a good night there. Power problems etc etc.
Q. Name Three People living or dead you would like at your diner party?
A. John Lennon, Peter Sellers, Tommy Cooper.
Q. First Song you remember hearing?
A. ‘Since I’ve Never Been Gone’ by Billy Fury.
Q. First song you fell in love with?
A. ‘20 Flight Rock’ by Eddie Cochran
A. John Lennon, Peter Sellers, Tommy Cooper.
Q. First Song you remember hearing?
A. ‘Since I’ve Never Been Gone’ by Billy Fury.
Q. First song you fell in love with?
A. ‘20 Flight Rock’ by Eddie Cochran
Q. First Album you bought?
A. ‘Please Please Me’ the Beatles. I bought for my sisters birthday and kept it....
A. ‘Please Please Me’ the Beatles. I bought for my sisters birthday and kept it....
Q. Song that made you want to be in a band?
A. ‘Peggy Sue’ by Buddy Holly.
Q. Song you can no longer listen to?
A. 'Okey Cokey’ by Slade.
Q. The song that makes you want to dance?
A. ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ the Beatles.
Q. The song you do at Karaoke?
A. I don’t do Karaoke..... Have you heard me sing? (Birds fall out of the sky when I do).
Q. The song that the rest of the band do at Karaoke?
A. Ask the others.....
Q. The song you can't get out of your head?
A. ‘One of These Nights’ The Eagles.
Q. Song you wish you had written?
A. ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
Q. Song that reminds you of Wolverhampton?
A. ‘You Better Run’ by ‘N Betweens.
A. ‘Peggy Sue’ by Buddy Holly.
Q. Song you can no longer listen to?
A. 'Okey Cokey’ by Slade.
Q. The song that makes you want to dance?
A. ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ the Beatles.
Q. The song you do at Karaoke?
A. I don’t do Karaoke..... Have you heard me sing? (Birds fall out of the sky when I do).
Q. The song that the rest of the band do at Karaoke?
A. Ask the others.....
Q. The song you can't get out of your head?
A. ‘One of These Nights’ The Eagles.
Q. Song you wish you had written?
A. ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.
Q. Song that reminds you of Wolverhampton?
A. ‘You Better Run’ by ‘N Betweens.
Q. Song you want played at your funeral?
A. ‘Best Of My Love’ the Eagles.
Tour Essentials
Q. What book do you take with you?
A. At the moment ‘The Old Rockers Handbook’ by Chris Maillard.
Q. What DVD's/CD's do you take with you?
A. DVD - ‘Song Remains The Same' Led Zeppelin. CD - Don Henley ’Building The Perfect Beast’
A. ‘Best Of My Love’ the Eagles.
Tour Essentials
Q. What book do you take with you?
A. At the moment ‘The Old Rockers Handbook’ by Chris Maillard.
Q. What DVD's/CD's do you take with you?
A. DVD - ‘Song Remains The Same' Led Zeppelin. CD - Don Henley ’Building The Perfect Beast’
Questions submitted by: John Berry, Thomas Irvine, Per Andren, Alan Cockayne, Stephen J Copson, Neil Partridge, Paul Herbert, Andre Schmidt, Julie Francis, Paul Tomblin, Alex Farrini, Paula Georgiou, Marc Basi.
2013
We asked you to email questions in for Don in January 2013. He answered them on 9 March 2013.
Here's the questions you asked and the answers.....
Here's the questions you asked and the answers.....
Q.You started playing drums in the scouts but what attracted you to the drums?
A. I don't really know... I think it was the "animal" thing about them. You probably remember the standard Scouts story - that I had to play the bugle before being allowed to play the drums. But I couldn't get any noise out of the bugle - so they eventually put me on to the drums anyway. That's how it all started... and the first drumsticks I used were made out of an artificial Christmas Tree.
Q. Did you have any lesson or were you self taught (by book or by playing along to records)?
A. Well, when I first started playing drums, I thought that I should have lessons. I went to this guy in Wolverhampton called Tony (I can't remember his surname) - I think he played with band's in the 60's in Wolverhampton. I went once, in the early 60's, and I thought it was a total waste of time. I thought what do I want to learn music for, just to play drums? I didn't want to waste any more money - so I left after the first week.
Q. Can you read drum music and do you think it is essential for a new player?
A. No - I can't read drum music. Also, I don't think that it's essential for a new player as it would cramp your style. You would be learning to "play by numbers" (so to speak) and I believe you have to develop your own style. You develop your own style by playing at will. By learning to read drum music - you would end up playing like a parrot... It depends what you want to do, but if I was joining a group - I wouldn't bother.
Q. Who were your early drummer influences?
A. My early drum influences were Buddy Holly's drummer (from The Crickets). I think he was called Jerry Allison. And also D J Fontana (Elvis Presley's drummer). Both of them were my main influences.
Q. Which drummers do you admire and who is you all time favourite?
A. See the answers that I gave the other week (on the webpage "Don's Most Admired Drummers").
Q. Do you still have a practice routine and do you have a practice kit / full kit at home or do you use a studio?
A. I do have a practice kit at home - it's in my walk-in loft. Normally, when we haven't played for a few weeks, and before we go back on the road, I get behind it for a few hours. It's just to loosen up and get prepared for playing live again. My practice kit includes some electric drums that I own.
Q. Do you have a routine to keep in shape for playing drums?
A. I go to a local fitness centre most days. I don't lift weights - but do mainly running to keep in shape. I then go for tea in a local hotel to relax...
Q. What was your first kit and subsequent kits?
A. My very first kit was an Olympic kit, which I borrowed from a kid named Dave Bowdley. He was a friend from my junior school at the time. I borrowed it for such a long time, as he wasn't interested. The first kit that I actually bought myself was a Premier kit.
Q. What is your all time favourite kit and who is your favourite drum maker?
A. At the time we became famous, my favourite kit was the big Ludwig kit I had made by the Ludwig factory in Chicago in 1973. When we first went to America we were supporting Humble Pie. Their drummer was Jerry Shirley, and his drum roadie (when we were actually in Chicago) was going to visit Ludwig. I asked if he could actually take me. He took me and introduced me to Kay, who was Bill Ludwig's personal secretary. She arranged for me to go all around the factory. I met Bill Ludwig (the 1st) - who was actually checking snare drums as they came off the line. I was actually amazed that he personally was doing this.
Q. How did you come to use Ludwig and can you tell us about your relationship / endorsement with them?
A. I answered that mainly in the question before. I was with Ludwig for many years and it was interesting that I got an invite to their 75th Anniversary Party in 1984. They transported 75 Drummers from around the world to Chicago for the weekend. I flew from England. A few weeks before departing they asked all attendees for their suit sizes. They got dinner suits custom made for everyone. They had a photograph done with everyone. At the front was Bill Ludwig (the 2nd), Bill Ludwig (the 3rd) and John Morello. Apart from that I can't remember much else. They were my drinking days and this was a "lost weekend". I know that I was there - because I was in the photograph...
A. I don't really know... I think it was the "animal" thing about them. You probably remember the standard Scouts story - that I had to play the bugle before being allowed to play the drums. But I couldn't get any noise out of the bugle - so they eventually put me on to the drums anyway. That's how it all started... and the first drumsticks I used were made out of an artificial Christmas Tree.
Q. Did you have any lesson or were you self taught (by book or by playing along to records)?
A. Well, when I first started playing drums, I thought that I should have lessons. I went to this guy in Wolverhampton called Tony (I can't remember his surname) - I think he played with band's in the 60's in Wolverhampton. I went once, in the early 60's, and I thought it was a total waste of time. I thought what do I want to learn music for, just to play drums? I didn't want to waste any more money - so I left after the first week.
Q. Can you read drum music and do you think it is essential for a new player?
A. No - I can't read drum music. Also, I don't think that it's essential for a new player as it would cramp your style. You would be learning to "play by numbers" (so to speak) and I believe you have to develop your own style. You develop your own style by playing at will. By learning to read drum music - you would end up playing like a parrot... It depends what you want to do, but if I was joining a group - I wouldn't bother.
Q. Who were your early drummer influences?
A. My early drum influences were Buddy Holly's drummer (from The Crickets). I think he was called Jerry Allison. And also D J Fontana (Elvis Presley's drummer). Both of them were my main influences.
Q. Which drummers do you admire and who is you all time favourite?
A. See the answers that I gave the other week (on the webpage "Don's Most Admired Drummers").
Q. Do you still have a practice routine and do you have a practice kit / full kit at home or do you use a studio?
A. I do have a practice kit at home - it's in my walk-in loft. Normally, when we haven't played for a few weeks, and before we go back on the road, I get behind it for a few hours. It's just to loosen up and get prepared for playing live again. My practice kit includes some electric drums that I own.
Q. Do you have a routine to keep in shape for playing drums?
A. I go to a local fitness centre most days. I don't lift weights - but do mainly running to keep in shape. I then go for tea in a local hotel to relax...
Q. What was your first kit and subsequent kits?
A. My very first kit was an Olympic kit, which I borrowed from a kid named Dave Bowdley. He was a friend from my junior school at the time. I borrowed it for such a long time, as he wasn't interested. The first kit that I actually bought myself was a Premier kit.
Q. What is your all time favourite kit and who is your favourite drum maker?
A. At the time we became famous, my favourite kit was the big Ludwig kit I had made by the Ludwig factory in Chicago in 1973. When we first went to America we were supporting Humble Pie. Their drummer was Jerry Shirley, and his drum roadie (when we were actually in Chicago) was going to visit Ludwig. I asked if he could actually take me. He took me and introduced me to Kay, who was Bill Ludwig's personal secretary. She arranged for me to go all around the factory. I met Bill Ludwig (the 1st) - who was actually checking snare drums as they came off the line. I was actually amazed that he personally was doing this.
Q. How did you come to use Ludwig and can you tell us about your relationship / endorsement with them?
A. I answered that mainly in the question before. I was with Ludwig for many years and it was interesting that I got an invite to their 75th Anniversary Party in 1984. They transported 75 Drummers from around the world to Chicago for the weekend. I flew from England. A few weeks before departing they asked all attendees for their suit sizes. They got dinner suits custom made for everyone. They had a photograph done with everyone. At the front was Bill Ludwig (the 2nd), Bill Ludwig (the 3rd) and John Morello. Apart from that I can't remember much else. They were my drinking days and this was a "lost weekend". I know that I was there - because I was in the photograph...
Q. Your chrome kit, was it stainless steel or chrome over wood drums?
A. It was chrome over wood. I liked the idea of a chrome kit, but I tried a few pure chrome kits before I had mine made. I found them a bit "thin" sounding - they didn't have much depth to the sound. When I went to Ludwig they said "why don't you have a plastic chrome finish, over the normal wooden shell - which will give you the depth of sound that you want". And that's what I did.
Q. Was the kit standard sizes or made to your specifications?
A. It was made to my own specifications. It was a 26" by 18" bass drum, a 14" by 12" tom tom, a 14" by 14" tom tom, a 16" by 16" rack tom, a 16" by 18" rack tom and an 18" floor tom. And a 5 1/2" snare drum.
Q. Do you know where the kit is now? Is it in the Hard Rock? Or Jimmy Lea’s Lock up in Wolverhampton?
A. I placed it in the Rock 'n' Roll sale at Sotherby's. It was bought by Hard Rock - but I don't know which cafe it's in. It was a big kit - so I'd like to know which one it's in. They'd need a lot of space...
(UPDATE - DP Official Website thanks Stu Rutter for his email. Stu has confirmed that Sotheby's sold Don's chrome kit in 1988 for £1,500)
Q. How did you come to use Zildjian and can you tell us about your relationship/endorsement with them?
A. Zildjian were always the very best cymbols. Very expensive. They don't give endorsement deals, because they don't need to. Everybody wants them - and everybody will pay good money for them. They are expensive - and they are the best. Maybe Buddy Rich might have got an endorsement deal from them - but not many other drummers would have!
Q. Back to the 75 years celebration in America (can’t remember if it was Ludwig or Zildjan) Don attended. Tell us what it was like/who else was there?
A. Well as I said, Joe Morello was there. Aynsley Dunbar (from Frank Zappa) attended. There was lots of drummers. I remember Roger Pope from Hookfoot too... Basically anyone who was anyone was there!
Q. You now have a relationship with Natal drums, please tell how that came about?
A. Jim Marshall's son approached me and asked if I would like to use Natal. They are modifying a new kit for me - so hopefully I should have that later this year.
Q. What Drum heads do you use now and earlier with the Ludwig Kit?
A. With Ludwig I used the Evans (blue oil skins). I still use the Evans heads - but they are like white velux skins. I use these on all my drums.
Q. Can you tell us more about ‘Let There Be Drums’ session? Why that track, when/where was it recorded, what kit was used?
A. I did some session work with Steve McNerney of the Pleasers. We became friends - and he said "Why don't we record Let There Be Drums" - which is what we did. I've still got the mastertape of the session. It has never been used. It was recorded about 1986/7 at Jona Lewie's studio (the guy who had hits with "Stop The Cavalry" and "You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties"). We are very good friends and he's got a 48 track studio in his house - which is where we recorded it. The kit I used - it was my Ludwig kit.
Q. The ‘Bog Rock’ ("We'll Bring The House Down") drum sound, how was it produced, who’s idea?
A. What happened was we were in Portland Studios and were having trouble trying to get a decent drum sound. I went to the toilet for a wee, and purely by accident I coughed. I heard a natural echo in the room and I thought "I wonder"? I went back to the studio and spoke to Andy (the engineer) in the control room. I said "Do you think we could try the drums down there?" He said that we'd have to wait til after 6 o'clock as the toilets were used by all the office people - and we'd have to wait until they went home. Anyway, after 6 o'clock we put the drums in there and the sound was thunderous. We had just one overhead mic to record the whole kit. We didn't need any close mics. We got half way through a great take and we thought "What's that"?.... The automatic flush went off on the toilets! We had to turn the water off and start all over again. That's basically how that idea came about...
Q. The early drum sound when Chas was producing, did you have much of a say on the drum sound?
A. I didn't really - I was really naive. We hadn't been in the studios much before. The engineer we used on the early sessions with Chas was called George Chkiantz. He worked on "Play It Loud" and basically I did anything that he suggested. If you listen to that sound, they were very dampened drums. I don't think people were too bothered about drums in those days. They just wanted a nice clean drum sound. It wan't til later on that people experimented more with drum sounds.
Q. How was the stomping / clapping sound on the early records produced?
A. That came from the Olympic Studios. With it being an old cinema, they had the staircases round the back. We would put the mics at the bottom of the staircase, and we would stand on the first landing, stamping our feet and clamping our hands. It gave a big echoey sound.
Q. You used brushes on ‘In for a Penny’, did you use brushes in the early days and did he have to re-learn brushes?
A. No, I didn't use brushes. It was sticks, with purely a shuffle on the snare drum. It was the same drum pattern that I used on "Coz I Luv You".
Q. You first started wearing gloves in mid to late 70’s, why, ladies leather gloves if I remember right. Now it seems there are lots of ‘Drumming Gloves’ on the market was Don the pioneer of gloves?
A. I seem to remember that the guy that used to play drums with Elton John in the early days (Nigel Olsson) used to wear gloves. When we were in Australia in 1973, Elton and his band came to our show - and watched from the side of the stage. We then went to their show, and Nigel had gloves on. He said to me after the show "Why don't you use them"? I replied that I thought they would be too thick. He told me to buy ladies gloves and take the lining out. I did this, so that it was basically the leather against my skin. They nowadays actually make gloves for drummers - and where you hold the stick between the thumb and the first and second fingers, they have reinforced pads. Also, I kept getting a rash appear on my fingers where they rubbed against my sticks that had tape on. I saw a doctor in New York for the problem. He recommended that I wear gloves - so I did.
Q. Why did Don put tape around the sticks?
A. What happened was that sometimes when my sticks broke they used to hit me in the face - especially if I was concentrating on the drumming. I would then lose concentration on the song I was playing! So I had the idea that if I put tape round, I could feel that stick had broken and become loose - before it shattered - and I could get a new one. It then just became a trademark.
Q. Are your sticks custom made by Shaw?
A. Yes they are. What happened was that once I was around Bradford, near Cleckheaton (where Shaw are based). I was driving round this housing estate thinking that this couldn't be right... Surely Shaws drumsticks weren't based on a housing estate. So I asked someone. They directed me to the last house on the street. I knocked on the door, and the daughter of the Shaw family answered. She was the Secretary of the company. She invited me in - and in the two sheds in the garden was where William and Mark Shaw were making the drumsticks. Unbelievable! I'd been using the drumsticks for years, I'd never met the family, so I thought I would drop in as I was up that way! Since then company has been bought out by the Music Shipping Company - which Craig Fenney owns. He was the original bass player with Slade II.
Q. What track does Don wish he had drummed on by?
A. Either "One Of These Nights" by The Eagles or "Custard Pie" by Led Zeppelin.
Q. What is his favourite drumming (song) for Slade?
A. "Far Far Away".
Q. What advice does he have for up and coming drummers?
A. Just be dedicated, believe in yourself and keep on trying. Don't ever think that you're not good enough and give up. Keep on trying! Persevere.
Q. Why did you start writing "Bibble Brick" - and do you still have the book?
A. I used to love watching cartoons when I was a kid. I used to sit with my father - and he liked watching cartoons too. At that age I could never understand why sometimes he was laughing at different things to what I was laughing at. I was laughing at the obvious things - and he was laughing at the less obvious jokes with hidden meanings. I thought that I too wanted to write a cartoon that would appeal to adults as well as kids. I still have the book. And now with my biography getting published there might be an opening to get "Bribble Brick" published too.
Q. How did you become friends with Nigel (the drummer) of Lieutenant Pigeon?
A. It was purely because we were on Top Of The Pops at the same time in 1972. They were on with "Mouldy Old Dough" and we were on with "Mama Weer All Crazee Now". We met in the bar afterwards, and we became good mates. Strangely enough I haven't heard from him for a few years now - but we saw each other a lot in the 70's and 80's.
Q. Who are best concert band that you have seen live?
A. That would be a toss up between The Eagles, Queen and Springsteen.
Q. If you recall the Slade 25th Anniversary gig (Walsall Town Hall in 1991). The crowd were clamoring for more songs. Did you, Jim and Dave want to continue and do some more numbers?
A. Nod didn't want to go onstage at all. There were lots of discussions and Malcolm Skellington kept asking Nod, for what seemed like hours, to perform. Nod was adamant that he wouldn't do it. But Malcolm pleaded that there were hundreds of people waiting to see him perform - and under duress, he gave in. Dave, Jim and myself obviously did want to appear. And out of all the songs to play, we decided on "Johnny B Goode", and old rock 'n' roll classic that anyone could play. We were having a good time, but as soon as the song finished, Nod took the guitar off and left the stage. Dave, Jim and me were waiting to carry on....
Q. Will there be a UK Tour again this November and December? If so, can Cambridge be included?
A. I would say yes - because the last tour in 2012, with our old mates Sweet, was absolutely fantastic. Hopefully it can be repeated this year. We played good venues, got great crowds and it was well organised by Flying Music.
Q. Did "Cum On Feel The Noize", "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" and "My Oh My" reach Gold Disc status in the UK (for 500,000 sales)?
A. Yes they did.
Q. Is it true that you have two British passports?
A. Yes it's true (and perfectly legal). I own one for all trips to Russia - and the other is used for everything else.
Q. Any news on the release date for the Koko Club DVD?
A. Well funny enough yes. I spoke to Dave Hill about it a couple of weeks ago. There was a problem with the filming - the result was that the copy was too dark. With technology it has been able to be lightened. The DVD is now ready to be released. When exactly I don't know - but it should be soon.
A. It was chrome over wood. I liked the idea of a chrome kit, but I tried a few pure chrome kits before I had mine made. I found them a bit "thin" sounding - they didn't have much depth to the sound. When I went to Ludwig they said "why don't you have a plastic chrome finish, over the normal wooden shell - which will give you the depth of sound that you want". And that's what I did.
Q. Was the kit standard sizes or made to your specifications?
A. It was made to my own specifications. It was a 26" by 18" bass drum, a 14" by 12" tom tom, a 14" by 14" tom tom, a 16" by 16" rack tom, a 16" by 18" rack tom and an 18" floor tom. And a 5 1/2" snare drum.
Q. Do you know where the kit is now? Is it in the Hard Rock? Or Jimmy Lea’s Lock up in Wolverhampton?
A. I placed it in the Rock 'n' Roll sale at Sotherby's. It was bought by Hard Rock - but I don't know which cafe it's in. It was a big kit - so I'd like to know which one it's in. They'd need a lot of space...
(UPDATE - DP Official Website thanks Stu Rutter for his email. Stu has confirmed that Sotheby's sold Don's chrome kit in 1988 for £1,500)
Q. How did you come to use Zildjian and can you tell us about your relationship/endorsement with them?
A. Zildjian were always the very best cymbols. Very expensive. They don't give endorsement deals, because they don't need to. Everybody wants them - and everybody will pay good money for them. They are expensive - and they are the best. Maybe Buddy Rich might have got an endorsement deal from them - but not many other drummers would have!
Q. Back to the 75 years celebration in America (can’t remember if it was Ludwig or Zildjan) Don attended. Tell us what it was like/who else was there?
A. Well as I said, Joe Morello was there. Aynsley Dunbar (from Frank Zappa) attended. There was lots of drummers. I remember Roger Pope from Hookfoot too... Basically anyone who was anyone was there!
Q. You now have a relationship with Natal drums, please tell how that came about?
A. Jim Marshall's son approached me and asked if I would like to use Natal. They are modifying a new kit for me - so hopefully I should have that later this year.
Q. What Drum heads do you use now and earlier with the Ludwig Kit?
A. With Ludwig I used the Evans (blue oil skins). I still use the Evans heads - but they are like white velux skins. I use these on all my drums.
Q. Can you tell us more about ‘Let There Be Drums’ session? Why that track, when/where was it recorded, what kit was used?
A. I did some session work with Steve McNerney of the Pleasers. We became friends - and he said "Why don't we record Let There Be Drums" - which is what we did. I've still got the mastertape of the session. It has never been used. It was recorded about 1986/7 at Jona Lewie's studio (the guy who had hits with "Stop The Cavalry" and "You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties"). We are very good friends and he's got a 48 track studio in his house - which is where we recorded it. The kit I used - it was my Ludwig kit.
Q. The ‘Bog Rock’ ("We'll Bring The House Down") drum sound, how was it produced, who’s idea?
A. What happened was we were in Portland Studios and were having trouble trying to get a decent drum sound. I went to the toilet for a wee, and purely by accident I coughed. I heard a natural echo in the room and I thought "I wonder"? I went back to the studio and spoke to Andy (the engineer) in the control room. I said "Do you think we could try the drums down there?" He said that we'd have to wait til after 6 o'clock as the toilets were used by all the office people - and we'd have to wait until they went home. Anyway, after 6 o'clock we put the drums in there and the sound was thunderous. We had just one overhead mic to record the whole kit. We didn't need any close mics. We got half way through a great take and we thought "What's that"?.... The automatic flush went off on the toilets! We had to turn the water off and start all over again. That's basically how that idea came about...
Q. The early drum sound when Chas was producing, did you have much of a say on the drum sound?
A. I didn't really - I was really naive. We hadn't been in the studios much before. The engineer we used on the early sessions with Chas was called George Chkiantz. He worked on "Play It Loud" and basically I did anything that he suggested. If you listen to that sound, they were very dampened drums. I don't think people were too bothered about drums in those days. They just wanted a nice clean drum sound. It wan't til later on that people experimented more with drum sounds.
Q. How was the stomping / clapping sound on the early records produced?
A. That came from the Olympic Studios. With it being an old cinema, they had the staircases round the back. We would put the mics at the bottom of the staircase, and we would stand on the first landing, stamping our feet and clamping our hands. It gave a big echoey sound.
Q. You used brushes on ‘In for a Penny’, did you use brushes in the early days and did he have to re-learn brushes?
A. No, I didn't use brushes. It was sticks, with purely a shuffle on the snare drum. It was the same drum pattern that I used on "Coz I Luv You".
Q. You first started wearing gloves in mid to late 70’s, why, ladies leather gloves if I remember right. Now it seems there are lots of ‘Drumming Gloves’ on the market was Don the pioneer of gloves?
A. I seem to remember that the guy that used to play drums with Elton John in the early days (Nigel Olsson) used to wear gloves. When we were in Australia in 1973, Elton and his band came to our show - and watched from the side of the stage. We then went to their show, and Nigel had gloves on. He said to me after the show "Why don't you use them"? I replied that I thought they would be too thick. He told me to buy ladies gloves and take the lining out. I did this, so that it was basically the leather against my skin. They nowadays actually make gloves for drummers - and where you hold the stick between the thumb and the first and second fingers, they have reinforced pads. Also, I kept getting a rash appear on my fingers where they rubbed against my sticks that had tape on. I saw a doctor in New York for the problem. He recommended that I wear gloves - so I did.
Q. Why did Don put tape around the sticks?
A. What happened was that sometimes when my sticks broke they used to hit me in the face - especially if I was concentrating on the drumming. I would then lose concentration on the song I was playing! So I had the idea that if I put tape round, I could feel that stick had broken and become loose - before it shattered - and I could get a new one. It then just became a trademark.
Q. Are your sticks custom made by Shaw?
A. Yes they are. What happened was that once I was around Bradford, near Cleckheaton (where Shaw are based). I was driving round this housing estate thinking that this couldn't be right... Surely Shaws drumsticks weren't based on a housing estate. So I asked someone. They directed me to the last house on the street. I knocked on the door, and the daughter of the Shaw family answered. She was the Secretary of the company. She invited me in - and in the two sheds in the garden was where William and Mark Shaw were making the drumsticks. Unbelievable! I'd been using the drumsticks for years, I'd never met the family, so I thought I would drop in as I was up that way! Since then company has been bought out by the Music Shipping Company - which Craig Fenney owns. He was the original bass player with Slade II.
Q. What track does Don wish he had drummed on by?
A. Either "One Of These Nights" by The Eagles or "Custard Pie" by Led Zeppelin.
Q. What is his favourite drumming (song) for Slade?
A. "Far Far Away".
Q. What advice does he have for up and coming drummers?
A. Just be dedicated, believe in yourself and keep on trying. Don't ever think that you're not good enough and give up. Keep on trying! Persevere.
Q. Why did you start writing "Bibble Brick" - and do you still have the book?
A. I used to love watching cartoons when I was a kid. I used to sit with my father - and he liked watching cartoons too. At that age I could never understand why sometimes he was laughing at different things to what I was laughing at. I was laughing at the obvious things - and he was laughing at the less obvious jokes with hidden meanings. I thought that I too wanted to write a cartoon that would appeal to adults as well as kids. I still have the book. And now with my biography getting published there might be an opening to get "Bribble Brick" published too.
Q. How did you become friends with Nigel (the drummer) of Lieutenant Pigeon?
A. It was purely because we were on Top Of The Pops at the same time in 1972. They were on with "Mouldy Old Dough" and we were on with "Mama Weer All Crazee Now". We met in the bar afterwards, and we became good mates. Strangely enough I haven't heard from him for a few years now - but we saw each other a lot in the 70's and 80's.
Q. Who are best concert band that you have seen live?
A. That would be a toss up between The Eagles, Queen and Springsteen.
Q. If you recall the Slade 25th Anniversary gig (Walsall Town Hall in 1991). The crowd were clamoring for more songs. Did you, Jim and Dave want to continue and do some more numbers?
A. Nod didn't want to go onstage at all. There were lots of discussions and Malcolm Skellington kept asking Nod, for what seemed like hours, to perform. Nod was adamant that he wouldn't do it. But Malcolm pleaded that there were hundreds of people waiting to see him perform - and under duress, he gave in. Dave, Jim and myself obviously did want to appear. And out of all the songs to play, we decided on "Johnny B Goode", and old rock 'n' roll classic that anyone could play. We were having a good time, but as soon as the song finished, Nod took the guitar off and left the stage. Dave, Jim and me were waiting to carry on....
Q. Will there be a UK Tour again this November and December? If so, can Cambridge be included?
A. I would say yes - because the last tour in 2012, with our old mates Sweet, was absolutely fantastic. Hopefully it can be repeated this year. We played good venues, got great crowds and it was well organised by Flying Music.
Q. Did "Cum On Feel The Noize", "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" and "My Oh My" reach Gold Disc status in the UK (for 500,000 sales)?
A. Yes they did.
Q. Is it true that you have two British passports?
A. Yes it's true (and perfectly legal). I own one for all trips to Russia - and the other is used for everything else.
Q. Any news on the release date for the Koko Club DVD?
A. Well funny enough yes. I spoke to Dave Hill about it a couple of weeks ago. There was a problem with the filming - the result was that the copy was too dark. With technology it has been able to be lightened. The DVD is now ready to be released. When exactly I don't know - but it should be soon.
Q. When Slade first started you always said you would never move to live in London. What made you change your mind?
A. I met my girlfriend Mari in Japan (1974). After a while she came to England, and she couldn’t live in Wolverhampton. It was while we were filming "Flame" that we found the flat in Hampstead, London. It was easy to get to the West End and easy to get to the M1 to get back to Wolverhampton when I needed to. So that's why I eventually went to London.
Q. Tell me one of your memories of Japan?
A. I’m afraid my memory of Japan is pretty vague as it was my ‘drinking’ days. However, I do remember how fantastic and efficient the Bullit trains were. Also, I recall trying to pay for drinks by signing them to my room account, only to find out, I was in this club, on the other side of Tokyo... I still don’t know how I got back to my hotel!
Questions provided by John Berry, Willy Young, Joe Dasker, Steve Marsh, Mark Cawdery, Sue Wellington, Jaz Trump, The Mixmaster (?) and Stewart Benn.
Don will answer more questions is a few months. If you have anything to ask - please email donpowellofficial@sky.com
A. I met my girlfriend Mari in Japan (1974). After a while she came to England, and she couldn’t live in Wolverhampton. It was while we were filming "Flame" that we found the flat in Hampstead, London. It was easy to get to the West End and easy to get to the M1 to get back to Wolverhampton when I needed to. So that's why I eventually went to London.
Q. Tell me one of your memories of Japan?
A. I’m afraid my memory of Japan is pretty vague as it was my ‘drinking’ days. However, I do remember how fantastic and efficient the Bullit trains were. Also, I recall trying to pay for drinks by signing them to my room account, only to find out, I was in this club, on the other side of Tokyo... I still don’t know how I got back to my hotel!
Questions provided by John Berry, Willy Young, Joe Dasker, Steve Marsh, Mark Cawdery, Sue Wellington, Jaz Trump, The Mixmaster (?) and Stewart Benn.
Don will answer more questions is a few months. If you have anything to ask - please email donpowellofficial@sky.com