Remembering Bob Gatzen (Noble & Cooley Drums).

[@DrummersEatingPizza413]

Use to go to creative music all the time. I got Noble CD maple snare drum from Bob as a high school graduation present in 95'. Still have it. Bob was great guy. always super helpful if he was at the shop.

[@RalphOnofrio]

I was in the store at least twice a week.I miss the store,Bob,Mark,Geoff...I had 3 N&C snare drums..Still using Evans Drumheads because of Bob...Divorce,drums sold.....I had too many drums anyway...Down to what I need.Miss my N&C drums.

[@TerryMann-c1f]

I remember your early ravings about the company long ago. You were well ahead of the curve.

[@jarrahdrum]

wonderfully spoken, thank you Chris

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@leighbakeruk]

Love this background story Chris. Thank you. Although I have lived in NYC for many years now I was originally from Sidmouth Devon down the road from you. Looks cold there based on your coat in spring/dummer! Great stuff.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

@@leighbakeruk Spring and early summer was cold and wet 🥲

[@MMGDRMS]

Wonderful stories and tribute, and so awesome to see Chris Whitten.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@daveylong3089]

thanks Chris for this tribute.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thank you

[@drumsticksusa]

That’s a sincere tribute. Well done. That’s also a VERY nice pickup into that beat.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thank you.

[@enjoyyoursleep1]

Thanks Chris for keeping us all in the groove!

[@EarthtonesCymbals]

♥

[@themikefasano]

A real treat to hear a bit of your history with Bob and Noble & Cooley. Wonderful tribute to your friend Chris!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@pazenmaz]

Bravo and thanks for posting this story I enjoy your masterful drumming and stellar drum tone!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@TerryMann-v1x]

I remember your Noble & Cooley excitement!

[@crestiferj2689]

great tribute, chris. bob was a great guy. i always liked running into him at namm shows. he was an innovator for sure...and a helluva nice guy that so passionate about drums and drumming and music in general.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

👍🏻

[@davemcdave2169]

Great tribute sir. I'd like to pay a tribute to yourself. I first saw you, on the telly, playing Knebworth with Paul McCartney in 1990 I think. Between yourself, Mel Gaynor, Mark Brzezicki and Dougie Vipond, I learned drums by listening and watching you play as a you 14 year old. 'Whole of the Moon' taught me good timing and the subtlety of your techniques. Honestly, thank you. For me, even though I never learned properly to read music or even master some of the basics, I always got by, played by ear and broke down what drummers were doing. I'm now 50. Looking back, drums changed my life. Still drumming and passing it on to my sons. I love that you have your channel and are sharing your thoughts, stories, techniques and approaches with us. Love from Cumbernauld.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Hi Dave, Thanks. And I'm happy to hear you are still playing 👍

[@ealingschoolofdrums3692]

A wonderful tribute . Well , in my book, you are the Noble and Cooley drummer Chris, always was. Please post more often on KZbin, needs to be more frequent ! Thank you !

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

I have a couple of vids coming

[@johnrofsocalgroover2645]

Saw you o the Macca tour in Chicago. Great tribute and amazing isights. Sadly NC very different now with new owners

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Yes

[@lakecomo9721]

I didn't search for this video on youtube but it came up in my suggestions and I'm glad it did ! Wow ! I've been a drum enthusiast for nearly 45 years and I don't recall ever hearing about Noble & Cooley. So now I have 2 whole new subjects to research...Chris Whitten the drummer and Noble & Cooley drums ! Now I want to go visit their shop ! Thanks Chris, cheers !!!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Granville, Mass.

[@brucejohnston3199]

Thanks Chris, a nice tribute

[@christiansandstrom718]

You the reason I started to play drums, my dad had the flowers in the dirt tour-rehearsals on video cassette back then. I still occasionally watch and listen to the music on KZbin, and I remember every single dumbeat and stroke. It would be fantastic if you would upload a re-visit to the video and maybe talk about it. Sincerely Chris

[@MykeLewisMusic]

I started off the same way! Got to see him play for Dire Straits in 1992, and spent the 90s playing along to Tripping the Live Fantastic and On the Night on the drums!

[@J0hn029]

My favourite performance of sultans is you on the n&c 4 piece in Basel. Huge influence on me back in the day so thank you ❤️❤️

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thank you

[@thetonymoore6977]

Chris, that’s a great tribute to a brilliant man dedicated to understanding the physics and impacts on a drum. He was a master inventor and his contributions we all benefit from. I remember seeing to black star kit, and the principle resonated with me. Decades later I bought Bob’s white Noble and Cooley SS kit which Nick said was the prototype steam bent kit in SS Maple, a steam bent 8” is a feat of talent. The sizes are: TT8"x8" TT10” x 6.75" TT13" x 5 3/8 TT13” x 6.25" TT14” x 7” TT14" x 8.25" The steam bent toms are actually incredible. Again thank you for your tribute. Bless ya!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Great that you have that kit 👍🏻

[@danfinn2210]

I heard the Toms and bass drums were made by Keller? True? I know the snares are done in house but wondering about the rest of the drums

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

@@danfinn2210 On the Horizon Series yes, but not these Star drums.

[@thomasnussbaum4711]

Great story and a touching tribute. Thank you.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@EarthtonesCymbals]

A great guy giving love and respect to a great guy! ♪

[@SamJessop]

Wonderful video Chris. I have loved seeing your videos here, and reading your posts online, as your playing with McCartney and Dire Straits was a real highlight of my childhood. The Noble & Cooley sets were instrumental to this, I used to listen to the Liverpool concert taped off BBC Radio, and was the first truly spectacular drum sound I’d ever heard. Thank you for sharing all of this.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thank you

[@lornestein7248]

Hi Chris, Tripping the Live Fantastic tour was one of top 5 shows of my life and have always remembered you from it. Wishing you all the best!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks!

[@tomasvydra3167]

I love the Dire Straits concert in Basel, the wonderful sound of your Noble and Cooley drums...❤❤❤

[@enjoyyoursleep1]

Those DS live shows are a foundation for my interest in music, was watching the Live in Rotterdam gig the other night. The engine room of that gig being Drums and bass is SO solid!!!

[@RalphOnofrio]

Thanx for posting this,Chris....I was a regular at Creative Music,and Bob was a good friend...I had 3 N&C snare drums, and Bob would update the drums at no cost...I bought tons of equipment from Creative,and miss that shop and Bob and JoAnn....Be well...........................Ralph Onofrio......USA.

[@douglasmackenzie5265]

What a beautiful and heartfelt tribute. It was great hearing the backstory about how you first learned about N&C snares, which ultimately led to you getting a complete Star kit for the McCartney tour. There's something special about working with a small, family operated drum company with such a rich history.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Agreed. It felt really special to be playing such a hand made, little known drum kit.

[@user-qq2yu2lr3b]

Very well made video, great cutting. Thank you very much

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@thebeatlabmusic749]

Your Star Series kit is THE best sounding kit I’ve ever heard. I learned how to tune by listening to you and your music!! Thank you!!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@adrianlyord5300]

I remember seeing that advertisement in Modern Drummer 🥁 too lol !!!! I’m sorry to hear about Bob’s passing. He was such an amazing man. May he rest in peace ✌🏾!

[@dancalabrese3523]

Very nice tribute to Bob Gatzen. He was a pioneer in the drum industry and was so instrumental in helping Jay Jones take Noble and Cooley back into building professional high end quality drums, among all of the other innovations he created. I believe the Starr set you used with the Paul McCarthy tour in the '80's is on display at the factory in Granville, MA.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Yes, it’s at the factory museum

[@jasonbone7033]

I just discovered your channel when I saw Bob’s name. His Drum Tuning Video helped me so much. Also, I was lucky to catch you in concert with Sir Paul in Raleigh, NC. When you and the band kicked into “JET” it was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had in an open air stadium. The entire place was literally Rocking. So powerful! Thank You!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Those were great times, thanks.

[@Aleiuta75]

Hi Chris, think I had the N&C Zildjian and like a fool I sold it for a Supraphonic which I still have, I regretted it bitterly....now I have a nice collection of snare drums which I will never in my life sell... ..N&C is a wonderful brand and qualitatively above any manufacturer...You are great to pay homage to Bob Gatzen, an innovative and underrated drummer...A hug to you Chris

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks. I had an original N&C/Zildjian drum. I could never find a need to use it, so I sent it back to N&C about ten years ago.

[@RecordingDrumsWithBrad]

A wonderful tribute, Chris! I had the pleasure of talking with Bob years ago at NAMM. He was excited about his new drum frame that he had just invented and invited me to play the Noble & Cooley kit he had set up to demonstrate how the frame worked. I learned so much from that conversation. Bob Gatzen was a brilliant man. Thanks for posting this, Chris! :)

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Agreed Brad. I learned a lot from him. Like I said in the video - he was SO passionate about drums and drummers.

[@EarthtonesCymbals]

♥

[@RecordingDrumsWithBrad]

Yes, indeed he was.@@ChrisWhittenMusic

[@alstrange6055]

Nicely done Chris!🙂👍

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks Al

[@Nick_Barre]

I saw you on your with Paul McCartney, Wix, Hamish and Robbie. Brilliant.

[@triplejazzmusicisall1883]

Absolutely spot on. A great time in my life too. Cheers

[@Jeff-rh8mq]

N & C really opened my eyes to how drums should be made and how they should sound. My first intro to them was on The Dire Straits tour in the early nineties. I saw your show in my hometown [Ottawa, Canada] and your sound has stuck with me to this day! I had never heard drums sound so sweet....eg. Calling Elvis.....I am so happy to see you on YT after all these years and good on ya for a shout-out to N & C. So well deserved and you will always be a drummer that inspired me and that I look up to! thank you again!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thank you so much

[@scottapthorpe6172]

What bob didn’t know about drums you could write on the back of a postage stamp..incredible knowledge of all things drums... your right about the kit you had on the straits tour. I have a live CD, the name of it escapes me, but the drum sound was incredible, particularly the toms...

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@jarrahdrum]

My first introduction to Bob Gatzen was when I bought his drum tuning video probably in the early 90’s. It was very informative and entertaining and Bob himself keeps you engaged with his humour and passion. I can fully understand what you mean about his enthusiasm. I’ve just been searching around and now I’m revisiting. PPP 🙂.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Love that drum tuning video 👍🏻

[@Drumguy48]

Chris , your advertisement in a Modern Drummer piqued my interest in Noble and Cooley and this lead to a long period of admiration for your playing . During the investigation of Noble and Cooley I discovered Bob Gatzen and quickly realized his genius . I heLd Bob in great esteem. I loved his signature sticks by RegalTip and used them for decades . A very unique design (as you would expect from Bob). A friend had a couple of his Drumframes and I had the opportunity to try the out and I was thrilled with how comfortable and ergonomic they are. Sure they are huge and unwieldy , they are amazing to play on. Chris I now follow you much the way I followed Bob’s developments and some of the products you use and helped develop have become staples in my drum life. The biggest being Noble and Cooley and the Roland TM-6 Pro. Thanks to you and Bob for inspiring me to look outside the box and keeping an open mind to new things .

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thank you so much. Yes, very proud of the TM-6 Pro.

[@mathewshaw2772]

Loved your Noble and Cooley kit..Sounded awesome..Saw you too at the Albert Dock in Liverpool..kit sounded incredible..Love what you do..Keep us informed my mate..Love it.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@NK-ov6kd]

Ich habe gerade ein Snare Fell mit Noble und Cooley Logo aus den 90er Jahren von der Remo Snare genommen.

[@uliseselcat9969]

Me gusto el video, yo veia la gira get back cuando yo tenia 10 años y nunca supe que modelo y marca era la bateria ( noble & cooley) gracias chris witten

[@bbdrms7283]

I used to buy drum parts and cymbals once in a while from Creative Percussion on the Silas Dean Highway in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA. Didn't Bob Gatzen own that shop? I honestly did not know he died. He was a really nice guy.

[@gustavoborchert]

Nice, very nice…

[@temurgezaitov4177]

Hello from Russia. You are living legend

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks

[@1thess523]

Still got nice hair 👌

[@sticksbass]

i used to watch his vids.

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Me too

[@justinmaree1364]

Hi Chris, a friendly hello from South Africa. As a bass player i've been following your playing since the 80"s. There's no better pocket player that could fill Jeff Porcaro's shoes. There was nobody then or now that could have made Dire Straits sound better. One thing i always wondered, if Sir Paul McCartney knew and perhaps even realize today that the band he put together for the Flowers in the dirt project was the best band he ever had from a musical perspective post Beatles. Anyway, thank you for truly understanding what it means to be in the pocket and playing for the song. My experience with modern day drummers is that so few understand what it is to play a tight hi-hat when it even comes to straight 8 rock material. A lot of drummers today seem to just play hi-hat grooves in a trashy way when it comes to pop and rock styles. Don't ever let go of your great approach and feel. There's still some of us out there that appreciates players like you that's the real deal! Best wishes!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thank you so much.

[@uliseselcat9969]

Saludos desde MÉXICO

[@aqhatthespy5458]

Hey Chris.. Funny thing, i came across "Des Vies" on spotify and i really liked the drumming.. reminded me of your drumming on SuS.. And it IS actually you who played on the whole Album "Rouge".. Was that right after the OES Tour?

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Not long after

[@MykeLewisMusic]

I've been wanting to ask this for about 35 years now: what was the deal with the little china cymbal up high in your McCartney tour setup? In the booklet for the Tripping the Live Fantastic album, there's a picture of it with what looks like a trigger mounted to it. Any explanation as to its purpose would be appreciated! Thanks, Chris!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Yeah, I had a couple of fx cymbals just for triggers. I used them on the intro to 'Coming Up'. Lots of samples in an Akai.

[@MykeLewisMusic]

@@ChrisWhittenMusic Neat! Is there an advantage to using the cymbals that way instead of the Octapad?

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

@@MykeLewisMusic Just for show. Also it allows you to have triggers in different places around the kit. A small shiny cymbal looked better than a rubber pad.

[@MykeLewisMusic]

@@ChrisWhittenMusic Fair enough! Thanks for taking the time to respond, I appreciate it!

[@yattis]

Could you please tell the notes your snare heads are tuned to? Any snare of yours sounds amazing👍

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

Thanks. I just tune by ear, different for every song. I tend to have the snare side pretty tight. The batter side goes up and down, but the main thing is I have it in tune with itself, so weird harmonics.

[@danfinn2210]

What snare was used on “Figure of Eight” and “This One”?

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

On what recording?

[@danfinn2210]

Interested in knowing what snare drums were used on The Flowers In The Dirt album. Particularly the songs “Figure of Eight” and “This One”. Also, what Noble and Cooley snare was used on the McCartney tour? Was it a maple 5x14? It sounded amazing!

[@ChrisWhittenMusic]

@@danfinn2210 The tour snare was N&C single ply ‘classic’ 5 x 14”. I can’t remember what I used on This One, maybe the 70’s Black Beauty. Most of the drums on Figure Of Eight are Paul, also some programmed stuff by Trevor Horn. It could be drum samples or some drums Paul owned.

[@danfinn2210]

@@ChrisWhittenMusic Thank you so much for the information. Love the videos and appreciate the responses. Cheers!

[@RubixDrumStudios]

You should come and visit us. at rubix.