Remembering Jon Hiseman

This film was shown on 21st July 2018, an unforgettable afternoon when friends and family gathered at a garden party in Sutton, Surrey, UK to Celebrate the Life of Jon Hiseman. Music was played, documentary films shown, speeches made and tributes read to the drummer and bandleader who sadly passed away on June 12th 2018.
Thanks go to all who contributed to the extracts shown.
“…he left a huge void in the lives of family, friends, fellow musicians and all those he had met and inspired during a lifetime of dedication to music.”
Extract from rock music critic and author Chris Welch’s Tribute to Jon Hiseman chriswelchonlin...

[@brötzmannsax]

RIP Jon, a self taught genius drummer, Colosseum was one of the greatest bands ever, thanks for all the memories!

[@DrBongos]

The most underrated drummer in rock

[@Willie.McBride]

No! He never was underrated! He always was the absolute King of drumming!

[@alexpaton2818]

​@Willie.McBride I totally agree. Back in the 70s all my muso friends rated Jon the best. Like the great guitarist Ollie Halsall Jon should be a bigger name today. The 70s was a great time to be around witnessing all these great bands.

[@ahecks]

A very nice and loving tribute to a truly great man and musician. Miss you, Jon ❤️

[@greengenie7063]

RIP Dick Heckstall-Smith and Graham Bond too...

[@greengenie7063]

RIP - Dick Heckstall-Smith and Graham Bond too...

[@SLINGSHOTWORLDTV]

Feel terrible. Drove Jon for five weeks and 5,000 miles of autobahnen on a tour with Taif and with Paraphernalia, in the eighties. He kept on meeting my mum at events..and yet I never was in contact again. Just found this... memories so clear and some so dimmed.. I was 17. Now 56. He could be talking to you, and play a beat with one hand, more clever than you could think in your head. The, while still talking, pick up a contrapuntal beat on the bass drum with his left foot, followed by a different one, weaving in, played with his right foot on the second of the double bass drums with pedals. A fourth layer was added with the right hand.. and ONLY then did what he was saying, tail off, as there was no room left in his brain. The reason he loved and adored Babs so helplessly, musically was how she simply didn't seem to care a fig for time signature...she could wander off in a jazz so pure in utterly bonkers essence, that he marvelled, even as they met back up on the other side and played on just like they were married in both life and music. And Jon was a polymath. REALLY annoying that he was never wrong about anything. And I don't mean actually incorrect.. he wasn't cruel about it but he was a multiple genius. Once, as we set off in the Toyota HiAce bus from one town to another, (I loved the autobahns and once they were asleep, I could scoot the thing up to 95mph) I asked Jon about sound proofing. he started, "Well Adam, first of all, it is two subjects, sound treatment and sound transference.. and of course, drums are the loudest instrument known to man, at 120decibels..." two hours later and I had had a full blown educational experience. Most days had bits like it, as I kept asking questions. I recall a lot of pizza, and how bizarrely varied a rider for 'Muesli, fruit juice, mineral water and fruit' could be interpreted. I pinched water and fruit juice as water alone was boring and juice alone gives your innards an acid assault if nothing else is had.... to this day I have a taste for weedy weak diluted fruit juicey water. This really shook me, a serious number of people I worked with in the Eighties are dead. Rest in Peace Jon. You will always marvel at how Barbara could play two saxes at the same time. A polymath and a child prodigy.. gone to their ancestors. This has ripped lumps out of me to write.

[@AnaGracey]

Thanks for this Adam

[@SLINGSHOTWORLDTV]

@@AnaGracey OH My WORD....would you have been the curly locked tiny small female person I met at the house? Do you recall the day that tour departed and the fat lad with the crewbus drive? I have memory of you aged six or eight..... this is so awesome. And wow... talk about slow on the uptake... so unsurprised.... that much talent as heritage. It is still sinking in..

[@jeffreymalack3723]

Would love to hear more road stories. Can't get enough. Much love from Philadelphia.

[@fideliusconcrete4871]

I met him and Barbara several times as well as the members of Colosseum. Now I'm sitting here crying. He was a very, very nice person and I miss him.

[@Knispel31]

JON HISEMAN - unforgotten! one of the finest drummers Rock music has seen and the founder and leader of one of the best Rock bands ever: COLOSSEUM

[@rainhard5850]

Jon, my Drum Idol - R.I.P. Mein Drum Idol - Ruhe in Frieden! Als Drummer habe ich zu dir auf gesehen.

[@gianpaolopelizzaro1634]

What a great drummer. Neil Peart before Neil Peart. Pure magic. Thank you deeply so much Jon for all the splendid music you played in records and gigs. RIP

[@odysseo58]

We had listened to many drummers in our "hole" a dark room a reader Digest turntable many LPs ... when we heard the "Colosseum live" and the Jon Hiseman drums the Heckstall-Smith sax the voice of Chris Farlowe ... .our adolescent life was never the same again .... island of Sardinia summer 1973

[@jokris54]

My musical hero!....an amazing drummer, bandleader, husband, father....MAN!!....I cried when I realized when he had died....but his wonderful legacy lives on! And it will continue to enrich our lives for years to come! Thank you for everything Jon, your music was one of the very best things in my life!!

[@vincentrathbone26]

What the Hell ! I only just found out that he died, R.I.P. Jon you're the drummer I always wanted to be. :-(

[@IYAMNI]

Damn! I didn't even know he had passed on. I was looking him up because I just heard about Ginger Baker and I always felt Hiseman deserved the same accolades for shaping modern rock drumming as Baker got. A powerful and influential musician. RIP.

[@unknownkingdom]

Baker spoke highly on Hiseman in a few interviews of him I had seen. He wasnt the type to spare criticism so it kind of means more when he says Hiseman was great.

[@IYAMNI]

@@unknownkingdom haha. That's true. Baker was not known for pulling punches. So yeah, it means a lot that he gave Hiseman kudos. Didn't know. Thanks.

[@aaarauz1]

What a loving tribute. RIP, Jon.

[@M123OCT]

The first drum clinic I ever saw. My first drum hero. Saw him with various bands. Hung about for hours to meet him and sneak into a soundcheck. Really nice guy, and a super player. I was very sad to hear than he'd died.

[@johnnysenser]

A fantastic drummer, one of the pioneers of rock, fusion and prog drumming. Very under rated but so talented. Sorry to hear of his passing. I went to school with his son Marcus, so when I started drumming as a teenager he was a total legend to me. Check out his solo "Time Machine" if you're a drummer and you don't know it ! Astounding musicianship.

[@wholeworld399]

RIP Jon, Allan & Ollie . . Tempest . .top prog rock supergroup.

[@MrFrenchteacher1]

Vic Santiago Definitely

[@youngchool]

Yes, they must be jamming up there.

[@christian-albrechtgroddeck3320]

Wonderful memories of our friends Jon, Barbara and the Band Colosseum. This is a document for all time. It shows us how the Colosseum-Family has worked together. Awesome Jon, Barbara and the kids together, great harmony that make together the sound of the brilliant Band Colosseum. I keep this memories in my heart. Many thanks, love to all, R.I.P. Jon my dear friend.

[@anne-metteibsen5937]

I wonder if the low frequent waves from drumming has given him the tumor? I met him on his first Denmark-tour in April 1969. The band members were invited to a private dinner, and I found Jon intelligent, with humor, good looking, easy to talk with. Next evening I heard him play. So intense. A pity he was already married, but we kept the contact ever since as friends. I also miss him terribly. Valentine Suite is my favorite.

[@GerdRudel]

Thanky you so much for this film. Jon and his music will be forever in our hearts and on our record-players.

[@andrewroberts5824]

Brilliant musician, really sad he's no longer with us.

[@hansjorgkissling6426]

miss you jon

[@richardpratt6424]

This is simply a beautiful memory of a fabulous musician and person. Only saw him once in Brum in 1971, I think, opening for Love. Unforgettable. Many thanks to folks who made this film.

[@martinlawrence8427]

Saw Jon play up close and personal at the Norwich Arts Centre with Barabara, blew my mind! RIP

[@faruso1]

Thank you Jon for all you have left us with! Unforgettable. You and lovely Barbara will forever stay in my heart. Thanks also to the people putting this collage together.

[@DelicateSoundOfThund]

Made with love, I'm glad that I've seen him on stage several times

[@eingangsdaten]

The one and only - Jon Hiseman! Unforgotten!

[@johndhalgren9804]

Sadly, I only discovered Jon's talent after reading about him in a Modern Drummer issue after his death. Since then, I've been discovering his great music. He is in the pantheon of drummers associated with prog rock and jazz fusion.

[@Frizzey1]

Lost Angeles - the path to the light - good vibes Jon !

[@dopeydad1221]

Always one of my favourites. Saw him and Colosseum many times in the early 70s, along with a number of drum clinics for the Paiste cymbal company, and whilst I didn't understand what he was doing, I just knew I wanted to play like that. His control and precision was astonishing, and everything he did had such an infectious 'swing'. Easily one of the best ever...

[@vannessar32]

Great musician sadly missed

[@mumorini]

R.I.P.

[@eddiereader8759]

One of the treasured memories of my teenage years, I would be about 18, was seeing Colosseum at a church hall in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. I was blessed at school at having a music guru in the form of John De Felice who had introduced us all to jazz and blues and a bunch of us went to experience a night of sheer magic. Jon Hisemann’s drum solo was a true experience. Not only a drum roll on the twin bass drums but also juggling, not always successfully, with the sticks. RIP Mr Hiseman.

[@davidholt7121]

I remember going to see Colosseum at the Friary Youth Club, Upper Abbey Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire on Saturday the 18th of April 1970 with you and John De Felice and a few others. We all went into the Wheatsheaf pub opposite for a pint first, and then across the road for the gig, which was awesome! I can picture the stage now with Jon juggling his sticks, and as a drummer I was totally in awe, as I remain now!

[@youngchool]

Bill Bruford, Terry Bozzio, Andy Ward, Pierre Moerlen, Pierre Van der Linden, Christian Vander, and of course Jon Hiseman!! 0:12! That's Jon! When I heard Colosseum II debut album (still one of my favorites after all those years) for the first time, I was like 'What is he doing'? Along with Billy Cobham, Jon was a master of (what I figured as) Ghost notes or rudiments. His drumming was always vigorous, animated and creative, full of energy. So unique and tasty - Love it! RIP Jon, thanks for your musical legacy!

[@andiecayne]

Wonderful ❤️ Very much missed, but always with us in the legacy of music he left for us.

[@ciforoso]

It was my dream since 16 years old to see him perform live, hoping he would play in some jazz festival here in south america. I stealed (and still do) so many of his great chops that i can't even keep count. Praise to that great musician, he shall live forever in gems he left us to listen.

[@StuartHirst]

A fine tribute to a great musician. A wonderful film collage. Thank you for your music Jon. You've been part of my life.

[@VasiliyMolostov]

Great man!

[@MrFrenchteacher1]

I saw him with Tempest at Reading Pop Festival, the Marquee and Reading Student Union in the early 70’s. AWESOME

[@wholeworld399]

You lucky duck. .never saw Tempest short lived. .did see Paul Williams, Allan Holdsworth both with IOU and Marke Clark with Ian Hunter. .thats as close as I got to Tempest.

[@MrFrenchteacher1]

There were the 3 Jon, Ollie et Mark

[@schepersmaarten8165]

❤️ thanks ❤️

[@linapavlovska7741]

RIP JON I REMEMBER YOU FOR ALL MY LIFE...HERE MILANO ..ITALY..AND I SAW YOU IN ITALY AND AROUND THE WORLD..WITH COLOSSEUM AND QUARTETT...YOU STILL ARE THE BEST DRUMMER IN THIS WORLD ..

[@concatinate]

Great video/tribute. So inspiring to see that regardless of age, Hiseman always maintained so much energy, enthusiasm and talent.

[@FlatfootChronicles]

The greatest drummer ever in the greatest band ever, Colosseum II

[@linapavlovska7741]

RIP JON I CAN'T FORGET YOUR CONCERT IN DUSSELDORF IN MAY 1969...WITH COLOSSEUM-- AUGUST I WENT TO WOODSTOCK..BUT YOUR DRUM STILL INSIDE ME...CIAO FROM ITALIY JON

[@MrKeys57]

I heard Jon when Colloseum II visited the very small town of Boras in Sweden, dont remember the year, probaly late 70-ies, - i was the drummer of our band and was impressed by the awesome solo he made! - we played jazz-rock as many youngsters did back then, and not the terrible rap-crap they do today! :D greetings, Levi

[@heliodecastro9926]

R.I.P JON

[@maxfischer6023]

I consider myself lucky to have experienced Jon 1973,1995 & 2011 on stage. Together with Bill Bruford the best drummers who ever saw & heard live. And always very close to the audience after the concerts.

[@yesman2755]

RIP Jon. He’d just put a great band together, JCM, with Clem Clemson and Mark Clarke and I was so looking forward to seeing them when he was cruelly taken from us. I met Jon after a Tempest gig in the 70’s and he was fantastic, must have spent at least 30 minutes chatting to me. What a hero, wonderful memories of Colosseum gigs too at Mother’s club in Erdington, Birmingham U.K.

[@martynhanson]

He was a lovely guy. He had no pretentions at all.

[@jarrahdrum]

Fantastic musician, very humble

[@DavisSchulz]

love it, one of the biggest legendes ever for me and such a big inspiration. thanks for this.

[@omega4034]

Such a fantastic, unique and powerful drummer. I was excited every time i saw him!

[@louiskata9027]

Yes,I am ready John.

[@karikukkonen3534]

This is just I was waiting for! Jon The Great. Thanks.

[@jimlassen9422]

Oh no, just looked Jon up after referring to him on a Facebook post and found out he died in 2018. Still shocked! I first saw him do the first drum clinic I went to at the Fender Sound House in London in the early 1970's and heard his work with Colosseum (still have a few of their albums on vinyl). At that clinic, he bounced sticks off his floor toms and caught them in the air. Double bass drum kit and he was so inspirational at the time. Still very shocked and I will listen to some of his stuff again now. Also saw him with with his wife (Barabara Thompson?) doing a gig many years later doing their jazz type thing.

[@omega4034]

Jon Hiseman, what a drummer!

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love your work!!

[@andywjackson1135]

🍀 thanks,I fabulously liked🎶🍀🎶🍀thank you for sharing your thoughts creations.it answered a lot of thoughts I had about your fabulous band Colosseum,thank you 🍀🎶🍀

[@enricomaciel]

Genius....

[@jarrahdrum]

❤️

[@paulbrewer1977]

Not my words, but absolutely right.... "“…he left a huge void in the lives of family, friends, fellow musicians and all those he had met and inspired during a lifetime of dedication to music.”" Sad to have lost a great friend, honoured to have shared the road with him and been invited to speak at his funeral.

[@joachimzegke9301]

When Dick, later Jon, and at last Barbara came to heavens door, the angel at the door applauded and said: "well done..." 😇

[@grahamallen9393]

Been looking for the BBC footage for 38 years! How did you get it? Even Jon told me he couldn’t get hold of it. Wonderful.

[@odysseo58]

As much as I loved the drummers who made the rock age golden, I realized what it was like to play drums when I first heard Jon Hiseman. He is not dead as long as a young man of every generation will listen: "Skellington, rope ladder to the moon or will keep a copy of Valentyne suite in his music collection.

[@SAHBfan]

Arbiter Autotune drums at the beginning! I went out and bought a set of these after I heard Jon Hiseman - strangely, I didn't sound quite like him, though...

[@НиколайЕмельянрв]

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💒💫☝

[@dawnarmiger3156]

Oh for a lady grey with this guy again or a chat with mark or even a quiche with clem x

[@fideliusconcrete4871]

Oh, one more thing: Jon should have really mentioned the United Jazz and Rock Ensemble when he was telling us about his bands

[@giulianopanciroli6354]

💪👍👏✌

[@edoardozampetti4601]

this man is a true monster on drum not Bonham....

[@lmelnick100]

[@Apacheviking1961]

Sad he shuns his work with Gary, John and Done.😢…

[@frankblunt2482]

A donkey playing the drums got ten million more views than this. That's life.

[@mrmusic248]

I fi