The SIMON PHILLIPS Interview | Zappa, Jeff Beck & Hiromi

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[@rocketshiptoaltair]

This is just pure gold! Really enjoyed this and learned so much. Thanks Andy and Simon.

[@stefanredin854]

Simon seems to be a humble and a honest guy, and one hell of a drummer!! 👍🏻👊❤️

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

The best....

[@DarkeningSkies1]

First heard him on the 801 record- impressed. Then w/ The Who in the late 1980s- very impressed. Then I got into the jazz and jazz adjacent stuff and he made my drummers top 50 list. Helluva nice man to boot.

[@m1nn1s]

God Bless SIMON! ​@@AndyEdwardsDrummer

[@fusionfan6883]

Great job Andy, your knowledge as a drummer and musician really enhances these interviews because it enables you to ask uniquely informed, novel and probing questions🤘🏻

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I appreciate that!

[@MrLordScotland]

Lovely to hear from Simon. I first heard him on an album by Duncan Browne. Ecquisite clarity

[@GDB-ib7rg]

I watch every interview with Simon that comes up on KZbin. Such a great storyteller. But this is the best interview I have seen yet. I have been such a fan ever since my son, a drummer, introduced me to the Hiromi album Spark which has to be the best drumming performance on an album this century. To hear how it was done is stunning. I have loved this channel before this but this video you have truly done a masterpiece. Thank you so much.

[@steveglossop]

I'd heard Simon talk about his Dad briefly in previous interviews. I never realised he was such an important musician in his day. He's on Spotify and everything! Really enjoyed this interview Andy, thanks to both of you.

[@mr.orange8205]

Awesome! I saw him play with Hiromi years ago. The best drummer I've ever seen. Was also listening to Alive on the way home today. Love it!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Couldn't agree more!

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

Fantastic interview Andy. I really enjoyed this. I have Simon in my top five for drummers. He is one of the very few drummers out there who doesn’t need a band accompanying him. His phrasing is just so musical, and he has a certain feel that no other drummer has, all while being extremely technical. I absolutely love his playing!!

[@hauskahirvi]

Another excellent interview/discussion! I really enjoyed hearing about Simon's early years in music. Great stuff! I am fortunate to have seen Simon perform live two times. The first time was with Jeff Beck in 1981 at Cobo Hall in Detroit, then the second time was in Denmark with Protocol 2019. I got to meet Simon and the band after the Protocol gig. I mentioned to Simon that the last time I saw him perform was with Beck in Detroit and how much I liked it and how memorable it was. He sincerely enjoyed hearing about my recollection and he said, with a smile, that it brought back some fond memories of that show in Detroit. I really like his work on There And Back, 801 w/Manzanera, et. all, Pete T., etc. etc. Thanks Simon and Andy! Cheers - Allan

[@SkidMark_Music5575]

I've been following Simon for 40 years! I had to rearrange my entire afternoon to watch every minute of this. What a treat! When you have him on again in the future ask him about DarWin!

[@WS-gs6sf]

A fan since '801 Live'! Cheers.

[@AndrewjWilson]

Superb interview ,Andy. One of your best. Thanks 😊

[@davidwylde8426]

Still not finished this interview but I must stop and say, that it is absolutely brilliant. There’s just something about a drummer interviewing a ‘leg-end’ like Simon that is just on a different level to him being interviewed by a standard journalist or music enthusiast content creator. It’s also extremely nostalgic because I first noticed Simon’s name on the credits of Mike Rutherford’s solo album’( around 1979 I think),’Smallcreeps Day’ when I had just started really getting into music and tentatively starting on my journey to attempt to be a musician,( a brilliant album by the way and his drumming is musically brilliant on it, and I’m sure technically so as well, although not being a drummer I wouldn’t dream of such an assertion, …. though given who it is I’d probably be on safe ground let’s face it). Probably within a year or less he’s cropped up on my purchase of Stanley Clarke’s ‘Rocks, Pebbles and Sand’ album which again contains drumming that musically stands out to myself even though I’m a bass player and not a drummer. Strange to think that it’s the guy I see on screen who was behind those childhood magical moments listening to an album and keep trawling over all the details about the musicians and producers and lyrics and everything else on the artwork. And he’s carried on with such a brilliant career. Right, back to it. Brilliant stuff guys 😊👍🏻

[@alexmanne]

Another banger interview, Andy. I always really liked Simon's playing on There and Back. It always stood out to me. I've watched quite a bit of youtube videos of both Simon and Steve Smith playing with Hiromi. Incredible stuff.

[@davestephens6421]

Oh Wow!!! Another amazing interview.....this time our hero Mr Simon Phillips.....Thank you both!!!! And yes, please another one sometime. Simon is so inspirational and knowledgeable and an all round good egg.....wonderful!!!!!!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

More to come! I hope

[@beamzappa6266]

Absolutely amazing video! I could have listened to this for many hours, please another one with Simon soon, what a top dude!!

[@rickwills4281]

Mr Phillips......an absolute mine of information, cracking interview!!!

[@nilshenrikteigen9215]

He’s drumming on Judas Priest Sin After Sin is legendary, and to this day is my favorite JP album because of Simon’s drumming.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

And mine. JP were never as good although Scott Travis was pretty amazing on Painkiller

[@nilshenrikteigen9215]

⁠@@AndyEdwardsDrummerAgree with Painkiller. A great album and Scott Travis is one hell of a HM drummer, but Simon’s groove on Sin after sin is unbeatable. It’s a shame Simon didn’t tour with Priest back in the day. A live Dissident Aggressor with Simon would have been a killer show.

[@delorangeade]

My attention span is usually not much more than ten minutes, but I watched this from start to finish, so I hope there will be more from Simon to come.

[@rite-note1702]

Andy, thanks for this Simon Phillips is my favourite drummer.

[@jeffreytaylor6257]

30 minutes in and it's already amazing. Thank you Andy. JT

[@John-fc7wc]

Thanks Andy for getting Simon on for a lengthy interview. I think I've seen just about every interview ever posted on KZbin featuring Simon, so it was nice to get a new one. Much of what he said I've heard him say before, but he went a bit more in depth about time with his father, and his time with Hiromi. Thanks again and I am looking forward to your next one with him.

[@ralfhaller8977]

Great fun and so much Information plus you two in such a wonderful mood.Enjoyed every Minute.

[@DrOz-007]

He played drums on a few Mike Oldfield albums... the album Discovery is particularly good... would be interesting to hear about working with Mike.

[@charlieprice4072]

Bravo Andy!! That was hugely enjoyable and you covered so many fascinating moments in Simon's jaw dropping career. Let's hope we all get a chance to hear Protocol at Sconnie Rott's?

[@steverickenbacher7110]

Absolutely fabulous interview, Andy. Simon is a class act all the way.

[@2wayplebney]

So many great nuggets here. Frank was demanding (no surprise) , practise new stuff slowly (like the Mahavishnus), Andy loves Simon (no surprise, I do too). I saw Simon with Jack Bruce at Leeds Uni yonks ago. Simon was awesome, Jack was full of beverage, yet it was still an excellent gig. Great interview, Andy. Brill ending!

[@TractorCountdown]

That was wonderful, Andy, and it'd be great to get Simon back on.

[@mycle2000]

what a treat! fantastic interview, thx!

[@christopher9152]

Brilliant guest. Thank you, Andy!

[@KeithFarrelly]

801 Live, a brilliant LP

[@rikk1546]

One of the best live albums ever made, IMO.

[@KeithFarrelly]

@@rikk1546 The best, imo

[@kevinwicks007]

Loved "Empty Glass" (Pete Townsend), he played on I was hooked on his style of playing immediately, and I'm sure their was a Judie Tzuke track on her debut album "Welcome to the Cruise "Sukarita" got hooked on judie Tzuke because I followed Eltons label , and had a hunch if Eltons got artists on his label they must be good....I was lucky , been going to most of judies gigs ever since. excellent interview.

[@MiUnited]

One of few drummers you instanty recognize by his sound and touch

[@BrainiacFingers]

Brilliant interview. Although I wish you'd asked him about playing with Mike Oldfield because no-one ever does.

[@rollacoastaride1937]

Blood of emeralds, (Gary Moore), what a drum track on that song, demonstrates how hard this drummer can Rock, great interview btw

[@luckykat08]

Huge fan of Simon's work with Mike Oldfield - really enjoying this.

[@Rondoggy67]

Great interview. Thanks for all your work.

[@PaulAxe]

Great interview Andy, I learned so much from you guys tonight. So much amazing.

[@fusionfan6883]

A musical titan, and a humble and giving person too, a wonderful human being🤘🏻

[@drummusicinc4027]

Love this…. Non musicians ask me who is your favorite drummer? My answer is always Simon Phillips. They say…. Who? Great job Andy👍

[@paulduggan5323]

I first became aware of Simon when Gary Moore released “Back On The Streets” in the late 70’s. He was only the second drummer to instantly grab my attention. His performances on that album are unreal particularly “Song For Donna”. One of the true greats and it’s great to learn he’s a really great guy too.

[@Larrybabbin1957]

This was great thanks Andy!

[@colinness375]

Absolutely wonderful, Andy!! Wonderful!! Love Simon ...

[@SphericalHang]

Great interview Andy! Love Simon, especially with Hiromi. Live was incredible with her with intricate compositions in weird time signatures and off the scale improvisation from Simon and Hiromi.

[@patrickselden5747]

Great interview, Andy - thanks... ☝️😎

[@johannhauffman323]

Great interview !!! A favorite concert for me was Simon and Anthony Jackson with Al Di Meola in Washington, D.C.

[@davestephens6421]

@@johannhauffman323 I saw the two of them will Al Di in the UK!!!! Brilliant stuff

[@johannhauffman323]

@@davestephens6421 It really was Brilliant !!!

[@jbognap]

What year was this?

[@johannhauffman323]

@@jbognap I believe March 21st, 1982 at the Wax Museum.

[@kerrybarnes7289]

Great interview.

[@davestephens6421]

Oh wonderful!!!! What can we say? You are the man Andy.....!!!

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Many thanks!!

[@vibhaasnoise8988]

Yess. I had the protocol video. I also have the two generations LP! Love Simon

[@anderszettergren4302]

This is so great. Big thanks. The first time I really heard SP must have been on Mike Rutherford's "Smallcreep's Day".

[@davidwylde8426]

He’s done so many sessions and gigs that it’s possible he may not even remember that album, but his playing sounds fantastic on it. Interestingly, although I rate Mike as one of the most interesting and exciting bass players during my lifetime,( I know there are many technically more advanced players), and his bass playing is brilliant in places on the album, it’s actually his guitar playing on ‘Smallcreeps Day’ that for me is probably amongst his best ever, and shows that the guy can ‘really play’ guitar,( as if his twelve string/rhythm guitar playing hadn’t demonstrated his brilliant compositional style sufficiently already). So, a brilliant album for Simon, Mike and also Noel Mcalla and Anthony Philips as well.

[@anderszettergren4302]

@@davidwylde8426 Well said and a great summary of the album.

[@SKYSAW59]

I was at 801 Live, sitting behind Robert Wyatt!

[@SuperQdaddy]

Extraordinary !! Andy..love it...the magic zone was mentioned..and the opposite approach to grooves.*..carry on..look forward to.your interviews...it would be interesting to hear Simon write a dixieland fusion tune for protocol as a tribute to.his beginning s..lol

[@davidwylde8426]

Brilliant !!

[@naderzekrya5238]

Is this the same Simon Philips on 'rocks, pebbles and sand' by Stanley Carke 1980?

[@MegaFrancescop]

Yes

[@bluecrueful]

Good one, Andy!!

[@raycochrane3971]

I became aware of him when 801 Live was released...a stunning performance by one & all but particularly this chap.

[@frankthorne11]

Thank you.

[@aminahmed2220]

Awesome video have a great day Andy and also happy second week of January ❤😊

[@JesseBatesDrums]

Great interview thank you.

[@robinjones6999]

Brilliant, Excellent Superb - Ive run out of superlatives.

[@DSM9]

Drummer here. Major fan of Simon since Jeff Beck's There and Back and Stanley Clarke's Rocks, Pebbles and Sand in the early '80s.

[@kaybeehymumf1355]

Wow Andy! How does one go about getting hold of legendary musicians? Best interview I’ve heard with Simon! Thank you!

[@mikem3695]

Here's a useless comment for the algorithm, but I can say that your content starting the new year has been on another level.

[@MrCherryJuice]

This is great, thank you. Avoiding Toto gets another thanks. But I'm sure that I am not the only one who would rather have heard Simon finish his recollection of Robbie McIntosh rather than have you barging in with your totally unrelated anecdote. 🙂 Simon mentioned Jack Bruce. It was with Jack that he first gained a higher level of exposure via the 'How's Tricks?' album. That band also included Tony Hymas and Hughie Burns. (A second album, 'Sitting On Top of the World' was not released until many years later and under the title 'Jet Set Jewel'.) After Simon, Billy Cobham took over on drums, Clem Clempson on guitar and David Sancious on keys. There is a live bootleg or two plus studio album 'I've Always Wanted to Do This'. I realise interviewing is quite new for you and that speaking with Simon would be exciting. 🙃 But there are times when you might want to keep that enthusiasm in check. Anytime you say 'I' you are putting the spotlight on yourself, so what you say had better be good. Drummers talk about omitting unnecessary 'look at me fills'; so do great interviewers. Rick Beato has learned how to do this. Piers Morgan hasn't. But once again, this is great. I've watched numerous Simon interviews and this was certainly the most encompassing and insightful. Even better - he enjoyed it. 👍

[@rikk1546]

I haven't watched all the interview, but I wonder if mention is made of the short-lived group *The Best*. Its personnel were Simon P, John Entwistle, Joe Walsh, Keith Emerson, Jeff Baxter, and a Canadian singer whom I've forgotten the name of. The band only played some shows in Japan; not many people seem to have heard of it. There are some fuzzy YT clips of them; better to track down the pro DVD of a show that exists.

[@paulmenard7936]

Simon had a cool mom! Good chat Andy.

[@toddheeter9075]

YO ANDY, My name is Todd. I'm from Pittsburgh. 'Just began watching your interview with Simon Phillips. HOPEFULLY, you mentioned The who this time.

[@LowKeyTired-q7d]

Dave's gone skiing ... That's an interesting tune ...

[@Jellybeantiger]

Simon ,best. Saw him do a clinic here in Oz in the 90's. His drums sounded incredible.

[@specialkonacid6574]

Brilliant

[@lvtutorials3039]

Great stuff. If Simon comes back to talk about production, sidetrack him for one story about the Schenker album. I'm still listening to that, and JP is long forgotten.

[@gadymarcus2362]

Bello/Magnifico.🙏✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️✡️👑

[@purpletemple1]

Absolutely amazing. Thank you Simon & Andy! I didn't quite catch which Zappa album Simon plays on and couldn't find the info on the net...Would somebody be so kind to let me know? Cheers.

[@davidcherry3107]

It's an L Shankar album, called touch me there, produced by Zappa.

[@libre-tad6283]

I remember that Tama promo.. Thinking how cool he looked, to this day I don't think I've heard Simon play I know he's a legend but could never find out what he played on til the Internet Looking forward to hearing him at last though I feel I mightve heard the Stanley Clarke stuff🙂

[@johnlambert2970]

Hi Andy, really enjoying your video series. Any chance of a Jeff Beck exclusive? Saw the Beck/ Phillips/ Hymas trio at Hammersmith Odeon with Jimmy Page as a guest playing 'Going down'. If you do decide to do something on JB, worth checking out 'Women of Ireland' . Enjoyed your vids on Jazz Rock and Weather Reports albums ranked. Cheers John

[@stefanredin854]

Great interwiev Andy! 👍🏻👊

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@AlanKroeger]

Phil Palmer, just like you said one of us peanut gallery would fill in the void

[@Murdo2112]

Andy, is there any chance you can push this back a few hours? It's not my birthday until tomorrow!

[@construccionyavancesadecvc5554]

It is important to know about prehistoric rock

[@delorangeade]

About twenty tears ago I arrived late at the check-in desk for an Alitalia flight from Birmingham (BHX for airport nerds and Rush fans) to Milan. Also checking in was a fair haired gentleman carrying quite a large drum case with Simon Phillips stencilled on it. He was trying to persuade the girl at the desk that it was urgent and the case should be allowed in the cabin as carry on baggage, and getting quite irate that she didn't want to allow it. I don't think it was Simon Phillips, but it didn't seem the right time to approach him and get the full story, so I left them to it. That is my, not very interesting, Simon Phillips story, but I'm looking forward to the interview. Flight of the Snow Moose by Gary Moore - I couldn't believe Simon's drumming on that when I first heard it.

[@fusionfan6883]

Got the latest Darwin album, absolutely killer melodic prog metal🤘🏻 If you get Simon back please ask him about the way he chooses guitarists, for example Ray Russell up to Alex Sill in the current band🙏

[@marksobolik8943]

"Don't play drums; play music." I said that to a drummer I had to work with once. He never got it.

[@nightsazrael]

That was really good. 😻😻😻😻😻😻

[@thefollandgnat]

"Jon Punter . . . great engineer . . . He did Roxy Music, he did Nazareth, everybody."

[@hybrydsanity5857]

he's in my top 3 all time simon that is lol

[@marksobolik8943]

Why no description telling us who this person is? I'd never heard of him.

[@jayros67]

Love it.. “ Tom Toms”

[@grahamallen9393]

Ps do we know if Simon is ok re wild fire ? He’s already lost a home previously!!

[@thickerbrummietwat]

L. Shankar - Darlene 👍

[@joseantoniomartinezbombin1669]

...and the rest of the album.

[@eximusic]

Bob Dylan played drums? (sorry just saw A Complete Unknown - recommended).

[@darkoanton5]

I'll be seeing it this evening.

[@garthchilvers-v5d]

Please ask Simon about his work with Duncan Mackay on the album SCORE

[@oman3809]

@@garthchilvers-v5d Andy McCulloch is the drummer on that. Maybe you were thinking of Duncan Browne's "The Wild Places" or "Streets Of Fire"? Great albums, also feature Tony Hymas and John Giblin.

[@garthchilvers-v5d]

@@oman3809 Hi actually it is VISA my apologies

[@paulv22]

Andy's mancrushing! (not that I blame him)

[@blaskode]

Phil Palmer.

[@boudiccamarchestorome9475]

Is Andy really wearing a "Blues and Americana" T shirt? 🤯🧐 Edited to Add: Looked up the festival (which sounded like a whole lotta fun), and Andy played there; tell us about it, kind sir.

[@jerrylev59]

Ironic on the British guy who usually eschews Americana as a facile pose. I guess there is some version of it that even Andy can appreciate as authentic and compelling. Or maybe he's just having us on half of the time.

[@AndyEdwardsDrummer]

I did a talking gig there and they gave me it. I'm glad to give them some profile

[@jerrylev59]

@@AndyEdwardsDrummer Two examples come to mind that might challenge your dismissive view of Americana, both from Ray Davies. The Kinks "Muswell Hillbillies" from 1971, which itself ironically imports and embraces Americana, using it as a vehicle to express British working class sensibilities. And Ray Davies solo effort from 2017, actually unapologetically titled "Americana", also the title of his 2013 literary memoir. It's a sincere effort uplifted by the backing of the band The Jayhawks, whom the All Music Guide refers to as "an Americana band raised on the British Invasion ". It's a tangled, complex history that we share. I've worked with fair number of folks from your island nation over the years in my IT career here in the Delaware Valley. I've travelled extremely little outside the U.S. myself, but people from all over the globe come here for the employment opportunities. My maternal grandfather was born in Lithuania, but spent some part of his early childhood somewhere in England. He spoke unaccented English and seemed to have absorbed some British reserve in his character. In my experience, and meaning no offense, Londoners seem to be similar to Americans from New York City, thick-skinned and abrasive. People from the Midlands are generally more relaxed, pleasant and easier to get along with. Hope you take that as a compliment, my friend! 🙃

[@boudiccamarchestorome9475]

@@jerrylev59 I'd be happy if he saw the parallels between Jethro Tull's use of old English folklore and Jerry Garcia's infusion of Amer. folklore into every genre out there: jug music, country, blues, then rock, and even ... jazz!

[@jerrylev59]

@@boudiccamarchestorome9475 Speaking of Jerry Garcia, Andy also dismissed the Grateful Dead as not having a lasting influence up to the present day. I have not much knowledge of what local scenes are like in the U.K., except for the Pakistani Muslim rape gangs, unfortunately. However, here in the U.S. today, there are at least a half-dozen Dead-inspired jam bands in every town from sea to shining sea!

[@jimmcgonigal]

Perfect interviewing when the interviewee is happy to talk. Simon is so modest compared to the Drummer he is. I listened to Vinnie's podcast with Bill Bruford and Bill couldn't get a word in. Terrible. Don't want to keep comparing you as the British Rick Beato, but you're rising as quickly as he ever did. And thank france you don't keep pushing bloomin ear training.

[@marksobolik8943]

Cross pollenize? (Cross pollenise?) The term is cross polllenate.

[@jbognap]

This was fantastic. Simon is so musical - I didn't realize how involved he was in writing the tunes for "There and Beck". I must admit, I, too, thought the fill on "The Pump" was a clam. 😂

[@jeffsimon9594]

Simon is awesome but ultimately just a longstanding session pro who would play on *anything* for money, including Xian musicals and all sorts of easy-listening guff like that. Not dissing him for that as I love his playing no matter what, but I just find it amusing how every single interviewer blots all that stuff out and only talks about the fashionable 'cool' or 'heavy' bands he played/recorded with.

[@primeporkycut]

With limited time, I guess the interviewer had to concentrate on stuff which the casual listener will find interesting; which is the cool stuff. It's worth remembering that Simon was a very young jobbing session player in a highly competitive London session scene during the 70s. He was up against the likes of Kenny Clare, Alf, Ganley, Fisher etc and he took the scene by storm. I know people who say that they couldn't believe what this young lad called Simon was doing. He was on some big KPM library sessions at 17 years old, already comfortable soloing over odd time signatures with the red light on and the baton waving. Incredible to think of it. I'd love to hear more of his time during that period.

[@MicheleOmetto-pz5hb]

PHIL PALMER

[@karlricardo4088]

Judas Priest \m/