Dave McGurgan

Records that influenced my drumming

Some of the key albums that I was listening to that influenced my style as a drummer.

In short, I listened to these records, mimicked what I heard and I became a drummer.

Check it out: Drumming influences: Flickr gallery

Remembering the drumming style of Jerry Fuchs

This article originally appeared on phillyBurbs.com.

Few drummers can truly make a drum kit come to life and play the instrument the way it was meant to be played; Jerry Fuchs was one of those drummers.

Fuchs' style was reminiscent of the stripped down and driving beats of Led Zeppelin's John Bonham. Both drummers placed little value on flash, instead focusing on developing rock solid beats that propelled songs forward with definitive force. Fuchs used the high hat and snare drum to place subtle notes of emphasis within a song, a technique that most drummers (experienced and inexperienced) simply overlook. Fuchs had an uncanny dexterity with the kick drum that was certainly advanced, if not aerobic.

Watching Fuchs play, it was clear he had an inherent sense of rhythm. By all appearances steady tempos seemed to flow effortlessly from him as he played. But Fuchs' makes-it-look-easy style was clearly the sign of an accomplished musician who had spent years practicing and evolving as a musician to develop such a rock solid style. Fuchs' simplistic yet powerful style enabled him to play many types of music. Whether a song called for complex time signatures or a minimalistic elementary beat, or both, Fuchs had no problem playing with exacting precision.

In the indie rock scene, Fuchs was a well respected musician noted for his friendly interaction with fans and other like-minded musicians. Simply put, Jerry Fuchs was one of the best drummers to come along in indie rock in recent years. While the world at large will never know Fuchs' work, those fortunate to have heard and seen his work with The Martians, Koncak, Vineland, Turing Machine, !!!, The Juan Maclean, Maserati, et al. will vouch for his greatness. And rightly so.