Terry Bozzio (b-1950)
The first time I heard Terry Bozzio was with Missing Persons. There was a concert club in Orlando. The opening group was Bow-Wow-Wow. I liked their Tom-Tom Jungle drumming concept. Terry Bozzio was playing his Remo Roto-Tom kit at the time. I had their record and enjoyed this group.
When I was a Music Manufacturers Representative…he was always somewhere on the NAMM floor. The next time I saw him play was at a PAS / Percussive Arts Society. He was one of the featured presenters. This was a solo performance with his expanded drumset. The hall was packed with drummers and percussionist. I sat behind the great drummer Ed Thigpen. It was interesting to--watch him watch Terry. He really enjoyed it.
I think this was the beginning of Terry Bozzio’s compositional solo drum music. I enjoyed the concert very much.
I saw Terry again in Orlando at Park Plaza Theatre. It was his solo performance. This was 2013. Since that 90s PAS event and this 2013 performance - he had refined his compositional concept. His Drum Workshop Kit now included multiple bass drums and chromatic octaves of toms. His cymbal cage is quite a contraption.
Myself plus Several hundred in the audience paid $25 apiece to see and hear a drummer play drum solos. It was great. He also added electronic hand drum and Cajon to his musicianship. Several of his solos were built on melodic and rhythmic motifs. (Very musical)
I admire and respect what Terry Bozzio has done to expand the range of the drumset as a solo instrument. Pre and post pandemic…many drummers have become more visible on social media with podcast and streaming events. I also enjoy Terry’s curating for Drum Workshop and The Drum Channel.