Featured drummer 13 of 100 (Jimmy Fox and The James Gang) Nashville - December 1970 /
13 of 100 featured drummers + notes from an old drummer
This is my 13th article about the drummers I’ve seen and heard. My thought is it will be 100 drummers. I will be going back to 1-12 and updating that information. Since I’ve started my Substack site, I’ve posted a variety of media. Occasionally one of my 40+ subscribers will hit a like button or comment. It helps me know what viewers actually check out. My work is an eclectic array of Mumbo jumbo. I will continue to write about the featured drummers I’ve seen and heard since 1966. I do them in chronological order. Please repost if possible. MW
#13-(December 1970 / Nashville) Featured drummer Jimmy Fox – James Gang
I talked/wrote in my earlier article, featuring [Peter Rivera-Rare Earth] about my concert experience in Nashville.
On the bill was: Sha Na Na, Rare Earth and James Gang. This was December of 1970. I was in a band from Little Rock called Merging Traffic.
My seat was very close, on the floor. (A few rows from the stage) James Gang played third. I don’t remember if I was familiar with their current album.
As a drummer, I’m always interested in the drum tools, brand of kit and that stuff. Jimmy Fox was playing a Rogers kit with the front head off the “bass drum” (also known as the kick drum)
The sound of the band was unique and original. Certainly, Joe Walsh was the integral piece of the sound. But, Jimmy Fox and bassist Dale Peters also contributed to that raw James Gang sound.
Looking back 50 years, my thought about the event is as interesting as the music. What I’m trying to communicate is how fast music was produced, became popular and something else took it’s place.
I was in a lounge band in 1972, we played Funk 49. It was always a fun tune that I looked forward to playing within the bands 3 sets.
Joe Walsh, a few feet away, hearing him play was the best part of the concert. He used his classic signature talk box and all of that stuff. James Gang was very tight and came across as a band with potential.
I recall the attendance at this concert…there weren’t a lot of people there. It was Nashville on a Sunday night, 50+ years ago.
I have nothing else to say about the music I heard that night. James Gang sounded great. Jimmy Fox played very well.
I will say the sound production of this concert was more enjoyable than concerts I would hear post 1970.
My best music playing experiences have always been tight, small rooms or stages.
My favorite experiences hearing bands was mid 60s when there was a 2 speaker pa system, instrument amp and a drumset, that’s it. Zero mic’s on drums or anything.
In December of 1970, it was post Woodstock [bla bla bla] my point is that everything started being overproduced.
In the 60s, with the exception of the vocals, the sound of drums and instrument amplifiers came from the stage. I hate everything mic’d up and being pumped through speakers.
My rant about music and amplified sound would be a 2000 word essay.
Up next from my list of 100 drummers is Ed Cassidy from Spirit. This would be my last hang out in Little Rock before going back to Florida.
This is a band promo shot from the group I was in that winter of 1970. It was a unique band. The group had a couple local records and could have had some success. For this promo shot, the agent wanted “crazy and far out” as possible. I remember buying this “yoda” looking outfit in a hippy clothes shop in Little Rock. I certainly didn’t walk around in public wearing it. It was a one time photo shoot appearance only. Most of the members have left this world. My 3 months in this group was an interesting part of my musical journey. I have one more featured drummer from this 1970 period. There’s also a little side bar to that event.