Clem Cattini

Clemente Anselmo Arturo "Clem" Cattini (born 28 August 1937) is an English rock and roll drummer, who was a member of The Tornados before becoming well known for his work as a session musician. He is one of the most prolific drummers in UK recording history, appearing on hundreds of recordings by artists as diverse as Engelbert Humperdinck and Lou Reed, and has featured on 44 different UK number one singles.

Life and career

Born to Italian parents living in Stoke Newington, North London, England, Cattini worked in his father's restaurant before deciding to pursue a career in music. He began as a drummer at The 2i's Coffee Bar, backing performers such as Terry Dene, before joining the touring band known as the Beat Boys, backing singers managed by Larry Parnes,^[1] including Marty Wilde and Billy Fury. He then joined Johnny Kidd and the Pirates,^[1] playing on their hit "Shakin' All Over", before helping found The Tornados in 1961, and playing on their international No. 1 hit "Telstar".^[2]

In 1965 he backed the vocal trio the Ivy League, and continued working as a session musician.^[3][4] He drummed on recordings and live appearances by such artists as Dusty Springfield, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Bee Gees, Marianne Faithfull, Tom Jones and Joe Cocker.^[1] In the 1970s, he played with Marvin, Welch & Farrar, a band formed as a progression from The Shadows, and for pop groups such as the Bay City Rollers and Kenny, while also working for a large number of progressive rock bands.^[1]

Cattini has played on at least 44 UK number 1 singles,^[5] including "Telstar" and "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo" by Tony Christie. He also played in the orchestra for BBC TV's Top of the Pops, and toured with Cliff Richard, Roy Orbison and many others. He was considered for Led Zeppelin on a couple of occasions - he was initially on Jimmy Page's shortlist of drummers when forming the band before they settled on John Bonham. He had earlier played alongside John Paul Jones on Donovan's hit single "Hurdy Gurdy Man".^[4]

In the 1980s, he reactivated the Tornados' name for tours^[2][4] and, in 1989, played in the West End run of The Rocky Horror Show.^[1] He more recently recorded the drums for the track "No Tears to Cry" from Paul Weller's album Wake Up the Nation. He was portrayed by James Corden in the 2009 film Telstar, and appeared himself playing John Leyton's chaffeur.

Cattini's great-niece is the actress and singer Katy Daghorn.^[6]

References

External links

• Coda-uk.co.uk Biography
• Clem Cattini discography at Discogs
• Tornados and Clem Cattini information centre run by Tom Hammond
• 2008 Radio Interview of WFMU