Clem Cattini

Clem Cattini
Birth name Clemente Anselmo Arturo Cattini
Born 28 August 1937
Stoke Newington, North London, England
Genres Pop music
Occupation(s) Drummer, session musician
Instruments Drums, percussion
Years active 1958–present
Labels Decca, CBS, HMV, various
Associated acts Johnny Kidd and the Pirates
The Tornados

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 Cliff Richard 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", and became Joe Meek's in-house drummer, backing artists such as John Leyton and Don Charles, before helping found The Tornados in 1961, and playing on their international No. 1 hit "Telstar".[2]

In 1965 he became a session musician, [3][4] drumming on recordings by Dusty Springfield, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, The Merseys, Bee Gees, Lulu, Marianne Faithfull, Tom Jones, P. J. Proby, The Hollies, Paul and Barry Ryan, Gene Pitney, Donovan, Love Affair, Jeff Beck, Engelbert Humperdinck, Nirvana, The Ivy League, Edison Lighthouse, The Family Dogg, Marc Bolan, Clodagh Rodgers, Keith West, The Flower Pot Men, Georgie Fame, Roy Harper, Ralph McTell, Harmony Grass, Joe Cocker and Brian Auger.[1] In the 1970s, he played with Marvin, Welch & Farrar, Lou Reed, Cliff Richard, Justin Hayward, Phil Everly, Claire Hamill, Alvin Stardust, The Goodies, Carl Douglas, Christie, Tim Rose, Evelyn Thomas, Demis Roussos, Chris Spedding, Mike Batt, Barbara Pennington, Mike Berry, Grace Kennedy, Bob Downes, pop groups such as the Bay City Rollers, Kenny and The Wombles, and progressive rock bands including Beggars Opera, Amazing Blondel and Edwards Hand.[1]

Cattini has played on at least 44 UK number 1 singles,[5] including "Telstar", Rolf Harris's "Two Little Boys", Clive Dunn's "Grandad", "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)" by Benny Hill, "Whispering Grass" by Windsor Davies and Don Estelle, Peters and Lee's "Welcome Home", Typically Tropical's "Barbados", Renée and Renato's "Save Your Love", and the Comic Relief version of "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo" by Tony Christie and Peter Kay. He also played in the orchestra for BBC TV's Top of the Pops, and toured with Cliff Richard, Roy Orbison, Lynda Carter, The Kids from "Fame" 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 chauffeur.


References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Larkin C 'Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music' (Muze UK Ltd, 1997) ISBN 0-7535-0149-X p101
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clem Cattini at Allmusic.com
  3. ↑ "Clem Cattini - Mapex Drums". Mapex.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Mike Dolbear DRUMS". Mikedolbear.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
  5. ↑ DNB Coda Web Design. "Clem Cattini - Drummer On 43 Number 1 Hit Singles". Coda-uk.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2014.

External links