Drummer — Los Angeles
A Gary Powell Photo
Gary Powell
Musician, DJ, Composer / Arranger, Label boss, humanitarian and general all-round dogs body...
Well, I am in LA Right now. I used to hate it here, but after meeting a good few genuine people I have grown quite fond of the City. So, for now, LA is my home - but soon it will be somewhere else. As long as I have a hat to lay down.
ART COMES FIRST
Probably seeing Mucky Pup play the Red Spot in Staten Island with my best friend back in New Jersey Rob Pachoda. It was a full on hardcore gig and we were both in the mosh pit when I got hit down and stamped on a few times, and then I lashed out - only to hit a skin head in the face (did I mention that he had a swastika tattooed on the centre of his forehead?) with my boot. He just clean dragged me up and shoulder barged me back into the madness and that was the end of that. My ribs hurt the day after but it was a monumental night! Either that, or being able to see Miles Davis play when I was a kid. Genius!!!!
That’s a toughy - but it would be a cage fight between Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Thundercat and Flylo. And I’d have them in the studio all together at the same time creating one super group with me and Quincy Jones at the helm (ok, more Quincy Jones than me but I can make a mean cup of tea…)
I have so many different influences - so what I’ll do is morph them into one super drummer for you. The guy that initially gave me my buzz for drumming I guess would be Philly Joe Jones from my grandad’s record collection, but then I got into Cozy Powell (go figure) and from there Dennis Davis. I felt out of love with drumming for while - but then found the glory that is Dave Weckl from Chic Corea and the Electrik Band (specifically Eye of the Beholder). That was the album that changed my life and reinvigorated my desire to play the drums!
Gary Powell is perhaps best known as the drummer with The Libertines, but also currently plays with The Specials as part of their line up for their 2016 American/European tours. He also runs his own record label, 25 Hour Convenience Store.
As a child my dad didn’t allow me to play his record player, being an engineer and all round smart alec - wise guy he built his stereo system himself and it was massive, and bad ass. He did wisely buy an awesome belt drive pioneer turntable to tie it all together.
My Ma and Pa’s musical taste was extremely eclectic and one day I plucked up the courage to sift through my dad's huge record collection and it was there that I stumbled across my gem. ‘Capriccio Espagnole’ by Rimsky Korsakov. When I heard this for the first time, I couldn’t believe my ears and I bounded over the couch in the living room and jumped around like a crazy person! Can you believe it? Me being a crazy person! My dad came in and saw me playing this particular record and did not say a word. I think he was kinda happy because of all the records I could’ve chosen, from reggae to rock, jazz to folk - I chose classical music and I think that kinda impressed him - for a change!
Easy, Stevie Wonder - ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ / ‘Music of My Mind’ - or ‘Fulfillingness' first finale’.
My teenage years were marred by strict parents and not having too many friends, but I did love the U.S hard core scene - specifically Bad Brains, Black Flag, Fishbone and Minor Threat and Dead Kennedy’s. So, first song probably Bad Brains from the album ‘I Against I’ (intro).
“A champ like Tyson, a Captain like Kirk, no
Employee of the Month, cause yo, I do work”
I Get The Job Done - Big Dady Kane
‘Fiction’ by Matthew Herbert from the album ‘Goodbye Swingtime’. Truly genius piece of writing by someone who is not bound by the constraints for conformity - but still writes in a way that is not self indulgent but appealing to the masses. When I grow up I wanna be Matthew Herbert.
Right now I’m loving:
Especially his album Bright Things. The track ‘Feelings of Sentimentality Due to Getting Curved' is just a bad ass groove. I was wondering around San Diego prior to a Specials sound check with this track on loop and big smile on my face. I probably looked like an idiot - but what the hey!!!!
On my label (25 Hour Convenience) I have some amazing acts that my business partner Wayne Clarke is currently cultivating:
You should check out the release ‘Weigh In’.
My favourite track by these guys is ‘Liberties’, killer track.
I’m a big fan and loving his new mix tape - '0.0001%???' it’s that or 'if I was your girl' by the aforementioned genius!!!!
Gary Powell
Musician, DJ, Composer / Arranger, Label boss, humanitarian and general all-round dogs body...
Well, I am in LA Right now. I used to hate it here, but after meeting a good few genuine people I have grown quite fond of the City. So, for now, LA is my home - but soon it will be somewhere else. As long as I have a hat to lay down.
ART COMES FIRST
Probably seeing Mucky Pup play the Red Spot in Staten Island with my best friend back in New Jersey Rob Pachoda. It was a full on hardcore gig and we were both in the mosh pit when I got hit down and stamped on a few times, and then I lashed out - only to hit a skin head in the face (did I mention that he had a swastika tattooed on the centre of his forehead?) with my boot. He just clean dragged me up and shoulder barged me back into the madness and that was the end of that. My ribs hurt the day after but it was a monumental night! Either that, or being able to see Miles Davis play when I was a kid. Genius!!!!
That’s a toughy - but it would be a cage fight between Quincy Jones, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Thundercat and Flylo. And I’d have them in the studio all together at the same time creating one super group with me and Quincy Jones at the helm (ok, more Quincy Jones than me but I can make a mean cup of tea…)
I have so many different influences - so what I’ll do is morph them into one super drummer for you. The guy that initially gave me my buzz for drumming I guess would be Philly Joe Jones from my grandad’s record collection, but then I got into Cozy Powell (go figure) and from there Dennis Davis. I felt out of love with drumming for while - but then found the glory that is Dave Weckl from Chic Corea and the Electrik Band (specifically Eye of the Beholder). That was the album that changed my life and reinvigorated my desire to play the drums!
Gary Powell is perhaps best known as the drummer with The Libertines, but also currently plays with The Specials as part of their line up for their 2016 American/European tours. He also runs his own record label, 25 Hour Convenience Store.
As a child my dad didn’t allow me to play his record player, being an engineer and all round smart alec - wise guy he built his stereo system himself and it was massive, and bad ass. He did wisely buy an awesome belt drive pioneer turntable to tie it all together.
My Ma and Pa’s musical taste was extremely eclectic and one day I plucked up the courage to sift through my dad's huge record collection and it was there that I stumbled across my gem. ‘Capriccio Espagnole’ by Rimsky Korsakov. When I heard this for the first time, I couldn’t believe my ears and I bounded over the couch in the living room and jumped around like a crazy person! Can you believe it? Me being a crazy person! My dad came in and saw me playing this particular record and did not say a word. I think he was kinda happy because of all the records I could’ve chosen, from reggae to rock, jazz to folk - I chose classical music and I think that kinda impressed him - for a change!
Easy, Stevie Wonder - ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ / ‘Music of My Mind’ - or ‘Fulfillingness' first finale’.
My teenage years were marred by strict parents and not having too many friends, but I did love the U.S hard core scene - specifically Bad Brains, Black Flag, Fishbone and Minor Threat and Dead Kennedy’s. So, first song probably Bad Brains from the album ‘I Against I’ (intro).
“A champ like Tyson, a Captain like Kirk, no
Employee of the Month, cause yo, I do work”
I Get The Job Done - Big Dady Kane
‘Fiction’ by Matthew Herbert from the album ‘Goodbye Swingtime’. Truly genius piece of writing by someone who is not bound by the constraints for conformity - but still writes in a way that is not self indulgent but appealing to the masses. When I grow up I wanna be Matthew Herbert.
Right now I’m loving:
Especially his album Bright Things. The track ‘Feelings of Sentimentality Due to Getting Curved' is just a bad ass groove. I was wondering around San Diego prior to a Specials sound check with this track on loop and big smile on my face. I probably looked like an idiot - but what the hey!!!!
On my label (25 Hour Convenience) I have some amazing acts that my business partner Wayne Clarke is currently cultivating:
You should check out the release ‘Weigh In’.
My favourite track by these guys is ‘Liberties’, killer track.
I’m a big fan and loving his new mix tape - '0.0001%???' it’s that or 'if I was your girl' by the aforementioned genius!!!!