I love Jerry he's the man, but not no one could of played sledgehammer as funky as Manu, nor come up with the groove for in your eyes like him. Manu deserves props as well.
Correct and Manu heard Sledgehammer ONCE then what you hear on the album is his first interpretation. PG wanted him to do it again and Manu said "why???? You wanted my interpretation and I just did it". Now that takes balls. True story.
Strangely the best tracks for me on ‘Melt’, Phil Collins played. ‘So’ was a big directional change with a new influential producer. I hear a touch of resentment here and I love Jerry’s playing but ‘Peter Gabriel’ is a solo act not a band. This happens a lot as everyone recounts history.
I have to agree. For someone who still makes money off Peter's music, Jerry comes across as ungrateful here. Also sounds like he has a bit of problem with Peter choosing "ethnically diverse" musicians.
That is right. Marotta seems to forget that he was not the member of a band there. He was a salaried musician hired to support a solo act. They may have been like a family, but they have never been a band.
When the same players are in the band for decades, and Gabriel's the kind of producer who mostly just lets people play what they want, "Peter Gabriel" is a solo act _and_ a band. It's like a family where one member has firing privileges.
@@RodrigoPalmieriMusic sounds like he has a problem with 'ethnically diverse musicians'? what conversation are you listening to??...he was merely conjecturing on why he was replaced in the band because he didn't feel that the reason he was given was completely genuine...
Peter Gabriel signed the cheques . A solo artist with supporting musicians. I love the JM drums but I also love all the musicians on all the albums.. You're a gigging musician roll with it and embrace the next gig. Alternatively write songs and get your own band together with your name on the cheques ! Peace and love 👍🏻☮❤
I love his style of drumming. A hard heavy hand with soul and a really good sense for what the song needed. For PG to have him play without cymbals in albums 3 and 4 was really unique.
Sometimes ... you just need a change. I was in the same duo for nearly 20 years. Changed things up about three years ago. THE BEST move I've ever made. So many new doors opened up musically! Loving it.
Better to have been let go from the Peter Gabriel gig than to not have ever had it all, if you ask me. I'd kill for a resume like Jerry's. Or his brother's, for that matter. They are both world class, and have a feel unto themselves. It's a little like the common scenario whereby an artist will go with session musicians when making a new record as opposed to using their road musicians. You'd think the road band would have the material and the work ethic of their employer down pat and could knock it out of the park in the studio. Yet, when it comes to recording they (or their producer) prefer different players. Granted, there are exceptions. Dylan seems to like his road band for the studio lately, and Elton John was never without his touring band for many of the earlier albums. My point is, there are some things that session players do not have control of other than doing their best and being gracious until the next gig comes along.
I've been following PG's solo career since 1977 and loved Jerry's drumming beginning with Scratch. I even saw the Scratch tour. But then Manu came along and I loved him too. I'm a music nerd (as are many of us in this thread, I"m sure). I read liner notes, get to know musicians, which albums they play on, etc., and even become a "fan" of many of them as session players. But, in the end, I'm a fan of the solo artist - in this case Peter - and whom he chooses is his musical prerogative. Ironically, Manu Katche was Sting's drummer beginning with ...Nothing Like The Sun (Sting's second release), played on the follow-up (The Soul Cages), left for a period of time, and then came back in later years. Vinnie Colaiuta "replaced" him in the interim...and since then I've always felt Vinnie was the better fit, not Manu. Anyway, musicians come and go, artists have different needs, and we all have different tastes.
@@pascale_eagles He didn't day otherwise. He said he started drumming with Sting after his second solo album in 1987 and I think he toured with PG and then toured with Sting. Not sure who he toured with when Growing Up was going on or if he took a break. As for Jerry, he worked on So but Manu was someone he worked with very early on those recordings - so I think there was a preference there. By the time Us happened, Jerry was working with the Indigo Girls.
So PG got Manu in because of his skin tone - not because of his unique, generational talent? How insulting. Jerry is a great player, Manu is too. Don't cheapen it with 'easy excuse' colour issues. Shame on you Mr Marotta.
Jerry was VERY GOOD- but for me, I love the free flowing, effortless fills of Manu Katche's DRUMS on Peter Gabriel's songs- ESPECIALLY LIVE! After watching Manu Katche using a "throne" with a BACK, I tried it and never again will I play sitting on a BACK-BREAKING stool ! Too bad Phil Collins didn't figure that out, he might still be able to PLAY ! 🥁
Jerry I saw you with Peter on the "Plays Live" tour at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. Such an inspiring night of musical power especially from you and Tony. I'll never forget that night.
Also check them out on Johnny Warman's two Rocket albums "Walking Into Mirrors" and "From The Jungle To The New Horizons" 1981/82, if you haven't already :).
No question. I’m an amateur drummer. I can appreciate Manu but he’s too busy and stylistically I think Marotta is a much better fit. Ultimately it’s just a taste thing but I don’t like busy drummers (for same reason I don’t like DMB’s drummer). Oh yeah, and when I started drumming in the mid 80s guess who answered my call and talked to me about drumming? Jerry Marotta. That is FIRST CLASS
Sour grapes to be sure. It's totally Peter Gabriel's prerogative to change drummers. Jerry works for Peter not the other way around. Check your ego Mr. Marotta...
Here's something i discovered....for a super creative person, sometimes someone's personality is a better fit than someone else's personality might be, and shocker, that can change over time. This does not mean he is an ogre. Grow up. Also, I've bought Peter Gabriel records...I've never bought Peter Gabriel's Band records.
JM still sounds bitter after so many years. PG found out the hard way from his time with Genesis that ego and command get in the way of artistic vision. Just by listening to JM, I can tell he is strong-willed despite the immense talent he has. I love JM's playing and it's very unique to the ears. Between Security and So, PG had to shed some of his "cult" perception and cast a wider net with his audience. Maybe he did want more diversity in his band, per JM's statement during the interview, because he was probably being criticized for being too white on stage while promoting world music. JM's career did not descend after his tenure with PG, so I'm not sure why he still sounds bitter about it.
Being kicked out of a band because of your skin color is fucked up. Being kicked out because a journo influenced Peter is even worse. If your wife cheats on you you don't feel better about it after you find someone else.
They were doing all sorts to get the drums right on So. JM played Red Rain yet that opening iconic hi-hat is played not by MK but Stewart Copeland. In the classic albums doc Lanois basically said JM couldn’t shuffle - I find that hard to believe knowing what I know of JM’s body of work. It ‘looks’ personal when Lanois talks about JM in that doc - who knows. Everyone on that So album is wonderful in my eyes. I love the early JM Gabriel stuff, I also love MK, and Copeland is my childhood fav drummer!
Darren Francis Of course Marotta can shuffle. You can’t become a professional drummer without being able to shuffle well. Orleans songs had plenty of shuffles... But shuffles can be played dozens of ways. Lanois seems to have an affinity for New Orleans musicians, and the drummers he often uses are guys like Brian Blade, who come from the area. I suspect that what Lanois meant was that he wanted a specific feel in the shuffle grooves, and JM wasn’t providing him with with the right kind of “special sauce” for his ears. He just chose an unfortunate way to express it.
Unfortunate that Marotta sees it this way about Peter. He lasted a good run with him, and knowing geniuses like Bowie and Zappa, your job with them was not granted at all. In fact, working with creative geniuses could be as well always one ticket deal, so to speak.
Love Jerry’s playing....he doesn’t come out well in this. Peter Gabriel May just have been gentle in how he communicated why he wanted a different drummer. Saying “he got a black drummer”, “a girl” and a “black keyboard player”...not a great look. A great question would have been “Do you think Manu Katché is not very good.”
I think he was saying that the question Peter got on the radio show was the influence for the change then an actual musical direction change. The band was playing that type of music already so obviously the musicians could play it. I'm sure it has multiple reasons but in his mind that was why the change happened. Who knows the answer besides Peter but if that's how Jerry feels that's gonna be how he explains it. A band break up doesn't always go well and like any relationship there are two sides of the story, this is simply Jerry's side.
@@TheEWFX29 Yeah, we have to tiptoe around what we want to say nowadays and I think he wants to be direct but knows he can't. What I took from it was that there was an element of political correctness in Peter's decision.
I haven’t seen Jerry in years but he is a spectacular, grooving, pocket owning musician/ magician. I get that the solo artist wants to make changes but when someone devotes themselves to your musical journey and passes on great opportunities it’s like you shook their hand. And that has to be worth everything or else at the end of the day who are you and what have you got? So for what my two cents is worth Jerry has every right to feel he’s been treated badly. Loyalty is the foundation of all great things. Jerry tests positive for it. I’m with him! No doubt he’ll be out there with other major artists again... if the live performing business ever comes back! Here’s hoping. PS. Love you Jerry! H
Great point. He is totally entitled to his viewpoint. It's gotta hurt. And what was PG to do? If he felt he was going to go into a creative turn and do it without authenticity...well that's HIS POV. None is right, or wrong..I think. Sometimes things just don't reconcile in any easy way. btw: if you wrote and recorded "Shannon"..major props to you. Great song, all around. And I know you did that and so much more, too.
I always loved Jerry's playing on every project, but I hate hearing players cry and dish dirt because something ended. Come on Jerry you're a professional, this crap happens with the best of them.Art is a rocky terrain. Jerry is a great drummer, Peter is a freakin creative genius.
Hmm. The Hall and Oates offering to change their name bit....yeah, I'd have to see some corroboration before I believed that the biggest-selling duo of all time wanted to change their name to keep a drummer.
Daryl probably just said that so he would stay. I'm sure they were going to pay him well, but give him an equal third? I kinda doubt that would have ever happened.
Mark Ndrwd Your (sarcastic) comment doesn't make any sense. Jerry never says anything like 'I'm not bitter though'. He doesn't say anything along those lines. He makes it pretty darn clear that he's pissed about how Peter replaced him despite his being loyal to Peter. He says he feels it was really wrong what Peter did to him. He's pissed off about it and disappointed in Peter and he says exactly that.
Peter’s band & sound change makes perfect sense. Why was Jerry so ‘loyal’ to Peter, if he enjoyed playing with H&O more & they wanted to commit to him?..
Because Hall and Oates weren't that committed to him. They liked him fine and they liked his playing, but once they had Mickey Curry they didn't go looking back for Jerry. And Daryl was not going to rename the band for him. Daryl could barely deal with sharing bill with JOHN in those days. Daryl was being told he was a star meant to be a solo act. He wasn't looking to go for a billing with a session drummer, Hall, Oates and Marotta! 😂
Wow, Jerry......we are so on the same page. I was just listening to tracks from Gabriel's latest, i/o, and felt compelled to comment. I thought that, musically-speaking, there was waaaaaay too much going on - I realize the rubicon was crossed by the time "So" came out, but really - I think it's a shame that he is allowing 'industry standard' to dictate his art in 2023. I actually pleaded for him to go back to the days of his 'trilogy', and think "less is more." Instead, what I heard was "more is more" and after awhile, it just became too pat for me to feel engaged. Your resumé speaks for itself, and I always appreciate drummers who choose the economy of rhythmic language over needing to infiltrate every nook and cranny of a tune. Which I why I appreciate you, Cobham, Bruford, and even STP's Eric Kretz, for providing nuance where others get bombastic. 👍
I just watched Rick Beato's fresh interview with Daniel Lanois. They talked about Sledgehammer, and Lanois told Beato that he (Lanois) tried many drummers to get the shuffle he wanted on the song - until he found Katche.
Let me preface my comments. -I love Peter Gabriel. I am probably one of his biggest fans. -I think both Jerry and Manu are excellent drummers who both brought different things to the table. -I am not one of those who think Peter Gabriel was good up until Security and sold out with So, even if he went more commercial and I find So overrated. -Peter has inspired my commitment to anti-racism. -I think the current band plays his older songs really well. HOWEVER: I am also not blind to the fact that PG is a human with flaws and I do believe that he can be really cold-hearted if you give him a chance. A similar thing happened when he broke up with Sinead O'Connor. -I also think Jerry comes out as bitter here and said a bunch of things like "he got a black drummer; he got a female singer" didn't sound well.
I'm a very big fan of Sinead, but dating her might not have been easy. I suspect much of it could have been a love of her talent. She has suggested he was a bit of a father figure...
Jaundiced... Manu Katché is one of the best drummers there are and I have news to Jerry, yes he plays amazingly well all over the place like he can't. So don't give us that bull that was because of his skin color
PG is a solo artist. Eccentric solo artists are capricious & change personnel on a whim as they follow their muse - how many ‘loyal’ band members did David Bowie work his way through every time he changed direction.
The attitude seems to be "I was fired because a racist journalist criticized PG for being white and playing with white guys." I'd be pissed for being fired for having the wrong skin color too.
I'm a drummer and Jerry was a huge influence on me early on, especially PG3 and Security. BUT, no one, and I mean NO ONE, could play Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes like Manu'. That whole album has his energy all over it. Jerry sounds like a bitter old man here, I would have hoped he would have been more gracious. PG could play with ANY f'ing drummer he wants to. He's a solo artist and solo artists collaborate with a variety of musicians. Don't give me that, "he wasn't loyal to me" crap, he was a hired gun, he should be thankful he got to play with PG at all! Peter knew what Jerry was capable of and he chose to go a different direction, end of story. Nothing personal. Worst of all, Jerry uses the interview to shit Manu's playing, saying he's "all over the place". Wow! Total disrespect. Lastly, he accuses Peter of getting a different drummer because of political correctness! REALLY?! That is one of the stupidest most outrageous things I have ever heard! Interestingly, after playing with Manu', Peter changed drummers again and played with Ged Lynch for the Growing Up tour. Ged is a much simpler, pocket oriented drummer, I think it's obvious now why Jerry didn't get a call back. Jerry has completely lost my respect.
Yeah I saw Jerry with him back in the day and remember all those years ago Jerry wasn’t all too happy about being let go. Maybe Peter did feel some pressure to make changes but really I don’t remember pc dictates forcing such changes. I really think Gabriel was reaching for a different sound. He went from no cymbals on 3 to all this trebly cymbal stuff and really was a big change in direction. Whatever the “truth” was in this interview he does not do himself any service sounding like a pissed off ex. Could’ve taken the high road. Didn’t.
And then also on the “So” record - we have the wild card drummer - Stewart Copeland - playing on the track “Big Time”. It was another hit from that great record - but often overshadowed by 'Sledgehammer' - 'Red Rain' and 'In Your Eyes' -- but it was about the funkiest (thanks also to Levin & Marotta on bass) - and hardest hitting track on the whole record.
Jerry proves that no gig is ever safe...Even at that level,all the gigs he has graced,records he has blessed with his playing,the business end of things will always come first..And you can never really know what is in someones head..Manu loved Porcaro and wanted to do an album with him..So they did Dire Straits,but it's funny because JM and Jeff Porcaro are closer to me in style than Katche....Also i remember seeing Gabriel using Stings band for a while..Well,the rhythm section of Darryl Jones and Omar Hakim..Omar to me can lay back and play a pocket all day or get busy..So you have choices of Manu Katche...Omar Hakim....Or Jerry Marotta....Wow,what a shitty way to find yourself...And by the way,JM and his drumming on "Plays Live" is so tasty and in the pocket..BUT,listen close and you will hear more going on..Ghost strokes,and accenting are out of this world...Love Ya Jerry,A very big fan from Cleveland......
Jerry’s resume is pretty impressive. I just found out today he was the guy on Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair.... as well as Spike by Elvis Costello, Press To Play by McCartney, Hall and Oates, Sarah McLoughlin’s big record, Indigo Girls, John Mayer’s first, 10 Maniacs live record, Orleans and the best records by Gabriel... Respect! I had the pleasure of hanging with him while tracking my new record at his studio in NY. He’s a pretty humble guy. He came around each day and listened, asking about the tunes and just giving us positive feedback. He LOVED my drummer and of course the pressure was on while tracking and Jerry is sitting in the control room! Being that me and my band mates are HUGE Gabriel fans we were pumped that he was digging our tunes! He’s just a regular guy with a gift and no “rock star” pretension about him to be honest...
Jerry made the quintessential savage and uncompromising iconic beats. They're still recognizable on their own. "Security" is the proof. A lot of soul was lost without him, IMHO
Really enjoyed this John. I met Jerry at NAMM one year when he had a booth showing his lamps made using the same stretched “skins” he used to make his drums. Real friendly & affable guy. I play Chapman stick too, so we were talking a bit of maybe doing some recording. Love his R&B feel. Perfect for so many ensembles.
He describes personal playing style to a tee!!! A person has their signature when playing. My ex husband, who is a guitarist was the type of player that always could fit his style of play over the landscape of the person he was playing with. True experience comes from the different artist that you get an opportunity to play with. Thank you for the interview!! 💯🙋🏾♀️👏🏾👍🏾
I can understand Jerry's frustration, but Peter, as a solo artist, can change his artistic direction and crew whenever he feels like. And he doesn't own explanations to anyone.
Jerry is a great drummer but I guess Peter just wanted to renew his whole sound, especially on stage (as a matter of fact, the live sound improved starting with the SO tour). Nothing personal, I believe. What I don't really understand is the choice of Ged Lynch to replace Manu. Jerry would have done way better! In fact I was disappointed on hearing that heavy and cold drumming in the later years and I thought "why not Jerry Marotta?"
Have to agree a 100%! I really don´t get why Ged Lynch is so heavily favoured by PG (on Lynch´s Website you can read a long praise from PG about Lynch´s drumming...). Marotta and Katchu both have a unique way of groovin´, but every time i listen to Lynch, i can´t stop shaking my head. And i don´t mean as you shake it to a great groove, but as you shake it in utter disbelief that this guy actually is able to play drums without the slightest hint of beeing able to groove.
Indeed, never understood the high praises for Ged either. I think he butchered the live renditions of Signal to noise. He did a bit better in the 2007 summer tour were he actually took a set of concert toms with him too. But he never figured to use them for Signal to noise which was again a missed opportunity -_- Apart from that, I think he lacks a bit of finesse and groove.
Once I stood with Papa John Mole, backstage at Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, NY, while Murali Coryell and The Ambassadors Jammed with Jerry Marotta and laid down the greatest version of Mustang Sally ever. Jerry's groove made the version they played something completely different, but mind-blowingly amazing. I'll never forget it. Rest in Peace, Papa John. We miss you ❤
What’s up with the black drummer comment? Manu is a very unique and energetic drummer, hence why he has been hired to play for many other artists. Not unlike like how Vinnie Colaiuta. Saying PG hired him because of his skin colour is very good reason why it was a good forJerry to be let go when he was.
Simple, Peter just outgrew (maybe always had done) Jerry and his Italian 20-year-old personality. Manu was and is a distinctly better drummer and I myself think Tony Levin gels with whomever he's next to. A true pro never badmouths any of his band members.
Jerry Marotta is a heck of a drummer, BUT...Very sad that these things don't get fixed one on one....Going public bitchin' the other guy's loyalty is easy when that other guy is not there to have that conversation...
So, let me get this straight: Hall and Oates, at the peak of their success and name recognition, were going to change their name to keep Marotta? This smells like BS to me, and makes me not want to believe anything else he says.
As a amateur musician, played in a few bands, i can say that there is always some resentment when you get fired or when you want to change things and have to fire a bandmate. That's just the way it goes. It's not fun, but it is what it is. Just how when you are a new bandmember and like everything and every other member and when time goes by you start to get annoyed over things. Or over habits or whatever. Loyalty doesn't really exist in bands if you ask me. Peter Gabriel wanted to do things different, and since he was (is) the band leader, he gets to do how he pleases. Simple as that.
I've had to " let go " drummers in bands. It's not pleasant. PG was the captain of the ship, and determining their next destination. They are the base of the band sound, but that doesn't mean you have to keep it, or them. Manu Katché was a great change. " So " wouldn't have been the masterpiece it is without him. It should have gotten album of the year over Paul Simon's " Graceland ".
It's interesting because after So I kinda lost interest - for me albums 3 and 4 are the pinnacle of Peter Gabriel and I always loved the drumming so much on both albums
I love Jerry's playing and the PG albums with him playing are my favorite ones for sure, but slagging Manu's playing is ridiculous. Manu is brilliant. No one likes losing a gig, and I understand feeling rejected, but after this much time maybe Jerry should just let the grudge go. He was a hired drummer. Things happen. He (Jerry) is still a legendary drummer, and should just own that without all the sour grapes. Now all that being said, I think Jerry SHOULD be very annoyed that Ged Lynch started touring with PG in stead of him. That's just crazy musically speaking. That sort of seems like it must be more of a personality compatibility issue than drumming skill because Jerry's way better than Ged. I still don't get that choice at all.
In the 60’s and 70’s band could sometimes churn out 2 albums a year. Gabriel took 10 or more years to do one album. That’s why he totally fell of the radar. When you write songs for an album you try to capture a moment in time. When you take forever to do an album you lose direction. Just my opinion.
Robert Latzer it was one year between his first and second album. Two years between 2 and 3. Another two before Security and four years until So came out. Then he really started to take his time, six years before Us, ten years until Up and now 18 years and still no original album since then. He keeps looking for some ephemeral perfection that made the last two albums sound too produced. I love Us and Up but if I could change anything it would be to have the production somewhere between the raw feel of Melt and the polished perfection of So. I remember him saying he already had another albums worth of songs ready soon after Up came out. He even had the name I/O and wanted to get it out within two or three years at the most. Guess that plan went out the window. He shouldn’t be able to get too sidetracked being stuck at home for months on end at the moment so here’s to hoping that we finally have some new PG music in 2021.
Gabriel has been great and making music for 40 years, if not full albums then for movies. You can’t be obsessed and just focus on one subject. Maybe Peter decided his best was already done, quit knocking his decisions down.
John, there's a little switch on the left side of your iPhone. If you flip that towards the back, it will stop the call and text alerts from interrupting your interviews.
Wow that's lemon sour… What a resentment... Not really sure why the big ego, nor some of the other things he said. First, he kind of seems to hint that Peter Gabriel is some kind of band of which he was part of. He's not on the first record and Collins played on the 3rd album. It's not that he should have expected to be Gabriel's sole drummer. Gabriel actually started out with Collins and John Giblin as "his American band was too expensive" (as Collins recalls about the Intruder sessions). Second, not really buying into the "cultural appropriation" argument. He almost takes some kind of victimhood on him because he feels replaced by people of colour for ethnicity's sake. Peter's "ethnic" influence started on PG4 and he invited African musicians to play along with him. He also had the WOMAD thing going. Gabriel already worked with African musicians at that time and could have added them to the live line-up whenever he wanted. I'm pretty sure there are some odd gigs with some of them. And yes, the lineup changed over the years and it continued to do so till Peter's last tour. That happens when you are a solo artist and hire people to play on records and tours. Third, he IS still playing on SO, along with Manu and Stewart Copeland. It's not that he didn't participate on that album. And UP featured something like 6 drummers.
I've seen Gabriel with Jerry and Manu. The Reality Tour with Manu was amazing - I do prefer his style, at least for that approach to the material. Jerry is excellent. I saw Jerry on the Security tour and he was great. (My brother was backstage and when Gabriel came running backstage so he could reappear on the other side of the stage. My little bro was swinging his hands back and forth and smacked Peter in the testicles. I was in the audience and the band was obviously going back through again, wondering what was going on (this is the concert that the early live album was taken from - with the exception of that one). Jerry seems a bit bitter.
Peter knew he had to mix it up for So and it worked beautifully, he got mad rich then he milked to death and faded off. He should have kept Marotta around for future things, not closed a door.
If an artist wants to change their paintbrushes or the colors they've been using for a time, why shouldn't they be able to? It's tough losing a great gig you love, but unless you're the one writing the music, what can I say? The drummer for Peter Gabriel isn't filling the arenas either.
Every artist changes. The songs I play today are completely different from the songs I played in my youth. I still play with the same bunch of guys and girls and yes some of them have changed too.
Bitter at missing out on the big money? Like most comments below, I agree with the view-point that Gabriel is a visionary, always looking for that left-field groove. It is well known that the 'Sledge' years was Gabriel's time enjoying the shallow fame-game, and his band mirrored that polished, commercial sound (although it was not to be known by PG that Sledge would become the commercial smash it did). I think that the addition of David Sancious (keyboards) & Manu Katché (drums) filled-out PG's sound and gave additional, rich layers to what had been a quite industrial, sparse format beforehand. I'm a fan of all eras of PG, there are not that many artists who've undertaken such a dramatic sonic journey that makes being a fan such a rewarding experience. Jerry should be grateful for his contribution to such a journey.
Very cool info. Thanks for sharing. Each and every name stands out in those CD liner notes and Jerry's name is as prominent to me as anyone who came before or since.
Nice interview. I don't remember who was drumming but I did see Gabriel in '86. Saw Genesis too, in '76 but my 2 all-time fav drummers I've see live are Antonio Sanchez (w Pat Metheny in 2017) and Carl Palmer (ELP '77). What's your fav live drummer?
Hi John, I was wondering if you ever got around to asking Jerry about the incredible your he did with Todd Rundgren, I believe it was around 2006 and was called the "Power Trio" tour, just Todd, Jerry and Tony Levin. I had not seen that your(although I have seen Todd/Utopia 24 times in concert) but I heard it was incredible. while I'm on the subject......how about a Todd Rundgren interview ? talk about an artist with quite a distinguished career ! lots of cool stories there, guaranteed. and also he's got a great sense of humor !! how 'bout it ?
I saw the Power Trio tour here in NYC and it was Trey Sabatelli on drums. Could you be getting your Italians mixed up? Or maybe different guys on different legs of the tour?
I sawTodd with Tony Levin in the band, but he also had Jesse and Prairie, no keys. In Atlanta at the old Roxy. Not sure of the year. Kasim was sorely missed, I hate to say, as I am as big of a TLev fan as one could be.
....................This is what the "business" does. When everything's fine, everything's great. When chasing a trend, people get thrown under the bus.
Hiring a new drummer is throwing someone under the bus? If this video is any indication, this guy comes off like a big baby.....just maybe Peter had had enough drama from his drummer and had much more important things to deal with than walking on eggshells around an employee.
Finally someone like you comes along and gives ROCKNROLL some absolute clarity on my favourite ROCK ICONS. Been to many concerts back in the day but never got to see LED ZEP had ticket in hand and Jon Bonam left for STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
It's the bittersweet destiny of the 'hired guns'. When Bowie left the spiders, he just keep with him Mick Rondon, Billy Joel was very close with his band till he changed all his musicians, etc. In the other hand we have the experience of Pat Mastelotto, from Mr Mister as session drummer of Xtc, David Sylvian, etc, til being an oficial member of King Crimson. I love the sound of mr Marotta, I followed his career as musician with other artists (even Frida of Abba) and his replies are more or less the same as other musicians of solo acts that they being left aside after a long time of collaborations with the same solist. Ps: I'm very fan of Sinergy discography and I prefer the Fast solo career than with Gabriel, for me is a plus, who gave a fantastic sound to the universe of Peter, before So.
I'll listen to anyone privileged enough to have played on the original recordings of San Jacinto and Rhythm of the Heat. Jerry Marotta is an awesome drummer, and he should see it as pivotal in his creative career to have played on PG's 2nd arguably best and most critically acclaimed Album - PG4 - However, most certainly he is no Manu Katche, and unfortunately, he does a disservice to himself, Manu and PG. Manu as an awesome drummer, plays a more subtle and syncopated world approach to percussion and rhythms - Manu brings something creative to the PG table, that Jerry never quite demonstrated unless instructed to do so. My understanding was that, at times, personalities clashed - and this interview suggests just how that might be possible....and incidentally, the other black musicians that he mentions as replacing Lord is the dynamic multi-instrumentalist David Sancious - In any world, I think that is what they call a serious upgrade.
I made it a point to see "Security Project" at Bearsville theatre,theater, 2015 and although no one can replace Gabriel's vocal live,they did a really good job...it was as close to seeing Gabriel playing the old stuff as I think your gonna get...then at the end jerry plays drums and sings..."Back in NYC"-and he blew me away...guys a world class drummer
This guy should be grateful he got to work with such major talent as PG and Hall and Oates, this interview sounds more like a venting, therapy session than anything.
Artists are by definition creative - right? The VERY best way to stifle creativity is to shackle it to any given parameter or set of parameters. Period. NO artist stays at the top of his or her game by staying the same, and part of not staying the same is changing creative partners over time. Period. Sometimes it's done with finesse and mutual respect - sometimes it's done in a fit of temper, or anywhere in between. Does this really need explanation?
I've seen this soooo many times over the years where a solo artist chooses a different direction and the "regular..." guys are changed out, then do interviews about "so ungrateful, so moody & hard to deal with etc etc..." instead of being grateful for having the experience...and the pay days. Go start your own band!!
Yes..and I'd like to add, and no disrespect to the entire canon of quality work that Marotta has played on, but a solo artist has ALL the weight on their shoulder. It sinks or swims all based on their decisions. If they feel that people will refuse to buy the music for any reason.. they NEED to make a change or Mr Marotta is out of a job (until he finds a new sideman gig) and PG is out of all jobs ..and forever. Did I mention it's a difficult biz?
For Me, there are 2 Peter Gabriel career or era periods. The one from the PG 1 Album until Birdy the movie Soundtrack album, the other Peter Gabriel career starts with So until now with the I/O album and Tour. I am a real fan from Peter Gabriel, I have seen him live many times and I can honestly say, he is one of the musicians that triggered the passion in Me to become the musician I am. For the Gabriel 2 career stages or eras, I feel in the first one although he was not that mature as a composer, he truly was the most experimental and spiritual Gabriel ever. Security is my favourite album in everything, the sound, the concept, the lyrics, the innovation of pre sampling and the deep spiritual meaning of the whole album. For the second stage or era from Gabriel's career, I love it, but somehow the experimentation was not primordial for him anymore or not that intense regarding innovation and learning from the world's folk music amazing treasures. I guess he found the formula he feels can express better and get close to people in a more straight and naked way. I prefer the first Peter Gabriel era, not because is better, but because for me personally, the search for personal, spiritual and artistic re-invention and evolution is intuitive and keeps one alive.
Peter Gabriel is my favourite artist ever and Jerry Marotta is my favourite drummer. But I think it's unpolite accusing Peter of racism like he did in this interview. It is absolutely not coherent with PG's philosophy and it is clear that the choice of Manu Katche and David Sancious was based on artistic reasons, with nothing to do with Jerry Marotta and Larry Fast art which is not object of any discussion (two great musicians!)
He wasn't accusing Peter of racism IMO. It was more that PG decided to use "world" musicians instead of asking Jerry to change up his style. (See my comments where I get into more detail).
Turn you phone off during interviews. It belittles the interview and is disrespectful to whoever you're interviewing.
Peter is the artist. He can play with whomever he wants. To me, Manu's playing was an upgrade and I'm glad for the switch. That's just my opinion.
I concur!
Jerry plays with Peter, Peter plays with Manu, Jerry builds a bombfire....
Peter sings with Kate, Peter sing with Sinead. Both parts sang by Paula, now his daughter's in the game. In Games without frontiers...
...war without tears
lol
bonfire
*bonfire
I love Jerry he's the man, but not no one could of played sledgehammer as funky as Manu, nor come up with the groove for in your eyes like him. Manu deserves props as well.
You don't know what you're talking about; and your grammar is the worst.
Thats right
Correct and Manu heard Sledgehammer ONCE then what you hear on the album is his first interpretation. PG wanted him to do it again and Manu said "why???? You wanted my interpretation and I just did it". Now that takes balls. True story.
The Legend Propagation is strong with this one!
Randy A. yep and on Robby Robinson’s Somewhere Down A Crazy River.
Strangely the best tracks for me on ‘Melt’, Phil Collins played. ‘So’ was a big directional change with a new influential producer. I hear a touch of resentment here and I love Jerry’s playing but ‘Peter Gabriel’ is a solo act not a band. This happens a lot as everyone recounts history.
I have to agree. For someone who still makes money off Peter's music, Jerry comes across as ungrateful here. Also sounds like he has a bit of problem with Peter choosing "ethnically diverse" musicians.
I agree. When Peter and Phil collaborate, it becomes magic.
That is right. Marotta seems to forget that he was not the member of a band there. He was a salaried musician hired to support a solo act. They may have been like a family, but they have never been a band.
When the same players are in the band for decades, and Gabriel's the kind of producer who mostly just lets people play what they want, "Peter Gabriel" is a solo act _and_ a band. It's like a family where one member has firing privileges.
@@RodrigoPalmieriMusic sounds like he has a problem with 'ethnically diverse musicians'? what conversation are you listening to??...he was merely conjecturing on why he was replaced in the band because he didn't feel that the reason he was given was completely genuine...
Peter Gabriel signed the cheques . A solo artist with supporting musicians. I love the JM drums but I also love all the musicians on all the albums.. You're a gigging musician roll with it and embrace the next gig. Alternatively write songs and get your own band together with your name on the cheques ! Peace and love 👍🏻☮❤
Springy what would you know stay in your lane!
I love his style of drumming. A hard heavy hand with soul and a really good sense for what the song needed. For PG to have him play without cymbals in albums 3 and 4 was really unique.
Peter Gabriel is a solo artist, I'm sorry for Jerry but that's the truth.
Sometimes ... you just need a change. I was in the same duo for nearly 20 years. Changed things up about three years ago. THE BEST move I've ever made. So many new doors opened up musically! Loving it.
Dude, it's 35-40 years ago. Let it go. Bitterness doesn't suit anyone.
Better to have been let go from the Peter Gabriel gig than to not have ever had it all, if you ask me. I'd kill for a resume like Jerry's. Or his brother's, for that matter. They are both world class, and have a feel unto themselves.
It's a little like the common scenario whereby an artist will go with session musicians when making a new record as opposed to using their road musicians. You'd think the road band would have the material and the work ethic of their employer down pat and could knock it out of the park in the studio. Yet, when it comes to recording they (or their producer) prefer different players. Granted, there are exceptions. Dylan seems to like his road band for the studio lately, and Elton John was never without his touring band for many of the earlier albums. My point is, there are some things that session players do not have control of other than doing their best and being gracious until the next gig comes along.
I've been following PG's solo career since 1977 and loved Jerry's drumming beginning with Scratch. I even saw the Scratch tour. But then Manu came along and I loved him too. I'm a music nerd (as are many of us in this thread, I"m sure). I read liner notes, get to know musicians, which albums they play on, etc., and even become a "fan" of many of them as session players. But, in the end, I'm a fan of the solo artist - in this case Peter - and whom he chooses is his musical prerogative. Ironically, Manu Katche was Sting's drummer beginning with ...Nothing Like The Sun (Sting's second release), played on the follow-up (The Soul Cages), left for a period of time, and then came back in later years. Vinnie Colaiuta "replaced" him in the interim...and since then I've always felt Vinnie was the better fit, not Manu. Anyway, musicians come and go, artists have different needs, and we all have different tastes.
Omar Hakim was Sting’s drummer beginning with (as a “solo” artist). You’re welcome.
He said Sting’s “second release.” You’re welcome.
Nope Manu started his international career with Peter.
Well Said
@@pascale_eagles He didn't day otherwise. He said he started drumming with Sting after his second solo album in 1987 and I think he toured with PG and then toured with Sting. Not sure who he toured with when Growing Up was going on or if he took a break.
As for Jerry, he worked on So but Manu was someone he worked with very early on those recordings - so I think there was a preference there. By the time Us happened, Jerry was working with the Indigo Girls.
So PG got Manu in because of his skin tone - not because of his unique, generational talent? How insulting. Jerry is a great player, Manu is too. Don't cheapen it with 'easy excuse' colour issues. Shame on you Mr Marotta.
With all respect of Jerry, he's been replace with Manu Katché not just a random drummer.Jerry c'mon we love you, but he's Manu Katché!!
Jerry was VERY GOOD- but for me, I love the free flowing, effortless fills of Manu Katche's DRUMS on Peter Gabriel's songs- ESPECIALLY LIVE!
After watching Manu Katche using a "throne" with a BACK, I tried it and never again will I play sitting on a BACK-BREAKING stool ! Too bad Phil Collins didn't figure that out, he might still be able to PLAY ! 🥁
Totally agree! I'll never go back to a regular throne!
Jerry I saw you with Peter on the "Plays Live" tour at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. Such an inspiring night of musical power especially from you and Tony. I'll never forget that night.
I think that is the first time I saw someone being interviewed "yawn" while listening to a question being asked...lol.
And listening to the interviewer`s ding go off as he`s getting text messages.
The combo of Marotta and Levin was the beefiest Gabriel ever had, imo.
Agreed
Also check them out on Johnny Warman's two Rocket albums "Walking Into Mirrors" and "From The Jungle To The New Horizons" 1981/82, if you haven't already :).
Gabriel`s best work is post-Marotta. And last I checked, Tony Levin was still PG`s bassist. Ged Lynch is better than all the other guys mentioned.
No question. I’m an amateur drummer. I can appreciate Manu but he’s too busy and stylistically I think Marotta is a much better fit. Ultimately it’s just a taste thing but I don’t like busy drummers (for same reason I don’t like DMB’s drummer). Oh yeah, and when I started drumming in the mid 80s guess who answered my call and talked to me about drumming? Jerry Marotta. That is FIRST CLASS
Sour grapes to be sure. It's totally Peter Gabriel's prerogative to change drummers. Jerry works for Peter not the other way around. Check your ego Mr. Marotta...
If your boss fires you, don't you wanna know why?
After watching Jerry's attitude I can see easily how PG got fed up.
@@regaltip8A So much bitching, this is why I have literally no respect for these self-absorbed douchebags.
yes, Phil Collins was Genesis' 4th drummer. ^^
I still can appreciate the reasoning behind these band changes, I had sort of forgotten there was a conceptual/stylistic change after Gabriel III.
Here's something i discovered....for a super creative person, sometimes someone's personality is a better fit than someone else's personality might be, and shocker, that can change over time. This does not mean he is an ogre. Grow up. Also, I've bought Peter Gabriel records...I've never bought Peter Gabriel's Band records.
with all due respect to marotta, manu katche is an unbelievable drummer...
Listening to him looks like PG did the right thing in ditching. Collins and Padgham created the signature sound in those recordings.
JM still sounds bitter after so many years. PG found out the hard way from his time with Genesis that ego and command get in the way of artistic vision. Just by listening to JM, I can tell he is strong-willed despite the immense talent he has. I love JM's playing and it's very unique to the ears. Between Security and So, PG had to shed some of his "cult" perception and cast a wider net with his audience. Maybe he did want more diversity in his band, per JM's statement during the interview, because he was probably being criticized for being too white on stage while promoting world music. JM's career did not descend after his tenure with PG, so I'm not sure why he still sounds bitter about it.
Yea, racists hate white people. They say white people aren't allowed to like certain kinds of music, art, and movies. Very creepy stuff.
Being kicked out of a band because of your skin color is fucked up. Being kicked out because a journo influenced Peter is even worse. If your wife cheats on you you don't feel better about it after you find someone else.
They were doing all sorts to get the drums right on So. JM played Red Rain yet that opening iconic hi-hat is played not by MK but Stewart Copeland. In the classic albums doc Lanois basically said JM couldn’t shuffle - I find that hard to believe knowing what I know of JM’s body of work. It ‘looks’ personal when Lanois talks about JM in that doc - who knows. Everyone on that So album is wonderful in my eyes. I love the early JM Gabriel stuff, I also love MK, and Copeland is my childhood fav drummer!
Darren Francis Of course Marotta can shuffle. You can’t become a professional drummer without being able to shuffle well. Orleans songs had plenty of shuffles... But shuffles can be played dozens of ways. Lanois seems to have an affinity for New Orleans musicians, and the drummers he often uses are guys like Brian Blade, who come from the area. I suspect that what Lanois meant was that he wanted a specific feel in the shuffle grooves, and JM wasn’t providing him with with the right kind of “special sauce” for his ears. He just chose an unfortunate way to express it.
Couldn't shuffle?I call Bull Shit...
Unfortunate that Marotta sees it this way about Peter.
He lasted a good run with him, and knowing geniuses like Bowie and Zappa, your job with them was not granted at all. In fact, working with creative geniuses could be as well always one ticket deal, so to speak.
Would like to see an interview with Jerry on why things didn't work out with King Crimson
Love Jerry’s playing....he doesn’t come out well in this. Peter Gabriel May just have been gentle in how he communicated why he wanted a different drummer. Saying “he got a black drummer”, “a girl” and a “black keyboard player”...not a great look. A great question would have been “Do you think Manu Katché is not very good.”
I think he was saying that the question Peter got on the radio show was the influence for the change then an actual musical direction change. The band was playing that type of music already so obviously the musicians could play it. I'm sure it has multiple reasons but in his mind that was why the change happened. Who knows the answer besides Peter but if that's how Jerry feels that's gonna be how he explains it. A band break up doesn't always go well and like any relationship there are two sides of the story, this is simply Jerry's side.
@@TheEWFX29 Yeah, we have to tiptoe around what we want to say nowadays and I think he wants to be direct but knows he can't. What I took from it was that there was an element of political correctness in Peter's decision.
@@bryede Yep, i think so too. Love Peter´s work, but he was PC before PC even got invented...
@@doomprogger6345 Wtf does that even mean
@@marcpicaud3002 It means that he was politically correct before it became a standard .
I haven’t seen Jerry in years but he is a spectacular, grooving, pocket owning musician/ magician. I get that the solo artist wants to make changes but when someone devotes themselves to your musical journey and passes on great opportunities it’s like you shook their hand. And that has to be worth everything or else at the end of the day who are you and what have you got? So for what my two cents is worth Jerry has every right to feel he’s been treated badly. Loyalty is the foundation of all great things. Jerry tests positive for it. I’m with him! No doubt he’ll be out there with other major artists again... if the live performing business ever comes back! Here’s hoping. PS. Love you Jerry! H
Great point. He is totally entitled to his viewpoint. It's gotta hurt. And what was PG to do? If he felt he was going to go into a creative turn and do it without authenticity...well that's HIS POV. None is right, or wrong..I think. Sometimes things just don't reconcile in any easy way. btw: if you wrote and recorded "Shannon"..major props to you. Great song, all around. And I know you did that and so much more, too.
I always loved Jerry's playing on every project, but I hate hearing players cry and dish dirt because something ended. Come on Jerry you're a professional, this crap happens with the best of them.Art is a rocky terrain. Jerry is a great drummer, Peter is a freakin creative genius.
Hmm. The Hall and Oates offering to change their name bit....yeah, I'd have to see some corroboration before I believed that the biggest-selling duo of all time wanted to change their name to keep a drummer.
ya he lost me when he said that
Daryl probably just said that so he would stay. I'm sure they were going to pay him well, but give him an equal third? I kinda doubt that would have ever happened.
Jerry seems to be awfully confused about the difference between performance and mechanical royalties.
No, he’s not bitter at all.
Not bitter? Calling PG "a repressed Englishman" gave it away...it's not even a subtle dig.....that is "bitter".
@@TheChristOfRockNRoll -- I think Mark N. forgot to use the Sarcasm Font. ;)
@@TheChristOfRockNRoll I think that was sarcasm. 🤣
Mark Ndrwd Your (sarcastic) comment doesn't make any sense. Jerry never says anything like 'I'm not bitter though'. He doesn't say anything along those lines. He makes it pretty darn clear that he's pissed about how Peter replaced him despite his being loyal to Peter. He says he feels it was really wrong what Peter did to him. He's pissed off about it and disappointed in Peter and he says exactly that.
@@IvanLendl87 and airing his hurt feelings to the world while also trying to demonize Peter. Someone needs to grow up.
He went onto play drums with David Sylvian and Robert Fripp though
Peter’s band & sound change makes perfect sense. Why was Jerry so ‘loyal’ to Peter, if he enjoyed playing with H&O more & they wanted to commit to him?..
Because Hall and Oates weren't that committed to him. They liked him fine and they liked his playing, but once they had Mickey Curry they didn't go looking back for Jerry.
And Daryl was not going to rename the band for him. Daryl could barely deal with sharing bill with JOHN in those days. Daryl was being told he was a star meant to be a solo act. He wasn't looking to go for a billing with a session drummer, Hall, Oates and Marotta! 😂
love how candid jerry is being here. a great musician and a stand up guy.
Yeah. He's throwing shade at Peter
Wow, Jerry......we are so on the same page. I was just listening to tracks from Gabriel's latest, i/o, and felt compelled to comment. I thought that, musically-speaking, there was waaaaaay too much going on - I realize the rubicon was crossed by the time "So" came out, but really - I think it's a shame that he is allowing 'industry standard' to dictate his art in 2023. I actually pleaded for him to go back to the days of his 'trilogy', and think "less is more." Instead, what I heard was "more is more" and after awhile, it just became too pat for me to feel engaged. Your resumé speaks for itself, and I always appreciate drummers who choose the economy of rhythmic language over needing to infiltrate every nook and cranny of a tune. Which I why I appreciate you, Cobham, Bruford, and even STP's Eric Kretz, for providing nuance where others get bombastic. 👍
Jerry's drumming is absolutely fantastic!!!
This is the most intelligent thread I've seen on youtube. I only read the most recent comments but still impressive.
I just watched Rick Beato's fresh interview with Daniel Lanois. They talked about Sledgehammer, and Lanois told Beato that he (Lanois) tried many drummers to get the shuffle he wanted on the song - until he found Katche.
Let me preface my comments.
-I love Peter Gabriel. I am probably one of his biggest fans.
-I think both Jerry and Manu are excellent drummers who both brought different things to the table.
-I am not one of those who think Peter Gabriel was good up until Security and sold out with So, even if he went more commercial and I find So overrated.
-Peter has inspired my commitment to anti-racism.
-I think the current band plays his older songs really well.
HOWEVER: I am also not blind to the fact that PG is a human with flaws and I do believe that he can be really cold-hearted if you give him a chance. A similar thing happened when he broke up with Sinead O'Connor.
-I also think Jerry comes out as bitter here and said a bunch of things like "he got a black drummer; he got a female singer" didn't sound well.
I'm a very big fan of Sinead, but dating her might not have been easy. I suspect much of it could have been a love of her talent. She has suggested he was a bit of a father figure...
Tired of the woke crap. I see what he’s saying.
💯. Bitter, party of one!
Jaundiced... Manu Katché is one of the best drummers there are and I have news to Jerry, yes he plays amazingly well all over the place like he can't. So don't give us that bull that was because of his skin color
PG is a solo artist. Eccentric solo artists are capricious & change personnel on a whim as they follow their muse - how many ‘loyal’ band members did David Bowie work his way through every time he changed direction.
Nathan Thomas ... True.
Bowie: "Change the band, change the sound." He didn't want to be Jagger, tethered to the same players forever. Same here with PG.
GOOD POINT
Would love to hear Mick Robson’s guitar on I know it’s going to happen one day though
@@paul10018 he forgot to change Tony Levin
Well done John! Interesting interview. I was not expecting to learn what I did.
The logic seems to be, "You can't replace me, I'm the drummer". And that attitude may well be why he was replaced.
The attitude seems to be "I was fired because a racist journalist criticized PG for being white and playing with white guys."
I'd be pissed for being fired for having the wrong skin color too.
I'm a drummer and Jerry was a huge influence on me early on, especially PG3 and Security. BUT, no one, and I mean NO ONE, could play Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes like Manu'. That whole album has his energy all over it. Jerry sounds like a bitter old man here, I would have hoped he would have been more gracious. PG could play with ANY f'ing drummer he wants to. He's a solo artist and solo artists collaborate with a variety of musicians. Don't give me that, "he wasn't loyal to me" crap, he was a hired gun, he should be thankful he got to play with PG at all! Peter knew what Jerry was capable of and he chose to go a different direction, end of story. Nothing personal. Worst of all, Jerry uses the interview to shit Manu's playing, saying he's "all over the place". Wow! Total disrespect.
Lastly, he accuses Peter of getting a different drummer because of political correctness! REALLY?! That is one of the stupidest most outrageous things I have ever heard!
Interestingly, after playing with Manu', Peter changed drummers again and played with Ged Lynch for the Growing Up tour. Ged is a much simpler, pocket oriented drummer, I think it's obvious now why Jerry didn't get a call back. Jerry has completely lost my respect.
Patrick- but you’re nobody and he’s N iconic drummer you have no say. Step away you bar band hack.
Yeah I saw Jerry with him back in the day and remember all those years ago Jerry wasn’t all too happy about being let go. Maybe Peter did feel some pressure to make changes but really I don’t remember pc dictates forcing such changes. I really think Gabriel was reaching for a different sound. He went from no cymbals on 3 to all this trebly cymbal stuff and really was a big change in direction. Whatever the “truth” was in this interview he does not do himself any service sounding like a pissed off ex. Could’ve taken the high road. Didn’t.
E.x,a.c.t.a.l.y.....but, Jerry is sweet too. Manu is de man.....
This is going to sound weird but some Italians are excellent musicians but very strong willed and do not pick up on other peoples personality traits.
@Patrick R. The political correctness sounds exactly the reason he was kicked out. How is it ridiculous?
And then also on the “So” record - we have the wild card drummer - Stewart Copeland - playing on the track “Big Time”. It was another hit from that great record - but often overshadowed by 'Sledgehammer' - 'Red Rain' and 'In Your Eyes' -- but it was about the funkiest (thanks also to Levin & Marotta on bass) - and hardest hitting track on the whole record.
Didn't Stewart play of Red Rain, as well?
@@joeyday576 -- per the album credits, Copland played just hi-hat; Jerry played the rest.
Stewart Copeland "Lead Hihat"
on RED RAIN and that was it.
@@joeyday576 Did Copeland do more than the intro hi-hat (which is classic)?
Jerry proves that no gig is ever safe...Even at that level,all the gigs he has graced,records he has blessed with his playing,the business end of things will always come first..And you can never really know what is in someones head..Manu loved Porcaro and wanted to do an album with him..So they did Dire Straits,but it's funny because JM and Jeff Porcaro are closer to me in style than Katche....Also i remember seeing Gabriel using Stings band for a while..Well,the rhythm section of Darryl Jones and Omar Hakim..Omar to me can lay back and play a pocket all day or get busy..So you have choices of Manu Katche...Omar Hakim....Or Jerry Marotta....Wow,what a shitty way to find yourself...And by the way,JM and his drumming on "Plays Live" is so tasty and in the pocket..BUT,listen close and you will hear more going on..Ghost strokes,and accenting are out of this world...Love Ya Jerry,A very big fan from Cleveland......
Jerry’s resume is pretty impressive. I just found out today he was the guy on Tears for Fears Songs from the Big Chair.... as well as Spike by Elvis Costello, Press To Play by McCartney, Hall and Oates, Sarah McLoughlin’s big record, Indigo Girls, John Mayer’s first, 10 Maniacs live record, Orleans and the best records by Gabriel... Respect! I had the pleasure of hanging with him while tracking my new record at his studio in NY. He’s a pretty humble guy. He came around each day and listened, asking about the tunes and just giving us positive feedback. He LOVED my drummer and of course the pressure was on while tracking and Jerry is sitting in the control room! Being that me and my band mates are HUGE Gabriel fans we were pumped that he was digging our tunes! He’s just a regular guy with a gift and no “rock star” pretension about him to be honest...
Jerry made the quintessential savage and uncompromising iconic beats. They're still recognizable on their own. "Security" is the proof. A lot of soul was lost without him, IMHO
Really enjoyed this John. I met Jerry at NAMM one year when he had a booth showing his lamps made using the same stretched “skins” he used to make his drums. Real friendly & affable guy. I play Chapman stick too, so we were talking a bit of maybe doing some recording. Love his R&B feel. Perfect for so many ensembles.
He describes personal playing style to a tee!!! A person has their signature when playing. My ex husband, who is a guitarist was the type of player that always could fit his style of play over the landscape of the person he was playing with. True experience comes from the different artist that you get an opportunity to play with. Thank you for the interview!! 💯🙋🏾♀️👏🏾👍🏾
I can understand Jerry's frustration, but Peter, as a solo artist, can change his artistic direction and crew whenever he feels like. And he doesn't own explanations to anyone.
Jerry Marotta is an underappreciated drummer. He needs to be in more conversations when discussing "Best Drummers".
Exactly. Especially considering the HUNDREDS of famous recordings he’s been on!!!
Jerry is a great drummer but I guess Peter just wanted to renew his whole sound, especially on stage (as a matter of fact, the live sound improved starting with the SO tour).
Nothing personal, I believe. What I don't really understand is the choice of Ged Lynch to replace Manu. Jerry would have done way better! In fact I was disappointed on hearing that heavy and cold drumming in the later years and I thought "why not Jerry Marotta?"
Have to agree a 100%! I really don´t get why Ged Lynch is so heavily favoured by PG (on Lynch´s Website you can read a long praise from PG about Lynch´s drumming...).
Marotta and Katchu both have a unique way of groovin´, but every time i listen to Lynch, i can´t stop shaking my head.
And i don´t mean as you shake it to a great groove, but as you shake it in utter disbelief that this guy actually is able to play drums without the slightest hint of beeing able to groove.
Ged is a bit stiff. I think Manu moved on to playing jazz. Never know why Many didn't come back. Money would've been great.
You are right. Ged was as stiff as my hostel mattress.
Indeed, never understood the high praises for Ged either. I think he butchered the live renditions of Signal to noise. He did a bit better in the 2007 summer tour were he actually took a set of concert toms with him too. But he never figured to use them for Signal to noise which was again a missed opportunity -_- Apart from that, I think he lacks a bit of finesse and groove.
Once I stood with Papa John Mole, backstage at Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, NY, while Murali Coryell and The Ambassadors Jammed with Jerry Marotta and laid down the greatest version of Mustang Sally ever. Jerry's groove made the version they played something completely different, but mind-blowingly amazing. I'll never forget it.
Rest in Peace, Papa John. We miss you ❤
What’s up with the black drummer comment? Manu is a very unique and energetic drummer, hence why he has been hired to play for many other artists. Not unlike like how Vinnie Colaiuta. Saying PG hired him because of his skin colour is very good reason why it was a good forJerry to be let go when he was.
loved his playing. Bombastic AND musical. PG Live has a knockout drum sound and great playing. Sensational dude.
Simple, Peter just outgrew (maybe always had done) Jerry and his Italian 20-year-old personality. Manu was and is a distinctly better drummer and I myself think Tony Levin gels with whomever he's next to. A true pro never badmouths any of his band members.
Blackdog yeah I’m disappointed in Jerry here
Jerry Marotta is a heck of a drummer, BUT...Very sad that these things don't get fixed one on one....Going public bitchin' the other guy's loyalty is easy when that other guy is not there to have that conversation...
So, let me get this straight: Hall and Oates, at the peak of their success and name recognition, were going to change their name to keep Marotta? This smells like BS to me, and makes me not want to believe anything else he says.
As a amateur musician, played in a few bands, i can say that there is always some resentment when you get fired or when you want to change things and have to fire a bandmate. That's just the way it goes. It's not fun, but it is what it is. Just how when you are a new bandmember and like everything and every other member and when time goes by you start to get annoyed over things. Or over habits or whatever. Loyalty doesn't really exist in bands if you ask me. Peter Gabriel wanted to do things different, and since he was (is) the band leader, he gets to do how he pleases. Simple as that.
It saddens me that there's so much resentment and grievance that gets packaged as journalism. This is hard to watch or care about.
A very frank discussion. Wonderful.
I've had to " let go " drummers in bands.
It's not pleasant.
PG was the captain of the ship, and determining their next destination.
They are the base of the band sound,
but that doesn't mean you have to keep it, or them.
Manu Katché was a great change. " So " wouldn't have been the masterpiece it is without him.
It should have gotten album of the year over Paul Simon's " Graceland ".
It's interesting because after So I kinda lost interest - for me albums 3 and 4 are the pinnacle of Peter Gabriel and I always loved the drumming so much on both albums
100% yes
Marotta vs Katche? Different styles for different times. When you're hired to do a job, the boss is in charge. Love them both.
I agree with Tony Banks when he said Peter's albums before 'So' are his most interesting.
hell yes absolutly
As are the Genesis albums with Gabriel...
Tony banks thinks Calling All Stations is good.
Growing up (remixed by Trent Reznor)
"UP" is really strong.
I love Jerry's playing and the PG albums with him playing are my favorite ones for sure, but slagging Manu's playing is ridiculous. Manu is brilliant. No one likes losing a gig, and I understand feeling rejected, but after this much time maybe Jerry should just let the grudge go. He was a hired drummer. Things happen. He (Jerry) is still a legendary drummer, and should just own that without all the sour grapes. Now all that being said, I think Jerry SHOULD be very annoyed that Ged Lynch started touring with PG in stead of him. That's just crazy musically speaking. That sort of seems like it must be more of a personality compatibility issue than drumming skill because Jerry's way better than Ged. I still don't get that choice at all.
In the 60’s and 70’s band could sometimes churn out 2 albums a year. Gabriel took 10 or more years to do one album. That’s why he totally fell of the radar. When you write songs for an album you try to capture a moment in time. When you take forever to do an album you lose direction. Just my opinion.
Robert Latzer it was one year between his first and second album. Two years between 2 and 3. Another two before Security and four years until So came out. Then he really started to take his time, six years before Us, ten years until Up and now 18 years and still no original album since then. He keeps looking for some ephemeral perfection that made the last two albums sound too produced. I love Us and Up but if I could change anything it would be to have the production somewhere between the raw feel of Melt and the polished perfection of So. I remember him saying he already had another albums worth of songs ready soon after Up came out. He even had the name I/O and wanted to get it out within two or three years at the most. Guess that plan went out the window. He shouldn’t be able to get too sidetracked being stuck at home for months on end at the moment so here’s to hoping that we finally have some new PG music in 2021.
Gabriel has been great and making music for 40 years, if not full albums then for movies. You can’t be obsessed and just focus on one subject. Maybe Peter decided his best was already done, quit knocking his decisions down.
Well, your opinion is wack.
Skin EyemIn Well, your comment is wack.
An enlightening idea, I might say.
John, there's a little switch on the left side of your iPhone. If you flip that towards the back, it will stop the call and text alerts from interrupting your interviews.
I'd love to see him and Larry Fast play with Peter Gabriel again.
Wow that's lemon sour… What a resentment... Not really sure why the big ego, nor some of the other things he said.
First, he kind of seems to hint that Peter Gabriel is some kind of band of which he was part of. He's not on the first record and Collins played on the 3rd album. It's not that he should have expected to be Gabriel's sole drummer. Gabriel actually started out with Collins and John Giblin as "his American band was too expensive" (as Collins recalls about the Intruder sessions).
Second, not really buying into the "cultural appropriation" argument. He almost takes some kind of victimhood on him because he feels replaced by people of colour for ethnicity's sake. Peter's "ethnic" influence started on PG4 and he invited African musicians to play along with him. He also had the WOMAD thing going. Gabriel already worked with African musicians at that time and could have added them to the live line-up whenever he wanted. I'm pretty sure there are some odd gigs with some of them. And yes, the lineup changed over the years and it continued to do so till Peter's last tour. That happens when you are a solo artist and hire people to play on records and tours.
Third, he IS still playing on SO, along with Manu and Stewart Copeland. It's not that he didn't participate on that album. And UP featured something like 6 drummers.
I've seen Gabriel with Jerry and Manu. The Reality Tour with Manu was amazing - I do prefer his style, at least for that approach to the material. Jerry is excellent. I saw Jerry on the Security tour and he was great. (My brother was backstage and when Gabriel came running backstage so he could reappear on the other side of the stage. My little bro was swinging his hands back and forth and smacked Peter in the testicles. I was in the audience and the band was obviously going back through again, wondering what was going on (this is the concert that the early live album was taken from - with the exception of that one). Jerry seems a bit bitter.
Peter knew he had to mix it up for So and it worked beautifully, he got mad rich then he milked to death and faded off. He should have kept Marotta around for future things, not closed a door.
If an artist wants to change their paintbrushes or the colors they've been using for a time, why shouldn't they be able to? It's tough losing a great gig you love, but unless you're the one writing the music, what can I say? The drummer for Peter Gabriel isn't filling the arenas either.
Jerry, Tony, Larry and Peter were able to make the music dark and hounting. Something I loved and never experienced after :(
You're right in a way!
But 'So' has it's own darkness.
Jerry Marotta did a great drumming with Peter Gabriel, and he did too with the Sylvian & Fripp album "The first day"
Every artist changes. The songs I play today are completely different from the songs I played in my youth. I still play with the same bunch of guys and girls and yes some of them have changed too.
Whose phone keeps going off?
Wow man, this is a deep interview. Thanks for sharing!
Bitter at missing out on the big money? Like most comments below, I agree with the view-point that Gabriel is a visionary, always looking for that left-field groove. It is well known that the 'Sledge' years was Gabriel's time enjoying the shallow fame-game, and his band mirrored that polished, commercial sound (although it was not to be known by PG that Sledge would become the commercial smash it did). I think that the addition of David Sancious (keyboards) & Manu Katché (drums) filled-out PG's sound and gave additional, rich layers to what had been a quite industrial, sparse format beforehand. I'm a fan of all eras of PG, there are not that many artists who've undertaken such a dramatic sonic journey that makes being a fan such a rewarding experience. Jerry should be grateful for his contribution to such a journey.
Very cool info. Thanks for sharing. Each and every name stands out in those CD liner notes and Jerry's name is as prominent to me as anyone who came before or since.
Nice interview. I don't remember who was drumming but I did see Gabriel in '86. Saw Genesis too, in '76 but my 2 all-time fav drummers I've see live are Antonio Sanchez (w Pat Metheny in 2017) and Carl Palmer (ELP '77). What's your fav live drummer?
Hi John, I was wondering if you ever got around to asking Jerry about the incredible your he did with Todd Rundgren, I believe it was around 2006 and was called the "Power Trio" tour, just Todd, Jerry and Tony Levin. I had not seen that your(although I have seen Todd/Utopia 24 times in concert) but I heard it was incredible. while I'm on the subject......how about a Todd Rundgren interview ? talk about an artist with quite a distinguished career ! lots of cool stories there, guaranteed. and also he's got a great sense of humor !! how 'bout it ?
I saw the Power Trio tour here in NYC and it was Trey Sabatelli on drums. Could you be getting your Italians mixed up? Or maybe different guys on different legs of the tour?
I sawTodd with Tony Levin in the band, but he also had Jesse and Prairie, no keys. In Atlanta at the old Roxy. Not sure of the year. Kasim was sorely missed, I hate to say, as I am as big of a TLev fan as one could be.
Jerry was always a great drummer. Clearly some past issues still burn with him toward PG.
I have always loved Jerry’s playing.
Jerry Marotta and his brother are two of the greatest drummers alive today!!!!!!
uhhh. Not really but thanks for sharing your limited palette.
@@johnnicholson8345 that’s not a palette that’s an opinion. Which, in contrast to what you apparently think, others are allowed to have.
....................This is what the "business" does. When everything's fine, everything's great. When chasing a trend, people get thrown under the bus.
Hiring a new drummer is throwing someone under the bus? If this video is any indication, this guy comes off like a big baby.....just maybe Peter had had enough drama from his drummer and had much more important things to deal with than walking on eggshells around an employee.
Finally someone like you comes along and gives ROCKNROLL some absolute clarity on my favourite ROCK ICONS. Been to many concerts back in the day but never got to see LED ZEP had ticket in hand and Jon Bonam left for STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
It's the bittersweet destiny of the 'hired guns'. When Bowie left the spiders, he just keep with him Mick Rondon, Billy Joel was very close with his band till he changed all his musicians, etc. In the other hand we have the experience of Pat Mastelotto, from Mr Mister as session drummer of Xtc, David Sylvian, etc, til being an oficial member of King Crimson.
I love the sound of mr Marotta, I followed his career as musician with other artists (even Frida of Abba) and his replies are more or less the same as other musicians of solo acts that they being left aside after a long time of collaborations with the same solist.
Ps: I'm very fan of Sinergy discography and I prefer the Fast solo career than with Gabriel, for me is a plus, who gave a fantastic sound to the universe of Peter, before So.
That's how some people are, different personalities in that business.
I'll listen to anyone privileged enough to have played on the original recordings of San Jacinto and Rhythm of the Heat.
Jerry Marotta is an awesome drummer, and he should see it as pivotal in his creative career to have played on PG's 2nd arguably best and most critically acclaimed Album - PG4 - However, most certainly he is no Manu Katche, and unfortunately, he does a disservice to himself, Manu and PG. Manu as an awesome drummer, plays a more subtle and syncopated world approach to percussion and rhythms - Manu brings something creative to the PG table, that Jerry never quite demonstrated unless instructed to do so. My understanding was that, at times, personalities clashed - and this interview suggests just how that might be possible....and incidentally, the other black musicians that he mentions as replacing Lord is the dynamic multi-instrumentalist David Sancious - In any world, I think that is what they call a serious upgrade.
Some stuff is better to keep private.
Great band 👍 🎶 thanks for the memory's !
I made it a point to see "Security Project" at Bearsville theatre,theater, 2015 and although no one can replace Gabriel's vocal live,they did a really good job...it was as close to seeing Gabriel playing the old stuff as I think your gonna get...then at the end jerry plays drums and sings..."Back in NYC"-and he blew me away...guys a world class drummer
Melt and Security are 2 of the best albums ever made.
This guy should be grateful he got to work with such major talent as PG and Hall and Oates, this interview sounds more like a venting, therapy session than anything.
Artists are by definition creative - right? The VERY best way to stifle creativity is to shackle it to any given parameter or set of parameters. Period. NO artist stays at the top of his or her game by staying the same, and part of not staying the same is changing creative partners over time. Period. Sometimes it's done with finesse and mutual respect - sometimes it's done in a fit of temper, or anywhere in between. Does this really need explanation?
I've seen this soooo many times over the years where a solo artist chooses a different direction and the "regular..." guys are changed out, then do interviews about "so ungrateful, so moody & hard to deal with etc etc..." instead of being grateful for having the experience...and the pay days.
Go start your own band!!
Yes..and I'd like to add, and no disrespect to the entire canon of quality work that Marotta has played on, but a solo artist has ALL the weight on their shoulder. It sinks or swims all based on their decisions. If they feel that people will refuse to buy the music for any reason.. they NEED to make a change or Mr Marotta is out of a job (until he finds a new sideman gig) and PG is out of all jobs ..and forever. Did I mention it's a difficult biz?
For Me, there are 2 Peter Gabriel career or era periods. The one from the PG 1 Album until Birdy the movie Soundtrack album, the other Peter Gabriel career starts with So until now with the I/O album and Tour. I am a real fan from Peter Gabriel, I have seen him live many times and I can honestly say, he is one of the musicians that triggered the passion in Me to become the musician I am. For the Gabriel 2 career stages or eras, I feel in the first one although he was not that mature as a composer, he truly was the most experimental and spiritual Gabriel ever. Security is my favourite album in everything, the sound, the concept, the lyrics, the innovation of pre sampling and the deep spiritual meaning of the whole album. For the second stage or era from Gabriel's career, I love it, but somehow the experimentation was not primordial for him anymore or not that intense regarding innovation and learning from the world's folk music amazing treasures. I guess he found the formula he feels can express better and get close to people in a more straight and naked way. I prefer the first Peter Gabriel era, not because is better, but because for me personally, the search for personal, spiritual and artistic re-invention and evolution is intuitive and keeps one alive.
How he managed to pull it off without legs is still mind boggling. Legend.
Peter Gabriel is my favourite artist ever and Jerry Marotta is my favourite drummer. But I think it's unpolite accusing Peter of racism like he did in this interview. It is absolutely not coherent with PG's philosophy and it is clear that the choice of Manu Katche and David Sancious was based on artistic reasons, with nothing to do with Jerry Marotta and Larry Fast art which is not object of any discussion (two great musicians!)
He wasn't accusing Peter of racism IMO. It was more that PG decided to use "world" musicians instead of asking Jerry to change up his style. (See my comments where I get into more detail).