Ian Paice

[MysticMichael]

Given the soft spot in our hearts that we bassists generally have for our partners in the rhythm section - namely the drummer - I'd like to start a thread to honor one of the very best rock drummers ever to sit behind the kit: the incomparable Ian Paice.

Earlier today I was digging a bit into the archives, re-listening to some classic Deep Purple: Highway Star, Space Truckin', and Burn. As I did so, I recalled all over again the reasons why I like his playing so very much. Ian Paice is a human metronome - but with serious groove. He is, to my mind, a master of the flashy yet tasteful fill - and the super-syncopated kick/accent.

Just listen to him going crazy through the chorus section of Highway Star - jumping hard on each syncopated beat after beat, driving the energy level higher & higher & higher, always staying super-precise...before "settling" back down the verse section.

Listen to his playing on Burn - same thing: punching those syncopated beats like crazy - one after another; playing fills with the utter confidence that comes with complete mastery of the instrument, executing each note with pure precision, neither dragging nor rushing one iota - whether playing 32nd notes or quarter notes. Notice how he creates a sense of increasing intensity & urgency by pushing his intro to the verse section by a couple beats or so on each repetition, every time it comes around: Musical instinct and a sense of innate musicianship that just comes naturally - and is hard, if not impossible, to teach.

Notice how on Burn, the emphasis is all on the backbeat...while on Space Truckin', Paice is right on the beat - insistently pushing it forward, in a manner not unlike Motown drummer style from years of yore. His emphatic quarter-note pattern on the snare just drives that tune.

Does it sound like I'm impressed with Ian Paice? You bet I am!

Honorable Mentions:

- Terry Bozzio
- Roger Taylor
- Gavin Harrison
- Neal Peart
- Carl Palmer

MM

P.S. Does it seem to anybody else that "Paice" (i.e. "Pace"), is one of the all-time great names for a drummer? Sort of like "Foote" as the ideal name for a podiatrist?

[joebar]

i love him; always have.
really like his drumming on the Whitesnake album `live in the heart of the city`
great groover. great tone.

[Tituscrow]

Jean-Paul Gaster from Clutch is like IP for the 21st century IMO.

[pocketgroove]

He's definitely a heck of a drummer. I'm surprised he didn't break out of rock and spread his wings a little bit (at least to the best of my knowledge)...he certainly had the talent.

[mellowinman]

Wow, I was just thinking about this as I was driving home listening to my new Purple CD.

"Paicie," as Lord used to call him, was one of the all time great rock drummers.

[bassybill]

Ian Paice
John Bonham
Carl Palmer

The rock drummer's holy trinity of my youth. Then a little later, I aded Jon Hiseman to the list.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by bassybill

Ian Paice
John Bonham
Carl Palmer

The rock drummer's holy trinity of my youth. Then a little later, I aded Jon Hiseman to the list.

I reckon we could probably add Cozy Powell and Aynsley Dunbar to that list as well. But then, where would we stop?

MM

[pica]

I became a DP fan at a real young age thanks to my older brothers. I think the reason I became a fan was because of their awesome rhythm section. I think he's a great drummer.

[lsabina]

Originally Posted by pocketgroove

He's definitely a heck of a drummer. I'm surprised he didn't break out of rock and spread his wings a little bit (at least to the best of my knowledge)...he certainly had the talent.

He played on an album by jazz tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris. Recorded in the UK, in the 70s, if I remember correctly...

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by lsabina

He played on an album by jazz tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris. Recorded in the UK, in the 70s, if I remember correctly...

Is that the same album that Chris Squire played bass on?

[SlingBass4]

He's done Jazz in the past (as has Phil Collins), and has played with McCartney, Clapton, and other top tier tours (as has Phil Collins). Suffice it to say: he will be long remembered even after his playing days are over. They rarely make drummers like him these days - but when they do...one may rest assured he knows Ian's name

[JimK]

Fans of Paice should have this issue of Modern Drummer-
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MODERN-DRUMM...-/271017342847

I bought it back in the day 'cause of the Bozzio/Hakim articles...eventually worked my way to the Paice article.
He makes no bones that he is about feel...he is not an "educated" player & doesn't count. He does tell an anecdote about the Deep Purple recording with the Orchestra. Paice always hit his cues (by feel)...everyone else (those that "count") would miss their cues.

All 3 articles/interviews are long (NOT the 1-2 pages of fluff we have been seeing in the likes of recent Bass Player issues).

In the early '70s, Deep Purple & Led Zep were "my" bands...then I went onto other things. Last year, I did buy a couple of Deep Purple DVDs (my 2nd childhood coming on?)...Paice is a freight train (Blackmore & Lord were a lot better than I remembered).

[JimK]

Originally Posted by lsabina

He played on an album by jazz tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris. Recorded in the UK, in the 70s, if I remember correctly...

Originally Posted by Roscoe East

Is that the same album that Chris Squire played bass on?

I have read about Squire's "Jazz" chops (is this Harris album LIVE?)...not too happenin & stiff...too engrained with "composed" basslines, etc.
From the Paice interview I read in the '80s...I wouldn't think he woulda done a "Jazz" record. He loves Rock too much!

[lsabina]

Originally Posted by Roscoe East

Is that the same album that Chris Squire played bass on?

Yes, the album is E.H. In The U.K. and Squire is on a couple of tracks.

[mcm]

Yes he is killer and way underrated

[Richland123]

I have always been a fan of Ian Paice.

Here is another great rock drummer - Tommy Aldridge

[JimK]

Yeah...& both played in Whitesnake.


Aldridge has certainly been around...in my 1st-ever garage band ('74), the drummer loved Black Oak 'cause of Aldridge.

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by Richland123

Here is another great rock drummer - Tommy Aldridge

Consumate showman, and an iconic embodiment of Rock Star Incarnate. I'm not sure his drumming has really evolved much since the 1970s, but that's almost besides the point.

[vlado]

I always loved the way Paice played. But here's a few more from his period that I enjoyed listening to:


Michael Giles
Clive Bunker
Ringo

[Richland123]

I saw Tommy Aldrige live with The Pat Travers Band and with Ozzy Osbourne and he was really good with both bands.