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Bobbie Clarke – The Man Who Drummed The World
Bobbie Clarke was and still is one of the worlds finest drummers, he is known as the Man who drummed the world, many of his fans however may not know that the legendary Bobbie is actually a ‘Coventry Kid’.
Robert William Woodman was born in Coventry on June 13, 1940, despite becoming a renowned rock drummer it was jazz drumming that first inspired him to take up the instrument. “It was Eric Delaney that turned me on to drumming; he was my idol, along with Gene Krupa. Then I heard a record out in 1954, it was Skin Deep by Duke Ellington’s Orchestra, their drummer was Louis Bellson. It’s still the best drum solo I have ever heard in my life”. Bobbie soon switched to rock n roll. He had become a member of Vince Eager’s Beat Boys (along with Tony Belcher, Tex Makins and Alan Le Claire). They made regular appearances at the famous “2 I’s” coffee bar in London’s Old Compton street. The band soon built a reputation of being reliable and top notch backing musicians, and they soon took on Big Jim Sullivan on guitar and reinvented themselves as the Wildcats backing none other that UK rocker Marty Wilde. Robbie cut his recording teeth with Wilde on discs like High School Confidential, Too Much and Mean Woman Blues. Leaving Marty Wilde the Beat Boys name returned and they were drafted in to back the late great Billy Fury. Things were going well for Bobbie and the boys, but he was about to meet Vince Taylor a musician that would change his life.
Vince Taylor was actually British born, but had moved to America at the age of seven, he took his dark brooding persona from the likes of Gene Vincent and Elvis Presley. By 1960 he was up and running and Bobbie and his boys became Vince Taylor’s Playboys. “Vince Taylor was one of the greatest rockers” Bobbie said, “He was the nicest guy. Vince was so good, every time he made a move I instinctively knew what he was going to do, and he knew what I was going to do, we were always super rehearsed. I was with him for about four and a half years. He did have his problems, and occasionally he wouldn’t turn up for a gig”.
Bobbie would play on the Vince Taylor classic Brand new Cadillac, and his reputation as a class drummer soared. By 1961 we had moved on and was still using his real name Bobby Woodman, with his own band The Bobby Woodman Noise, the band played the prestigious Olympia in Paris, with Wee Willie Harris down to top the bill. Vince Taylor came along as a friend of the band, as he had never been to France, his sound-check astounded the back stage crew and his billing was changed to topping the show. They were immidiately offered a deal and Vince and the Playboys signed to the Barclay label for a six year deal.
Bobby Woodman became Bobbie Clark, and the band toured all over Europe and punctuated their touring with a stack of well-heeled records like Lovin Up A Storm, So Glad You’re Mine, Memphis Tennessee and Let’s Play House. Taylor was said to have had an almost self-destructive personality, indeed Bowie based his Ziggy Stardust character on him. By 1963 his backing band had split, sending the members off in various directions, with Bobbie joining French rock n Roll legend Johnny Hallyday’s Golden Stars for a year until Hallyday was drafted into the French army. Bobbie continued with his Noise, and operated in Europe in general, and France in particular. He released the single My Babe under name Vince Taylor with Bobbie Clark’s Noise
In 1965 Bobbie moved to America, where he would drum with the Arthur Lee’s Love, and record the song The Elves Themselves, the song included Bobbie, Frank Zappa and The Jimi Hendrix. Sadly Clarke was deported from America on possession of pot. Though back in the UK, he was asked to join a band called Roundabout, who would become Deep Purple, but left after a short stint, replaced by Ian Paice. Instead he joined psychedelic pop band Bodcast, that included Yes guitarist-to-be Steve Howe. The band had little commercial success, but helped create the blueprint of future Prog-rock bands.
In 1974 Bobbie’s band The Noise was back with Vince Taylor, he released the EP in 1987 Bobbie Clarke, The Man Who Drummed The World. “I had a wonderful time” reveals Bobbie, “I still play the drums, I still go over to France to do guest spots and we still get great write-up everywhere, I’m not as young as I was, but I still enjoy the life”. This man truly is a Coventry-born Legend.
Bobbie Clarke Trivia
· An early member of Vince Taylor’s Playboys was Bedworth born Brian ‘Liquorice’ Locking, who would eventually join the Shadows.
· Bobbie was the first rock drummer to use a double bass drum kit, later adopted by the likes of Keith Moon, Carl Palmer,Ginger Baker and a thousand others. · Bobbie is currently writing his biography, it promises to be a fascinating insight into the seminal days of British Rock n roll.