Rob Townsend (born 7 July 1947) is an English rock and blues drummer. He was the drummer for progressive rock band Family and later The Blues Band.[1]
Rob Townsend | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Townsend with The Blues Band in 2013. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Townsend |
| Born | 7 July 1947 Leicester, England |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Drums |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Labels | Arista, Polydor, RCA |
Biography
editTownsend was born near Frog Island, Leicester, England, where he spent his teenage years playing in various bands, such as the Beatniks, Broodly Hoo and Legay. He became drummer for Family,[2] replacing Harry Overnall in 1967. Family broke up in 1973 and Townsend joined Medicine Head.[2] After eighteen months he left Medicine Head and spent much of the late 1970s as freelance session drummer for Peter Skellern,[3] George Melly and Bill Wyman amongst others. During this time he played drums for Kevin Ayers[4] and Charlie Whitney's Axis Point.[1][5]
In 1982 Townsend joined The Blues Band, in a line up including Paul Jones, guitarists Dave Kelly and Tom McGuinness also bassist Gary Fletcher.[6] In 1991 he also joined Jones and McGuinness as part of the Manfred Mann splinter band The Manfreds, recording and touring, as well as backing other performers including Georgie Fame,[7] Colin Blunstone, Long John Baldry, and Chris Farlowe. [8]
Townsend once said in an interview:
I have come home from tours absolutely dead on my feet and I will get a call to go and play at a local pub because their regular drummer can't do it and I say yes…When I am not playing I go to drum shops or music shows. I just love it. I feel so lucky to be able to be doing something I love to do and to be able to earn a living from it.[1]
Townsend mentioned jazz greats Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa as influences in the same interview.[1]
Notes
edit- ^ a b c d Dolbear, Mike (2005). "Rob Townsend". mikedolbear.com. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ a b Terry Rawlings. Then, now and rare British beat 1960-1969. Omnibus Press. p. 74.
- ^ Mackenzie, Compton & Stone, Christopher. Gramophone, Volume 53. Mackenzie. p. 1258.
- ^ Strong, Martin Charles & Peel, John (1995). The Great Rock Discography. Canongate US. p. 34.
- ^ Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness. p. 293.
- ^ Terry Rawlings. Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. p. 360.
- ^ "The Manfreds Hit The Road With Georgie Fame". Yorkshire Times. 24 April 2021.
- ^ "There's still life in the old Zombie". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 May 2002.
Further reading
edit- Rob Townsend interview with Mark Forster
- Rawlings, Terry. Then, now and rare British beat 1960-1969. Omnibus press (2002). ISBN 978-0-7119-9094-4
- Buckley, Peter. The rough guide to rock. Rough Guides (2003). ISBN 978-1-84353-105-0
- Larkin, Colin. The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Guinness (1992). Item notes ver 2. Digitized (19 June 2007). ISBN 978-1-882267-02-6
- Strong, Martin Charles and Peel, John. The Great Rock Discography. Canongate US (2004). 7th edition. ISBN 978-1-84195-615-2