Ep443: Chester Thompson (Genesis, Zappa and more)
The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
Nate Goyer
4.7 • 579 Ratings
🗓️ 1 April 2024
⏱️ 59 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Drumming legend Chester Thompson has played with many great artists including Frank Zappa, Wayne Shorter, Genesis and more. Today we discuss some career highlights, his new solo LP "Wake Up Call" and more.
- Chester's music collection
- Seeing Art Blakey, Elvis Jones and more
- Being a gigging drummer at 13 years old
- Recording with O'Donel Levy – 1st appearance on record
- Moving to California, playing for Frank Zappa
- Recording "Roxy & Elsewhere" w Ralph Humphrey
- Playing with multiple drummers
- Frank was very fair paying musicians for all output
- Steering clear of the Los Angeles lifestyle
- Joining Weather Report, working with Wayne Shorter
- Recording "Black Market"
- Playing with Jaco Pastorius / Columbia Records supportive of fusion
- Playing with a Broadway show, getting the gig with Genesis
- 1st tour with Genesis / evolving style to play Phil's tracks
- Chester's perspective of the evolving music of Genesis
- The growth of Genesis / expanding fanbase
- The recent discussions of Genesis reunions with Peter Gabriel
- The biggest shows / Memories of The Prince's Trust
- Approaching solo material
- Making the album "Wake Up Call"
- Writing with drums first before melody
- The reasons for title "Wake Up Call"
- Some drummers needing to relearn technique
- Upcoming plans for live gigs
- Getting involved in ProgRock.com label
- Is Chester surprised by the vinyl revival?
- Interview wrap up
Get the vinyl version of "Wake Up Call" here.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This episode is brought to you by Groove Washer, the best record cleaners and protective sleeves |
| 0:04.3 | for your vinyl collection. Ask for the groove washer from your local shop or go to groove washer.com. |
| 0:09.7 | Discount code, vinyl guide 10. And now, on with the show. Welcome to the Vinyl Guide. The podcast |
| 0:17.1 | for record collectors and music nerds. Here's your host. The biggest record nerd of them all, Nate Goyer. |
| 0:23.1 | Ah, that's me. |
| 0:24.1 | Hey, everyone. |
| 0:24.8 | It's Nate. |
| 0:26.0 | Welcome to episode 443 of the vinyl guide. |
| 0:30.0 | The podcast for record collectors and music nerds. |
| 0:32.5 | And today, dear people, we've got an absolute legend on the show, |
| 0:37.7 | an amazing talent, |
| 0:39.3 | phenomenal drummer, and a really |
| 0:41.0 | humble, good guy, Mr. |
| 0:43.4 | Chester Thompson. Now, |
| 0:45.3 | you'll probably recognize Chester's |
| 0:47.3 | name on the back of many of your |
| 0:49.4 | albums in your collection. |
| 0:51.4 | Chester drummed with Frank Zappa |
| 0:53.0 | on Roxy and elsewhere, as well as a few other releases out there. Chester drummed with Frank Zappa on Roxy and Elsewhere, as well as a few other |
| 0:56.3 | releases out there. Chester was also on Weather Reports Black Market, Genesis seconds out, |
| 1:03.2 | and he was pretty much the touring drummer of Genesis for well over a decade. And good news, |
| 1:08.9 | Chester discusses all of those artists today, plus more. And he wants you to know |
... |
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