The Lost Murph

[BetteDavisLies]

Does anyone feel like Murph does not get the attention and respect he deserves as a drummer? I realize that the guy in the back is often forgotten behind the guitar and bassist. However, Murph is really fucking amazing to see live – he is loud and fast – a beautiful display of percussionist violence.

But I have been reading all the interviews posted on here lately and everything is about Lou and J with maybe one reference to Murph. Maybe it is because he is the nicest and sanest of the three..

Don’t misunderstand me – J and Lou are definetly worthy of the media’s attention, well, and our attention, for sure. But I am feeling like Murph is being left out of the loop. Let’s start a Murph fanclub.

I’ll make t-shirts and Another Girl can bring the punch.

[King Tubby]

Absolutely. As a drummer myself, I’m floored by how original his sense of accent and approach to fills are. He’s one of those rare drummers who, as Miles Davis once put it, plays "ahead of the beat." He drives that music like no one’s business. My cat is named Murph, mainly because he has thick arms and likes to hit people really hard with them.

[lookitssam]

I concur. When my friend (who plays drums) and I saw them in D.C. at the end he said "Wow, Murph is a fucking monster."

[BetteDavisLies]

My husband is a really good drummer, which I am guessing is part of the reason I notice Murph so much. He is pretty critical of any other drummer’s work. His thoughts on Murph: God

[ammaringnyc]

He is definately a good drummer but is very specific. I think overall J is more funky and thats why he got rid of Murph in the first place

[tonas]

Murph definately has skill, but I think he doesn’t get much attention because what he plays J has written for him. I have often wondered with some of the later stuff if J wrote the drum part or Murph.

I took it especially hard when I read in an interview years ago that J would rather play drums than guitar. J being a guitar hero to me and a major influence on my playing, I must admit that when he said it, it stung.

Crazy someone could have so much talent that he can play guitar as good as Ace Frehley or Jimi Hendrix (my to other guitar heros) and play drums as good as Dave Grohl or Dan Peters. Insane.

But back to Murph, he seems to be getting more interviews lately. He’ll get attention he’s due.

[King Tubby]

"tonas " wrote:

Murph definately has skill, but I think he doesn’t get much attention because what he plays J has written for him. I have often wondered with some of the later stuff if J wrote the drum part or Murph.

I still think you have to be wary of taking the whole "Murph is but the robot of J’s drumming dictatorship" too literally. Their styles — their approach to rhythm, the frequency of snare and kickdrum hits, the fills — are totally different. TOTALLY different. As different in style as, say, Bonham and Ginger Baker. Anyone who can’t hear that has got to be crazy. Or maybe it’s something that only drummers can pick up.

[tonas]

I can definately hear the difference. Murph has said that J taught him to play drums that way. Maybe Murph writes his own drum parts now, I don’t know. I do know that he’s a phenominal drummer.

[AGAP]

Murph got a lot of love from the crowd in Minneapolis last summer, low rumbling chorus of MURPHHHHH while he was setting up the drums. He seemed to enjoy that…

I’m in for that [glow=purple,2,300]punch[/glow] & would love to see a pic of that cat Murph

[kenya]

I agree….give credit where credit is due.Murph ROCKS!!!

[puke_and_cry]

"BetteDavisLies " wrote:

I’ll make t-shirts and Another Girl can bring the punch.

Put me down for a t-shirt!

[lookitssam]

"Another Girl Another Planet " wrote:

Murph got a lot of love from the crowd in Minneapolis last summer, low rumbling chorus of MURPHHHHH while he was setting up the drums. He seemed to enjoy that…

Same thing in D.C. It was cool

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