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Clem Cattini

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Clem Cattini
Birth nameClemente Anselmo Agustino Cattini
Born(1937-08-20)20 August 1937(age 87)
Stoke Newington,North London,England
Genres
Occupations
Instruments
  • Drums
  • percussion
Years active1958–present
Formerly of

Clemente Anselmo Agustino Cattini(born 20 August 1937)[1]is an Englishrock and rolldrummer of the late 1950s and 60s, who was a member ofThe Tornadosbefore becoming well known for his work as asession musician.He is one of the most prolific drummers in UK recording history, appearing on hundreds of recordings by artists as diverse asCliff RichardandLou Reed,and has featured on 42 UK number one singles.

Biography

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Born to Italian parents living inStoke Newington,North London, Cattini worked in his father's restaurant before deciding to pursue a career in music. He began as a drummer atThe 2i's Coffee Bar,backing performers such asTerry Dene,before joining the touring band known as the Beat Boys, backing singers managed byLarry Parnes,[2]includingMarty WildeandBilly Fury.He then joinedJohnny Kidd & the Pirates,[2]playing on their hit "Shakin' All Over",and becameJoe Meek's in-house drummer, backing artists such asJohn LeytonandDon Charles,before helping foundThe Tornadosin 1961, and playing on their international No. 1 hit "Telstar".[3]Cattini was also inThe Luvvers,who backedLuluin the early days.[4]

In 1965 he became a session musician.[5][4]

Cattini has played on at least 42 UK number 1 singles,[6]including:

He also played in the orchestra forBBC TV'sTop of the Pops,and toured withCliff Richard,Roy Orbison,Lynda Carter,The Kids from "Fame"and many others. He was also considered forLed Zeppelin– he was initially onJimmy Page's shortlist of drummers when forming the band before they settled onJohn Bonham.He had earlier played alongsideJohn Paul JonesonDonovan'shitsingle "Hurdy Gurdy Man".[4]

Cattini talking about his offer to join Led Zeppelin: “I was very busy doing sessions. I had been on the road for nine years, and suddenly I was at home, getting into my own bed at night.Peter Grant(Led Zeppelin’s manager-in-waiting) saw me at a session, phoned me and asked me to go to lunch to him to talk about a project. We never had that lunch. Not for any reason. I was just too busy. He called again, but again we didn’t have that lunch. A year later, when Led Zeppelin’s first album was in the charts I saw Peter again and asked him if that was the project he wanted to talk about. It was, but there’s no point regretting anything. I can’t look back and change things. It wasn’t a conscious decision, just circumstances. But there again, was I the sort of person that could go all around the world in that scene? I don’t know.”[7]

Cattini played drums both on the records and on live performances forThe Womblesband, that was based off of thebookandtelevision show.On stage, Cattini dressed as the character Bungo.

In the 1980s, he reactivated the Tornados' name for tours[3][4]and in 1989 played in the West End run ofThe Rocky Horror Show.[2]More recently, he recorded the drums for the track "No Tears to Cry" fromPaul Weller's 2010 albumWake Up the Nation.

Cattini was portrayed byJames Cordenin the 2009 filmTelstarand appeared himself, playingJohn Leyton's chauffeur.[8]

In 2016, he recorded a new version of the 1960s hit "Telstar" with the north London ska band the Skammers.[9]

Cattini's memoirs,My Life, Through the Eye of a Tornado,was published in July 2019.[10]He lives inNorth London.[11]

Session work

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Cattini played drums on records for most of the top acts in the 1960s and 1970s, these include:

1960s

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1970s

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References

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  1. ^Larkin, Colin (1 January 2009). "Cattini Clem".The Encyclopedia of Popular Music.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-531373-4.Retrieved29 May2024.
  2. ^abcdeLarkin C.,Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music,(Muze UK Ltd, 1997),ISBN0-7535-0149-X,p.101
  3. ^abBruce Eder (28 August 1939)."Clem Cattini | Biography & History".AllMusic.Retrieved27 July2016.
  4. ^abcd"Mike Dolbear DRUMS".Mikedolbear.co.uk.Retrieved21 December2014.
  5. ^"Clem Cattini – Mapex Drums".Mapex.co.uk.Retrieved21 December2014.
  6. ^"Clem Cattini – Drummer on 43 Number 1 Hit Singles".Coda-uk.co.uk.Retrieved21 December2014.
  7. ^abDolbear, Mike (22 April 2017)."Clem Cattini".Mike Dolbear.Retrieved2 July2024.
  8. ^Telstar: The Joe Meek Story (2008) - IMDb.Retrieved2 July2024– via m.imdb.
  9. ^"Celebrated drummer Clem Cattini joins the Skammers to record hit Telstar | Enfield Advertiser & Gazette".Enfield-today.co.uk.28 February 2016.Retrieved27 July2016.
  10. ^"Clem Cattini: My Life, Through the Eye of a Tornado".Clemcattinibook.Retrieved23 March2019.
  11. ^Wilson, John (28 March 2010)."Clem Cattini, Britain's record chart topper, keeps that backbeat going strong at 72".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.Retrieved2 July2024.
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