Aynsley Dunbar
Encyclopedia
Aynsley Thomas Dunbar is an English
drummer
. He has worked with some of the top names in rock
, including Eric Burdon
, John Mayall
, Frank Zappa
, Ian Hunter
, Lou Reed
, Jefferson Starship
, Jeff Beck
, David Bowie
, Whitesnake
, Sammy Hagar
, UFO
, and Journey
. Dunbar is ranked by Rolling Stone
as the twenty-seventh greatest drummer of all time.
, England. He auditioned for The Jimi Hendrix Experience
and Hendrix had difficulty deciding between Dunbar and Mitch Mitchell
- the latter won Hendrix's coin flip.
In December 1964, Stu James and Nick Crouch formed Stu James & the Mojos, with Aynsley Dunbar, Lewis Collins (later actor in the Professionals), this line-up continued till 1966
Dunbar led the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation which issued a number of albums. Dunbar co-wrote "Warning," recorded by Black Sabbath
on their first album
. The Dunbar version was recorded in 1967 for his solo release The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation.
Subsequently, Dunbar founded a short-lived progressive rock band called Blue Whale, which debuted with a tour of Scandinavia in January 1970. Following the recent collapse of the original lineup of King Crimson
, Dunbar unsuccessfully tried to recruit Robert Fripp
as Blue Whale's guitarist. Fripp, in turn, unsuccessfully tried to recruit Dunbar as King Crimson's new drummer.
Dunbar was later the drummer for Frank Zappa's
Mothers of Invention, featuring on album
s such as Waka/Jawaka
, and The Grand Wazoo
, as well as the film 200 Motels
. In 1974 he played on the soundtrack for "Dirty Duck", a Chuck Swenson adult animated movie. In the mid 1970s, Dunbar played drums for former Grin
leader, Nils Lofgren
, before joining Journey for their first four albums; he left and joined Jefferson Starship
for three albums. In 1985, Dunbar joined Whitesnake
, and drummed on their 1987 album, Whitesnake
. He also spent some time working with Eric Burdon
and The Animals
.
More recently, in 2005, he drummed on Jake E. Lee
's solo
Retraced
album.
He has been the drummer for the World Classic Rockers
since 2003.
Currently, Dunbar is recording a new album of material for Direct Music with Mickey Thomas of Starship, and musicians such as Jake E. Lee
, former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
. He has worked with some of the top names in rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, including Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
, John Mayall
John Mayall
John Mayall, OBE is an English blues singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical career spans over fifty years...
, Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, Ian Hunter
Ian Hunter (singer)
Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
, Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, UFO
UFO (band)
UFO are an English heavy metal and hard rock band, who were formed in 1969. UFO became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal...
, and Journey
Journey (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
. Dunbar is ranked by Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
as the twenty-seventh greatest drummer of all time.
Career
Dunbar was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England. He auditioned for The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
and Hendrix had difficulty deciding between Dunbar and Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell
John Ronald "Mitch" Mitchell was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience:...
- the latter won Hendrix's coin flip.
In December 1964, Stu James and Nick Crouch formed Stu James & the Mojos, with Aynsley Dunbar, Lewis Collins (later actor in the Professionals), this line-up continued till 1966
Dunbar led the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation which issued a number of albums. Dunbar co-wrote "Warning," recorded by Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
on their first album
Black Sabbath (album)
Black Sabbath is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Released on 13 February 1970 in the United Kingdom, and later on 1 June 1970 in the United States, the album reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart and has been recognised as the first main album to be credited...
. The Dunbar version was recorded in 1967 for his solo release The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation.
Subsequently, Dunbar founded a short-lived progressive rock band called Blue Whale, which debuted with a tour of Scandinavia in January 1970. Following the recent collapse of the original lineup of King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, Dunbar unsuccessfully tried to recruit Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
as Blue Whale's guitarist. Fripp, in turn, unsuccessfully tried to recruit Dunbar as King Crimson's new drummer.
Dunbar was later the drummer for Frank Zappa's
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
Mothers of Invention, featuring on album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s such as Waka/Jawaka
Waka/Jawaka
Waka/Jawaka is an album by Frank Zappa, released in 1972. The album is the jazz-influenced precursor to The Grand Wazoo, and, as the front cover indicates, sequel of sorts to 1969's Hot Rats. Miles Davis's Bitches Brew-era influence is readily apparent on this and its sister album, The Grand Wazoo...
, and The Grand Wazoo
The Grand Wazoo
The Grand Wazoo is a 1972 jazz fusion album by Frank Zappa. Composed and recorded during Zappa's period of convalescence following his assault in London, the album, along with its "twin brother" Waka/Jawaka, represent Zappa's foray into big band fusion, the logical progression from Hot Rats, which...
, as well as the film 200 Motels
200 Motels
200 Motels is a 1971 American-British musical surrealist film cowritten and directed by Frank Zappa and Tony Palmer and starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel and Ringo Starr. The film covers a loose storyline about The Mothers of Invention going crazy in the small town Centerville...
. In 1974 he played on the soundtrack for "Dirty Duck", a Chuck Swenson adult animated movie. In the mid 1970s, Dunbar played drums for former Grin
Grin
Grin may refer to:* A facial expression; see Smile* Alexander Grin , Russian novelist* Grin , 1993* Grin , a band formed by Nils Lofgren** Grin , 1971...
leader, Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren
Nils Hilmer Lofgren is an American rock music recording artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
, before joining Journey for their first four albums; he left and joined Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
for three albums. In 1985, Dunbar joined Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
, and drummed on their 1987 album, Whitesnake
Whitesnake (album)
Tracks 12-15 taken from Live: In the Shadow of the Blues-20th Anniversary Edition DVD:-Singles:*"Here I Go Again" *"Is This Love"*"Still of the Night"*"Crying in the Rain" *"Give Me All Your Love"-Personnel:...
. He also spent some time working with Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
and The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
.
More recently, in 2005, he drummed on Jake E. Lee
Jake E. Lee
Jakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...
's solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
Retraced
Retraced
Retraced is the second studio album released by American rock guitarist Jake E. Lee. The album features no original material, instead consisting of covers of various bands from Lee's youth....
album.
He has been the drummer for the World Classic Rockers
World Classic Rockers
World Classic Rockers is a rock supergroup that was founded by Nick St. Nicholas of Steppenwolf in 1995. St. Nicholas has toured with the band for a dozen years, which, in similar fashion to Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band, rotates its lineup depending on the contributing musicians' projects at a...
since 2003.
Currently, Dunbar is recording a new album of material for Direct Music with Mickey Thomas of Starship, and musicians such as Jake E. Lee
Jake E. Lee
Jakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...
, former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
.
With Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation
- The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation (1968)
- Doctor Dunbar's Prescription (1969)
- To Mum, From Aynsley & The Boys (1969)
- Remains To Be Heard (1970)
With John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
- A Hard RoadA Hard RoadA Hard Road is a 1967 electric blues album recorded by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers featuring Peter Green on lead guitar, John McVie on bass, Aynsley Dunbar on drums and John Almond. Tracks 5, 7 and 13 feature the horn section of Alan Skidmore and Ray Warleigh...
(1967) - Looking Back (1969)
- So Many Roads (1969)
- Thru the Years (1971)
With Frank Zappa
- Chunga's RevengeChunga's RevengeChunga's Revenge is an album by Frank Zappa, released on October 23, 1970. Zappa's first effort of the 1970s marks the first appearance of former Turtles members Flo & Eddie on a Zappa record, and signals the dawn of a controversial epoch in Zappa's history...
(1970) - Fillmore East - June 1971Fillmore East - June 1971Fillmore East – June 1971 is a live album by The Mothers, released in 1971. It was the twelfth album by Frank Zappa. It was produced by Frank Zappa, and mixed by Toby Foster.-History:This was a live concept-like album...
(1971) - 200 Motels200 Motels (soundtrack)The soundtrack to Frank Zappa's film 200 Motels was released by United Artists Records in 1971 and features a combination of rock and jazz songs, orchestral music and comedic spoken dialogue...
(1971) - Just Another Band from L.A.Just Another Band from L.A.Just Another Band from L.A. is a live album by The Mothers, released in 1972 . It was recorded live on August 7, 1971 in Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles. A notable inclusion on this album is Billy the Mountain, Zappa's long, narrative parody of rock operas, which were gaining...
(1972) - Waka/JawakaWaka/JawakaWaka/Jawaka is an album by Frank Zappa, released in 1972. The album is the jazz-influenced precursor to The Grand Wazoo, and, as the front cover indicates, sequel of sorts to 1969's Hot Rats. Miles Davis's Bitches Brew-era influence is readily apparent on this and its sister album, The Grand Wazoo...
(1972) - The Grand WazooThe Grand WazooThe Grand Wazoo is a 1972 jazz fusion album by Frank Zappa. Composed and recorded during Zappa's period of convalescence following his assault in London, the album, along with its "twin brother" Waka/Jawaka, represent Zappa's foray into big band fusion, the logical progression from Hot Rats, which...
(1972) - Apostrophe (')Apostrophe (')Apostrophe is an album by Frank Zappa, his eighteenth, released on March 22, 1974 in both stereo and quadraphonic formats. An edited version of its lead-off track, "Don't Eat the Yellow Snow", was Zappa's first chart single, reaching position 86. Apostrophe remains Zappa's biggest commercial...
(1974) - Playground PsychoticsPlayground PsychoticsPlayground Psychotics is a two-CD live album by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention. It was originally released in 1992 through his mail order label, Barking Pumpkin, and was re-released in 1995 through Rykodisc. The album features recordings of Zappa and his band, the Mothers of Invention...
(1992) - Joe's DomageJoe's DomageJoe's Domage is an album featuring music by Frank Zappa, posthumously released on October 1, 2004. It is the second in a series of releases put together by archivist Joe Travers which started with Joe's Corsage . This is an unconventional release which features neither a live recording nor studio...
(2004)
With Mick Ronson
- Slaughter on 10th Avenue (1974)
- Play Don't WorryPlay Don't WorryPlay Don't Worry is the second album by former member of The Spiders From Mars, Mick Ronson. It contains mainly covers arranged by Ronson for his own sound, covering everyone from Pure Prairie League, The Velvet Underground and Little Richard...
(1975)
With Nils Lofgren
- Nils LofgrenNils Lofgren (album)Nils Lofgren is a 1975 album by Nils Lofgren, also known as the "Fat Man Album". It was his first solo album, following the breakup of his group, Grin....
(1975) - Cry Tough (1976)
With Paul Kantner
- Planet Earth Rock and Roll OrchestraPlanet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra (album)-Personnel:*Paul Kantner – vocals, guitars, banjo, glass harmonica, synthesizers on "Circle of Fire", lead guitar on "Underground"*Grace Slick – vocals, piano on "The Mountain Song" and "The Sky Is No Limit"*Jack Casady – bass...
(1983)
With Journey
- Journey (1975)
- Look into the FutureLook into the FutureJourney's second album, Look into the Future, was released in January 1976 on Columbia Records.For their second album, the members of Journey toned down the overt progressiveness of their first, self-titled release, in favor of a more focused, commercial approach...
(1976) - NextNext (Journey album)-Band:*Neal Schon - guitar , lead vocals, producer*Gregg Rolie - keyboards, lead vocals, producer*Aynsley Dunbar - drums and percussion, producer*Ross Valory - bass, background vocals, producer-Other:*Smiggy - engineer, mixing...
(1977) - Infinity (1978)
With Jefferson Starship
- Freedom at Point ZeroFreedom at Point Zero-Personnel:*Paul Kantner – vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards on "Things to Come"*Pete Sears – bass on "Things to Come", "Awakening", "Girl with the Hungry Eyes", "Rock Music", and "Freedom at Point Zero", keyboards on "Jane", "Lightning Rose", "Awakening", and "Just the Same", organ on "Fading Lady...
(1979) - Modern TimesModern Times (Jefferson Starship album)- Personnel :* Craig Chaquico – lead guitar, rhythm guitar, synthesizer on "Find Your Way Back", "Mary", and "Free", steel drums on "Mary"* Aynsley Dunbar – drums, percussion, marimba on "Mary", synthesizer on "Free"...
(1981) - Winds of ChangeWinds of Change (Jefferson Starship album)Winds of Change is a 1982 album by Jefferson Starship. It was the first studio album produced after Grace Slick rejoined the band as a full member. Aynsley Dunbar plays drums on the album, but was replaced by Donny Baldwin for the supporting tour...
(1982)
With UFO
- CovenantCovenant (UFO album)Covenant is the fifteenth album by the British hard rock band UFO. It was published as a limited edition 2-disc album, with disc 1, entitled Covenant, containing entirely new material, and disc 2, entitled UFO Live USA, containing a collection of classics performed live...
(2000) - Sharks (2002)