Doug Sandom
Encyclopedia
Doug Sandom is a British
drummer who was the original drummer for the English rock band The Who
. During the infancy of the band's career, while they were playing as The Detours (around mid 1962), Sandom, a bricklayer
, joined as drummer. However, while the other members of the group were in their late teens, Sandom was already in his late twenties, and the difference in age eventually made him something of an outcast in the group. His wife also objected to him staying out at all hours of the night.
When the band secured, but failed, an audition with Fontana Records
in early 1964, the label's producer, Chris Parmeinter, didn't like Sandom's drumming. The band's guitarist, Pete Townshend
, voiced a similar opinion and suggested to the other members of the band, John Entwistle
and Roger Daltrey
, that Sandom leave the group. Sandom gave a month's notice, and left in April.
Within a month of Sandom's departure, Keith Moon
was hired after he had approached the band at one of their gigs and told them he could play better than the session drummer
they had hired to fill the vacancy left by Sandom. After Moon became the band's drummer, (having smashed the session player's drum kit to pieces during his "interview" in the interval that night), the band experimented on changing its name, finally settling on The Who, and recording. No recording exists with Sandom playing with the band; even the earliest demo tapes were made with Moon.
On his departure from the group, Sandom said, "I wasn't as ambitious as the rest of them. I'd have done it longer than what they had. Of course, I loved it. It was very nice to be part of a band that people followed, it was great. But I didn't get on well with Peter Townshend. I was a few years older than he was, and he thought I should pack in more or less because of that. I thought I was doing all right with the band, we never got slung out of nowhere, we always passed our auditions."
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drummer who was the original drummer for the English rock band The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
. During the infancy of the band's career, while they were playing as The Detours (around mid 1962), Sandom, a bricklayer
Bricklayer
A bricklayer or mason is a craftsman who lays bricks to construct brickwork. The term also refers to personnel who use blocks to construct blockwork walls and other forms of masonry. In British and Australian English, a bricklayer is colloquially known as a "brickie".The training of a trade in...
, joined as drummer. However, while the other members of the group were in their late teens, Sandom was already in his late twenties, and the difference in age eventually made him something of an outcast in the group. His wife also objected to him staying out at all hours of the night.
When the band secured, but failed, an audition with Fontana Records
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
in early 1964, the label's producer, Chris Parmeinter, didn't like Sandom's drumming. The band's guitarist, Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
, voiced a similar opinion and suggested to the other members of the band, John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
and Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
, that Sandom leave the group. Sandom gave a month's notice, and left in April.
Within a month of Sandom's departure, Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
was hired after he had approached the band at one of their gigs and told them he could play better than the session drummer
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
they had hired to fill the vacancy left by Sandom. After Moon became the band's drummer, (having smashed the session player's drum kit to pieces during his "interview" in the interval that night), the band experimented on changing its name, finally settling on The Who, and recording. No recording exists with Sandom playing with the band; even the earliest demo tapes were made with Moon.
On his departure from the group, Sandom said, "I wasn't as ambitious as the rest of them. I'd have done it longer than what they had. Of course, I loved it. It was very nice to be part of a band that people followed, it was great. But I didn't get on well with Peter Townshend. I was a few years older than he was, and he thought I should pack in more or less because of that. I thought I was doing all right with the band, we never got slung out of nowhere, we always passed our auditions."
External links
- The Who.com official site
- TownshendBio.com