Drumming is a basic human instinct crossing all musical traditions and cultures and, importantly, social classes. Flash Bang Wallop imagines and recreates the early memories and self-perceptions of drummers in a series of portraits featuring some of the most iconic players of the past 50 years.
Anyone can learn to drum without owning a drum-kit. Chris Payne’s portraits of selected drummers from a range of musical backgrounds explores their childhood memories of first-beats; intended to inspire young people to pick up sticks and learn about the rhythms that connect us as humans. It’s the musical equivalent of “jumpers for goalposts”.
Participating drummers include Dame Evelyn Glennie, Mike Joyce (The Smiths), Stephen Morris (New Order/Joy Division), Rick Buckler (The Jam), Gaz Whelan (Happy Mondays), Andy Paresi (Morrissey), Anna Prior (Metronomy), Rick Jupp (Elbow), Mike Spearman (Everything Everything), Johnny Kalsi (Afro Celt Sound System), and Rob Cieka (The Boo Radleys), plus many more.
The exhibition opens Wednesday 20th Sept from 6pm (free; all welcome), and runs through to Sunday 17 November.
