Daddy Funk is Simon Greenhill a Drummer and Latin Percussionist since 1976 working professionally in the UK and worldwide for over 15 years. He has a successful Drum Tuition practice in the UK, inspiring his students on Drum Kit and Congas.
Simon the DF is endorsed as an educator by Yamaha Drums and Zildjian Cymbals an association that was established in October 2005. He has a continually ongoing recording project "Signs of LIFE" which displays his extensive song writing and performing talents. Volumes 1 and 2 are available now while "3" is due for release Winter 2006.
While exquisite modern Jazz Duo and Trio work can be heard and bought on www.friendshipandrespect.com There is also his T-shirt and sweatshirt clothing range, featuring the iconic DF Logo as seen on this site.
Daddy Funk was well known in the UK as a member of the Funk Rock Band "Funkabubble" in the mid-90s gaining success with the single "Control"; the video for which had consistent airplay on MTV Europe. Co-founder of the Funk Band The Bird Tribe who became hugely successful touring extensively in the UK. Resident Percussionist for the high profile House Club "Maison" for 4 1/2 years.
Simon lives with his partner; Photographer "Panther Kitten" and his step children on the sunny South Coast of Britain.
DF in the Studio.
Daddy Funk hanging out with Billy Ward in
London, May 2006.
Both Players are Endorsed
by Trueline
Drumsticks.
So here’s the NeXt oNe iN My Series of GREATEST Musical Influences Blogs & It’s the FaNtasticly Stylish 80s Pop Band “Japan”, Fronted by the Enormously Talented & COOL David Sylvian! >>>
STYLE, FASHION, STYLE & COOL!!!! >>>>
That is what this Band were ALL about. >>>
It’s 1981 & the Young Daddy FuNk is 16 & into High Fashion, CoOL Music, Art & Theatricality. At the TiMe I was taking Art, Drama & English “A Levels” before Finally Going to Art College in 1983.>>>
Britain in the Early 80s was a Hotbed of Creative Culture, with the Rise of Style in Youth Culture throuGh Magazines (iD, Sky, Smash Hits), Music & The Pop Video, HuGe ReCord Company Budgets & Youth TV (The Tube, Top of the Pops, MTV, Max Headroom). The Pop Video was King & Radio & Music TV was HUGE Business.>>>
“Japan” were at the Forefront, but iN a Way also Under the Radar, or dare I Say it, SliGhtly ABOVE it All! >>>
“Japan” were Brothers David Sylvian (Vocals&Guitar)& Steve Jansen (Drums & Vocals), with Mick Karn (Bass&Vocals) & Richard Barbieri (Keybords)>>>>
They are Probably Best Remembered for Their Single “Ghosts” whiCh Reached Number 5 iN April 1982, oN the UK Pop Charts. This was their BIGGEST Single from Their Most Successful (& Final) Studio Album “Tin Drum” >>>
HoweVer it’s Japan’s Penultimate Album “Gentlemen take Polaroids” (1980) which was My Personal Favourite……& it is the Title TraCk which I would like to Show You Now!>>>>
This LiVe Performance was taken from Their Live LP & Video “Oil on Canvas”, which I Watched ENDLESSLY!!! >>>
The DruMMing of Steve Jansen was HiGhly Influencial oN My Style of Playing & He Remains to this Day one of My ALL TIME FAVOURITE Pop Drummers!>>>
David Sylvian & Steve Jansen are Still Recording GREAT Solo Work & Tour the World from TiMe to TiMe for their HuGe & Die~Hard FaN Base.>>>
This Band were Influencial oN ALOT of Fine Musicians & Songwriters Over the Years.>>>
The Album I want to FoCus oN was their HUGE HIT LP “Jazz” which I BouGht when it was First Releasd oN Vinyl in 1978! >>> I was 13 Years of Age & this Album Woke Me Up to POWER, PASSION & SEX!!! >>>
One of the GREATEST BRITISH ROCK BANDS OF ALL TIME, “QUEEN” were at the Top of their Game when they Wrote this Album.>>
They were already Hugely Successful by this Point with 6 (Yes 6!) Studio Albums Released & Very Popular. >>>
Queen’s 4th LP “A Night at the Opera” 1975 Contained the MONSTER HIT “Bohemian Rhapsody” which was Number 1 in the British Pop Charts for an Incredible 9 WEEKS!!!!!!! >>>
HOWEVER for Me their 7th LP “Jazz” is THE ONE! >>>
The Original Record Cover showed (on the Inside Double Gate Fold) a HUGE picture of them all in a MASSIVE Recording Studio Live Room, with LOADS of SeXy Gear! >>>
Drummer Roger Taylor soON BeCame a BIG Hero of MiNe beCause He had a BiG Drum Kit, Played Hard & OBVIOUSLY Shagged LOADS of WoMeN!!!! >>>
The Original CoVer Also Included a Pull Out Poster of 100 Naked Glamour Models on Bicycles, Racing each Other around a Speedway TraCk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>>
Holy SHIT!!! >>> I was iN HEAVEN!!!!! >>> I later found Out the Photo shoot was doNe at Wimbledon Speedway Track, Just Down the Road from Where I LIVED!!!!!!!!!! >>>
If only I had Known!!!!!! >>>>>
So My FAVORITE ROCK TRACK OF ALL TIME IS………………….”Fat Bottomed Girls” ! ! !
COME ON!!!!!!! >>> That MeGa Drum Fill Around the Toms Stayed iN My Consciousness for MANY, MANY Years. >>> Great Timing, Great Power, Great Moment! >>>
& Roger Taylor was a SINGING Drummer & a VERY GOOD one toO! >>>
OH & MUD WRESTLING !!! >>>> HELL YEAH!!!!!! >>>>
Do Yourselves a Favour……If You Don’t Own a Copy of this Classic CD…………..BUY ONE!
So the NeXt Band in My Series of “GREATEST Musical Influences” Blogs, to Follow oN from “Weather Report” is More to Do with SONGWRITING thaN Drumming……………………
& it is “The Electric Light Orchestra” with the INCREDIBLE SONGWRITING of Jeff Lynne! >>>
As a Songwriter Myself Since 1986, I have always beeN BLOWN AWAY by GREAT Pop & Rock Songwriting! >>>
“The Electric Light Orchestra” Fronted by Jeff Lynne was oNe of the GREATEST British Pop Bands of the 1970s. >>>
I first got into theM as a KeeN Muso Youth in 1976 at the age of 11.
I used to copy their Great LOGO on School Books & just about Any piece of paper I could get My hands oN!!! >>> I think that & Superheroes was the Start of My OBSESSION with a good LOGO! >>>
ELO’s Music CHANGED MY WORLD!!! >>>
It was FANTASTIC, Uplifting, BIG Production Pop Music. >>> REAL Songs for a Happy tiMe in the History of the UK & for a Youthful Daddy FuNk! >>>
The Album “Out of the Blue” was Released in October 1977 >>> for Me oNe of THE GREAT Years for Music & Songwriting in Rock & Pop History & an AMAZINGLY Formative tiMe in My Development in My Life. >>>
“Out of the Blue” was a Double Album (17 Songs) which Jeff wrote in a chalet, in the mountains just beyond Lake Geneva (in Switzerland) IN JUST ONE MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >>>>
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!! >>> Recording started May 22nd 1977 & was Released, as I said, by October 1977……………….. Truly AMAZING!!!!! >>>
My ALL TIME FAVORITE Track from this Legendary Album is “Mr.Blue Sky”, the First track Jeff Wrote for the Record & aN ALL TIME CLASSIC!!!!!! >>>
This has Influenced Me as a Songwriter, Producer & Arranger…….& this is Why!>>>>>>>>
SUNSHINE in a Song!!! >>>
Jeff Lynne: “The weather had been really bad and then one day I got up and it was fantastic, the sun was brilliant and shining, all the mountains had lit up and this mist had gone away. It was gorgeous and I came up with ‘Mr.Blue Sky’ ”
PeAcE & CoOL, FuNky Vibes to You ALL Out the iN Web~Land!
