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About Tony Chapman, who drummed for The Rolling Stones in their first show
*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
Early Stones drummer, 1962, in a line-up that included Mick, Keith, Brian, Dick Taylor and Ian Stewart. Tony drummed for the band’s debut show at the Marquee on July 12 1962. Later in the year, on October 17, he also recorded a demo with the Stones at Curly Clayton Sound Studios (featuring the songs Soon Forgotten, Close Together and You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover), while still holding his job as a traveling salesman. This prevented him from coming to a lot of rehearsals, and the drum stool was taken over at those times by Mick Avory or Steve Harris.
The PreachersThe Herd
Did The Kinks’ Mick Avory Play the Stones’ First Gig? Not Quite
In fact Mick Avory, later famous as the Kinks’ drummer, was rumored during years to have played at the Stones’ first-ever gig in 1962. However, Avory has consistently denied this claim, stating that while he did jam with various musicians at the time, he was never officially part of the Stones. The band’s early lineup was fluid, with several drummers coming and going before Charlie Watts joined in 1963. Despite the persistent myth, Avory maintains he had no involvement in that historic Marquee Club show. Once again, it was likely Tony Chapman who sat behind the kit that night. (Ref. Tony Chapman Rolling Stones)
The Drummer Shuffle: Chapman Out, Charlie Watts In
As the Stones grew more serious, they realized Tony Chapman had to go, but they felt that neither Avory nor Harris were suitable (luckily Ray Davies of the Kinks thought that Avory was suitable). Enter Charlie Watts. Ironically, before drumming with the Stones, Chapman was in The Cliftons with Bill. After leaving the Stones, he joined the Preachers, who were managed by Bill. And then after The Preachers, Chapman went on to play drums in The Herd, which featured also a 16-year-old Peter Frampton.
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