Anton Fig on His Drumming Legacy & Becoming the Thunder from Down Under

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Hailing from South Africa, Anton Fig’s career as a drummer has spanned decades; he’s worked alongside artists like Ace Frehley, Link Wray, Cyndi Lauper, Warren Zevon, Madonna, Mick Jagger, and countless more. His technical proficiency, distinctive style, and deep musical knowledge ultimately earned him the nickname “The Thunder from Down Under.” But if you’re David Letterman, you might have called him “Anton Zip” or “Buddy Rich Jr.” when Fig, Paul Schaffer, and the World’s Most Dangerous Band were serving as Letterman’s house band. All in all, Fig’s a bona fide drum dynamo, and Sweetwater’s sound scholar, Mitch Gallagher, sat down with Fig at the Cutting Room Club in New York City for an in-depth interview with the legend. Check it out!
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Пікірлер: 51

  • @sweetwater
    @sweetwater6 ай бұрын

    Which drummer or musician has had the biggest impact on your artistic growth? Tell us in the comments below whose work we need to hear, and be sure to drop by Sweetwater for all your drumming needs 👉 sweetwater.sjv.io/Drums-Percussion

  • @chadcarrdrums

    @chadcarrdrums

    6 ай бұрын

    Josh Freese

  • @Producelikeapro

    @Producelikeapro

    6 ай бұрын

    I love Elvin Jones, Bill Bruford, Ringo, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Phil Collins and many, many more!

  • @mlhbrx96

    @mlhbrx96

    6 ай бұрын

    Phil Collins, Neil Peart, Steve Smith, Dave Weckl, Simon Phillips, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Jordan, Steve Gadd, and Mark Brzezicki

  • @shawnstoner3602

    @shawnstoner3602

    6 ай бұрын

    So many…from Omar Hakim to Stewart Copeland to Steve Jordan to Bun E. Carlos

  • @AlbertMoyerJr

    @AlbertMoyerJr

    6 ай бұрын

    Peter Criss. He's the reason I picked up the drumsticks. His early KISS material is really cool, and I feel sometimes he's underrated. His style for rock is so unique.

  • @rob_wade
    @rob_wade6 ай бұрын

    I had dinner with Anton once. He came to Wichita for a drum clinic back around 1990, and I worked at the music store that sponsored him. One of the greatest lessons I learned from him happened when I picked him up at the airport and discovered he had the flu. The man was in bad shape, yet he was a true professional and not only played his heart out that night for a sold out crowd, he also humored the store's staff and went to dinner with us, even though he would rather have been resting back at the hotel. Class act.

  • @derekgenre8057
    @derekgenre80576 ай бұрын

    He’s INCREDIBLE!!! I remember hearing him first on Ace Frehley’s solo album… and from that moment I was a fan. Anton ROCKS !!! Live from Prince Albert hall, with Bonamassa!!! Another incredible performance captured live !!!

  • @drumstudio1

    @drumstudio1

    6 ай бұрын

    His Drumming on that album is outstanding, even for todays standards.

  • @kjnodwell

    @kjnodwell

    2 ай бұрын

    Agree...Ace and Anton have great chemistry!

  • @MattTee1975
    @MattTee19756 ай бұрын

    Anton Zipp! One of the major reasons I got into drumming. Watched Letterman religiously when I was a kid.

  • @BarberSpider8
    @BarberSpider86 ай бұрын

    My introduction to Anton was Frehley’s Comet. Anton is a powerhouse of a drummer!

  • @Danimal77

    @Danimal77

    6 ай бұрын

    He actually played on Ace's first solo album from 1978 and Kiss's Dynasty and Unmasked, so if you were a Kiss fan in the late 70's, that was probably your first real introduction to him and you didn't even know it.

  • @IDHairCut8

    @IDHairCut8

    6 ай бұрын

    Oh I’m aware as well, but I had the Frehleys Comet before I had learned about Unmasked and Dynasty. I was introduced to KISS in 1995 during Unplugged, one of my dads bowling teammates gave me a copy of Frehleys Comet as I was getting into the band

  • @chucklowe7983
    @chucklowe79836 ай бұрын

    I watched Anton from the early 80's when he started with Letterman. I didn't know he was such a prolific studio cat until much later. Many years later as a journeyman drummer I had a sudden realization that many of my signature grooves and fills sounded a lot like Anton. I always liked him, but not until the early 2000's did I realize the impact and influence he actually had on my drumming and style. Thanks Anton! Respect!

  • @guillaumechabason3165
    @guillaumechabason31656 ай бұрын

    The best drummer Kiss ever had !

  • @michaeljohnson8058
    @michaeljohnson80586 ай бұрын

    luv the Fig ! thx Mitch for asking short questions and getting long answers.

  • @misfit2022
    @misfit20226 ай бұрын

    Anton Fig’s drumming on the Ace Frehley solo album is legendary and those Rip It Out drum breaks still sound incredible but far more to Anton’s playing than playing in rock bands Letterman, session work, Blues Brothers, Joe B, Booker T etc. Booker T have had some incredible drummers btw Al Jackson Jr, Jim Keltner, Anton, Steve Jordan and the list goes on.

  • @TJCombo67
    @TJCombo676 ай бұрын

    Anton has done it man, the guy has been in the forefront and it’s because he can lay it down. Much respect 🔥

  • @billfletcher7602
    @billfletcher76026 ай бұрын

    Love Anton Zip's drumming! :)

  • @lavatar3562
    @lavatar35626 ай бұрын

    Cool interview. “It’s all grooves” and “relax”, great advice!

  • @shawnstoner3602
    @shawnstoner36026 ай бұрын

    “Thunder from Down Under”? I’ve never heard of “down under” as a reference to anyplace but Australia. Anton is from South Africa.

  • @malcolmlarri9073
    @malcolmlarri90736 ай бұрын

    I used to have his instructional video ….he sounded quite bad when playing alone but as soon as the band came in it sounded like absolute magic ! That was a big lesson for me about how he heard the drums fitting in with the music.

  • @1dkd1dkd
    @1dkd1dkd6 ай бұрын

    I always thought his endings on playouts on the Letterman show were fresh and creative. I'd be interested in seeing a compilation album of those you know, for the drummers. Great interview!

  • @JeffTullock-fs4de
    @JeffTullock-fs4de6 ай бұрын

    The drum solo on “Live +1”. Anton is one of the top rock drummers ever. Buying the new Ace when he releases it. Heard Anton might be on it.

  • @dfromcool
    @dfromcool6 ай бұрын

    Giovanni Hidalgo, Pedrito Martinez, Richie Flores, Tom Teasley, Shannon Powell, Herlin Riley, Joe Farnsworth. Happy Holidays @Sweetwater! 🥳🎄🍻

  • @robertbelanger6733
    @robertbelanger67336 ай бұрын

    One of my favorite Drummers from wayback to The Letterman Show in the late 70’s early 80’s🤘🏻🙏🏻🥁

  • @pezb1
    @pezb15 ай бұрын

    I remember sitting at a hotel bar in Germany with Antonio and a couple of other band members. The thing is I love Beth Hart and Joe , but I didn't realise who I was drinking with, but we had a really good night.

  • @Producelikeapro
    @Producelikeapro6 ай бұрын

    Wow! So amazing! So many great albums! Huge fan of ‘Me Myself I’ by Joan Armatrading. Great video

  • @Producelikeapro
    @Producelikeapro6 ай бұрын

    I love Elvin Jones, Bill Bruford, Ringo, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Phil Collins and many, many more!

  • @Producelikeapro

    @Producelikeapro

    6 ай бұрын

    Plus Bonham of course!

  • @waynej2608

    @waynej2608

    6 ай бұрын

    And Keith Moon.

  • @Producelikeapro

    @Producelikeapro

    6 ай бұрын

    YES!! Keith Moon@@waynej2608

  • @davidsuprenant893
    @davidsuprenant8936 ай бұрын

    What a great drummer.

  • @glengamble526
    @glengamble5266 ай бұрын

    I’ve met Anton and he’s a nice guy. One of my fave drummers-chops, power and drive, but tasteful and musical. The ‘Thunder From Down Under’ title however, has always confused me, as he is South African. Isn’t Australia considered ‘Down Under”?

  • @MM1717mm
    @MM1717mm6 ай бұрын

    legend !! 🎶🥁🎶🥁

  • @noahtenshen
    @noahtenshen6 ай бұрын

    I loved Anton for decades with Paul S, but he makes Bonamassa's tunes so much better. Intensity of sound.

  • @namlu9979
    @namlu99794 ай бұрын

    His performances in Kiss albums Dynasty and Unmasked , ❤

  • @andrewsun4385
    @andrewsun43856 ай бұрын

    Awesome!!!❤❤💯💯

  • @KeithStLouis-yv3bd
    @KeithStLouis-yv3bd6 ай бұрын

    Anton, are you the guy that can finally get Jimmy Page out on the road? The Rumble 3 piece playing Zep as instrumentals. Make it so😊

  • @user-hc2cy8pe8r
    @user-hc2cy8pe8r6 ай бұрын

    Regarding the questions here concerning "The Thunder from Down Under," South Africa is "down" or "under" (i.e., beneath) the equator and so is Australia. It's not really an either/or matter to be determined--they both qualify. Whatever, Anton grooves and can be "The Thunder" from wherever he wants to be as far as I'm concerned. And so it's Africa, yes? Perfect!

  • @calmandharmony

    @calmandharmony

    6 ай бұрын

    Looks like you've been outvoted. Australia has always been referred to as "Down Under ".

  • @user-hc2cy8pe8r

    @user-hc2cy8pe8r

    6 ай бұрын

    You're right and that's fine, but it doesn't mean there can't be more than one "Down Under." P.S. Some people think you can lose the vote and still win the race--I'm not one of them. I, too, believe in calm and harmony. And peace! You rock and you obviously have good taste in drummers. That's the important part, yes? Take care, guy/gal/y'all!

  • @JSSTUDIO-wr2jq
    @JSSTUDIO-wr2jq6 ай бұрын

    ❤👍

  • @ysobel14517
    @ysobel145176 ай бұрын

    It's Anton Scissorfeet!

  • @ThomasMetal75
    @ThomasMetal756 ай бұрын

    Car-knee-gee?

  • @stevenjones9364

    @stevenjones9364

    6 ай бұрын

    Yes I caught that too. I've heard that pronunciation only once before and I believe it was from actor Bradley Cooper promoting his film "Maestro".

  • @user-hc2cy8pe8r

    @user-hc2cy8pe8r

    6 ай бұрын

    That's most likely the English--not American--pronunciation, which explains Anton's inflection since he is from South Africa. But Bradley Cooper is from Abington (near Philadelphia), so I have no clue unless his role in "Maestro" as Leonard Bernstein required that he sound like Leonard, who was Jewish and from Massachusetts. I don't remember what Leonard sounded like and I haven't seen the movie. Your guess is probably as good as mine.

  • @user-rk2xj8gr3h
    @user-rk2xj8gr3h6 ай бұрын

    Art belongs to those who CAN, and not to those who tell people “HOW”. OR SIMPLY TO SPEAK: “Art belongs to the people” (V.I. Lenin). And not to concerns like YAMAHA...

  • @petermgruhn
    @petermgruhn6 ай бұрын

    It's a free country. Until the union guy comes up. And the union guy can tell you what to do or not do. EVEN THOUGH you are not a member of his club. "Are you in the union?" "No, thank you." "Then you can't play here." "You misunderstand, I am NOT a member of your club. I am a free human being and I can do what I want." "LOL."

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