Mel Taylor
Encyclopedia
Mel Taylor was the longtime drummer for The Ventures
from 1962-1996. He was the older brother of Canned Heat
bassist Larry Taylor
.
, Taylor joined The Ventures in 1962 to fill in for Howie Johnson, who had been severely injured in a motorcycle accident. Taylor's distinct, harder-edged rock style so impressed the members of the band, that they asked him to become a permanent member of the group. I asked Boris Pickett about this before his death, and he denied that it was Mel on Monster Mash.
as opposed to the matched grip. He originally started out with The Ventures on a 4-piece drum kit with just hi-hats and a crash/ride cymbal. Towards the end of the 1960s, he expanded his kit to include multiple toms and double bass drums; he eventually added numerous crash cymbals to his set as well. His kit remained in this configuration until his death from cancer in 1996.
, Buddy Rich
, and Louie Bellson
were some of his biggest influences while he was growing up, and that he got the double bass idea from Louie Bellson
. Taylor used many drum kits over the years including Rogers, Ludwig, Gretsch, and Canopus. Taylor preferred Zildjian cymbals, Pro-Mark drumsticks, and Remo drumheads.
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
from 1962-1996. He was the older brother of Canned Heat
Canned Heat
Canned Heat is a blues-rock/boogie rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1965. The group has been noted for its own interpretations of blues material as well as for efforts to promote the interest in this type of music and its original artists...
bassist Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor
Larry Taylor is an American bass guitarist, best known for his work as a member of Canned Heat from 1967. Before joining Canned Heat he had been a session bassist for The Monkees and Jerry Lee Lewis...
.
Tenure with The Ventures
After drumming with Boris Pickett and Herb AlpertHerb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
, Taylor joined The Ventures in 1962 to fill in for Howie Johnson, who had been severely injured in a motorcycle accident. Taylor's distinct, harder-edged rock style so impressed the members of the band, that they asked him to become a permanent member of the group. I asked Boris Pickett about this before his death, and he denied that it was Mel on Monster Mash.
Drumming style
Taylor used the traditional gripTraditional grip
Traditional grip is a technique used to hold drum sticks while playing percussion instruments. Unlike matched grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Commonly, the right hand uses an overhand grip and the left hand uses an underhand grip...
as opposed to the matched grip. He originally started out with The Ventures on a 4-piece drum kit with just hi-hats and a crash/ride cymbal. Towards the end of the 1960s, he expanded his kit to include multiple toms and double bass drums; he eventually added numerous crash cymbals to his set as well. His kit remained in this configuration until his death from cancer in 1996.
Death
Only two weeks elapsed between Taylor's cancer diagnosis until his death. He had been a cigarette smoker, but had quit the habit about 11 years before his death.Influences
Taylor mentioned in many interviews that Gene KrupaGene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
, Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
, and Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson
Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni , better known by the stage name Louie Bellson , was an Italian-American jazz drummer...
were some of his biggest influences while he was growing up, and that he got the double bass idea from Louie Bellson
Louie Bellson
Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni , better known by the stage name Louie Bellson , was an Italian-American jazz drummer...
. Taylor used many drum kits over the years including Rogers, Ludwig, Gretsch, and Canopus. Taylor preferred Zildjian cymbals, Pro-Mark drumsticks, and Remo drumheads.