S2 E19 JOHN STEPHENS The Engine Room Drummer ; Legendary Drum Clinics at the iconic 'John Reynolds Music City' store placed the business on the Global Map

Adelaide drummer and former John Reynolds Music City Manager, John Stephens, joins me this week to share stories from his music career, taking us on a journey filled with his fabulous memories from the entertainment scene in Adelaide from the 50's right through to recent years. John has lived a life that most wouldn't even dream of, rubbing shoulders with, meeting and forming relations with the right people in the business, growing and adding to his list of contacts within the music industry all over the globe. John has that many amazing stories that it is impossible to include all of them in a podcast, if anyone should write a book about the Australian Music Scene, John definitely should! 

As with all of the interviews, we start with John's childhood, his mother was a 'Bellchambers', his parents ran the Bellchambers radio, electrical and music store, which was situated in the heart of the City. The store gave John access to all the records that he could ever want, his love and knowledge of music was essentially born at this store. It provided his with the opportunity to meet every famous band and artist which included local, national, and international acts. The external business opportunities that grew from owning 'The music store in the City of Adelaide, included Security staff, ushers, and drivers to work at all of the major shows that came to Adelaide, all of the major entertainment arenas that have come and gone throughout his life. John even has a picture of himself as a child standing at the front near the Beatles when they came to Adelaide in 1964 and played 4 concerts at Centennial Hall, at the Wayville Showgrounds.

Many of you would know John as the former drum teacher, drum repairer, and drum shop manager of the iconic 'John Reynolds Music City' store, where he worked from 1978 until it closed in 2013. John organised and coordinated all of the drum clinics which attracted some of the biggest names in drumming from around the world and put the John Reynolds store on the map. John shares some of his memories and funny stories from the store and the second part to the 'Chad Smith' Red Hot Chilli Peppers drummer story that John Reynolds started in his interview. 

John still repairs and tunes drums from home, and he has kindly offered to give 2 (per month) Band It About podcast series drummers a FREE snare drum tune up and overhaul check! This is a great prize that can be won simply by being chosen by the listeners of this series who nominate their favourite drummer interview. To nominate all you need to do is leave a voicemail on this podcast series, and then at the end of the month I will put all of the nominee's names into a hat and pull out 2 names. To cast your vote please use this link: Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dianne-spillane/message  

Music: John has chosen 2 songs that were recorded at the 'Southern Jazz Club', where he regularly plays with various line-ups. Intro is "Hey Good Looking" written by Hank Williams, performed by the 'Twilight Syncopators', and the outro is John performing the fabulous drum solo from "Caravan" which was composed by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington. Performed at the Southern Jazz Club with 'Bill Polain's Fidgety Feet.' 

Links: John Stephens Facebook Southern Jazz Club YouTube 

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