I dunno, he stole a dessert onceAn all-round decent chap too, from what I know.
i would question the 90% musical talent - cos Topper was one hell of a drummer - the human drum machine - he could drum jazz, soul, & funk before he joined The Clash - the reggae and rock came afterwards
as Harry says above, he is a very decent chap and very approachable.
yes - he collected everything (and more) - he did the 'rock n roll library' up under The Westway, (it may have been in one of those rooms that you saw him) - it was his collection of items from like forever - strange obsession with war imagery.I saw Mick interviewed on some TV programme and he was sat in a standard sized front room of a semi-detached house. It was absolutely rammed full of memorabilia that he had kept since the Clash formed upto when the interview was being filmed, late 2000's, I think. He's an avid collector and will have stuff that's priceless in both forms of the word.
Mick, Joe and Paul all said that Topper was the glue that held the band together. Great drummer, and the most accomplished musician in the band. Kicked out because of his drug problem, but it was accepted it never affected his playing.Nick (Topper) started out playing in a piano trio which did everything from tea dances to jazz gigs, as well as doing loads of playing with different types of bands around Kent. By the time he ‘found’ himself in Clash he had a lot styles sorted.
He played a bit locally after he was heaved out, but then stopped playing altogether.
He’s well, healthy and happy with a lovely missus.
Like Strummer said, one of the worst decisions he ever made was kicking Nick out of the band.
Mick, Joe and Paul all said that Topper was the glue that held the band together. Great drummer, and the most accomplished musician in the band. Kicked out because of his drug problem, but it was accepted it never affected his playing.
Joe kicked Topper and Mick out..... certainly wasn't his greatest of decisions.