Del Amitri’s Jim McDermott on Jeff Becks Wired | Simple Minds | Jenny Lewis
Welcome to The Friday Vinyl Club Podcast, where everyday feels like Friday and every record tells a story.
In this episode, I’m joined by musician and drummer Jim McDermott, whose incredible career spans decades of British rock and pop, from early BBC sessions and major stadium tours with Sting to his current role behind the kit for the iconic Scottish band, Del Amitri. Jim joins us to share a record that’s not just nostalgic but deeply personal, an album that stands as a masterclass in instrumental aggression and technical precision. We dive into the raw, frantic energy of Jeff Beck’s Wired, exploring how music doesn’t just play in the background of our lives, but actively shapes our identity.
Along the way we hear how:
* The Family Soundtrack: Jim recounts his musical roots, from his father’s classical records to his older brother Kevin's Punk collection and a childhood obsession with rhythm played out on makeshift Tupperware drum kits.
* Memorable Roots and '80s Anthems: Jim shares his rapid rise into professional music, landing a BBC session for Tutti Frutti at 16 while dodging his school English teacher, Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue.
* A Big First Break: We hear how Jim's first major career breakthrough came playing with the Kevin McDermott Orchestra, which landed them a massive stadium tour supporting Sting and a dream gig at Wembley Stadium.
* A Lifelong Friendship: We discover Jim’s deep, long-standing friendship with Del Amitri frontman Justin Currie, tracing their bond from young musicians in the Glasgow scene to collaborative side-projects and ultimately sharing the same stage.
* The Power of Storytelling: We dive into Jim’s elite drumming career with Gunn and Simple Minds, performing for 1.1 billion people with Kylie Minogue at the Commonwealth Games, and what it takes to survive a grueling global tour.
* An Enduring Cultural Impact: Jim shares a grounding chapter working as a pandemic care worker, scrubbing toilets while Del Amitri played on the radio, just months before he was handed the baton by former drummer Ash Sloan took over their drum throne.
Friday Spin Recommendation:
For this week’s spin, Jim shines a light on pseudo-Americana pop singer-songwriter Jenny Lewis and her track "Puppy and a Truck." Shifting away from the high-octane fusion of Jeff Beck, this tune delivers a delightfully catchy, breezy slice of indie-pop storytelling that celebrates finding unconditional love and moving forward when life gets chaotic. It's the ultimate musical palette cleanser for your Friday.
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What album did you discover that felt like finding a lost chapter of your own life? Send us a message: we’d love to feature your musical "chapters" in a future episode.
Keywords: Jeff Beck, Wired, Jim McDermott, Del Amitri, Justin Currie, Kevin McDermott Orchestra, Jenny Lewis, Puppy and a Truck, George Martin, Drumming, Session Musician, Sting, Simple Minds, Gunn, Tutti Frutti, Vinyl Records, Jazz Fusion, Americana Pop, Music Podcast, Record Collecting.
#JeffBeck #VinylClub #MusicPodcast #RecordCollecting #Wired #JimMcDermott #DelAmitri #JustinCurrie #KevinMcDermott #JennyLewis #PuppyAndATruck #Sting #Drummer #VinylCommunity #NewMusicDiscovery