It was Nigel that got me interested in drumming back in 1972. He was never flashy, and drew attention to himself but he and Dee were the most rock solid rhythm section ever. Don't Shoot Me was the first Elton John record I got and I learned to play each song. Of all rock musicians I can think of, and that is a lot in my 65 years, Nigel is one of the most down to earth and humble of them all.
My #1 influence as a drummer. Unbelievably underrated with a feel and pocket like no other, (Sorry, John, Jeff, Steve and Keith) Nigel isn't just a drummer--he's a consummate and versatile musician who plays for the song and delivers the right goods in the right places. During the 70's John Bonham's 2-bar intro into "When the Levee Breaks" was touted as the "best sound and groove of all time"--which isn't doubted by any means--but Nigel's single-tom, ultra beefy offerings on Honky Chateau's "Honky Cat", "Susie Dramas" and especially, Goodbye Yellow Road's "The Ballad of Danny Bailey" are an equal rival to Bonham in every way. NIGEL RULES.
Agreed. Nigel was definately a huge inspiration in my fascination for drumming when i was a young kid in the 70s. Also, his use of long cymbal decay (eg., Someone Saved My Life Tonight) was brilliant.
Nigel is the drum fill master. I will never understand why Elton let Nigel and Dee go! Dee was a great bass player. Some say he’s one of the top 5 basses of all time. I agree. If you want to see Elton and these guys at their absolute best find the 1974 Madison Square Garden This is the same concert when John Lennon made his appearance. They were on fire at this time in their careers.
@@steffanhoffmannI went to Kensington high street when I was in England…Vickie, above is a friend of mine , haven’t seen her in years. We saw Elton together a few times and both of us met Nigel before. Cheers
To endure an interview by Dick Clark takes the patience of Job....Nigel classy well mannered......not an egomaniac by the king of smaltz interviews ....Dickie
Nigel loves his cars and at the Night and Day concert at Wembley 1984 he looked like he just stepped out of a touring car just to play the drums for Elton that night.
His hair is so bad ass, I wanted his long hair growing up, but my dad wouldn’t have that. It wasn’t until the eighties I was able to grow my hair out. But his hair is iconic.
Nigel had to endure the negative treatment of Elton John at times..yes polished professional...Nigel that is ....love the take of him from Eltons 60th birthday bash...Bitch is Back
Man!! Is it me or is Dick being douchey to Nigel! And Atlanta!!! He seems to be demonstrating about as much couth as Howard Cosell here!!! Nigel is too cool!
In 79 Atlanta wasn't the hotbed of Pop musical activity although there was lots of Country, Soul, and R^B which is what Dick SHOULD have known so, yea, he is a douche for pulling the LA card. Nigel lived in a very unassuming house while in Atlanta - not far from the one I wound up renting. People also forget that while Elton was making millions upon millions that his band mates were not making the same kind of dough.
@@atlantaguitar9689 hello I'm not sure where Nigel lived but I too lived in Atlanta back in those days in my mid teens and have on and off ever since I'm back living here now since November I rented an apt in a big house on 8th & Piedmont in the mid 90s Im a huge EJ fan and a guitar Junky! from way back Are you in the guitar/music gear biz? Ps you may know a guy I went to school with named Steve Stone
@@richardchristensen1768 As I recall, he lived a couple of places in the city. I remember that for a time he lived (or frequented) a location off of Howell Mill Rd part of which at the time was a mostly industrial area although there were a bunch of older homes from a previous era which were generally rented by Georgia Tech students and musicians which is how I came to be in the area. There were a couple of nearby recording studios which haven't existed for decades now. Of course, Elton later bought a swanky place on Peachtree St. in nearby Buckhead although that was much later than 1979. Atlanta has a world class music scene for many years now (mostly hip hop and R&B and Rock) as well as a big time movie environment. Everybody in town seems to be looking for an angle into those domains - ha ha. But even in 79 there was lots of musical activity in ATL - it just wasn't as big as LA but Dick Clark should have known better.
![Elton John Aquarius 1971 [Rare Documentary]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/VDY2w-8S2Ng/mqdefault.jpg)
It was Nigel that got me interested in drumming back in 1972. He was never flashy, and drew attention to himself but he and Dee were the most rock solid rhythm section ever. Don't Shoot Me was the first Elton John record I got and I learned to play each song. Of all rock musicians I can think of, and that is a lot in my 65 years, Nigel is one of the most down to earth and humble of them all.
His snare on Someone Saved My Life Tonight is something I never tire of
I was born in 1979 and my mother named me after this man. I’m Nigel Anderson, hi guys!
Never have I ever seen such a beautiful, gracious man. So talented.
I agree! He´s so sweet and calm!
My #1 influence as a drummer. Unbelievably underrated with a feel and pocket like no other, (Sorry, John, Jeff, Steve and Keith) Nigel isn't just a drummer--he's a consummate and versatile musician who plays for the song and delivers the right goods in the right places. During the 70's John Bonham's 2-bar intro into "When the Levee Breaks" was touted as the "best sound and groove of all time"--which isn't doubted by any means--but Nigel's single-tom, ultra beefy offerings on Honky Chateau's "Honky Cat", "Susie Dramas" and especially, Goodbye Yellow Road's "The Ballad of Danny Bailey" are an equal rival to Bonham in every way.
NIGEL RULES.
Agreed. Nigel was definately a huge inspiration in my fascination for drumming when i was a young kid in the 70s. Also, his use of long cymbal decay (eg., Someone Saved My Life Tonight) was brilliant.
I am a keyboard player and learned to play listening to EJ and Leon Russell. Nigel was like a human metronome. Talk about being in the pocket.
Agree 👍
Nigel has always stricken me as a poised and interesting man. Too bad there aren´t many videos of him.
Nigel seems so down to earth
And funny , handsome man 🥰
Nigel is the drum fill master. I will never understand why Elton let Nigel and Dee go! Dee was a great bass player. Some say he’s one of the top 5 basses of all time. I agree. If you want to see Elton and these guys at their absolute best find the 1974 Madison Square Garden This is the same concert when John Lennon made his appearance. They were on fire at this time in their careers.
Nigel Olsson is a class act. A drummer like no other.
What a find! Thank you for posting this! Didn't see the original broadcast (3/9/79).
i was in love with this man so beautiful
always wanted to find a guy who looked like him!!!!
Was madly in love with Nigel all through my teens.
He’s so cute and prettyyy! He’s So underrated
Me too. Man he's so cute❣️
OmG so was I - I had an ex-boyfriend who sent me Nigel's first album for my birthday! I still have it!
hey me too😍
I love Nigel. He’s such a soft spoken man.
Who had a crush on Dick Clark.....I did.
He supported so many artists through the years. g 💌
OMG!! I LOVE NIgel!! I met him when I was 16 and he was sooooo nice. LOVE this clip!
Hi Vickie it’s Bruce!
@@bruceski2133Hello Bruce it's Steffan 😂 from Kensington and Chelsea in London 😉
Sorry I'm late.
(English humour mate)
🇬🇧 🤝 🇺🇸
@@steffanhoffmannI went to Kensington high street when I was in England…Vickie, above is a friend of mine , haven’t seen her in years. We saw Elton together a few times and both of us met Nigel before. Cheers
One of the best drummers in the world
you're sooo right
Uh, no. Think of Vinnie Colaiuta, Simon Phillips, Steve Gadd, Jim Keltner and about 1,819 other drummers before saying that.
again one of the best drummers in the world !!!
He is and he has a lot of interests outside of music as well.
Love Nigel! Would love to see the actual performance
To endure an interview by Dick Clark takes the patience of Job....Nigel classy well mannered......not an egomaniac by the king of smaltz interviews ....Dickie
We love you Mr Olsen
The whole band were sensational musicians. Dee, Davey, Nigel, and of course Elton. My God. What talent.
We can't forget about Ray Cooper. Or Maxine Feibelman.
Top flight band and was really the Elt John band
Great Dude !!
Cool guy, still going strong in 2023
Nigel loves his cars and at the Night and Day concert at Wembley 1984 he looked like he just stepped out of a touring car just to play the drums for Elton that night.
WOW! He sure had some SERIOUS hair!!!
❤❤❤
Can we go back to the 70s please, l somehow missed out on the Nigel phenomenon. Wow, so talented, gorgeous and polite. Wow wow wow. 🥰
His hair is so bad ass, I wanted his long hair growing up, but my dad wouldn’t have that. It wasn’t until the eighties I was able to grow my hair out. But his hair is iconic.
Lived in Atlanta, GA.
yep. he was my neighbor. in Dunwoody. i think he lived with a lady who had two red haired twin boys.
Talented and cute ♥️ I'm glad he's back for the Farewell tour
Wow, nice interview. And I love Nigel's style, very tasteful. Also, that hair is beautiful.
He should sell "Nigel' wigs. He's the only one who could make David Cassidy jealous.
Well, even Nigel would buy one these days.... :P
Very good.
Beautiful interview & hair! Wow! I miss those days!
❤️❤️❤️nigel❤️❤️❤️
Hellians Bumpstead...love it
I suspected Nigel was putting him on....taking the piss as they say. But no, it actually exists!
Nigel had to endure the negative treatment of Elton John at times..yes polished professional...Nigel that is ....love the take of him from Eltons 60th birthday bash...Bitch is Back
Such a beautiful man, then and now
Happy Birthday Nigel! Now I need to look up his version of say goodbye to Hollywood!
Love Nigel--so cute and better add talented, too...lol
When he said his producer was Paul Davis did he mean the I Go Crazy/65 Love Affair guy?
Yes
HE BOPPED LIPS I CANNOT WATCH THIS
Nigel is gorgeous.
He looks Native American but I heard he's a Swede
He is english but he has got sure swedish roots
Nigel Drum Cam from Australian 2023 Tour ruclips.net/video/C6TUdVTBz8s/видео.html
My Teenage crush 🥰
most underatted drummer there is....early elton john records ..he drives
Man!! Is it me or is Dick being douchey to Nigel! And Atlanta!!! He seems to be demonstrating about as much couth as Howard Cosell here!!! Nigel is too cool!
Richard Christensen total douche
In 79 Atlanta wasn't the hotbed of Pop musical activity although there was lots of Country, Soul, and R^B which is what Dick SHOULD have known so, yea, he is a douche for pulling the LA card. Nigel lived in a very unassuming house while in Atlanta - not far from the one I wound up renting. People also forget that while Elton was making millions upon millions that his band mates were not making the same kind of dough.
@@atlantaguitar9689 hello
I'm not sure where Nigel lived but I too lived in Atlanta back in those days in my mid teens and have on and off ever since
I'm back living here now since November
I rented an apt in a big house on 8th & Piedmont in the mid 90s
Im a huge EJ fan and a guitar Junky!
from way back
Are you in the guitar/music gear biz?
Ps you may know a guy I went to school with named Steve Stone
@@richardchristensen1768 As I recall, he lived a couple of places in the city. I remember that for a time he lived (or frequented) a location off of Howell Mill Rd part of which at the time was a mostly industrial area although there were a bunch of older homes from a previous era which were generally rented by Georgia Tech students and musicians which is how I came to be in the area. There were a couple of nearby recording studios which haven't existed for decades now. Of course, Elton later bought a swanky place on Peachtree St. in nearby Buckhead although that was much later than 1979. Atlanta has a world class music scene for many years now (mostly hip hop and R&B and Rock) as well as a big time movie environment. Everybody in town seems to be looking for an angle into those domains - ha ha. But even in 79 there was lots of musical activity in ATL - it just wasn't as big as LA but Dick Clark should have known better.
Is Dick being a bit condescending in a few of his statements, or do I just want to protect Nigel, lol.
Nigel's cool, but I'm a die-hard Mick Tucker fan. 😎👍🏻