Chester Thompson

Biography

Thompson made his name as a session drummer. One of his first bands was Doc 'Soul Stirrer' Young and the We Four Trio. He played in Frank Zappa's touring band in 1973-74 alongside percussionist Ruth Underwood and jazz keyboardist George Duke. Thompson played on several Zappa albums, including Roxy & Elsewhere (Live recording 8-10.12.1973 & 8.5.1974), You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 (Live in Helsinki, Finland 22–23.9.1974, released 1988) and One Size Fits All (1975).

In 1976 he played on Weather Report's album Black Market.

From 1976-2007, Thompson played with Genesis as their touring drummer. His relationship with the band began when he replaced Bill Bruford, who took over live drum duties for Phil Collins in 1976 when Collins assumed the role of frontman for the departed Peter Gabriel, (although Collins would remain behind the drum kit in the studio and he continued to play drums onstage during extended instrumental sections of certain songs). Thompson officially became the touring drummer in 1977, playing on their tours in that year and in 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983/4, 1986/7, 1992 and the 2007 reunion Turn It On Again Tour. Chester is featured on their live albums Seconds Out (1977), Three Sides Live (1982), The Way We Walk Volume 1 (1992) & Volume 2 (1993) and Live Over Europe 2007. He chose not to be involved in the band's Calling All Stations European tour in 1998, following the band's failure to invite him to join the studio band after Phil Collins's departure.

Thompson has also worked with Phil Collins on his solo concert tours, drumming on the 1982/83 Hello, I Must Be Going! tour, 1985 No Jacket Required tour, 1990 ...But Seriously tour, The Tarzan Premiere tour of 1999 and The Final Farewell tour of 2004/05. He also appears on Phil Collins' Serious Hits... Live! (1990) live album and DVD, and has released his own solo album, A Joyful Noise (1999, Camino Records, CAMCD16).

In 1989, Thompson worked as the drummer for Bee Gees for their One for All tour, in support for their One album. He was later replaced by Michael Murphy in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Thompson also plays on the Steve Hackett albums, Please Don't Touch (1978) and Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited (1996). Later on, he played on Tony Banks' solo album A Curious Feeling (1979). He also appears on Steve Hackett's live album The Tokyo Tapes released in 1998 which also features John Wetton, Ian McDonald and Julian Colbeck.

He was also a founding member of the band Fire Merchants with Brand X guitarist John Goodsall and bassist Doug Lunn and appeared on their first eponymous recording in 1989. Thompson played drums with Santana in 1984 and is credited in the Beyond Appearances album along with Chester D. Thompson on keyboards.

He was also a member of Air Pocket, a band with the Fowler Brothers at its core.

Thompson is Adjunct Instructor at Belmont University's School of Music in Nashville.

He is currently a member of the Chester Thompson Trio. The group released an album in 2013 entitled Approved. The other members of the group are keyboardist Joe Davidian and bassist Michael Rinne.

Gear

Thompson has endorsed Ludwig Drums (1970-March, 1977), Pearl Drums (April, 1977 - July, 1987), Sonor Drums (1990–1999) and Paiste cymbals (1970–90); he has endorsed DW Drums since 2000 and Sabian cymbals since 1990. He uses Remo drumheads, Meinl Percussion, Gibraltar racks and has his own Regaltip Chester Thompson signature drumstick.

Solo

"Simpler Times" (2015, Chester Thompson Trio)

As sideman

With Frank Zappa

With Weather Report

With Air Pocket

With Genesis (live albums)

With Steve Hackett

With Tony Banks

With Ahmad Jamal

With Santana

With Fire Merchants

With Phil Collins

With Chris Catena