ALMA, Michigan — Jerry Shirley, drummer for legendary British supergroup Humble Pie, will visit the United States in November to promote his recently released memoir, Best Seat in the House: Drumming in the '70s With Marriott, Frampton, and Humble Pie.
Shirley's itinerary includes events in four major US cities:
11/ 11 – Rock Fantasy Camp – Los Angeles (not open to public)
11/12 – Playboy Mansion – Los Angeles (not open to public)
11/13 – Stories at Echo Park (book signing and live music) – Los Angeles (times TBD)
11/16 – Cactus Books (book signing) – Houston 5:30 p.m.
11/17 – The Collective (master drum instruction with Carmine Appice and signing) – New York City 7:00 p.m.
11/17 – The Cutting Room (live music and signing) – New York City 9:00 p.m.
11/19 – Right Turn (live music and signing) – Boston 8:00 p.m.
"America has always been special to me," Shirley said. "The music Humble Pie played was rooted there, and we toured the States constantly with great success. Later, I lived and worked as a DJ in Cleveland. I'm very excited about coming back and meeting up with friends and fans, old and new."
Shirley's memoir focuses on the first and most notable period of Humble Pie's history, from the band's formation in 1969, when Shirley was only 16, to its initial breakup in 1975. Shirley also covers his session work with Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett, Who bassist John Entwistle, Beatle George Harrison, and other rock luminaries. The story he tells is alternately heartwarming, hilarious, and tragic.
The book includes a foreword by Peter Frampton and a "Testimonials and Love Letters" section, with contributions from more than two dozen renowned musicians and music-business executives, including David Gilmour, Chad Smith, Kenney Jones, and Gene Simmons. It is also a handy reference, with a discography, list of tour dates, and drum kit diagrams by Jon Cohan, author of the best selling book Star Sets.
Best Seat in the House is published by Rebeats, a Michigan-based company that has also released books by and about other celebrated drummers, as well as drum-company histories and drum dating guides. The wholesale and international distributor for the book is Hal Leonard Corporation, the world's largest music print publisher.
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