Jerry Shirley
Jerry Shirley |
|---|
Jerry Shirley (born 4 February 1952, Waltham Cross, London) is an English rock drummer, best known for his work with the bands, Humble Pie and Fastway.
Career
Shirley began playing drums at an early age and was recruited by noted vocalist and guitarist Steve Marriott to join the newly-formed Humble Pie when he was just 17 years old. Shirley remained as Humble Pie's drummer throughout the group's entire career. He also worked on Steve Marriott's solo projects, and was a co-founder of the popular 1980s group Fastway. Shirley co-wrote Fastway's biggest hit, "Say What You Will". After Fastway disbanded, Shirley decided to reform Humble Pie in the United States. Being the only original group member, the band was called Humble Pie Featuring Jerry Shirley. Former Victory and Ted Nugent band singer Charlie Huhn joined Shirley, and together they performed as Humble Pie Featuring Jerry Shirley with several other rotating musicians for approximately ten years. During this time, Shirley also worked as a disc jockey at WNCX in Cleveland, Ohio.
Shirley returned to the UK in 1999 and has participated in several musical ventures since, including tribute shows dedicated to the memory of his former Humble Pie bandmate, Steve Marriott. Shirley owns all legal rights to the name Humble Pie. He now plays with the Deborah Bonham Band, whose lead singer is Debbie Bonham, younger sister of the late drummer, John Bonham.[1]
Highlights of Shirley's career include Humble Pie's hit album Performance Rockin' the Fillmore, and Fastway's self-titled debut. On video he can be seen on Steve Marriott: Live From London, and The Steve Marriott Tribute Concert, in which he and the remaining members of Humble Pie performed together after several years apart.
Aside from Humble Pie and Fastway, Shirley has worked with Joey Molland (ex-Badfinger) in the band Natural Gas, David Gilmour, Alexis Korner, Billy Nicholls, Syd Barrett, John Entwistle, Sammy Hagar and Benny Mardones.