Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist (opens in new tab)
  • Guitar Techniques (opens in new tab)
  • Total Guitar (opens in new tab)
  • Bass Player (opens in new tab)
More
  • 5 Jeff Beck songs you need to hear
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Free music samples
  • Best free music-making software
  • 24 free chord lessons

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News

Classic albums featuring Aynsley Dunbar

By Chris Burke
published 12 June 2015

From Zappa to Whitesnake, the jazz schooled chops of one of rock's finest

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Aynsley Dunbar
Rock drumming chameleon
(Image credit: Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS)

Aynsley Dunbar

Aynsley Dunbar grew up in the Liverpool jazz scene, having begun playing drums at the age of 11. Aynsley was also part of the blossoming rock and R&B movement in Liverpool in 1963, playing for such groups as Derry Wilkie And The Pressmen, Freddie Starr And The Flamingos, The Excheckers and Stu James And The Mojos.

Throughout the ’60s, Aynsley played with Peter Green and John McVie in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and drummed in the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. He also led his own group, The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation in 1967 and later put together the progressive jam band, Blue Whale.

But curiously, at least on record, Aynsley’s career had not yet taken off. It was Frank Zappa who, recognising not only Aynsley’s vast experience but his serious jazz chops, who asked Aynsley to move to America and join his new band. After playing and recording with Zappa in the early ’70s, Aynsley continued his stellar track record playing and recording with David Bowie and Lou Reed. Then, Infinity. Aynsley continued his hit-making run into the 1980s with Jefferson Starship, playing on three of their releases and drumming on Whitesnake’s hit self-titled album.

Throughout the 1990s, Aynsley continued his association with guitar-orientated rock, playing and recording with Pat Travers, UFO, John Lee Hooker and Michael Schenker. The new millennium has seen Aynsley continue to tour with The World Classic Rockers. It could easily be argued that no drummer has played with a more diverse group of successful acts.

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Waka/Jawaka (1972)
Frank Zappa

Waka/Jawaka (1972)

At this time, Zappa’s music was going through a decidedly jazz influenced phase and Aynsley’s drumming was the perfect ingredient. There are just four tracks on the album, with the first side taken up with just one, ‘Big Swifty’.

It’s jazz fusion, big, brassy and shifting in time signatures – an improvisational playground for Zappa and his carefully assembled musicians. Check out the solo in the title track (from around the 7:20 mark); and elsewhere Aynsley proves he’s equal to anything Zappa could throw at him.

Key track: ‘Waka/Jawaka’

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Pin Ups (1974)
David Bowie

Pin Ups (1974)

Aynsley was fresh from the always-impressive Frank Zappa gig when the call came to drum for David Bowie. Bowie’s covers album, Pin-Ups, was first, featuring most of the Spiders From Mars band minus Mick Woodmansey, followed by 1974's Diamond Dogs.

Aynsley moved from the intricacies of Zappa’s music to Bowie’s more pop-directed style with ease, as the Thin White Duke put his stamp on covers of tracks by The Merseys (‘Sorrow’), Yardbirds (‘I Wish You Would’), Pink Floyd (‘See Emily Play’), The Pretty Things (‘Rosalyn’, ‘Don’t Bring Me Down’) and The Who (‘I Can’t Explain’, ‘Anyway, ‘Anyhow’, ‘Anywhere’).

Key track: ‘Sorrow’

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Infinity (1978)
Journey

Infinity (1978)

Aynsley, seeking to join a rock fusion group, became a member of Journey, recording and co-writing the band’s first four albums, including the group’s breakthrough release, and fourth album, Infinity.

This was the band’s smash breakthrough album containing the blues ballad ‘Lights’, proto-Soft Rock anthem ‘Anytime’, big-rockin’ ‘Feeling That Way’ and ‘Wheel In The Sky’, with Aynsley switching between a solid rock shuffle and some big, big fills. This album blends commercial appeal while showcasing excellent musicianship.

Key track: ‘Wheel In The Sky’

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Freedom At Point Zero (1979)
Jefferson Starship

Freedom At Point Zero (1979)

After Journey, Aynsley joined Jefferson Starship, who experienced a resurgence of popularity with new singer Mickey Thomas. The band who had started life as as Jefferson Airplane – counter-culture psychedelic rockers – began to evolve, like so many progressive rock acts, into MOR money-spinners with a huge sound that would prolong their careers well into the big-haired ’80s.

Best known of the hits from this album is ‘Jane’, with Aynsley providing solid and tasteful beats to drive the big tune. And just listen to Aynsley’s tasteful 16-bar intro to the title track for proof that he could power stadium-sized bands.

Key track: ‘Freedom At Point Zero’

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Whitesnake (1987)
Whitesnake

Whitesnake (1987)

Although most people associate drummer Tommy Aldridge with this era of Whitesnake, it was Aynsley who laid down all those massive rock grooves on this multi million- selling disc.

When Cozy Powell left the band to join Emerson, Lake and Powell, David Coverdale and co brought in Rainbow’s Don Airey on keys and Aynsley on drums. This album has it all. Aggressive double bass to soft ballad playing, all tempered with dynamics and just the right fill at the right time. ‘Crying In The Rain’ kicks things off in bluesy style, with Aynsley setting the pace with humungous sounding drums that build to a monster fill as the track takes off. ‘Still Of The Night’ is truly epic, with Aynsley helping build the tension with tightness, flair and no shortage of big rock fills.

Key track: ‘Still Of The Night’

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Chris Burke
  1. Foo Fighters
    1
    Who will be the new Foo Fighters drummer in the post-Taylor Hawkins line-up?
  2. 2
    "It's was written, recorded and mixed in about six hours" – Noel Gallagher names the Oasis and solo songs he'd take to a desert island
  3. 3
    16 inspiring guitar chords that are great for clean tones
  4. 4
    Chuck D on Rick Rubin's holistic production style: "Art is what you feel. No one should tell you what Art should come out of you. He gets that"
  5. 5
    Noel Gallagher says the Robert Smith remix of High Flying Birds’ Pretty Boy “sounds exactly like The Cure”
  1. John Oates
    1
    John Oates on 10 albums that changed his life, and the guitar that now feels like a part of him: "I bought my ‘58 Strat in 1972 for a hundred and twenty-five bucks and I’ve played it ever since"
  2. 2
    16 inspiring guitar chords that are great for clean tones
  3. 3
    Chuck D on Rick Rubin's holistic production style: "Art is what you feel. No one should tell you what Art should come out of you. He gets that"
  4. 4
    Noel Gallagher says the Robert Smith remix of High Flying Birds’ Pretty Boy “sounds exactly like The Cure”
  5. 5
    Unlock your guitar fretboard by learning to play the same lick in different positions

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.