"Funkiest drum fill ever" - How Steven Tyler gushed over Kings Of The Sun

KINGS Of The Sun drummer Clifford Hoad has recalled Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler gushing over the Aussie band’s 1990 single “Drop The Gun”.

Writing on KOTS’s Facebook page, Hoad said he encountered Tyler backstage at the Sydney Entertainment Centre that year – where the legendary Bostonian was listening to the song on repeat.

“We had just got off the plane from LA that afternoon and were invited to see the Aerosmith show,” Hoad wrote.

“Steve Tyler had a copy of Full Frontal Attack on his then-modern CD (Walkman) playing ‘Drop The Gun’.

“He had an equaliser on it that could turn the vocal down so he could sing along.

“He told me he used to be a drummer and asked about the drum fill that I played in ‘Drop The Gun’ where I use the cowbell and (asked) where I put that cowbell.

“He told me it was the funkiest drum fill he’d ever heard, and said ‘where’s your head at man? How did you beam that one down – haha !!!”

“I said ‘it’s all Gene Krupa’s fault”. ”

Two years earlier Clifford, brother Jeff and the rest of Kings Of The Sun had been booted out of the same venue by Axl Rose for comments made in a magazine interview.

“Drop The Gun” was to have appeared on a major movie soundtrack but had been – ahem – dropped at the last minute.

“One of the greatest heavy rock songs ever – self proclaimed!” Cliff writes now.

“Jeff and I peaked with this song, has all the elements: great riff, fantastic lyrics and a tick tock feel that is typically Australian rock. This song (video) was done in a aircraft hanger down in the L.A. jungle. Can anyone see our giant banner behind us?

“Jeff got some tips from Bruce Willis in his hair-raising flee from the bullets. However he did jump 20 feet into cardboard boxes.

“Yes girls , he does all his own stunt work and kissing scenes. At the end, after he stands on my bass drum … a bone of contention by the way: RCA Records at the time bought me another bass drum just so he could do it!

“How’s that for backing your artists – only in the USA! At the end, its Jimmy Cagney all the way – “Look at me Ma, I’m on top of the world” … finally plummeting onto the boot of a 69 Dodge Charger which they also paid for, just for the prop.

“Jeff and I gave it to one of the camera dolly assistants who worked just as hard as us from 6am to 9pm.

“Twenty-seven takes near killed me; I’d never want to be a movie star. N o wonder they all flip out!

Recalling more about his encounter with the Toxic Twin behind the EntCent, Cliff continues: “I noticed he was wearing black nail polish and chrome. Really charming guy, full of energy, true rock star.

“You’ve gotta be around people like that, just to learn how it’s done, like a mechanic or a doctor. This was the true school of rock!”