Henry Anthony George Spinetti (born 31 March 1951) is a Welsh session drummer whose playing has featured on many prominent rock and pop albums.
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Career
Spinetti was born in Cwm, Monmouthshire, Wales. His first band, when aged 12-13, was The Toby Four (named after Toby beer), which rehearsed in the Ambray Hotel and played songs by The Shadows, amongst others. He then joined a group called The Choice from Tredegar, with a guitarist influenced by Jimi Hendrix. After this he joined Cardiff band The Clockwork Motion, which played as far afield as Newcastle and Birmingham, with Spinetti playing a Premier Black Pearl drum kit. He then secured an audition for London band Floribunda Rose. He travelled to London, with his drums, on the train, and went to the band's flat in Earl's Court; he played four or five numbers and got the job. The band changed its name to Scrugg and went to the Top 10 Club in Hamburg.
Spinetti began his recording career with Scrugg, with the Pye label. Band members included fellow Welshman Jack Russell, Christos Demetriou and the South African singer-songwriter, John Kongos. In the early 1970s, Spinetti appeared with Kongos on BBC Television's Top of the Pops performing Kongos' hit single, "He's Gonna Step on You Again". After leaving Scrugg, Spinetti's early work included spells with The Herd and Judas Jump, who were the opening act at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970. The Herd and Judas Jump included bassist Andy Bown, who later joined Status Quo. Spinetti was also a member of the UK band Hustler, which released two albums—High Street (1974) and Play Loud (1975), the latter produced by Roy Thomas Baker.
Spinetti played on eight of the ten tracks on Gerry Rafferty's album City to City, including the hit "Baker Street"), and also played in the 2002 memorial concert for George Harrison, "The Concert For George". In 2011 Spinetti recorded with Andy Bown again, playing drums on Bown's solo album, Unfinished Business. Spinetti was a member of Eric Clapton's touring band in the 1980s and the 2010s.
Recording credits
Spinetti's recording credits include the following:
Personal life
Spinetti is the younger brother of actor Victor Spinetti (1929–2012). Spinetti married Susan Styles in Coventry, Warwickshire, England in 2004.