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Brian plays the drums on "Funky Pretty", and during the early 60's tours, took over from Dennis when the latter had his featured vocal in the show. OK, so he's not in the Moon/Baker/Blaine class, but yes, he can play drums.

He drummed on a lot of Love You if I'm not mistaken. I don't know if those are drum machines or he's just doing bass and snare (AGD fill me in!)

Last I saw him play drums was in the Endless Harmony film playing "Be My Baby."

Didn't he play the drum (sic) on some of the very early recordings, like "Karate," or "Judy"?

Is that Brian on Sail Plane Song also, I remember reading here it was..

Man would be interesting to hear a recording from one of those shows with Brian filling in on drums.

You have, if you have the Concert LP ("The Wanderer").

Brian played really simple drums. Anyone with rhythm could've played drums on Funky Pretty.

Are you kidding?!?

One day we were doing some demos or test tracks of songs (pre-tracking).  That is, recording stuff to see how it sounded in playback.  If they liked the way a particular song came off (in playback - hearing) they would consider tracking that song. Otherwise these tracks were discarded as were the songs.

Brian had recorded the piano part of a song he'd been working on.  But he wanted to hear it with a drum track. It was the weekend and Dennis was out sailing or surfing and not around.  Carl, Brian and myself were the only ones in the studio.  I don't play the drums. Carl said, I'll try to do it for you Brian and went out to do some basic licks but got all tangled up in himself trying to hit all the correct drums and cymbals.  So he came back up into the control room and sat down beside me at the console.  Brian was pacing in the studio when Carl pushed the talkback button and said, "Why don't you add the parts Brian . . ."

Brian said, "I'll give it a try."

He sat down on the drum throne and adjusted it lower.  Then he took the sticks in hand and proceed to blow us all away.  It was Hal Blaine at his best.  I looked at Carl and said, "Where the hell did that come from? I never knew he could play like that."

Carl said, "He doesn't like to play the drums because he can't hear them well enough, but he can do it."  I said, "That was Amazing!!"   

And I can't recall ever seeing Brian play the drums again.

But it was Good Listening,

~Stephen W. Desper

Brian plays the drums on "Funky Pretty", and during the early 60's tours, took over from Dennis when the latter had his featured vocal in the show. OK, so he's not in the Moon/Baker/Blaine class, but yes, he can play drums.

Was Dennis not able to drum and sing at the same time or something?

Actually he could and did but...the kids wanted to get a closer look at him.

After Brian stopped touring, Dennis drummed and sang - there's a great photo in Badman of Mike being a human mic stand.  ;D

I like that picture
There's also footage of the BBs on Shindig (I believe) miming to "Do you wanna dance" and Dennis is also on drums. Iirc a short clip was on "Endless harmony"

He drummed on a lot of Love You if I'm not mistaken. I don't know if those are drum machines or he's just doing bass and snare (AGD fill me in!)

Last I saw him play drums was in the Endless Harmony film playing "Be My Baby."

Honkin Down the Highway is definitely Dennis. I'm drawing a blank on Roller Skating Child right now...can't quite remember, it actually might be Dennis too. Although I have video of the 12/77 L.A. Forum show and their live version(with Dennis on drums) of RSC is so much more rocking and powerful than the record, maybe Brian did play the drums on that one in the studio...not sure...Craig? I know Dennis plays drums on two or three Love You tracks, Honkin being the one that sticks out.

Earle Mankey has said that Brian would play snare or tom parts, so I'm thinking he plays 'drums' on ROLLER SKATING CHILD, LET US GO ON THIS WAY & SOLAR SYSTEM. Those songs have the best sounding snare, too. Earle would send the drum signal to to a speaker set up in Brother's 'echo' room and record that room sound and combine it with the original drum track.  There are probably more LOVE YOU era songs that were recorded in this fashion.

Interesting. What exactly was Earle Mankey's role in the sound of 'Love You'? I have this rare 12" of his, 'Mau Mau', and its sound reminds me strongly of 'Love You'. Was he more than an engineer then?

Earle was more than an engineer - round about the same time he was co-producing and contributing guitar to Helen Reddy's Brother recorded Ear Candy album. Also released two singles, "Mau Mau" & "Bigger Than Life". Was also in Sparks at one point.

Honkin Down the Highway is definitely Dennis. I'm drawing a blank on Roller Skating Child right now...can't quite remember, it actually might be Dennis too. Although I have video of the 12/77 L.A. Forum show and their live version(with Dennis on drums) of RSC is so much more rocking and powerful than the record, maybe Brian did play the drums on that one in the studio...not sure...Craig? I know Dennis plays drums on two or three Love You tracks, Honkin being the one that sticks out.

Dennis on "Mona", "Honkin'", "Wanna Pick You Up", and I think Brian on the others.  "Roller Skating Child" is definitely Brian.  I beleive Brian also drummed on the unreleased "Sandy She Needs Me".