I love The Buzzcocks. I’ve loved them since the day in high school when I took a flyer on Singles Going Steady. The fast rush of that midrangey twin-guitar attack, Pete Shelley’s concise way with words…you know what I’m talking about. I will have to say, for a guy whose band has covered a handful of these songs over the years, I’ve always been a bit mystified by the role of drummer John Maher.

For years I thought he was the weak link in the band. Then, one night while standing precisely in the “sweet spot” of my drummer friend Townsman Sethro’s kick-ass stereo system, I began thinking that he was really great. Since then, I find myself creeping back to the thought that I’m not really thrilled about his drumming.

I’m certain of a few things:

• He doesn’t play in “my” style.
• He never drags the band down, which is a great strength; in fact, he drives the songs with the pedal to the metal, which may be his greatest strength.
• Beside the opening fill to “I Don’t Mind” and maybe a few fills during the great, long jam in “Why Can’t I Touch It”, I think his fills sound sloppy and overplayed

To this last point, when we discussed the drumming of Bev Bevan a couple of weeks back, Townsman Andyr said something to the effect of “His fills are never memorable – they don’t make me want to play air drums.” Because of the pace of Maher’s drumming, I sometimes “play along,” but it’s more like the spastic hambone of a child with ADHD.

Over the years, I’ve come to the tentative conclusion that love him or not, John Maher’s drumming perfectly suited the music of The Buzzcocks, but could he have done better?

So I ask, is there a drummer in the house? And I ask whether any drummers in the house can more fully explain the merits of John Maher’s drumming in The Buzzcocks. I also ask whether I am correct in identifying some of his weaknesses. And, finally, I ask whether the music of The Buzzcocks could have been better supported by another type of drummer. Feel free to give it to me good, but responses along the lines of “Jesus Christ, Mr. Moderator, must you pick apart everything that is beautiful and great in the world?” will not be tolerated. Not in this game. I seek education and enlightenment.

I look forward to your responses.