drumming

“This was such a shock. Dennis has been my friend, since we were in our first band together age 15. His great drumming will always Stay Alive.”

Often called “Mr. Snap, Crackle” in tribute to his brisk, articulate drumming style, he wrote a signature tune with the same name for his own 1962 album, “Out of the Afternoon.”

He added: "Smoke has filled the air and flames are lighting up the faces of those who've come to watch, while faint echoes of drumming come from over the hill."

"I couldn’t believe the difference. Their appearance was so different, wearing smart suits... I was so impressed with Ringo’s excellent drumming," Mr Thomas recalled.

Whatever the content of the news conferences, there was no denying that they were effective in drumming up support among the president’s base.