Memories of Jeff Beck | Wired with Del Amitri Drummer Jim McDermott

How does navigating a session career as an audio stuntman, playing to a live broadcast audience of 1.1 billion people, and stepping away from the drums to clean care home toilets in a pandemic shape a legendary Scottish musician? In this episode of The Friday Vinyl Club, Jamie sits down with Delamitri drummer Jim McDermott to trace how Jeff Beck’s aggressive 1976 jazz-fusion classic, Wired, served as a masterclass in controlled musical explosions and relentless groove. CONNECT WITH THE CLUB: • Official Website: ⁠https://www.thefridayvinylclub.com/ • Contact / Guest Inquiries: [email protected] INSIDE THE EPISODE & TIMESTAMPS: 00:18 - Intro: Welcoming Jim McDermott and introducing Jeff Beck's Wired. 04:54 - Classical Roots: Amateur opera and tracking down Clem Cattini. 07:46 - Battering the Sofa: Cozy Powell's drum instrumentals and Tupperware tom-toms. 09:10 - Punk Authenticity: Rhythmic structures of The Clash, Jam, and Skids. 15:50 - Tutti Frutti Ops: Scoring a cult BBC TV soundtrack gig at age 16. 18:54 - Surviving School: Gigs with his English teacher, Ricky Ross of Deacon Blue. 21:14 - Chasing Omar Hakim: Catching the final minutes of a Sting Glasgow arena show. 23:39 - Jam Donut Handshake: Touring with Sting and meeting Vinnie Colaiuta. 26:24 - Raw Rock Energy: Lack of backing tracks during AC/DC stadium dates. 31:19 - Pre-Show Routine: Dressing room focus and balancing live mistakes. 36:19 - Wembley Stadium: Walking out to 70,000 fans alongside Rod Stewart. 40:28 - IEM Isolation: How modern in-ear monitors detach players from crowd energy. 44:12 - 40% Trust Rule: Why global touring requires personality symmetry. 46:58 - Parachuting Into Gunn: Leaving a tracking kit behind to capture hit singles. 51:55 - Session Dark Arts: Chart adjustments and £200-an-hour recording tabs. 55:16 - Simple Minds: Walking into a Perth studio with zero pre-written demos. 1:01:57 - Connecting with Justin: Tracking indie history above a dodgy sauna. 1:05:17 - Living Room Epics: Recording "No Surrender" next to dental clinic windows. 1:07:08 - Special Operations: Sneaking tracks onto a Harley Davidson US television ad. 1:10:07 - Delamitri Seat: A torch-passing phone call from Ashley Soan. 1:14:19 - Care Home Sanctuary: Stepping away from music for a Skipton kitchen shift. 1:25:57 - Bleach and Ken Bruce: Hearing Justin on the radio while scrubbing toilet pans. 1:29:59 - Random CD Search: A manager who recognized his Uncle Devil Show catalog history. 1:33:01 - Discovering Wired: How Robbie McIntosh introduced him to Beck's funk loops. 1:36:11 - George Martin Production: Heavy, high-volume tracking with Jeff Emerick. 1:42:53 - Stealing Grooves: Rhythmic shuffles for the Kevin McDermott Orchestra. 1:46:58 - Porterhouse Pause: The gentle textures of "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat". 1:48:58 - Five-Second Rule: How streaming changes modern album sequencing art. 2:03:22 - Double Album Secrets: Recording half of the next Delamitri record. 2:06:07 - Pirate Ships & Tour Buses: Surviving a grueling 48-date run across America. 2:12:08 - The Friday Spin: Jim’s pre-show country-americana pop track suggestion. THE FRIDAY SPIN: JIM MCDERMOTT – JENNY LEWIS SPOTLIGHT: • The Recommendation: Jenny Lewis and her catchy track "Puppy and a Truck". • The Vibe: Fun, pseudo-Americana pop discovered through the stadium PA system. TOPICS COVERED: Jeff Beck, Wired, Jim McDermott, Delamitri, session drumming, Glasgow rock, care home service, In-Ear monitors, George Martin, and stadium touring camaraderie. FOR FANS OF: If you love music memories, physical media, and human stories behind the songs on podcasts like The Vinyl Guide, Back to NOW!, Music Is None Of Our Business, Desert Island Discs, or A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, you are right at home in the club! Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts to help our independent community grow!