George Geddes wrote:If memory serves me right, Sandy Nelson switched from right handed to left handed after an accident which damaged one of his legs...
George
George, I'm sure, sadly, he actually lost his right leg in an accident?
I'll check a great book I've got, The Roots Of Rock Drumming- Interviews with the drummers who shaped rock 'n' roll music.
Here we go...
"He lost the lower part of his right leg in a 1963 motorcycle accident..."
"After Nelson lost part of his right leg in a motorcycle accident, he relearned to play by crossing his left foot over to play the bass drum..."
Looking at a picture in the book of Sandy playing years after the accident, he's got the hi hat on the right side, set to closed, but the bass drum is positioned where a right handed drummer would have it, as is the snare and rest of the kit. He's also playing traditional grip with his left hand, as a right handed drummer would.
So, it appears, at least from looking at the picture, he adapted post 1963 to play right handed, and left footed, for obvious reasons.
I'd have to check a post 1963 video of Sandy Nelson performing live on You Tube to clarify.
