John Siomos, a great rock drummer who was in Peter Frampton's trio and played on "Frampton Comes Alive" once the biggest selling album of all time, as well as playing my band, "Moogy and the Rhythm Kings", died in the past few days. He had been working with an ambulance company for many years. He was found dead in his apartment in Brooklyn, and an autopsy is being performed.
 

"Moogy & the Rhythm Kings"  - Ralph Schuckett gets  John Siomos in a headlock as John Seigler laffs and Moogy gets his arm entangled 1972, photo by Bob Gruen

John Siomos was a great drummer. He played drums on "Hello, it's Me" and other songs on the Todd Rundgren's Platinum Something/Anything album including "You really left me sore" and "Dust in the Wind". John was the drummer on the entire album of Rundgren's "A WIzard/a True Star" and he was asked on many occasions to join the original Utopia - the one with me, Ralph and Siegler. I was very close with him.     I first heard of him when we were on the same label back in 68. That label being the Bob Crewe Dynovoice label. He had replaced drummer Johny B in one of the biggest groups in the world at that time, "Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels". Johny played and recorded for several years with Mitch Ryder and band with my friend Doug Rodriquez on guitar.  We all hung out and jammed a lot.Siomos and Rodriquez quit Mitch Ryder and joined with another friend of mine that I had introduced Dougy to - Buzzy Linhart.

They recorded what some consider to be a classic rock album, "Music" with Buzzy as produced by Eddie Kramer. I played on it. Eddie Kramer then used John and I on some of his other sessions including Allan Nichols and the first Carly Simon album.     Johny Siomos then played on my first solo album, "Mark Moogy Klingman". I introduced him to Todd Rundgren. At the same time, John joined my band, "Moogy and the Rhythm Kings" with Ralph Schuckett. and John Siegler.      We played, jamed and recorded together for about a year. We toured promoting the first moogy album which featured Siomos on drums and recorded a second one, ulitimately released in Europe as "Moogy 2" and recently on CD as "Old times, Good times".

Seigler, Schuckett, Todd Rundgren, Moogy and Siomos rehearse  at Secret Sound studios for Todd's album "A Wizard, A True Star" 1972, photo by Bob Gruen

Moogy & the Rhythm Kings rehearse at Moogy's Loft - soon to be  Secret Sound - (Todd & Moogy's recording studio), Siomos on the  drums, Ralph on the organ, Moogy at the electric piano and Seigler  on the bass - 1972, photo by Bob Gruen

When we joined Todd in Utopia and begged John to come with us, Johny opted to join 'Frampton's Camel" with Peter Frampton.He was part of the trio that recorded "Frampton Comes Alive" which became the biggest selling album of all time. (Until the Bee Gees and Michael Jackson outsold it)      Johny, under the name "Johny Slowhand" stayed with Frampton for quite a while, but then quit when he didn't get his royalty or live payments promised to him as part of the group. Johny claimed his contracts had been stolen from him. John seemed to play music less and less after that. And then he went missing entirely. Rumor had it that he had become an ambulance driver/crew member. I hadn't seen him in at least 15 years, but I was searching  for him all the time. Until today  when I got this notice of his untimely death this week.

John was one of the best rock drummers of all time. No doubt. I even wrote a song about John that was recorded on my first solo album. He came to rehearsal one day wearing a T-shirt that said "The Man at Ease" and seeing that the song poured out of me.      John was a quiet, handsome guy that women fell in love with. And he played the drums so effortlessly and he made it look simple, but he simply played the funkiest, tastiest and most soulful drums I ever heard. The Man at Ease - by Moogy Klingman he's the one the girls adore - when they see him they want him more when a young girl cries,  you know he's been and gone When the blues have come to stay, he's the one chase the blues away When the man is near,  gonna help you carry it on all god's children, listen to me please     talking 'bout, talking 'bout, talking 'bout the man at ease he's the one that knows how to swing, yes, he's truly a rhythm king gotta laff, gotta jump babe,  what else can you do? He's the one that can take it slow, says there's nowhere that you have to go. some call him lazy but no that isn't true all god's children, listen to me please     talking 'bout, talking 'bout,  talking 'bout the man at ease Some folks say it ain't easy but he knows it's the easiest thing in the world. When the man is feeling low, he's the last to let you know Sometimes he has to hang his head and moan When the nighttime ends the day he's the one, so far away when the darkness comes,  Lord knows he's not alone, all god's children, listen to me please     talking 'bout, talking 'bout,  talking 'bout the man at ease

Moogy & Ralph have a tender moment while John Siomos &  John Seigler look on backstage at Max's Kansas City 1972, photo by Bob Gruen Ralph and John Siomos rehearsing at Moogy's loft 1972, photo by Bob Gruen Moogy & the Rhythm Kings smiling during a break from rehearsing  at Moogy's loft, 1972,  L to R. Siomos, Moogy, Seigler, Schuckett,  photo by Bob Gruen

Moogy & the Rhythm Kings 1972,  top row Ralph & Siomos,  bottom row Moogy & Seigler, photo by Bob Gruen

I had been searching for him for many years, as had many other people and even VH1 - who wanted to interview him for a "Behind the Music" special on Peter Frampton. They too, conducted a search. . I am grieving for my old friend, who was one of rock 'n roll's greatest drummers. And I am sorry that I hadn't gotten to see him in the last 10 or 15 years.     It's tragic that he lived so close to me and others but remained elusive to all those who still wanted to see him and play with him. The news of his death ends my search for John, which never ceased over the years. Grieving for my old friend, John, Moogy Klingman, 212 724 0242

Below are some friends thoughts on Johny. The first is by our old bass player from Utopia and Moogy and the Rhythm Kings - John Siegler - the second is by an old female friend of John's, Dita Sullivan.

     Although I hadn't seen or heard from him in over 30 years he's always been there in the back of my mind and always present in my bass playing and writing.
I can still see the four of us* eating at David's Potbelly at 2 am after a night of recording or rehearsing or whatever. You don't forget those things. He was a huge musical influence on all of us at that time and will be greatly missed!!!
        Rest In Peace John Siomos..............JS

*Moogy & the Rhythm Kings - Moogy, Ralph, Siegler and Siomos -

                Although I hadn't seen John for many years, he remained vivid in my mind -- I had been talking about him just last week with a young musician friend in New Orleans.   I knew John in New York years ago through a circle of friends and a band that was directed by the pianist Moogy Klingman. There was so much great music back then, and though we were all very young, I knew that John was an exceptional drummer and would always be one of the best musicians I would ever know. Time has proved it so -- I now work with music and John still represents my standard for great drumming.
   He was also a lovely person -- unbelievably handsome, but very shy and reserved, and when you got to know him, very kind. The last time I saw him was in Los Angeles -- I ran into him in the lobby of a hotel, and he told me he was playing with Peter Frampton and was probably so glad to see someone he knew that he invited me to the show. I went with my friend Phoebe Snow to see it, and was so happy for John that he was in what seemed to be the big time. I will always remember him as he was that night, completely the man at ease of Moogy's song, playing in an arena packed with girls screaming his name -- I know a lot a people will never forget Johnny.

                                        Dita Sullivan
 

............... John, Judah, Don Rodrigues

Letters and emails of condolences would be greatly appreciated by his father, son and ex-wife. His ex-wife and mother of John's only child is Barbara Siomos. Her email address is barbara-siomos@webtv.net his father's address is: Nick Siomos 3042 N. Narragansett Ave. Chicago, Ill 60634 His son, Judah's address is: Judah Siomos 32 Everett Dr. Newtown, PA 18940-1600