Overview
- Clem Cattini has died aged 89 after suffering a fall earlier this week, with colleagues and friends posting tributes and confirming his passing.
- He rose to prominence in the early 1960s as the Tornados’ drummer on the instrumental hit "Telstar" and earlier played on Johnny Kidd and the Pirates’ "Shakin' All Over."
- Obituaries and peers report that Cattini played on what is believed to be 42 UK number-one singles, a tally described in coverage as reported rather than independently verified.
- Across decades he worked as a session drummer for artists including Paul McCartney, Dusty Springfield, the Kinks, Tom Jones and Paul Weller and also recorded for novelty acts such as the Wombles.
- Colleagues recalled career highlights and anecdotes including a near-miss with the early Led Zeppelin project, Cattini’s 1971 work on Paul McCartney’s Thrillington, and his 2019 memoir, which together underscore the often unseen role session players have in popular music.