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Location: 327 West 43rd Street, Manhattan, New York, USA • New York • USA
On October 9, 1970, in New York, Paul McCartney held secret auditions to find a drummer for the recording of his second solo album, “Ram.” The auditions took place in the basement of an unoccupied building on 43rd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues.
We found a grotty little basement and auditioned a bunch of people. We got someone to throw a lot of drummers at us, out of which we picked Denny Seiwell, a really good session guy, a fun person that you could get on with.
Paul McCartney – From “Conversations with McCartney” by Paul du Noyer, 2016
Paul came to town and asked a “folky” friend of mine, guitarist Barry Kornfeld to provide him with a list of 10-12 top guys that are doing the best recordings; the “first call” players. I was on that list. So, when Paul set up the audition, nobody knew it was audition. We got a call from our registry answering service, and they just told us that I had a demo for Barry Kornfeld.
I just had a cancellation, and I usually didn’t do demos but I had an open slot. I got there, and it’s not a studio. It’s a brownstone way over on the west side, looking like It’s about to be renovated. What is this?!?
I go up to the lobby’s desk in this uninhabited building. This guy points me downstairs and there’s Paul and Linda sitting in a dirt floor-basement and a ratty set of drums from SIR Studios. I say, “You’re Paul McCartney!” He say’s “Yeah, I know! We’re in town and going to record an album, so we’re looking at drummers. Do you mind playing for me? No guitar or anything; just you. Play some rock and roll time for me.”
Denny Seiwell – From DENNY SEIWELL: ON SIR PAUL’S WINGS – Jazz Weekly, April 2019
