- Source: Anton Fig
Anton Fig (born 8 August 1952) is a South African session drummer, perhaps best known as the drummer and second-in-command for Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band. David Letterman, for whom the band served as house band on his late-night talk shows, often referred to Fig as "Anton Zip" or "Buddy Rich Jr." Fig is also well known for his work with Kiss, Ace Frehley and Joe Bonamassa.
Early career
Fig was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He began playing drums at the age of four. After performing in numerous successful local rock bands in Cape Town, becoming locally respected with bands like Hammak, he moved to Boston to further pursue his musical interests. His formal education included studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he studied jazz and classical disciplines, and graduated with honors in 1975. In 1976, he moved to New York City, where he began to establish a career as a freelance musician.
Fig was a member of the band Spider during both their album releases in 1980 and 1981 as well as on their 1982 album as newly renamed band Shanghai, together with famed producer Beau Hill and songwriter Holly Knight.
Fig was the drummer on Ace Frehley's 1978 eponymous solo album and subsequently became a member of the then ex-Kiss lead guitarist's solo project Frehley's Comet from 1984 to 1987. Fig also played drums on all but one song on Kiss' 1979 album Dynasty and every song on their 1980 album Unmasked; the use of Fig to replace usual drummer Peter Criss (producers thought Criss, who had a drug problem, had seen a deterioration of his skills) upset Criss, to the point where, after appearing in promotional videos and tours through Unmasked, he left the band.
Other artists Fig has worked with include Bob Dylan, Warren Zevon, B. B. King, Booker T and The MGs, Peter Frampton, Joan Armatrading, Cyndi Lauper, Link Wray, John Waite, Robert Gordon, Eric Johnson, Beth Hart, Oz Noy and Kix.
David Letterman
Fig was the drummer for the Paul Shaffer-led house band of David Letterman's late night television shows since 1986, when he debuted with "The World's Most Dangerous Band" on NBC's Late Night with David Letterman. When Letterman's show moved to CBS in 1993 and became Late Show with David Letterman, the band (and Fig) moved as well, adding a horn section and becoming known as the "CBS Orchestra".
During this tenure, Fig and the rest of the band have played with scores of artists including Miles Davis, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Winwood, Bonnie Raitt, and Tony Bennett. Fig also played parts in several of the show's comic sketches, including the recurring gag, "Anton Fig's Guess The Expiration Date", in which Fig would be blindfolded and fed a perishable food product and attempt to guess the expiration date on the item solely from tasting it. The CBS Orchestra has also backed up a host of artists in other venues, such as Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Little Richard, and also B. B. King at the closing ceremonies of the summer 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. They also backed Al Green, Gloria Estefan, 'N Sync, and Eric Clapton for VH1's Save the Music concert at the White House.
The World's Most Dangerous Band is also the house band for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Additionally, they were the backup band for The Concert for New York City where they performed with David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy, Macy Gray, and James Taylor.
On occasions when Paul Shaffer has been absent from The Late Show or has guest-hosted, especially since the death of previous substitute bandleader Warren Zevon in 2003, Fig has filled in as bandleader.
Other projects
Some of the many recordings Fig has made include selections with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Gary Moore, Shanghai, Ace Frehley, Joan Armatrading, Rosanne Cash, Joe Cocker, John Phillips, Warren Zevon, Sebastian Bach, Oz Noy, Jed Davis, Joe Satriani, Paul Butterfield, Link Wray and Chris Spedding.
He replaced Peter Criss on the Kiss albums Dynasty (1979) and Unmasked (1980), playing drums on all tracks for both albums (except Criss' song from Dynasty, "Dirty Livin'"). Due to Kiss' management attempting to cover up any personnel problems within the band, Fig would not be credited until years later, and Criss appears in the video for "Shandi" off the Unmasked album.
As a freelance drummer, Fig has also played live with Paul Simon, Booker T and the MG's, The Thompson Twins at Live Aid, and Jim Keltner for Bob Dylan's 30th anniversary concert celebration. In 1996, Fig released a drum instructional video and book titled In the Groove and Late Night Drumming, respectively.
In 2002, Fig completed his first solo record, Figments. Produced and co-written by Fig, the record represents three years of work and includes - among others singers and musicians - Richie Havens, Brian Wilson, Ivan Neville, Sebastian Bach, Ace Frehley, Al Kooper, Chris Spedding, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Blondie Chaplin, Paul Shaffer, Chris Botti, Randy Brecker, and Richard Bona.
In 2006, Fig worked with Blackmore's Night on The Village Lanterne. In 2007, Fig worked with Joe Bonamassa on his Sloe Gin album, in 2009 on his Ballad of John Henry album, and in 2014 on Different Shades of Blue.
On 4 May 2009, Fig joined Joe Bonamassa's band for their debut appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where Eric Clapton made a guest appearance. A DVD capturing this performance was subsequently released. Fig was featured on Ace Frehley's album Anomaly, released on 15 September 2009.
Discography
With Joan Armatrading
Me Myself I (A&M, 1980)
With Frank Black
Honeycomb (Black Porch, 2005)
With Joe Bonamassa
Sloe Gin (J&R, 2007)
The Ballad of John Henry (J&R, 2009)
Black Rock (J&R, 2010)
Dust Bowl (J&R, 2011)
Driving Towards the Daylight (Provogue, 2012)
Different Shades of Blue (Provogue, 2014)
Blues of Desperation (J&R, 2016)
Redemption (Provogue, 2018)
Royal Tea (Provogue, 2020)
Time Clocks (J&R, 2021)
With Martin Briley
Dangerous Moments (Mercury, 1984)
With Paul Butterfield
The Legendary Paul Butterfield Rides Again (Amherst, 1986)
With Rosanne Cash
Rhythm & Romance (Columbia, 1985)
With The B. Christopher Band
Surfing With A Vintage Lady (2021)
With Clarence Clemons
Hero (Columbia, 1985)
With Joe Cocker
Cocker (Capitol, 1986)
With Steve Cropper
Fire It Up (Provogue, 2021)
With Rodney Crowell
Street Language (CBS Records, 1986)
With Karla DeVito
Is This a Cool World or What? (Epic, 1981)
With Bob Dylan
Empire Burlesque (Columbia, 1985)
Knocked Out Loaded (Columbia, 1986)
With Europe
Bag of Bones (Edel, 2012)
With Peter Frampton
Rise Up (A&M, 1980)
With Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley (Casablanca, 1978)
Frehley's Comet (Atlantic, 1987)
Trouble Walkin' (Atlantic, 1989)
Anomaly (Bronx Born, 2009)
Spaceman (Entertainment, 2018)
10,000 Volts (MNRK Music Group, 2024)
With The Graces
Perfect View (A&M Records, 1989)
With Josh Groban
Awake (143, 2006)
With Beth Hart
Bang Bang Boom Boom (Provogue, 2012)
With Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa
Don't Explain (J&R, 2011)
Seesaw (J&R, 2013)
Black Coffee (J&R, 2018)
With Mick Jagger
She's the Boss (Columbia, 1985)
With Garland Jeffreys
American Boy & Girl (A&M, 1979)
With Kiss
Dynasty (Casablanca, 1979)
Unmasked (Casablanca, 1980)
With Al Kooper
Rekooperation (Music Masters, 1994)
Black Coffee (Favored Nations, 2005)
White Chocolate (Sony, 2008)
With Cyndi Lauper
She's So Unusual (Portrait, 1983)
True Colors (Portrait, 1986)
Hat Full of Stars (Epic, 1993)
With Andy LaVerne
Severe Clear (SteepleChase, 1990)
Standard Eyes (SteepleChase, 1990)
With Madonna
Erotica (Warner Bros., 1992)
With Delbert McClinton
Never Been Rocked Enough (Curb, 1992)
With Gary Moore
After Hours (Charisma, 1992)
With Jennifer Rush
Heart over Mind (Columbia, 1987)
With Joe Satriani
Engines of Creation (Epic, 2000)
With Paul Shaffer
Coast to Coast (Capitol, 1989)
The World's Most Dangerous Party (SBK, 1993)
With Patty Smyth
Never Enough (Columbia, 1987)
With Billy Squier
Hear & Now (Capitol, 1989)
With The Rolling Stones
Dirty Work (Columbia, 1986)
With Henry Lee Summer
Henry Lee Summer (Epic, 1988)
With Chris Thompson
High Cost of Living (Atlantic Records, 1986)
With John Waite
Rover's Return (EMI, 1987)
With The Williams Brothers
Two Stories (Warner Bros., 1987)
With Warren Zevon
My Ride's Here (Artemis, 2002)
References
External links
Official website
2014 Audio Interview with Anton Fig from the Podcast "I'd Hit That
Anton Fig at IMDb
Rockin in the USA - Bands Touched by KISS - By Anthony Camponelli - KISSONLINE.COM | Archive
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