The most influential musician of all time

Mark E. Smith can grumble about Pavement and every other band out there he claims lifted its sound from him, but Animal from the Muppets remains quiet and dignified about the fact he has infiltrated more press comparisons than the Velvet Underground. We're all guilty of it. Even me. See assorted clips from various sources below (I googled for the phrase "Animal from the Muppets"), and enjoy this link to Animal Vs. Buddy Rich, served up on Quicktime via Milk and Cookies.

On the VON BONDIES: "... fiery howl combined with Don Blum's manic pounding of the skins (much like Animal from The Muppets)."

On KEANE: "The pianist Tim was described by a friend like Animal from the Muppets on a piano and it was surprising that he never fell off of his stool!! "

On the FOO FIGHTERS: .".. He looked like Animal from the Muppets; all you could see was his hair flying and the blur of his arms banging away."

JUCIFER: "Ed is like Animal from the Muppets on the drums. Half the time his head is flipped back off his shoulders, his jaw flapping like a loose garden gate while all four of his limbs flail about violently."

TWINKLE: "Up Step Derby's Twinkie, all grins and laughing. Thrashing out songs from their new Crime e.p at break neck speed. Elvis plays the drums like Animal from the Muppets."

ANDREW HEWITT: Q: "When you were little, were you by any chance a fan of 'Animal' from the Muppets?"
A: "Yes most definitely, but what do you mean by 'were'? Hehe. My girlfriend and I still watch The Muppets religiously (thanks Disney Channel). We’re still big kids here. There is a lot of Animal's attitude and energy in me."

THE VOLTZ: "Gardner takes over the dense 'Wires Make the Man,' grumbling like Animal from the Muppets as he topples the drums and eats his way through a bassline. "

SOUNDEVICE: "On his tenth birthday, he got his own drum kit and began to beat on them like Animal from the Muppets."

THE SUBWAYS: "... You can’t keep your eyes off the pair and when you do Josh is drumming like Animal from the Muppets. On speed."

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE: "Try to picture the physical postures of Animal (from the Muppets) playing the drums, and you have a notion of the mannerisms that power an Animal Collective performance."

BRANT BJORK: "Too bad he left Fu Manchu. He was one of the most interesting drummers to watch. Magnum is bang on - he is exactly like Animal from the Muppets."

THE LIVING THINGS: "Bosh was like Animal from the Muppets; bashing the drums like a madman for the Stooges /New York Dolls with some Billy Idol style vocals from Lillian. "

THE ASSKICKERS: "Drummer 'Super Dave' Breed deserves accolades for power, versatility and precision, but it's easier to say he rocks out like Animal on The Muppets Show."

FOJIMOTO: "As the band delivered a drum-filled, folksy rendition of  'Jealous Guy,' Fotjik’s arms and head were flailing like Animal from the Muppets."

Comments

[Mark]

It's said that Animal from The Muppets didn't have many fans, but that in time each and every one of those fans went out and started a band.

[Parq]

Literary sighting. From Roddy Doyle's "The Commitments":

-Who're your influences, he'd asked Billy Mooney.

-Your man Animal from The Muppets.

[wee kee]

long live the muppets!

[Yolanda Krag]

i think they are influencial in their own way.