Hollywood Star Honour for Brighton Drummer Steve Ferrone

A rock drummer has become a bona-fide legend after getting a star on a Rock Walk of Fame. Steve Ferrone was a member of the Average White Band and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

The Brighton-born drummer also played with heavyweights such as Eric Clapton and Chaka Khan.

Now, the 63-year-old has been given the honour of being inducted into the Guitar Centre’s Rock Walk of Fame in Hollywood.

He joins such rock luminaries as Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, and fellow-drummer Keith Moon.

The Albion fan said: “I was thrilled when told I was going to receive such a great honour.

“I have always been caught between being a session musician, and a band member, never being fully either except with Average White Band. So it was exceptionally sweet to be honoured for my contribution to music on every level.”

He also told how he was “humbled” to be in the presence of such rock gods in the Rock Walk. “The names on Rock Walk are legendary. I don’t know if I deserve to be among them, but am so honoured to know that the people that make those decisions feel that my work merits my inclusion, and I will continue to maintain the high standard of musicianship expected from me,” he said.

“I was told at school that being a drummer was not a real job. I guess I got my name in the Rock Walk of Fame for being a layabout.”

He added: “I was told I could put together any band I wanted to play with at the induction, so I pulled in friends from all aspects of my career.

“Hamish Stuart and Molly Duncan from AWB, Will Lee, and Larry Williams from my studio work, Oz Noy, a fantastic jazz guitarist from Israel, Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Dave Green, my drum tech who is always waiting to grab my seat if I collapse, and an amazing singer with Journey Steve Perry, who made the mistake of coming to rehearsal and jamming with us.

“It was a magical evening.”