karencarpenterfans
Tori Holub
In my own studies regarding the band, Carpenters, I have made it my mission in many ways to read up on them as much as possible. This includes finding rare magazines and articles, and digging through footage and newspaper archives for hours on end. Throughout the years, it has been referenced time and time again that Karen not only beat out Led Zeppelin's drummer, John Bonham, in a February 1975 Playboy reader's rock drummer poll, but that she also came in first place; However, there has never been a source attached to this claim. This said "fact" had passed through several music forums before more popular music sites got their hands on it. The seemingly copied and pasted article reads as follows:
Playboy Reader's Poll
1 .... Karen Carpenter
2 .... John Bonham
3 .... Ringo Starr
4 .... Keith Moon
5 .... Mick Fleetwood
True Story
Karen 'KC' Carpenter, after seeing that she won a Reader's Poll as being named
Playboy's 1975 Best Rock Drummer of the Year:
"I am both humbled and embarrassed by being named as the Best Rock Drummer.
There are many talented drummers out there, and to even be considered 'good'
is a tremendous recognition."
"I heard that John Bonham (of Led Zeppelin) is quite upset. I hope he is not
mad at me, as I had nothing to do with the poll. But, he said that I couldn't last
10-Minutes with Led Zeppelin."
"Well I just want him to know, that I love Led Zeppelin, and I can play a decent
set of songs that they recorded. Just watch me now."
Karen then jumped behind the 'Drum Kit', and handled herself quite well while
banging out "Babe, I'm Going to Leave You" while also singing the song and
not missing a beat.
Though it's a great story to tell, and that placement would have been well deserved, there is absolutely no evidence to support that she said any of this. It's also easier for me to see now that Karen wasn't one to even speak like that. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just can't imagine Karen even saying half of this quote. Some sites say that these quotes are from a television appearance. It has never been documented what show, and there are no videos of it on the web.
I was actually able to find and purchase a copy of the February 1975 issue of Playboy Magazine, featuring their set annual pop-rock polls. To my initial surprise, Karen did not, in fact, come in first in the 'Drumming' poll. She came in 10th place. Carpenters also came in 12th place for their 'Vocal Group' poll, beating Led Zeppelin by two placements. Although Karen didn't win the poll completely, she still managed to come out ahead of John Bonham, who was in 11th place. This may have been where wires crossed. There's no doubt that Bonham could've been offended by Karen beating him in this poll, but again, it's not confirmed. After posting about my findings on my Karen Carpenter Fans Tik Tok this week, some seemed to think it was almost a Mandela Effect that Karen had won. It is also possible that the poll results being referenced in these articles was actually from a different year or different magazine.
Here is a link to that Tik Tok: Carpenters Fans on TikTok
If it's true that Bonham said these things about how Karen Carpenter "couldn't last 10 minutes with Led Zeppelin," my question is, could John Bonham really last 10 minutes in a Carpenters set? Let's not get caught up on genre here. Carpenters and Led Zeppelin obviously had some drastic music style differences-- but in my personal opinion, the loudness and intensity of Led Zeppelin's music does not equate to them being better or more talented. Though Bonham obviously was a great drummer and played his way through many very difficult songs, both Karen and Richard have often been praised for their extreme precision and musical complexities. Plus, Karen was playing these complicated beats and solos while she was singing perfectly. If you played with the Carpenters, there was no room for mistakes. That fact has been reported by Tony Peluso among other band members. There really wasn't too much room for improv if you were going to be in the Carpenters' band on tour. This is why music critics of the early 1970s made such a huge fuss about their concerts sounding exactly like the record.
But just like she didn't need to do any vocal gymnastics, Karen didn't need to do somersaults off her snare drum to be great. Her singing, as well as her playing, was an art form from day one. She took her craft seriously even when others did not.
Regardless of the legitimacy of this poll, she still deserved to be in first place for so many reasons. I know she is in our hearts anyway. Karen, being as humble as she was, probably would have strongly disagreed. After all, her personal drumming idols, Buddy Rich and Ringo Starr, came in before her.
What are your guys thoughts on this poll? If anyone has anything to back up this supposed poll and these quotes being true, please let me know!
Playboy Reader's Poll
1 .... Karen Carpenter
2 .... John Bonham
3 .... Ringo Starr
4 .... Keith Moon
5 .... Mick Fleetwood
True Story
Karen 'KC' Carpenter, after seeing that she won a Reader's Poll as being named
Playboy's 1975 Best Rock Drummer of the Year:
"I am both humbled and embarrassed by being named as the Best Rock Drummer.
There are many talented drummers out there, and to even be considered 'good'
is a tremendous recognition."
"I heard that John Bonham (of Led Zeppelin) is quite upset. I hope he is not
mad at me, as I had nothing to do with the poll. But, he said that I couldn't last
10-Minutes with Led Zeppelin."
"Well I just want him to know, that I love Led Zeppelin, and I can play a decent
set of songs that they recorded. Just watch me now."
Karen then jumped behind the 'Drum Kit', and handled herself quite well while
banging out "Babe, I'm Going to Leave You" while also singing the song and
not missing a beat.
Though it's a great story to tell, and that placement would have been well deserved, there is absolutely no evidence to support that she said any of this. It's also easier for me to see now that Karen wasn't one to even speak like that. Maybe I'm wrong, but I just can't imagine Karen even saying half of this quote. Some sites say that these quotes are from a television appearance. It has never been documented what show, and there are no videos of it on the web.
I was actually able to find and purchase a copy of the February 1975 issue of Playboy Magazine, featuring their set annual pop-rock polls. To my initial surprise, Karen did not, in fact, come in first in the 'Drumming' poll. She came in 10th place. Carpenters also came in 12th place for their 'Vocal Group' poll, beating Led Zeppelin by two placements. Although Karen didn't win the poll completely, she still managed to come out ahead of John Bonham, who was in 11th place. This may have been where wires crossed. There's no doubt that Bonham could've been offended by Karen beating him in this poll, but again, it's not confirmed. After posting about my findings on my Karen Carpenter Fans Tik Tok this week, some seemed to think it was almost a Mandela Effect that Karen had won. It is also possible that the poll results being referenced in these articles was actually from a different year or different magazine.
Here is a link to that Tik Tok: Carpenters Fans on TikTok
If it's true that Bonham said these things about how Karen Carpenter "couldn't last 10 minutes with Led Zeppelin," my question is, could John Bonham really last 10 minutes in a Carpenters set? Let's not get caught up on genre here. Carpenters and Led Zeppelin obviously had some drastic music style differences-- but in my personal opinion, the loudness and intensity of Led Zeppelin's music does not equate to them being better or more talented. Though Bonham obviously was a great drummer and played his way through many very difficult songs, both Karen and Richard have often been praised for their extreme precision and musical complexities. Plus, Karen was playing these complicated beats and solos while she was singing perfectly. If you played with the Carpenters, there was no room for mistakes. That fact has been reported by Tony Peluso among other band members. There really wasn't too much room for improv if you were going to be in the Carpenters' band on tour. This is why music critics of the early 1970s made such a huge fuss about their concerts sounding exactly like the record.
But just like she didn't need to do any vocal gymnastics, Karen didn't need to do somersaults off her snare drum to be great. Her singing, as well as her playing, was an art form from day one. She took her craft seriously even when others did not.
Regardless of the legitimacy of this poll, she still deserved to be in first place for so many reasons. I know she is in our hearts anyway. Karen, being as humble as she was, probably would have strongly disagreed. After all, her personal drumming idols, Buddy Rich and Ringo Starr, came in before her.
What are your guys thoughts on this poll? If anyone has anything to back up this supposed poll and these quotes being true, please let me know!