David Barbarossa

David Barbarossa (born 1961,Strong, M. C. The Great Rock Discography. Pg. 5. Giunti, 1998. ISBN 8809215222, 9788809215221 London) is a British drummer.

As part of both Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow, Barbarossa was instrumental in creating the "Tribal" drumming trend that was popular among British and some American bands, circa 1979–1983. The two most famous examples of this style were Bow Wow Wow and Adam and the Ants, but it also included John Lydon's Public Image Ltd., The Cult, and Killing Joke, and was even a strong influence on Phil Collins's breakthrough solo single, "In the Air Tonight".

The revolutionary Tribal drum sound was heavily influenced by African Burundi drumming and featured backing beats played mostly on the tom-toms instead of traditional rock beats as played on cymbal, kick drum, and snare. This method created a rich, dramatic, and primeval atmosphere that had not previously been employed in a rock context, and was used extensively by post-punk bands of this era. Later bands, such as Jane's Addiction, Korn, Slipknot and many current bands have been influenced by this style.

Later on, in the mid-1990s, Barbarossa was in the Electronica – New Wave band, Republica, which had some chart success in England and America with the songs "Ready to Go" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous".

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