Rock Monsters Romania

Simon Phillips, one of the world’s greatest drummers, is coming to Sala Luceafărul on June 9. The event is organized by Backstage cu Ristei and produced by KIMARO Entertainment. Florin Ristei offered unique insights about the legendary musician and the concept behind this special event.

On June 9, at Sala Luceafărul, musicians, drum enthusiasts, and music lovers alike will experience “An Evening with Simon Phillips,” an event centered around one of the most influential drummers of all time. Ristei explained that his fascination with Phillips began in 2006, shortly after moving to Bucharest, when a friend lent him a cassette featuring a live concert by Toto.

“He plays the drums — he doesn’t just hit them!” exclaimed Ristei admiringly. “He’s also an extraordinary storyteller. It will be a true experience in every sense of the word, which is why we wanted it to be called ‘An Evening with Simon Phillips,’ not just a simple concert.”

Ristei also revealed the story behind the invitation: it all started with a very special drum kit he recently purchased, which had actually belonged to Simon Phillips himself.

“The drum kit was custom-made for Simon by Tama in 1997.” This acquisition helped establish direct contact with the artist. “I sent him an email asking whether the drum kit had really been his, and he replied immediately. So I took the opportunity, invited him to Bucharest for our podcast, and proposed organizing this event,” the artist explained.

A hybrid concept: recital and Q&A session

The evening of June 9 will not be a conventional concert. The event will be structured as a mix between a recital and a Q&A session, during which Simon Phillips will explain the music he performs, analyze the mechanisms behind the compositions, and reveal his philosophy about the instrument. The audience will enjoy moments of jazz fusion and rock, including famous songs from Toto as well as excerpts from his project Protocol.

About Simon Phillips

Known in the music industry as the “secret weapon” of major producers, Simon Phillips is one of the world’s most efficient and respected drummers, renowned for his ability to record complex tracks in no more than three takes. His career began spectacularly in his teenage years, when he performed percussion on the soundtrack of the famous movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and continued through collaborations with titans such as:

• Pete Townshend (The Who) — who saw him as the only successor to Keith Moon.
• Jeff Beck — alongside whom he set new standards of speed and technique in fusion music.
• Tears for Fears and David Coverdale — where he demonstrated incredible versatility between surgical precision and rock energy.

His importance was further solidified by the 21 years he spent in Toto, where he took on the nearly impossible task of replacing the legendary Jeff Porcaro. Far from being a mere copy, Simon transformed the band’s sound, infusing it with jazz-fusion and progressive rock influences while also taking on the role of producer and mixing engineer.

His appearance in Bucharest, under the banner of Backstage cu Ristei, represents a rare opportunity to meet a complete artist who has shaped the sound of modern music. On June 9, he will share his experience with Romania’s community of musicians and fans at Sala Luceafărul.

An event by Backstage cu Ristei, produced by KIMARO Entertainment and promoted by Rock FM.

Tickets are available on get-in.ro.