Career
He was a child prodigy who first recorded as a drummer at age eight and began touring professionally at fourteen. Drayton is responsible for one of the most famous drum tracks in popular, playing the infectious beat on The B-52"s "Love Shack". Keith Richards describes Drayton as one of his all-time favorite drummers.
Charley played bass guitar alongside Neil Young, featuring in the legendary September 30, 1989 Saturday Night Live performance of Rockin in the Free World
In 2012 he co-produced Fiona Apple"s grammy nominated album The Idler Wheel.
Charley played with Australian rock band Divinyls from 1991–2008. Amphlett died on April 21, 2013 after a long battle with breast cancer.
As bassist, Drayton toured and recorded with Richards and the Winos until December 1992, and played on their albums Talk Is Cheap and Main Offender, and the live album and video Live at the Hollywood Palladium, December 15, 1988. He played bass guitar on The Cult"s 1991 album Ceremony.
He played drums on two albums for Australian band Divinyls: 1991"s Divinyls and 1996"s Underworld (which he also produced), the band"s last album before their hiatus in late 1996.
In 2007, Divinyls reformed and Drayton played drums in their touring band and in their new recording sessions, also producing the band"s new album. Amphlett died of complications from breast cancer and multiple sclerosis on April 21, 2013. in 2008 and 2009 he recorded and toured with Paul Simon. In 2010 he toured with Simon & Garfunkel.
Paul Simon said "Charley"s the heart of the band and I"m very grateful that I have him.
He comes in prepared, real serious and he’s a delight.He’s an all around great musician and a fine, fine drummer."
Drayton co-produced and played various instruments on Fiona Apple"s album The Idler Wheel.., released in June 2012. He has been recording and touring with Australian rock band Cold Chisel since 2011, following the death of original drummer Steve Prestwich
In 2015 he played drums on French chart topper Johnny Hallyday"s album De L"Amour, as well as on the number two charting album by Japanese artist Kazuyoshi Saito.
His father, Bernard Drayton, was a prolific studio audio engineer and producer. Bernard was the audio engineer for John Coltrane"s last recording, The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording.
