Drummers-who was your inspiration and what is your style?

[meat puppet]

I started drumming two years ago and I am gradually developing my own peculiar style. I have always been at odds with my drum tutor (we respect each others styles) as he is more of a funk drummer like is hero Dave Weckl.

Now I had no real idea where my style came from until listening to the Battles album-Mirrored. The drummer, John Stanier plays the way I do (a lot better of course) and its the first time I have come across a drummer with that particular style. Stanier says one of his influences is Carl Palmer (Carl was influenced by Buddy Rich) and he was certainly a big influence on me at the time and still is now, but that is not my style or Staniers.

This had me searching for the answer and a review of Battles album revealed the answer. Described as a weird guitar sound over Glitter Band drumming !!
That is exactly why I wanted to drum......The Glitter Bands 'Hey Song'. It was almost embarassing that my style has really been based on a 70s Glam Rock band (but then maybe that is the same with John Stanier, he just hasn't realised it as yet).

Things are not as dire as they seem as it seems that the Glitter Band drummer was a Mr Peter Phipps who went on to work with many bands (The Eurythmics, XTC, Peter Gabriel) and his influencial early work is well respected.........phew, I feel better now.:lol:

So, what was your influence........be honest and has this had an impact on your style ??

[Arthur Fowler]

I haven't played for 20 years ( :( ), but I played quite a lot from 13 to 21 (before my drums got traded in for a wife :cry:), but I was heavily influenced by Brian Downey (Thin Lizzy) more than anyone.

Saw some good drummers back then, but don't think they especially influenced me. One who stood out (despite me not liking the band) was Mel Gaynor (Simple Minds).

I listed to a number of bands who Cozy Powell played with, but I'm fairly optimistic (hopeful) that he didn't influence me too much ;)

[atmn78]

I wanted to play the drums when I saw woodstock. The part with santana and the drum solo. Great drummer.

[Arthur Fowler]

Oh yes, and Neil Peart influenced me too :thumbs:

[meat puppet]

Oh yes, and Neil Peart influenced me too :thumbs:

I think he influenced everyone at some time in his career.........however I bet you dont play like him :lol:

[TheoGB]

I always wanted to drum like Dave Grohl. Unfortunately I could never master right foot and right hand independence so I've never been able to get it together.

I spent ages and ages trying to play the drum beat to Scentless Apprentice (to my mind one of the great drum hooks of all time) but I've never got close.

That said, I've gone back to recordings of me playing with bands in the past and been surprised by how good my drumming is in terms of inventiveness and timing.

My inspiration is generally to play drums like a guitarist approaches a song, but then that's what I am. Essentially I get very bored by very straight drums that aren't sympathetic to a song.

[ratso-rizzo]

Clem Burke - Blondie
Mark Brzezicki - Big Country / The Cult
John Bonham - Led Zep

Style is, not surprisingly, a combination of all three....though nowhere near as good as any of them unfortunately....

Ratso

[Hood]

I am inspired by Danny Carey and Matt McDonough but can't even get close to their technical quality or timing. I don't really play any more though.

[meat puppet]

I am inspired by Danny Carey and Matt McDonough but can't even get close to their technical quality or timing. I don't really play any more though.

Its hard not to be inspired by Danny Carey. I watched Tool play at Manchester a couple of weeks ago ,sat in the Circle, everyone sitting down, not my usual, but it was great to finally be able to see Danny play every piece up close.

The more I watch Danny, the more I think that he is probably too good for Tool, he really is the band and his playing has just got better and better.
Have to wonder if Tool have reached their limit ?

Never heard Matt McDonough, although I know Mudvayne, Have never had a listen.

[meat puppet]

John Bonham - Led Zep



:nono:Nope, you cant cite JB as an influence as every other drummer has already cited him as an influence and you have been influenced by them.......in other words its a cop out :lol:

Clem is a great rock drummer, very close to Dave Grohl in power. Always good for the old drummers never die joke.....they just keep getting faster and faster :)

[Hood]

Never heard Matt McDonough, although I know Mudvayne, Have never had a listen.

The bassist, Ryan Martinie, is equally as good. So whether the music is your cup or tea or not, you'll appreciate the rhythm section.

Also drummers that have inspired me to cry at how crap I am are Vinnie Paul and Mike Bordin.

[bertieblueshirt]

The biggest inspiration for me was seeing the guy who is now my drum tutor playing a blistering performance with his band. I remember being amazed and thinking WTF? How the hell is he playing that stuff?!?

I had started drumming around 15 years before this milestone event and being originally inspired by the music of Metallica and wanting to sound like Lars Ulrich. This was very much a case of running before I could walk though and I hadn't got the patience to learn 'properly' I just wanted to sound like Lars and Dave Lombardo and I developed very poor playing technique as a result.

I'm pleased to say that all that has changed now and since taking lessons over the last two years my playing technique is significantly improved (much looser grip, relaxed arms/shoulders, thumbs to the side, using moeller technique where appropriate and making the stick do most of the work).

[Bleeders]

Ooo, drum topic. Lemme see, Danny Carey (Tool) is a big influence, he keeps things interesting and often plays parts that often make you wonder if there's TWO people behind a kit, mainly because for his use of mixing acoustic and electric drums/tablas/sounds drums into his setup. Great technical ability, an absolute beast on the drums!

Chris Pienne (ex-Dillinger Escape Plan) - Fantastic technique, great technical ability.

Gil Sharone (Dillinger Escape Plan/Stolen Babies) - Again, like Pienne, fantastic technical ability, plays with feel and knows how to groove.

Jean-Paul Gaster (Clutch) - Awesome, really exhibits a keen sense of groove with his parts.

Dave Grohl (Foos/Nirvana) - Brilliant drummer, learnt a lot whilst learning my trade listening to him.

Chad Smith (Chilis) - Again, like Grohl, a good influence.

[meat puppet]

Chris Pienne (ex-Dillinger Escape Plan) - Fantastic technique, great technical ability.



and off to Coheed and Cambria .......heh heh, cant wait to see how this mixes things up.

By the way, if your a Dillinger fan and oop North (newcastle upon Tyne) I have two tickets for their gig in November.........I would rather someone have them than they go to waste (I am double booked on a course in London that week).

[SIMON ADEBISI]

Dave Lombardo in my short short stint. How on earth he keeps those double basses going ill never know.

[meat puppet]

I'm pleased to say that all that has changed now and since taking lessons over the last two years my playing technique is significantly improved (much looser grip, relaxed arms/shoulders, thumbs to the side, using moeller technique where appropriate and making the stick do most of the work).

I still cant get that to work for me, it's easiest when playing double strokes, but I really struggle to make it work for fast tempo loud beats particularly with shuffle. my tutor keeps telling me it will happen with practise........but I want it all and I want it right now :)

[meat puppet]

Dave Lombardo in my short short stint. How on earth he keeps those double basses going ill never know.

Even more fascinating is watching him play live with the Fantomas......UFBelievable. The stop start dynamics of the Fantomas makes Slayers music seem like beginner stuff. Its not just the drumming though, he is an all round percussionist that can play glock, bells, Xylo.....well anything really.

[SIMON ADEBISI]

What did you think of his Grip Inc stuff?

[meat puppet]

What did you think of his Grip Inc stuff?

Never listened to them. I heard they were similar to Machine Head.

You should take a listen to the Fantomas suspended animation album though. A very aquired taste but that level of drumming ability is awesome. However I do have to remind myself that Terry Bozzio managed to transcribe a whole gig in one take from scratch and then just went and played it note for note :eek: That is seriously tallented. I saw Terry play at a drum clinic a year ago and he was asked about taking the drum throne from Lombardo, he just shrugged and said it was no big deal and he would be very unlikely to join the band................and the proceeded to blow us all away with his solo............I was sat there thinking "this isn't normal".

If you get a chance to see a drum clinic it really is an eye (or ear) opener. We have Dave Weckl coming up to darlington in January............:brickwall gawd, another chance to find out just how talentless I really am :lol:

[tpr007]

I took up drumming because I wanted to play along to Queen :D So, I guess my inspiration was Roger Taylor.

I've been most impressed when watching Buddy Rich and Neil Peart play, so If I could be like anyone it would be them.

[bertieblueshirt]

I still cant get that to work for me, it's easiest when playing double strokes, but I really struggle to make it work for fast tempo loud beats particularly with shuffle. my tutor keeps telling me it will happen with practise........but I want it all and I want it right now :)

I'm sure your tutor's right, as with all things drumming it'll come in time and with practise. I found Dave Weckll's explaination of playing loose and using moeller in his How To Practice/Developing Technique dvds particularly useful so check em out if you can.

I'm still not 100% relaxed 100% of the time when I play. I've started playing with a covers band which is a great way to improve your experience of playing different styles. We're playing a wedding on 14th and the bride to be has asked for Shania Twain's Man! I Feel Like A Woman. We ran thru it on Sunday and I initially got the shuffle pattern that Paul Leim plays on it no problem with a great feel but then when I looked down at my hands and thought 'ooo look at me it's working!!' I started to think about what I was doing, then I tensed up and it started getting sloppy and I lost the groove momentarily. Only way to improve it in time for the big day as far as I can see is to practise and practise it as much as possible, then make sure I warm up before we go on and have one pint and one pint only during the interval!

[Bleeders]

and off to Coheed and Cambria .......heh heh, cant wait to see how this mixes things up.

By the way, if your a Dillinger fan and oop North (newcastle upon Tyne) I have two tickets for their gig in November.........I would rather someone have them than they go to waste (I am double booked on a course in London that week).


Thanks for that mate, stuck here down Sarf though, sadly.

Pienne's playing on the new Idiot Pilot album is quite refined - for him. Good album that as well.

[meat puppet]

I'm sure your tutor's right, as with all things drumming it'll come in time and with practise. I found Dave Weckll's explaination of playing loose and using moeller in his How To Practice/Developing Technique dvds particularly useful so check em out if you can.

I'm still not 100% relaxed 100% of the time when I play. I've started playing with a covers band which is a great way to improve your experience of playing different styles. We're playing a wedding on 14th and the bride to be has asked for Shania Twain's Man! I Feel Like A Woman. We ran thru it on Sunday and I initially got the shuffle pattern that Paul Leim plays on it no problem with a great feel but then when I looked down at my hands and thought 'ooo look at me it's working!!' I started to think about what I was doing, then I tensed up and it started getting sloppy and I lost the groove momentarily. Only way to improve it in time for the big day as far as I can see is to practise and practise it as much as possible, then make sure I warm up before we go on and have one pint and one pint only during the interval!


:lol:I can sympathise. We were practising a Meat Puppet song and I was pushed into singing the lyrics......"aw go on, we dont know the words etc" Stuck the microphone in my gob and proceeded to have a bash. I was amazed I could manage to sing and play at the same time. So amazed that I was somehow watching myself drum and trying to copy myself at the same time (like listening to another drummer and trying to match the grooves), very weird feeling which did'nt stop the drumming but ended up in spasmodic singing in which the main groove had a vocal and the fills were 'sans' vocals.

[Lambchop]

Jon Theodore from the mars volta - great rock style but with undercurrents of latin, and he's fantastic at improv too. I'm not sure how some of his solos can physically be so fast either!!