Nov07
11
The Real Gods Of Drumming
I’m a drummer - it’s a lesser known Stopforth fact 
I play weekly in our church band and on the very odd occasion when I get some spare time - not having a kit at home limits my opportunities to practice and play. Considering I’ve been playing some time now I’m a pretty average drummer. I don’t think I’m terrible, but certainly could’ve done better with the time I’ve had (although, couldn’t we all?)
So lately I’ve been hungry to learn some new percussive skills and I turned to YouTube for my answers - I have not been disappointed. YouTube is a veritable treasure trove of content for anything, but specifically for tips and hints about those elusive things you can’t find anywhere else. It’s the Long Tail of citizen education!
In my travels, I discovered this amazing video. You probably won’t recognise these names, but Steve Gadd, Dave Weckl and Vinnie Colaiuta are unsung heroes of the drumming world. They’re those sickeningly talented humans who call themselves ’session musicians’ - guys who are so good they don’t belong in just one band, but are so in demand they get paid a fortune to record and album, or tour with a solo artist like Sting or Paul Simon for some time. They’re not like the drummer of Korn or the Dave Matthews Band who you know and love - these are faces often hidden to us ordinary folks (and that’s not just because of the shocking 80’s hair).
Watch and enjoy these true gods of the percussive art on one stage together. Regardless of whether you play and instrument, or even like music or not, this is something to behold. Enjoy
When Sting toured South Africa some years ago, Vinnie Colaiuta was his drummer. Vinnie fell ill and Sting had seen Tananas play and was impressed with Ian Herman, their drummer.
He asked Herman to fill in at a week’s notice. Which he did with aplomb.
That was just sick.
One thing I notice more and more is that so many of these uber talented session drummers use the military style grip with their left hands. Why doesn’t everyone?
This comment actually has more to do with Youtube than with drumming. It just struck me that YouTube actually does pretty well as a learning tool. I’ve only ever used YouTube to entertain myself… And a lot of people have reportedly used it to show off their acting and editing skills. So you’re tuning in to YouTube to learn more percussion skills. My little brother who’s still in grade school always logs on to YouTube to learn the how-to’s of the computer and other complicated tricks. It’s pretty amazing when I think about it.
Hey IITQ - yeah I heard so. The Tanans ‘Alive in Jo’burg’ album, recorded live at the old Bassline in Melville, remains one of the best live performances I’ve ever heard of any band, ever. It’s a scintillating display of dynamic and melodic brilliance.
@Rob - that orthodox grip was standard procedure for the grand daddy’s of modern drumming - Buddy Rich and co. - and has gradually phased out although has not lost it’s relevance. Most good drummers, actually excellent drummer, are proficient with both grips.