Strangelove
Gold Member
Interesting topic. I have often felt both ways in this conversation. Sometimes true drumming seems like a departure from straight beats, then again we are the heartbeat of the band, too, and we can't forget we are the foundation where it all should start from. I like the way The Doors' John Denmore puts it: "I play the drums.....The drum was the first f'ing instrument. The reason people move and dance is that they're trying to get back to that heartbeat. It's the heartbeat you hear in the womb that started the whole deal. An orchestra, a four-piece rock band, whatever it is, they're trying to get back to that heartbeat." I think those are some of the wisest words to ever justify playing the drums.
But I agree, listening to guys like Watts can be boring as a drummer. OTOH, listening to modern groups like Dragonforce can very appealing to our ears, but maybe not to others. As drummers can you imagine a lead guitar player soloing throughout every song and never playing chords? Even Hendrix never did that, and if he had, nobody would have particularly liked it except the guitar players. Or Louis Johnson beating his Bass into oblivion from intro to extro? Only bass players could probably appreciate that, too. Also, as far as the Stones are concerned, I don't think that Richards or Wyman share any more respect from the guitar and bass crowd than we give ole Watts around here. But they all come up with catchy rythms with nice melodies that sell records, even with the void of musical talent that the Stones are collectively notorious for.
Sometimes I think the modern drumset has gotten stale. Think about it. Has the set really changed much since the 1930's? And where did the idea of the snare come from? Does everybody really like the snare? Maybe we ought to think of coming up with a new sound and a new rythm as drummers. I used to love the sound of one of Neal Peart's drums on his solos - it sounded like a crack of thunder. I'm sure it was an electric trigger, but imagine an acoustic drum that could sound like that!
But I agree, listening to guys like Watts can be boring as a drummer. OTOH, listening to modern groups like Dragonforce can very appealing to our ears, but maybe not to others. As drummers can you imagine a lead guitar player soloing throughout every song and never playing chords? Even Hendrix never did that, and if he had, nobody would have particularly liked it except the guitar players. Or Louis Johnson beating his Bass into oblivion from intro to extro? Only bass players could probably appreciate that, too. Also, as far as the Stones are concerned, I don't think that Richards or Wyman share any more respect from the guitar and bass crowd than we give ole Watts around here. But they all come up with catchy rythms with nice melodies that sell records, even with the void of musical talent that the Stones are collectively notorious for.
Sometimes I think the modern drumset has gotten stale. Think about it. Has the set really changed much since the 1930's? And where did the idea of the snare come from? Does everybody really like the snare? Maybe we ought to think of coming up with a new sound and a new rythm as drummers. I used to love the sound of one of Neal Peart's drums on his solos - it sounded like a crack of thunder. I'm sure it was an electric trigger, but imagine an acoustic drum that could sound like that!