WFD - WORLD'S FASTEST DRUMMER

LiquidSoul546 · #1 07-23-2005, 10:37 PM

World's Fastest Drummer. What do you think? Personally I think it just brings out the stereotypical drummer. It has little to do with music. But, let me here your thoughts!
peace

finnhiggins · #2 07-23-2005, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidSoul546

World's Fastest Drummer. What do you think? Personally I think it just brings out the stereotypical drummer. It has little to do with music. But, let me here your thoughts!
peace

They'd be better off having a competition over something else they could do fast with their wrists. It would make the acronym into a palindrome, too.

Barry · #3 07-24-2005, 04:51 AM

Does everything have to be about music? I'm practicing bare-hand drumming for when the WFD comes to New York. I might win something. Prizes are good, and speed is good too. If a drummer decides to put too much roll in his music to show off his speed, that's his problem. I won't. I don't do music anyway.

finnhiggins · #4 07-24-2005, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry

Does everything have to be about music?

Oh god no. But playing a musical instrument probably should be.

DogBreath · #5 07-24-2005, 05:07 AM

lol

. . . . . .

RTDRUMS · #6 07-24-2005, 06:27 AM

Anything to get someone playing the drums is cool by me. Mike Mangini did a clinic at the store I teach at and we billed it as "The Worlds Fastest Drummer" (for those who dont know mike ,he set the record for single stroke rolls with 1203 in 60secs. thats 20.5 hit a second. damn!!) it drew a lot of attention even from our local tv news and newspaper. I suspect that if we would have told people Mike Mangini was doing a clinic I guarantee it wouldnt have done as well. The fact that he can drum fast drew alot of attention from normal people. Also, being the worlds fastest drummer is a good credential

So I give props to the WFD, even though speed drumming has very little to do with drumming in music, it is an added challange to the instrument. And I love drumming challanges.

LiquidSoul546 · #7 07-24-2005, 06:44 AM

See, that's why i hate it. It just brings that stereotypical view to drummers that all they are, are speed freaks, that don't deserve the respect of being actual musicians. That's what burns me. And no disrespect, but i heard mike mangini was cocky at clinics? true? Or is my source wrong?
peace

finnhiggins · #8 07-24-2005, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidSoul546

See, that's why i hate it. It just brings that stereotypical view to drummers that all they are, are speed freaks, that don't deserve the respect of being actual musicians. That's what burns me. And no disrespect, but i heard mike mangini was cocky at clinics? true? Or is my source wrong?
peace

You mean more cocky than he seems on that WFD video where, after winning, he starts rabbiting on about how he was using a really hefty stick too and that everybody else was wimping out and using light ones?

LiquidSoul546 · #9 07-24-2005, 06:59 AM

Haha, i didn't hear that one. But one of my friends saw him in a clinic and just said how he just tried to show off his speed the whole time, and he didn't really learn anything
peace

RTDRUMS · #10 07-24-2005, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiquidSoul546

See, that's why i hate it. It just brings that stereotypical view to drummers that all they are, are speed freaks, that don't deserve the respect of being actual musicians. That's what burns me. And no disrespect, but i heard mike mangini was cocky at clinics? true? Or is my source wrong?
peace

pretty true. but the title of WFD is what helped bring people to the clinic. All that hype and he never even talked about how he goes so fast. must be personal.

Barry · #11 07-24-2005, 07:51 AM

Quote:

he starts rabbiting on about how he was using a really hefty stick

On the Tonight Show, Buddy Rich said he used a thicker stick than most drummers, but his older videos don't show him with an especially thick stick. It's kind of worth mentioning. It's interesting that someone going for speed would choose a thick stick, but after reading how often some people's sticks break, it makes sense. Maybe wood is the wrong material for drumsticks.

Elvin4ever · #12 08-01-2005, 02:59 PM

This past Saturday, I saw an amazing 15 year old kid from Flint Michigan named Matt Smith easily outplay his competition at a very large drum set competition in Cuyahoga Falls Ohio. He was by far the most musical drummer of the entire event in any age category. He played in a jazz style with sensitivity, originality, dynamics...the whole thing. Then he went over to the WFD portion of this event and demolished his competitors with something like 1020 single strokes in sixty seconds. Afterwards I spoke to his father who was a Fulbright Professor of Music. He said that he believed the WFD had been good for his son because it gave him incentive to practice fundamentals. He agreed that if his kid was about nothing else than WFD there would be a problem. But suppossedly the professor kept noticing that only the better all around players were winning these WFD events anyway. He also said that Matt had just finished a second place showing at the very competitive Louie Bellson National Drum Contest. You can't do that and be just about winning WFD. So I suppose you should probably be grounded well in other things before going gung ho with worlds fastest drummer.

AurelienPK · #13 08-01-2005, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTDRUMS

Mike Mangini did a clinic at the store I teach at and we billed it as "The Worlds Fastest Drummer" (for those who dont know mike ,he set the record for single stroke rolls with 1203 in 60secs. .

I find the 1203 strokes in 60seconds hard to believe...

"Clinician Johnny Rabb earned the distinction of "World's Fastest Drummer," as recognized by the Guinness World Records, by playing 1,071 single strokes in 60 seconds on a live broadcast of VH1's Rock and Roll Record Breakers."

There is a contradiction!!
And as for the 15 year old drummer. Is he really that fast? That's nearly Rabb's speed!

I think speed isn't everything and this WFD does stereotype drummers as "fast hitting machines". Of course, speed, can be and is important but the fastest drummers are not the best ones.

Barry · #14 08-01-2005, 03:38 PM

You can see the stats of the fastest drummers at http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/wfdchampions.htm

http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/jotanafanador.htm
http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/sethdavis.htm
http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/mikemangini.htm
http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/johnnyrabb.htm
http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/artverdi.htm
http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/timwaterson.htm

There's no contradiction. Different people held the record at different times.

AurelienPK · #15 08-01-2005, 03:46 PM

do any videos exist?

Barry · #16 08-01-2005, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AurelienPK

do any videos exist?

Here's one. See http://www.extremesportdrumming.com/wfdtv.htm for more.

Elvin4ever · #17 08-01-2005, 07:46 PM

Hi AurelienPK,

Not only did the 15 year old kid play that fast, the event was witnessed by Johnny Rabb himself who was the principal clinician at the festival. The festival coordinator then asked Rabb to come up on stage to show everyone how it was done. Rabb then proceeded to play 60 strokes slower than the kid. To Matt Smith's credit, he quickly told everyone that Rabb had not been given a chance to warm up, and that Rabb was absolutely a better and more musical percussionist than he was. This was a classy gesture for one so young. I have being seeing this Smith kid at a lot of drum events this summer. He is the real deal and he comes from a family of world class musicians. I will not be surprised at all to hear that he wins the world championships in January. Supposedly he has only been competing in WFD and set competitions since June.

#18 08-01-2005, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finnhiggins

Oh god no. But playing a musical instrument probably should be.

Who said anything about musical instruments? I thought we were all drummers! LOL!

Freddie Freeloader · #19 08-01-2005, 08:45 PM

i don't use a lot of speed in my playing, but watching these guys play is definitely very inspiring and i've been pushing myself to reach certain levels of speed and endurance.... and even though my playing style doesn't really incorporate a lot of speed, i've found my playing has improved quite a bit in the last few months..... i've been watching some mangini and donati videos and i have to say they DID have quite an impact on me.
you won't catch me listening to lots of 'chop-heavy' music very often, but when i need a reason to start working on something new, those few cds at the back of my cd cabinet definitely show me what dedication and hard work can do for your technical abilities.
there's nothing wrong with these wfd tournaments. i think its great, and exposes more people to drumming...

#20 08-01-2005, 11:07 PM

Matt Smith got 1000bpm on the competition.....I posted the article.....I actually know him and his dad a bit..............two nice people.....Matt will be the fastest within 2 years is my prediciton. Matt also practices 5 -6 hours a day......must be nice to have that kind of time...enjoy it while your young....hehe

His big influences are Tony Williams and Elvin Jones....he studies them to the 'T'

Freddie Freeloader · #21 08-02-2005, 05:06 AM

i get kinda scared thinking about what people will be doing with drumming 5 years from now. especially with this whole new speed craze.....
the only way to keep up is to PRACTICE! hahaha.

hotsauce3n · #22 08-02-2005, 05:11 AM

its interesting but after about 10 minutes of watching these speed demons it gets old hearing a straight double stroke roll... id rather listen to some real drummers with an actual musical groove

also its all just physical... if someone spends enough time on building chops anyone can be the WFD so its just who wants to waste there time

MaxRoach · #23 08-02-2005, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotsauce3n

its interesting but after about 10 minutes of watching these speed demons it gets old hearing a straight double stroke roll... id rather listen to some real drummers with an actual musical groove

also its all just physical... if someone spends enough time on building chops anyone can be the WFD so its just who wants to waste there time

But if you look at it that way, what's the point of sports? If you look at the Olympics, everyone is just in it to be the fastest. It's the same deal and ultimately, it's all for fun and competition. It's not like people have CD's of single stroke rolls or anything.....it's just a neat way to make music fun and win some prizes.

Freddie Freeloader · #24 08-02-2005, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotsauce3n

also its all just physical... if someone spends enough time on building chops anyone can be the WFD so its just who wants to waste there time

you have a point there. technically, there is little you can't do if you practice enough.

Elvin4ever · #25 08-02-2005, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddie Freeloader

you have a point there. technically, there is little you can't do if you practice enough.

A youngster is supposed to be working on fundamentals. Therefore if a teenager enters WFD events to become a better all around percussionist what's the problem?
You are right. Technically you CAN do anything if you practice enough. So in all due respect I must ask why most do not practice enough? Because it's hard, that's why. If it were easy everyone would do it. I just think it's kind of strange to insinuate that people who practice are lesser musicians, or that something must be innately incorrect about them. Does that make sense? John Coltrane practiced twelve hours a day. Do we put disclaimers on his albums now?

Band directors are on young drummers all the time about working in up speed in their rudimental playing. So now we get a contest out there that actually glorifies the practice of fundamentals, and people seem upset by it. Speed certainly never hurt Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Sid Catlett, Joe Morello and many other jazz greats. Now if you enter these events at age 35-40 like some of these people then I see your point.
Again I know this is a controversial issue and I respect the other opinions because there definately is another side to this. All I am saying is that maybe this contest has to be out there a little longer in order to work the bugs out. For years I begged students to practice. Now they want to.

#26 08-02-2005, 07:56 AM

Hey wait a minute.....you think only young dudes should be practicing fundamentals and rudiments and entering contests such as this?? NO.....I think it would be awesome for older dudes and dudettes to keep honing their skills and entering these contests.....what does age have to do with it......please keep in mind that this event is TOTALLY separate from making music and playing in a band......I agree with 'MAXROACH' that this is a sport................your never to OLD to compete....dont sell yourself short all you older people........................I think the young dudes would love to compete with the older people....and lets face it......the older you get the more THAT IS A COP OUT for practicing...saying your to old to compete.........MY MY MY...................Come on all.................I plan on jamming until its physically impossible for me to do so................no matter how old I get....besides ......Im going to live forever so Im using up the time I have here to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE......and making music...:)

DogBreath · #27 08-02-2005, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotsauce3n

also its all just physical... if someone spends enough time on building chops anyone can be the WFD so its just who wants to waste there time

It's just physical? So are the Olympics, and the Tour de France, and any other "just physical" competition that you care to mention. But still someone is the best. Just because an average person practices a physical ability every day doesn't mean that he will become able to compete with other people who have world-class physical skills.

And of course it gets boring to watch. It’s boring to watch people lifts weights over and over, and it’s boring to watch grown men drive cars in a big oval. Some people like competition. Nothing wrong with that.

Scatman · #28 08-02-2005, 08:21 PM

music and speed should be applied together. You guys separate music from speed and your wrong. Look at Art Tatum or any technical wizard on guitar or piano or any instrument. They have the speed to go up and down that board at any tempo Speed should be applied to music on all instruments Buddy applied speed to musicality as well as Morello or Chambers

DogBreath · #29 08-02-2005, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scatman

You guys separate music from speed and your wrong.

lol. Well I guess it's settled then.

MaxRoach · #30 08-02-2005, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogBreath

[color=black]It's just physical? So are the Olympics

I already said that btw :P

DogBreath · #31 08-02-2005, 09:10 PM

Oh. Sorry for agreeing with you.

...?

MaxRoach · #32 08-02-2005, 09:44 PM

:P
IM JUST JOKING WOW !
JEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZ....and there's no agreeing allowed on this forum sorry.

finnhiggins · #33 08-02-2005, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogBreath

lol. Well I guess it's settled then.

How exactly you go about separating speed and music from your wrong is another question. You'd have to find where exactly your "wrong" is in order to separate the music and speed from it. It would be advisible to do this in a private location to avoid embarassment.

Speedy · #34 08-02-2005, 11:42 PM

I read in Modern Drummer that Ronald Spagnardi said "What next? An award for the guy who can set up and break down his gear the fastest?" I always laugh when I read or hear that.

DogBreath · #35 08-03-2005, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finnhiggins

How exactly you go about separating speed and music from your wrong is another question. You'd have to find where exactly your "wrong" is in order to separate the music and speed from it. It would be advisible to do this in a private location to avoid embarassment.

Sorry. I'll lock the door next time.

=-)

finnhiggins · #36 08-03-2005, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedy

I read in Modern Drummer that Ronald Spagnardi said "What next? An award for the guy who can set up and break down his gear the fastest?" I always laugh when I read or hear that.

That actually strikes me as being a lot more practical. I've had to do a couple of gigs with five minute setup and breakdown allowances, it was absolute hell.

DogBreath · #37 08-03-2005, 02:34 AM

I think there should be a relay, like a team competition. A musician stands on stage where his roadie can see him. As soon as the musician sees a girl in the audience that he likes, the judge starts timing. The musician has to signal the roadie, and the roadie has to herd the girl backstage through a door.

finnhiggins · #38 08-03-2005, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogBreath

As soon as the musician sees a girl in the audience that he likes, the judge starts timing.

Uuh... I don't even want to know how you're going to sort out a reliable way of working out exactly when that particular moment is.

DogBreath · #39 08-03-2005, 03:22 AM

Some details will need to be worked out. I'm just trying to think of more practical competitions.

jamsjr44 · #40 08-03-2005, 03:53 AM

WFD...doesn't interest me one bit. To be honest.