Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
We’re doing some Heart tunes in my band now, and I’ve been listening to Barracuda and working on the drum part. He sounds amazing on that tune, plus the bass drum part in the main groove requires some real foot speed
Mike DeRosier was excellent
- Thread starter Push pull stroke
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John DeChristopher
Drums Ambassador
Just a little Bonhamesque
He'd be the first to tell you he was very influenced by John Bonham. "Baracuda" is Mike Derosier and Heart's variation on the "Immigrant Song" if you listen closely. And check out their live version of "Rock and Roll" from back in the 70s. He nails Bonham like no one else.
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Push pull stroke
Platinum Member
Yeah, I’ve been going back and forth between the Immigrant Song, Barracuda, and Prehistoric Rhythm when I’m working on Barracuda, I’ll do like 2 measures of each groove. They’re all paradiddle-type grooves, so it’s a heck of a brain workout
heartbeat
Active Member
My favorite drummer (and favorite band)! Nice to see him get a shout-out. I played in a Heart/Zep tribute for several years because I grew up playing along to all of those albums. Like 30 years every day. Lol. Derosier plays with a lot of finesse and power, not an easy task to combine.
The keys to playing Barracuda are the snare ghost notes, and of course the bass drum gallop. Barracuda is more Achilles Last Stand than Immigrant Song.
I've shared this before, but I own one of his Supras he used with Heart:
The keys to playing Barracuda are the snare ghost notes, and of course the bass drum gallop. Barracuda is more Achilles Last Stand than Immigrant Song.
I've shared this before, but I own one of his Supras he used with Heart:
equipmentdork
Junior Member
I'm a huge fan of Mike.
I once saw a YT vid about the Barracuda part...and the guy was playing NONE of the ghost notes! I didn't stick around to see what he did with the 16th note thing between the kick and snare near the end....I'm sure it was superb! (not)
Dan
I once saw a YT vid about the Barracuda part...and the guy was playing NONE of the ghost notes! I didn't stick around to see what he did with the 16th note thing between the kick and snare near the end....I'm sure it was superb! (not)
Dan
Stroman
Diamond Member
Very cool. I love his playing!
Back in the late '80s and early 90's, I was working for a record company out of Long Island. We used to have a convention every year to go up to NY and check out the artists who were releasing albums, etc. At one of these conventions, I happened to see a guy in the hotel gym who kinda sorta looked familiar, but I couldn't really place him. Doh!!
That evening, in a conference room at the hotel, a band called Alias was promoting their new album. And sho' enuff, there was Derosier and the guys from Heart (and Sheriff) a few feet away, blasting Alias AND Heart songs! Great performance, even if they were a little bitter about the situation with Heart. I remember Roger Fisher introducing Barracuda and saying something like, "We wrote it; we're damn sure gonna play it!"
I really wish I'd recognized him in the gym, or had been forward enough to say "Hey, I can't place you, but you look familiar."
Probably best I didn't. lol
Back in the late '80s and early 90's, I was working for a record company out of Long Island. We used to have a convention every year to go up to NY and check out the artists who were releasing albums, etc. At one of these conventions, I happened to see a guy in the hotel gym who kinda sorta looked familiar, but I couldn't really place him. Doh!!
That evening, in a conference room at the hotel, a band called Alias was promoting their new album. And sho' enuff, there was Derosier and the guys from Heart (and Sheriff) a few feet away, blasting Alias AND Heart songs! Great performance, even if they were a little bitter about the situation with Heart. I remember Roger Fisher introducing Barracuda and saying something like, "We wrote it; we're damn sure gonna play it!"
I really wish I'd recognized him in the gym, or had been forward enough to say "Hey, I can't place you, but you look familiar."
Probably best I didn't. lol
How cool is that!. The Barracuda guys drum!. Hey..it may have been used on the tune?. I first looked at it and thought mmmm I don't know. Then I enlarged the photo and was oh ya total cool. Signed!. You lucky dog! you. Thanks for sharing.
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jda
Diamond Member
I think it's when to step over 'into the portal' and find the comfort there acclimate it and relax -it's a big step- things like that triplets with force- become your norm grasshopper it is Buddy territory (to me.. It's a cost - have to really want it but if you're going to do something they say, do it well, wow it's a Portal (could be death could be life- You chance it You fearlessly chance it) if you chose to and also have chance to "practice" it night after night in clubs- full bore 100% playing... He's blessed He earned it probably strove to play that way every time at every gig he had since a teenager.
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Syncopated_1
Active Member
Anyone know the kit used to record Barracuda? Sounds like a Classic Maple from Ludwig to me but not certain.
spelman
Senior Member
Ludwig 13-18-20-26.
From Drum! Magazine Aug 2013:
Derosier’s biggest influences were Buddy
Rich and John Bonham. His 1980 Ludwig Classic drum set clearly reflects these influences. Both his idols used the same one rack tom, two floor tom configuration. The 13" x 9" rack tom is all
Buddy. The maple finish, Ludwig Supraphonic 402 snare, and the big bass and floor toms reflect Bonham. Derosier took the big drum idea one step further with a deeper 26" x 16" bass and enormous 18" x 16" and 20" x 18" floor toms. Derosier added the copper-plated lugs, inspired by copper hardware Heart guitarist Roger Fisher had installed on one of his custom guitars. Derosier had played this 1970 Ludwig 14" x 6.5" Supraphonic snare long before the rest of the set was built. The lugs were copper plated to match the rest of the set. This is the snare Derosier
played on Heart’s 1977 hit “Barracuda.” He played these drums with Heart from 1980 until he left the band in 1982
or was it Gretsch? , from Modern Drummer June 2018: (this album came after the one with "Barracuda").
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