Steve Smith Vs. Steve Smith

[Art Vandelay]

Holy Smitty Twins, batman...this is insane!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r85ewco7 ... re=related

[Rick]

Holy Smitty Twins, batman...this is insane!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r85ewco7 ... re=related

That's pretty amazing. Completely in time with himself to the point that it sounded like one person playing.

[Arkansas]

I'll say again and again, that part of Journey's success - back in the day - was Steve Smith being a true musician. What he brought to Journey was so much more than just a 'drummer'. SS wrote & recorded his piece of Journey as an integral part to every song. He didn't just play drums as part of the rhythm section like a lot of <unknown> drummers do. SS actually played his instrument on lead. I mean, if you go back, and listen to his playing, there's so much more going on than most radio listeners ever heard. And I think that's key to Journey's success. What most people have always heard on the surface is Perry/Schon/Rolie/Cain, but what made many of the songs was something that they heard, but didn't instantly recognize. And that, is Steve Smith playing the drums as background, but more importantly, as a key instrument.

Go back to every song. Listen for not only the fills & down-beat cymbals, but listen for all the syncopation. Listen for all the other things that he incorporated into each song. Geez, lou-eeze! He was always doing so much more than most people heard. And ya know what? That texture, that very sub-strata, that hugely strong foundation, wasn't just some generic beat...it was a very important part to the overall sonic.

I, quite honestly, don't think that 'classic Journey' would have been as wildly successful/popular if Schon/Perry/Rolie/Cain had just some generic drummer. No way.


later~

[Memorex]

I'll say again and again, that part of Journey's success - back in the day - was Steve Smith being a true musician. What he brought to Journey was so much more than just a 'drummer'. SS wrote & recorded his piece of Journey as an integral part to every song. He didn't just play drums as part of the rhythm section like a lot of <unknown> drummers do. SS actually played his instrument on lead. I mean, if you go back, and listen to his playing, there's so much more going on than most radio listeners ever heard. And I think that's key to Journey's success. What most people have always heard on the surface is Perry/Schon/Rolie/Cain, but what made many of the songs was something that they heard, but didn't instantly recognize. And that, is Steve Smith playing the drums as background, but more importantly, as a key instrument.

Go back to every song. Listen for not only the fills & down-beat cymbals, but listen for all the syncopation. Listen for all the other things that he incorporated into each song. Geez, lou-eeze! He was always doing so much more than most people heard. And ya know what? That texture, that very sub-strata, that hugely strong foundation, wasn't just some generic beat...it was a very important part to the overall sonic.

I, quite honestly, don't think that 'classic Journey' would have been as wildly successful/popular if Schon/Perry/Rolie/Cain had just some generic drummer. No way.


later~

100% agree.

[slucero]

I'll say again and again, that part of Journey's success - back in the day - was Steve Smith being a true musician. What he brought to Journey was so much more than just a 'drummer'. SS wrote & recorded his piece of Journey as an integral part to every song. He didn't just play drums as part of the rhythm section like a lot of <unknown> drummers do. SS actually played his instrument on lead. I mean, if you go back, and listen to his playing, there's so much more going on than most radio listeners ever heard. And I think that's key to Journey's success. What most people have always heard on the surface is Perry/Schon/Rolie/Cain, but what made many of the songs was something that they heard, but didn't instantly recognize. And that, is Steve Smith playing the drums as background, but more importantly, as a key instrument.

Go back to every song. Listen for not only the fills & down-beat cymbals, but listen for all the syncopation. Listen for all the other things that he incorporated into each song. Geez, lou-eeze! He was always doing so much more than most people heard. And ya know what? That texture, that very sub-strata, that hugely strong foundation, wasn't just some generic beat...it was a very important part to the overall sonic.

I, quite honestly, don't think that 'classic Journey' would have been as wildly successful/popular if Schon/Perry/Rolie/Cain had just some generic drummer. No way.


later~

100% agree.

Well for sure DSB would sound different...

[jrnyman28]

I've always told people that Smitty made me pay attention to drums. They were no longer just timekeeping.

[Arkansas]

... Well for sure DSB would sound different...

Maybe the absolute key example. SS's contribution to this song is very 'unsung'...although his drums 'sing' very strongly throughout, they're most uncredited. Again, Cain-intro that, Schon-train solo thing, Perry-voice everything, ...but I maintain that Steve Smith's taking control of the rhythm-behind-the-melody is very essential. In fact, he plays a left-handed ride, while the right hand is doing syncopated fills & slapping a ride bell. And, it's part of building the song, as it all rolls along and builds. That, is freaking GENIUS!

I wonder what this song would sound like, or thus be as popular, if the drum line was just some generic beat. I just don't think it would be the song we knew then, and everyone knows today, without Steve Smith.


later~

[escapefan]

Freakin amazin! Smitty's playing forever changed how I listen to music. Never noticed a drum line until his playing.

[Art Vandelay]

... Well for sure DSB would sound different...

Maybe the absolute key example. SS's contribution to this song is very 'unsung'...although his drums 'sing' very strongly throughout, they're most uncredited. Again, Cain-intro that, Schon-train solo thing, Perry-voice everything, ...but I maintain that Steve Smith's taking control of the rhythm-behind-the-melody is very essential. In fact, he plays a left-handed ride, while the right hand is doing syncopated fills & slapping a ride bell. And, it's part of building the song, as it all rolls along and builds. That, is freaking GENIUS!

I wonder what this song would sound like, or thus be as popular, if the drum line was just some generic beat. I just don't think it would be the song we knew then, and everyone knows today, without Steve Smith.


later~

Classic rock drummer Rod Morgenstein (Winger, Dixie Dregs) – who is no slouch on the drums himself - has a good story about this. He was one of many who auditioned for the ROR drum seat. He practiced and rehearsed DSB until he knew it foreword and backwards. He went to the audition and played it note for note. Steve Perry said something along the lines of "ok, that's how Steve Smith played it. Now show us how you would play it." Rod then went blank, and just picked up and left. This sounds like a real dick move on Perry's part, but to Perry's credit, why would he fire Smith if he wanted the same sound? I've spoken to a few musicians on this story who said that Rod should have asked before playing what they wanted to hear.

[Michigan Girl]

That's great ...thanks, Art!!
I love SS!!

[Onestepper]

I miss SS from Journey, almost as much as I miss SP. He brought a level of depth to the music that we haven't heard since he left.

[Michigan Girl]

I miss SS from Journey, almost as much as I miss SP. He brought a level of depth to the music that we haven't heard since he left.

+1 ...he is deep!!

[Michigan Girl]

I'll say again and again, that part of Journey's success - back in the day - was Steve Smith being a true musician. What he brought to Journey was so much more than just a 'drummer'. SS wrote & recorded his piece of Journey as an integral part to every song. He didn't just play drums as part of the rhythm section like a lot of <unknown> drummers do. SS actually played his instrument on lead. I mean, if you go back, and listen to his playing, there's so much more going on than most radio listeners ever heard. And I think that's key to Journey's success. What most people have always heard on the surface is Perry/Schon/Rolie/Cain, but what made many of the songs was something that they heard, but didn't instantly recognize. And that, is Steve Smith playing the drums as background, but more importantly, as a key instrument.

Go back to every song. Listen for not only the fills & down-beat cymbals, but listen for all the syncopation. Listen for all the other things that he incorporated into each song. Geez, lou-eeze! He was always doing so much more than most people heard. And ya know what? That texture, that very sub-strata, that hugely strong foundation, wasn't just some generic beat...it was a very important part to the overall sonic.

I, quite honestly, don't think that 'classic Journey' would have been as wildly successful/popular if Schon/Perry/Rolie/Cain had just some generic drummer. No way.


later~

This is your greatest post, like a song ...beautiful!!

[TRAGChick]

Holy Smitty Twins, batman...this is insane!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r85ewco7 ... re=related

That's pretty amazing. Completely in time with himself to the point that it sounded like one person playing.

...when "both of them" were playing in unison, it LOOKED like a split screen of the same image.
(If only he kept the same shirt on for both & ditched the 'phones LOL)

[ForceInfinity]

Thanks for sharing. That video left me in awe because that had to be pretty tricky to pull it off like that. Always enjoyed listening to SS's drum solos.

[Seven Wishes2]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Smitty's work on the "Trial By Fire" track on the TBF record should always be regarded as the gold standard of melodic rock drumming.