MR

Cool stuff!! I always love seeing him explain the nuances of his playing. He's certainly evolved his playing of the song over the years!

Nice to see his breakdown and how he's evolved it. You really forget how much his drums give that song it's signature sound. Also surprising but awesome to hear how part of it was inspired by Jeff Porcaro, who at the time was his contemporary.

Separate Ways has always been my favorite tune and I’ve always wondered how he played it.

Steve also demonstrates Don't Stop Believing', which is really interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUIatrSPPmg

This looks like a good series, lots more offered if you subscribe.

I've always thought that part of the success of DSB was Steve Smith's musicality. The drums are treated not just as a backbeat in the rhythm section, but as a quasi-lead instrument. Seems SW was about the same. If you go back over the catalog purposely studying Steve Smith's drums, you get a whole new perspective on Journey that the casual fan doesn't know.
Good stuff!

later~

This is why I always tell people that Smitty is the player that got me to pay attention to the drums!

jrnyman28 wrote:This is why I always tell people that Smitty is the player that got me to pay attention to the drums!

Same here.

Loneman1 wrote:

jrnyman28 wrote:This is why I always tell people that Smitty is the player that got me to pay attention to the drums!

Same here.

Yep. When I first really got into Journey (1988, when Greatest Hits came out), my cousin, who is a jazz/big band drummer and not into Journey, said to me "they've got a really good drummer, listen close to what he does."