Journey Drummer's

[Blueskies]

Care to do a little compare and contrast of the 3 Journey drummer's? Who is the most skilled, in your opinion? They are different in style's and technical ability, so I can't discount any of them, but personally I think Steve Smith is one of the best drummer's ever in his technique and style...... This is between Ansley, Steve and Deen, of course, can't really include the ROR drummer's IMO.

[*Laura]

Smitty.Really skilled.Fantastic sense of rhythm,feeling and technique,all in one drummer.

Then it's Deen...

[WalrusOct9]

I think Deen is a better hard rock drummer, but Smith is a more technically skilled "finesse" player.

[larryfromnextdoor]

dig deen, and his singing ability while playing,, but my vote is for steve smith, hes just incredilbe,

[ddregs]

Smith is one of the best player EVER.
His work with Journey is well known by everyone here, but what should be known is his technique prowess.
If you can get your hands on some of these records you'll listen to some of his best drumming and his evolution
This is for fusion fans
- Jean-Luc Ponty , Enigmatic Ocean, 1977 - he was very young but he was already there with the best
- Then start with the first two Vital Information records, until Fiafiaga, fusion records, enjoyable but not different from what other bands were already offering
- Then with VI's Global Beat and Vitalive he started progressing, his style changed towards a jazzier style of playing
- The Players , with Jeff Berlin on bass, Scott Henderson on guitar and T Lavitz on keys.
- Steps Ahead - Modern Times showed his versatility
- Back to Vital Information, Easier Done than Said and Ray of Hope are most probably my favorite fusion records. His playing here can't be peaked.
- His latest VI records are very different from the first phase of VI, but his drumming is as always top-notch. The kind of music is post-bob meets 60's r&b meets fusion

Heavy-metal fans
- Tony MacAlpine - Edge of Insanity. Awesome playing along Mr. Billy Sheehan on bass

Other fusion projects
- Gambale/Hamm/Smith , Vital Tech Tones , Buddy's Buddies, the 2 Buddy Rich tributes are other examples of incredible drumming.

And these are just a few records he played on.
I could go on for hours, but what I would like to explain is Smitty is on the Mount Olympus of drummers, while Dunbar is a different kind of drummer, very innovative in the 70s (his use of double bass drum for instance), powerful (listen to Whitesnake '87 record), but not on the same technique level as Smith.
Castronovo is a monster player as well. Most on the rock side, double-bass drum god (before he joined Bad English he was a double-bass metal drummer and he was a monster player), but not as versatile as Smith. Even himself can tell.

Cheers!

[Blueskies]

Very nice read DD!! You must be a drummer, yes??

[ddregs]

Very nice read DD!! You must be a drummer, yes??

On a very much lower level than the above mentioned drummers.
I'm not worthy of being spoken here

[larryfromnextdoor]

Very nice read DD!! You must be a drummer, yes??

On a very much lower level than the above mentioned drummers.
I'm not worthy of being spoken here

well you sure know alot, thats a good start!! that Voyager is a good drummer for sure!!

[The Ghost Rider]

Smith is one of the best player EVER.
His work with Journey is well known by everyone here, but what should be known is his technique prowess.
If you can get your hands on some of these records you'll listen to some of his best drumming and his evolution
This is for fusion fans
- Jean-Luc Ponty , Enigmatic Ocean, 1977 - he was very young but he was already there with the best
- Then start with the first two Vital Information records, until Fiafiaga, fusion records, enjoyable but not different from what other bands were already offering
- Then with VI's Global Beat and Vitalive he started progressing, his style changed towards a jazzier style of playing
- The Players , with Jeff Berlin on bass, Scott Henderson on guitar and T Lavitz on keys.
- Steps Ahead - Modern Times showed his versatility
- Back to Vital Information, Easier Done than Said and Ray of Hope are most probably my favorite fusion records. His playing here can't be peaked.
- His latest VI records are very different from the first phase of VI, but his drumming is as always top-notch. The kind of music is post-bob meets 60's r&b meets fusion

Heavy-metal fans
- Tony MacAlpine - Edge of Insanity. Awesome playing along Mr. Billy Sheehan on bass

Other fusion projects
- Gambale/Hamm/Smith , Vital Tech Tones , Buddy's Buddies, the 2 Buddy Rich tributes are other examples of incredible drumming.

And these are just a few records he played on.
I could go on for hours, but what I would like to explain is Smitty is on the Mount Olympus of drummers, while Dunbar is a different kind of drummer, very innovative in the 70s (his use of double bass drum for instance), powerful (listen to Whitesnake '87 record), but not on the same technique level as Smith.
Castronovo is a monster player as well. Most on the rock side, double-bass drum god (before he joined Bad English he was a double-bass metal drummer and he was a monster player), but not as versatile as Smith. Even himself can tell.

Cheers!

Outstanding post...and right on I must say.

[larryfromnextdoor]

Smith is one of the best player EVER.
His work with Journey is well known by everyone here, but what should be known is his technique prowess.
If you can get your hands on some of these records you'll listen to some of his best drumming and his evolution
This is for fusion fans
- Jean-Luc Ponty , Enigmatic Ocean, 1977 - he was very young but he was already there with the best
- Then start with the first two Vital Information records, until Fiafiaga, fusion records, enjoyable but not different from what other bands were already offering
- Then with VI's Global Beat and Vitalive he started progressing, his style changed towards a jazzier style of playing
- The Players , with Jeff Berlin on bass, Scott Henderson on guitar and T Lavitz on keys.
- Steps Ahead - Modern Times showed his versatility
- Back to Vital Information, Easier Done than Said and Ray of Hope are most probably my favorite fusion records. His playing here can't be peaked.
- His latest VI records are very different from the first phase of VI, but his drumming is as always top-notch. The kind of music is post-bob meets 60's r&b meets fusion

Heavy-metal fans
- Tony MacAlpine - Edge of Insanity. Awesome playing along Mr. Billy Sheehan on bass

Other fusion projects
- Gambale/Hamm/Smith , Vital Tech Tones , Buddy's Buddies, the 2 Buddy Rich tributes are other examples of incredible drumming.

And these are just a few records he played on.
I could go on for hours, but what I would like to explain is Smitty is on the Mount Olympus of drummers, while Dunbar is a different kind of drummer, very innovative in the 70s (his use of double bass drum for instance), powerful (listen to Whitesnake '87 record), but not on the same technique level as Smith.
Castronovo is a monster player as well. Most on the rock side, double-bass drum god (before he joined Bad English he was a double-bass metal drummer and he was a monster player), but not as versatile as Smith. Even himself can tell.

Cheers!

Outstanding post...and right on I must say.

i cant remember confessor,, do u dabble with the drum kit?

[tupchurch]

My brother is a drummer and he says the best is Steve 'Machine Gun' Smith everytime. I do too!

Terry

[fred_journeyman]

Smith is/was my favorite Journey drummer. He brought rock, jazz, finesse and in one package and I loved the way his drums sounded. As great a drummer as Deen is, I still wish Smith was there.

[The Ghost Rider]

i cant remember confessor,, do u dabble with the drum kit?

When I was a young man, yes, I was an aspiring drummer. Unfortunately, reality is a cruel thing sometimes. I was never good enough to make a serious run at making a living as a musician. While there are an "elite" few who seem to have a natural musical talent, the majority of musicians have to work their asses off to be any good. Guess which category I fit into?

[larryfromnextdoor]

i cant remember confessor,, do u dabble with the drum kit?

When I was a young man, yes, I was an aspiring drummer. Unfortunately, reality is a cruel thing sometimes. I was never good enough to make a serious run at making a living as a musician. While there are an "elite" few who seem to have a natural musical talent, the majority of musicians have to work their asses off to be any good. Guess which category I fit into?

im in your last catagory,, i have no natural talent with the guitar,, none!! i struggle for everything, then ill run into some punk 12 year old at guitar center thats been playing for 6 months and hes smoking me.. and he dont care about it,, you should play more frequently,, very few make a living at being a musician,, 35 bucks per man per night,, wow,, but still fun!! steve smith made me dig drummers again (back on topic)

[Carlitto H@kk]

I'd take Smitty anytime. But it's a hard choice because of what Deen brings to the plate... Other than Kelly Keagy, I can't think of any other drummers that can play AND sing like Deen does. And forget Henley and Collins; the songs they play and sind to don't really require the energy that Deen's do, nor do their setlists, in general, require the energy that a full Journey set does.

[Matthew]

Steve Smith...by a mile....

[Blueskies]

i cant remember confessor,, do u dabble with the drum kit?

When I was a young man, yes, I was an aspiring drummer. Unfortunately, reality is a cruel thing sometimes. I was never good enough to make a serious run at making a living as a musician. While there are an "elite" few who seem to have a natural musical talent, the majority of musicians have to work their asses off to be any good. Guess which category I fit into?

im in your last catagory,, i have no natural talent with the guitar,, none!! i struggle for everything, then ill run into some punk 12 year old at guitar center thats been playing for 6 months and hes smoking me.. and he dont care about it,, you should play more frequently,, very few make a living at being a musician,, 35 bucks per man per night,, wow,, but still fun!! steve smith made me dig drummers again (back on topic)

Larry!!! Stop selling yourself short!! Remember, I've heard you play!! You can do some awesome shredding!!

[larryfromnextdoor]

well , thanks for the compliment P.. ,,, and dont forget, you can make humdreds of dollars a year playing live music!!! HA

[Blueskies]

well , thanks for the compliment P.. ,,, and dont forget, you can make humdreds of dollars a year playing live music!!! HA

Not everything's about the money, babe!! Just doin' it for the the love and enjoyment of the music is a greater reward to yourself and those you play for!! Keep rockin', flying finger's!!!

[The Ghost Rider]

well , thanks for the compliment P.. ,,, and dont forget, you can make humdreds of dollars a year playing live music!!! HA

And spend hundreds more for gear (stings, pick-ups, sticks, heads, etc.)!

[Saint John]

Smith is/was my favorite Journey drummer. He brought rock, jazz, finesse and in one package and I loved the way his drums sounded. As great a drummer as Deen is, I still wish Smith was there.

I totally agree. I never really felt that Deen fit in with the style of music Journey plays. His original drumming on the new Journey albums to me was mediocre. He seems constricted, like he wants to do more or play faster. It's kinda like putting Joe Montana in an option ofense. A great talent...just out of his element. Smitty is one of the greatest ever.

[jrnyman28]

I think Deen fits with where Neal wants Journey to go. But he definately seemed held back on Arrival.

Deen is a solid rock drummer.
Smitty is incredible...he made me pay attention to the drumming. Probably my favorite drummer and 2nd only to Neil Peart IMO in sheer skill. (Really it is a toss-up to me but I read WAY more about NEil than Smitty...)
Aynsley was sort of like Deen IMO...a solid rock drummer.

[Saint John]

I think Deen fits with where Neal wants Journey to go. But he definately seemed held back on Arrival.

Deen is a solid rock drummer.
Smitty is incredible...he made me pay attention to the drumming. Probably my favorite drummer and 2nd only to Neil Peart IMO in sheer skill. (Really it is a toss-up to me but I read WAY more about NEil than Smitty...)
Aynsley was sort of like Deen IMO...a solid rock drummer.

I think in the 80's Peart was well in front of Smitty as far as talent went. However, these days, it probably is a toss-up as Smitty has become soooo much better technically. And he man can play so many cultural drum techniques as well. Simply amazing.

[EightyRock]

There it is..technique and finesse. Smitty's got it in ways that other drummers mostly dream about.

[ddregs]

I think Deen fits with where Neal wants Journey to go. But he definately seemed held back on Arrival.

Well, I'd say that was one of Deen's strength as well as Smitty's. If you take a close look at TBF , you'll hear great playing but never going over the place. Smith's playing perfectly fit the songs. That is the case with Deen as well. Get a Bad English record, his playing was never made to shine but to provide the backbeat and counterpoints. I got to appreciate it after a lot of years spent playing and trying to fill every chorus with super-beats and fills on the skins, and that is plainly wrong IMO.

Smitty is incredible...he made me pay attention to the drumming. Probably my favorite drummer and 2nd only to Neil Peart IMO in sheer skill. (Really it is a toss-up to me but I read WAY more about NEil than Smitty...)

I was in love with Neil Peart's playing. I thought he was the best drummer out in the world, and he is one of them. When I bought Jeff Berlin "Champions" record, I immediately thought "wow, this is a record that features Smitty and Peart together playing, let's go hear what Peart has to teach". The case was the opposite. Smith's playing , on this kind of fusion record, was way more effective and technical. His technical abilities are a thousand times better than Peart. Get to see Smith live in a clinic and look at how he can manage polyrhythms, he can play every kind of rhythm, 13/17 , 5/4, 7/8, 13/8, and manage to have legs and arms going each through different timings at the same moment. There aren't a lot of drummers who can do that.
Smith went to master drummer and teacher Freddie Gruber to refine his technique at the beginning of the 90s, and he's the drummer being chosen by Buddy Rich band to play with them (Buddy's Buddies), I mean Buddy Rich, arguably the best drummer of all times. Neil Peart went to Freddie Gruber as well before Test4Echo, he changed his technique to fit that jazz style, he changed from matched grip to traditional grip, and re-learned how to play his songs this new way. More props to him.
But technically speaking, we are talking of drummers on different levels. As for the matter of creativity, what Peart created in his rock style in unsurpassed. His parts fit Rush songs perfectly, and stand out even these days as examples for the best drumming backbeats for rock and prog-rock songs. His drum solos are really colorful and great, he never stops progressing.
But Smith, Colaiuta, Weckl, Gadd, Bissonette, Phillips, Mangini, Donati, Minnemann, Lang, Wackerman, Cobham, Morgenstein and the list goes on forever, are on a different technique level.
As always, IMO.

Cheers!

[Rockindeano]

This thread is incomplete.

How can you talk Journey drummers without the great Michael Baird, and his gay pink lid where he folds the bill up towards the sky?

[NealIsGod]

This thread is incomplete.

How can you talk Journey drummers without the great Michael Baird, and his gay pink lid where he folds the bill up towards the sky?

Isn't he with Glass Tiger now?

[Red13JoePa]

No joke, love Larry Londin's drums on ROR and Baird covered the parts well live.


Nobody outdoes Castronovo in my book.

1) Deen

2) Dunbar

3) Smitty

[brandonx76]

This thread is incomplete.

How can you talk Journey drummers without the great Michael Baird, and his gay pink lid where he folds the bill up towards the sky?

Ok that's f'n hysterical..but the whole band looked really lame on that tour...

I saw Mike Baird at a Taco Bell once, in Thousand Oaks around 1994...didn't see what he ordered but he was 'drumming' on the counter top...I thought 'what a geek' at the time, but probably would've been cool to have talked about Journey..

[yulog]

thats tough to call i like Smitty and Deen