Steve Smith plays Bonham

[Michael Leigh]

Hey Gang,
Don't know if this has been posted before,but this is really cool!!
The former from my favorite band interpreting the drummer from my other favorite band!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1eRyc5p ... ed&search=

[Blueskies]

Very cool! Thanks!

[Rick]

The stuff at the end is the best part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Or2SmIDxdY

[Blueskies]

Great stuff! Dig the stick tricks. Have you noticed...Smith is the only Journey member who doesn't get trashed in some way on this board. Have never heard a bad word about him.

[treetopovskaya]

amazing! how drummers can get their feet to do two separate things at the same time just boggles my mind! }:C))

thanks for the vid!

[Michael Leigh]

The stuff at the end is the best part.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Or2SmIDxdY

The guy is an amazing musician!!

[Wheels Of Fyre]

Great stuff! Dig the stick tricks. Have you noticed...Smith is the only Journey member who doesn't get trashed in some way on this board. Have never heard a bad word about him.

Fun stuff! It's amazing to think that SP ever had artistic issues with him on ROR.

[Lady Luck]

amazing! how drummers can get their feet to do two separate things at the same time just boggles my mind! }:C))

I was thinking the same thing. Great clip!

[belar]

Wow, that was supercool!

[Art Vandelay]

Great stuff! Dig the stick tricks. Have you noticed...Smith is the only Journey member who doesn't get trashed in some way on this board. Have never heard a bad word about him.

Fun stuff! It's amazing to think that SP ever had artistic issues with him on ROR.

Perry was big on using a drum machine for the ROR writing sessions. Smith said that he wasn't comfortable with that style of writing/playing, so they were never on the same page. Perry brought in Larrie Londin, who was a big-time studio guy (and a one-time drummer for Elvis!). Although Smith was an incredible drummer back then, he's way more versaitle now. Simply amazing.

[chad]

I'm a big Steve Smith fan and love this guys drumming. First and foremost, this guy is in a league al by himself. But to actually immulate Bonham with the same feel and swing is unreal.

As a drummer, there's 100 ways to play the same beat....it's dependent on feel and various stick contol techniques....

Steve is something else...thanks for the clip

Have a great weekend everyone

Chad

[Michael Leigh]

I'm a big Steve Smith fan and love this guys drumming. First and foremost, this guy is in a league al by himself. But to actually immulate Bonham with the same feel and swing is unreal.

As a drummer, there's 100 ways to play the same beat....it's dependent on feel and various stick contol techniques....

Steve is something else...thanks for the clip

Have a great weekend everyone

Chad

I agree Chad.You can tell though that the tuning and tone of the drums are set up to be used for a Jazz band. Bonham's drums were tuned a bit differently and Smitty doesn't hit the drums quite as hard as Bonham did,but you're right, he totally has the feel and groove of Bonzo down pat.
I think Smitty is a fan of drummers in general and I am sure he pays attention to other drummers as well.He is without a doubt one incredible musician.

[brandonx76]

I absolutely love Smith's playing, especially between the Departure/Frontiers Journey era..however, I don't think this is one of Smith's shining moments, could be a drum tunning thing, but to me it sounds too sterile..

my .02

[conversationpc]

I agree Chad.You can tell though that the tuning and tone of the drums are set up to be used for a Jazz band. Bonham's drums were tuned a bit differently and Smitty doesn't hit the drums quite as hard as Bonham did,but you're right, he totally has the feel and groove of Bonzo down pat.

I heard Smitty say in an interview a while back that the reason many drummers get carpal tunnel syndrome is that they hit the drums too hard. I prefer the softer touch of drummers like Smitty and Bill Bruford to bangers like Bonham. Neil Peart is the best of both worlds, in my opinion.

[chad]

Steve Smith has so much technique, so his approach is very sophisticated…making it virtually impossible to physically play like Bonham. It’s his versatility in various styles that make him a chameleon---and too, his appreciating of all drummers and styles in general.

By definition, Smitty is a ‘Swing Drummer’, which means he’s plays with total feel, soul and control. In addition, he can make any technique seem eloquent.

If you notice, watch Steve’s fingers and wrist in any video. They do all the work…..not his arms. He’s one-of-a-kind with this. He can play patterns with one hand, that some can't do even with two.

Drummers who are in his same league are Terry Bozio, Jeff Pocarro, Vinnie Cauluta, Dave Weckl or Steve Gaddn (check out www.drummerworld.com to see various videos of great drummers).

Even though he’s my all-time favorite, it’s always a pleasure to see others who have their own unique styles. The world would be a bore if we all were the same.

Cheers.

Chad

[Michael Leigh]

Steve Smith has so much technique, so his approach is very sophisticated…making it virtually impossible to physically play like Bonham. It’s his versatility in various styles that make him a chameleon---and too, his appreciating of all drummers and styles in general.

By definition, Smitty is a ‘Swing Drummer’, which means he’s plays with total feel, soul and control. In addition, he can make any technique seem eloquent.

If you notice, watch Steve’s fingers and wrist in any video. They do all the work…..not his arms. He’s one-of-a-kind with this. He can play patterns with one hand, that some can't do even with two.

Drummers who are in his same league are Terry Bozio, Jeff Pocarro, Vinnie Cauluta, Dave Weckl or Steve Gaddn (check out www.drummerworld.com to see various videos of great drummers).

Even though he’s my all-time favorite, it’s always a pleasure to see others who have their own unique styles. The world would be a bore if we all were the same.

Cheers.

Chad

Once again I agree, Chad. I do love Bonham though. Zep in general were amazing.They run really close with Journey as being my favorite band of all time.

Funny you should mention Dave Weckl. I understand he was one of the drummers brought in for the ROR tour auditions as was Oamar Hakim and they actually were going to take Ahtma Anur who is also a monster talent.They mentioned that Ahtma was their new drummer during the Rockline interview in 86. I don't know what happened but I still think Mike Baird was a lousy choice considering some of the "name" drummers they brought in.

Another great drummer is a guy from right here in Baltimore, and that is Dennis Chambers.
The stuff he has done with Billy Sheehan in Niacin is amazing.
I have actually met him a few times and he is a really cool guy too. He does clinics in the MD/DC/VA area from time to time, and is always appearing in town if there is a benefit of some sort.

[Art Vandelay]

One of my newer faves is a guy named Stanton Moore. He's a New Orleans based drummer, and plays with a number of bands aside from his own, including Galactic and Garage A Trois.

Check him out sometime!

[JrnySuxBalls]

I heard Smitty say in an interview a while back that the reason many drummers get carpal tunnel syndrome is that they hit the drums too hard. I prefer the softer touch of drummers like Smitty and Bill Bruford to bangers like Bonham.

Bonham hit hard, but not THAT hard. You couldn't play "Fool In The Rain" with all those ghost notes
if you were a "banger". Bonham had a swing all his own.

[nutz4Neal]

I love Smitty! That was so much FUN to watch, thanks for these links! I keep hoping to get to one of his drum clinics but so far it's no dice..I'm on the mailing list 'tho so fingers are crossed.

[Shadowsong]

Great stuff! Dig the stick tricks. Have you noticed...Smith is the only Journey member who doesn't get trashed in some way on this board. Have never heard a bad word about him.

Fun stuff! It's amazing to think that SP ever had artistic issues with him on ROR.

Perry was big on using a drum machine for the ROR writing sessions. Smith said that he wasn't comfortable with that style of writing/playing, so they were never on the same page. Perry brought in Larrie Londin, who was a big-time studio guy (and a one-time drummer for Elvis!). Although Smith was an incredible drummer back then, he's way more versaitle now. Simply amazing.

Well, strike one against SP.
Drum machine
Yuck!
It was a fad
A bad fad!

Steve Smith is a very accomplished drummer.
Guess many are
but he's really put alot into his craft

I've known a few drummers
Some have tried to teach me
I think the sticking is called a parradiddle.
It sort of an exercise
Like those blasted Handel exercises for the piano!

I love to try the cross sticking

I was really into drums at one time

[Art Vandelay]

Great stuff! Dig the stick tricks. Have you noticed...Smith is the only Journey member who doesn't get trashed in some way on this board. Have never heard a bad word about him.

Fun stuff! It's amazing to think that SP ever had artistic issues with him on ROR.

Perry was big on using a drum machine for the ROR writing sessions. Smith said that he wasn't comfortable with that style of writing/playing, so they were never on the same page. Perry brought in Larrie Londin, who was a big-time studio guy (and a one-time drummer for Elvis!). Although Smith was an incredible drummer back then, he's way more versaitle now. Simply amazing.

Well, strike one against SP.
Drum machine
Yuck!
It was a fad
A bad fad!

Steve Smith is a very accomplished drummer.
Guess many are
but he's really put alot into his craft

I've known a few drummers
Some have tried to teach me
I think the sticking is called a parradiddle.
It sort of an exercise
Like those blasted Handel exercises for the piano!

I love to try the cross sticking

I was really into drums at one time

Yeah, a parradiddle is a left, right, left left...right, left, right right beat, which could then be kicked up to left, right, left left left, etc. It's good practice, but a lot of structured drummers incorporate this into their actual play. Steve (God) Gadd was huge on it.