Deen Castronovo or Steve Smith on live Journey classics?

[texafana]

In 2008, there's no comparison, Steve is superior in every way to Deen, but if you compare Deen's playing on the classics to Steve's playing (live versions not studio) which do you like better?

Steve Smith seemed to be all about finesse, accents, etc. While Deen seems to be more about power, more of a rock style. I personally think Deen brings alot of energy on the drums to the classics. But overall, I'd have to vote for Steve Smith's drumming on the classics. It just seems more....dynamic. Deen as good as he is, just seems a tab bit less "loose" if that makes sense.

[Saint John]

Smith gave the songs feeling. Deen misses that by overplaying, over-hitting, and generally playing like he's in a garage band. Castronovo was never right for this band, but he's attached at the hip with Neal. Why Schon can't hear that Deen brings little/nothing to the band is beyond me. Deen should be in a hard rock/metal band where his speed and power would fit in. He has no business in Journey.

[KenTheDude]

Smith gave the songs feeling. Deen misses that by overplaying, over-hitting, and generally playing like he's in a garage band. Castronovo was never right for this band, but he's attached at the hip with Neal. Why Schon can't hear that Deen brings little/nothing to the band is beyond me. Deen should be in a hard rock/metal band where his speed and power would fit in. He has no business in Journey.

I have to disagree with what I highlighted above. Not sure how you can really believe that blanket statement. His vocals are phenominal. And as a drummer he's more than adequate. Smith is/was just in a league of his own. This is similar to trying to fill Perry's shoes. I will agree that overall his style is more geared towards metal, but come on......

[Michael Leigh]

Smith gave the songs feeling. Deen misses that by overplaying, over-hitting, and generally playing like he's in a garage band. Castronovo was never right for this band, but he's attached at the hip with Neal. Why Schon can't hear that Deen brings little/nothing to the band is beyond me. Deen should be in a hard rock/metal band where his speed and power would fit in. He has no business in Journey.

Deen-o is great, but I always prefered Smitty's Jazz/soul influence on the classics.
Deen was GREAT in Bad Englsih and Hardline.Much better suited to that music.

[EightyRock]

This is a no-brainer. Smith's technique helped make Journey work. He was a singer's player that supported the Schon/Perry vocal/guitar collaboration. He didn't need to be loud or overplay. He just needed to have great style and pay close attention to the musicians around him, which he did.

[Saint John]

This is a no-brainer. Smith's technique helped make Journey work. He was a singer's player that supported the Schon/Perry vocal/guitar collaboration. He didn't need to be loud or overplay. He just needed to have great style and pay close attention to the musicians around him, which he did.

That's what I was trying to say. Thank you for conveying it more clearly.

[Granny]

I voted for SS...for all of the above reasons...

However, I do enjoy watching Deen play live and I think thats what the audience wants in a live setting..

They are still the best LIVE....whoever is playing.

[Red13JoePa]

CastroBro-o has a reputation of being too metal for Journey but I thought his drumming on the latter songs like HP and TPIYH was brilliant.

Crazy little fills he does on TPIYH without overhitting but he does bring the heat on Higher Place.

[youkeepmewaiting]

Dean is a good drummer and probably a fine person, but just Steve Smith is Steve Smith, one of the best drummers ever (and thats not an exageration) so a no brainer really.

[Rockindeano]

Smith gave the songs feeling. Deen misses that by overplaying, over-hitting, and generally playing like he's in a garage band. Castronovo was never right for this band, but he's attached at the hip with Neal. Why Schon can't hear that Deen brings little/nothing to the band is beyond me. Deen should be in a hard rock/metal band where his speed and power would fit in. He has no business in Journey.

You have any idea of what Castronovo did for Journey in three years 2003-2006? He literally saved their asses for reasons well known.

He saved Augeri nightly, and got so good at it, it was seamless.

[bluejeangirl76]

That would be SMITH.

What the hell kind of a question is that, anyway?

j/k

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

Smith gave the songs feeling. Deen misses that by overplaying, over-hitting, and generally playing like he's in a garage band. Castronovo was never right for this band, but he's attached at the hip with Neal. Why Schon can't hear that Deen brings little/nothing to the band is beyond me. Deen should be in a hard rock/metal band where his speed and power would fit in. He has no business in Journey.

I have to disagree with what I highlighted above. Not sure how you can really believe that blanket statement. His vocals are phenominal. And as a drummer he's more than adequate. Smith is/was just in a league of his own. This is similar to trying to fill Perry's shoes. I will agree that overall his style is more geared towards metal, but come on......

yup. not better not worse just different. and Deen adds so much vocally. and easy on the eyes. he is a joy to watch while performing. so much energy, so much fun!

[Tomulator]

No...worse...FAR WORSE>

[brywool]

Smith IS a monster drummer. Always will be. I think that Deen's good too, but I hate the sound of his kit. There's no bottom end especially when compared with Smitty's kit. Deen's amazing as a drummer, but I think that Smith will always be the best drummer for Journey. Smith's chops are just amazing. He can play anything. Deen, to me is good, but not that imaginitive when compared with Smith. Sorry. Good singer though.

However... if Todd Sucherman ever got the gig, that'd be incredibly interesting. He's definitely my favorite drummer these days. Great sounding kit too.

I watched Smith's drumming DVD a few weeks ago. Man... that guy LIVES the drums.

COME ON! EVERYBODY KNOWS JOURNEY'S BEST DRUMMER WAS MICHAEL BAIRD!!!

[Rockindeano]

OK, I gotta say it.

I believe a lot of the Pro Deen peeps here are saying they believe Deen to be better because of his accessibllty. Let's face it, Smitty wasn't this accessible when he was on the Escape or Frontiers tours. There is a HUGE difference between playing hockey arensa in 83 and theatres in 2006. Deen is good, but not close to Smith. I sincerely believe a lot of the women here like Deen because they have met him many times. Nice guy, but ugly as fuck.

Please people, who cares if he is easy on the eyes? That's so fucking shallow. And if I may say so, Deen looks like he has AIDS. Too thin. Deen is ugly as the zit on my shit shooter.

[bluejeangirl76]

Please people, who cares if he is easy on the eyes? That's so fucking shallow. And if I may say so, Deen looks like he has AIDS. Too thin. Deen is ugly as the zit on my shit shooter.

The pinnacle of imagery, right there.

Who the crap cares what they look like? If we're comparing drumming abilities, which was my assumption, then what's the difference who is better looking. Put bags over their heads and let them sqaure off. Smith will win.

[Red13JoePa]

Deen looks like he has AIDS. Too thin. Deen is ugly as the zit on my shit shooter.

Sorry, but true.
I mean compared to the gaunt dude we have now, look at the Arrival sleeve pic taken out on Neal's back veranda (my favorite of that era along w/ Red13 where Neal's rolling with the Nittany Lions blue jersey) Deen looks blimp diesel then compared to now.

[ThunderBOB2007]

smith all the way!! Dean is a great drummer but overplays EVERYTHING!!

[STORY_TELLER]

Deen doesn't compare to Smith as a drummer in any way, shape or form. I recall reading somewhere that Neal said he did ask Smitty to continue with them, back when they were auditioning new singers, but Smitty wasn't interested in being in a Perryless Journey (or something to that effect).

I think Neal chose Deen because he gets along with him. Journey is a money making touring band and Neal could have had his pick of almost anyone. He went with a friend. After all the years of tension and drama touring with Perry, I think when Neal decided to reform Journey, he just wanted to be with a bunch of guys he could get along with (I think this also was a factor in choosing Augeri as he's reputed to be one of the sweetest guys in the world).

Neal isn't looking at Deen if he's the best drummer out there or not. He's solid enough for Neal, and as Deano pointed out, he's good to have around in a vocal pinch if 'things' get dicey on stage.

From a fan perspective, I'd prefer to hear Smitty on anything Neal does. They have a great chemistry and It's a night and day difference in talent between him and Deen. From Neal's perspective, if he can't have Smitty, he'll take Deen in Journey or on anything else he does. Too bad for us, but good for Neal.

[(Crazy)Dulce Lady]

smith all the way!! Dean is a great drummer but overplays EVERYTHING!!

but he still needs to play more COWBELL!!

[journeyrock]

Well, that was totally predictable. There is nobody like Smitty on drums, just as Neal is one of the best guitarists, and Steve Perry is The Voice. That's what made Journey the success it was. All great musicians in their own right.

[ThunderBOB2007]

smith all the way!! Dean is a great drummer but overplays EVERYTHING!!

but he still needs to play more COWBELL!!

my "cowbell" day's are over sweetheart!

[Wally_Hatchet]

Deen.

SS played the songs too fast (live) IMO.
This drummer prefers Deen's heavier rock groove over Steve's jazz influenced finesse.

[STORY_TELLER]

Deen.

SS played the songs too fast (live) IMO.
This drummer prefers Deen's heavier rock groove over Steve's jazz influenced finesse.

If you had been at the HWOF after concert, you'd quickly change your mind. Smitty wiped the floor with Deen on his own kit. His beats were 10 times more thunderous than Deen while throwing in sophisticated fills that only an artist of his caliber could dream up let alone pull off. When Deen took over after Smitty's two songs, the drums sounded simplistic in comparison without anyplace near the energy. It was a sight to behold. Even Deen fell over backwards (literally) watching what Smitty was doing (he was kneeling behind him as he played).

[Perrydise]

Smith gave the songs feeling. Deen misses that by overplaying, over-hitting, and generally playing like he's in a garage band. Castronovo was never right for this band, but he's attached at the hip with Neal. Why Schon can't hear that Deen brings little/nothing to the band is beyond me. Deen should be in a hard rock/metal band where his speed and power would fit in. He has no business in Journey.

Agreed

[ThunderBOB2007]

Smith gave the songs feeling. Deen misses that by overplaying, over-hitting, and generally playing like he's in a garage band. Castronovo was never right for this band, but he's attached at the hip with Neal. Why Schon can't hear that Deen brings little/nothing to the band is beyond me. Deen should be in a hard rock/metal band where his speed and power would fit in. He has no business in Journey.

Deen was also playing with Ozzy for a record & tour, & if you can believe even overplayed on the Ozzy/Sabbath stuff live. I heard the reason he was let go from the ozzy org was because he played too much & talked too much!!

Deen is a fantastic drummer, he belongs in a dream theater type metal project, not an arena rock band where the emphasis is on songs, melodies and heart...not speed and how hard the drums can be hit.

LONG LIVE STEVE SMITH!!!!!!!!!

[ProgRocker53]

Yeah, Deen would be AMAZING in a prog metal band. I actually think his true talent is a bit stifled in Journey. Great drummer regardless.

Smitty was perfect for Journey and is technically a top-5 rock drummer of all time, in my eyes.

[Rick]

Deen.

SS played the songs too fast (live) IMO.
This drummer prefers Deen's heavier rock groove over Steve's jazz influenced finesse.

SS played faster live to help SP out.

[lights1961]

i dont think i ever paid attention to SS drumming...but Deeno's drumming is amazing live!!! cant compare
the two as it was a different era---SS put the songs into motion and Deeno is playing them as classics.


Rick

[Journey/Survivor]

IMO Steve Smith is the greatest all around drummer EVER!

But at the same time I think that Castronovo is highly underrated! I consider Castronovo to be one of the 5 best Rock drummers in the world right now.

Compare Deen to almost any other drummer in any other band and he wins hands down in almost every case.