Drums on One More - not of this earth

[stevew2]

My 'rack' can't herd sheep or cattle! Well... not so I've noticed.

Baaaa Baaaa {if ya know what i mean}

Baa all you like, I'm not gonna go 'Little Bo Peep' for you

party pooper, have you any wool??

I have lots of wool, both spun and unspun. But only one guy gets to peep at my bo's at the moment - and I'm missing him terribly.

Sorry to hear that,he is missing a great 'rack experiance",and a fun time with you

Thanks for the sympathy. He lives OS and is stupidly busy at the moment - too busy to spend much time talking with me, which I'm finding hard. But it'll sort itself out.

dont know what OS is,but id haul ass back to the rack,and talk to you,im crashin,dont take me to serious, but you have a killer rack

[Arianddu]

My 'rack' can't herd sheep or cattle! Well... not so I've noticed.

Baaaa Baaaa {if ya know what i mean}

Baa all you like, I'm not gonna go 'Little Bo Peep' for you

party pooper, have you any wool??

I have lots of wool, both spun and unspun. But only one guy gets to peep at my bo's at the moment - and I'm missing him terribly.

Sorry to hear that,he is missing a great 'rack experiance",and a fun time with you

Thanks for the sympathy. He lives OS and is stupidly busy at the moment - too busy to spend much time talking with me, which I'm finding hard. But it'll sort itself out.

dont know what OS is,but id haul ass back to the rack,and talk to you,im crashin,dont take me to serious, but you have a killer rack

Over Seas

[jtdrummer316]

Peart is fantastic, but Smitty is better.

I would have to disagree. Being a drummer, it is much harder for me to emulate Neil Peart than it is Steve Smith.

Check out this animation of Neil Peart that shows off his playing skills:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOGcOYhBKho

Amazing. Show me something comparable or better from Smitty. I'd love to see it!

BTW - I do think Smitty is a top-notch drummer.

Watch this clip especially around the 7:30-end:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4JIY9S6U64

That is some amazing drumming! In my opinion, Smitty has a kind of finesse when he plays, some of the notes he plays are what I would describe as "felt and not heard". I'm not discounting Peart at all, but I feel that he's more of a power drummer. When Peart plays a note, you hear it. Anyway, just my two cents.

[bluejeangirl76]

BTW - I do think Smitty is a top-notch drummer.

Since we're on the topic of Steve Smith... I'm wondering where "Smitty" came from. I know its a nick for people whose last name is Smith but I've never heard the other band members call him that... I've heard him referred to as 'Smith' but that's it... so is that a fan-given nick that everyone just uses, or did someone actually call him that, or what??

Doesn't matter that much, I'm just curious.

[Voyager]

Here's a great solo from Smitty.... errrr... I mean Steve Smith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJFw6JeihN4

[S2M]

The Professor....'nuff said!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuOTkrEVeb4&feature=related

[Arianddu]

BTW - I do think Smitty is a top-notch drummer.

Since we're on the topic of Steve Smith... I'm wondering where "Smitty" came from. I know its a nick for people whose last name is Smith but I've never heard the other band members call him that... I've heard him referred to as 'Smith' but that's it... so is that a fan-given nick that everyone just uses, or did someone actually call him that, or what??

Doesn't matter that much, I'm just curious.

there was an extra 'bit' at the end of Steve Perry's 'Foolish Heart' clip that had the other guys from Journey congratulate him as he walked off stage, drink a glass of champagne, wish their fans happy holidays then go off to get food (but I can't find the damn clip on YouTube now!) As they walk off, Neal definately calls Steve Smith 'Smitty' - well, 'Smit-TAY!' actually

[Michigan Girl]

BTW - I do think Smitty is a top-notch drummer.

Since we're on the topic of Steve Smith... I'm wondering where "Smitty" came from. I know its a nick for people whose last name is Smith but I've never heard the other band members call him that... I've heard him referred to as 'Smith' but that's it... so is that a fan-given nick that everyone just uses, or did someone actually call him that, or what??

Doesn't matter that much, I'm just curious.

there was an extra 'bit' at the end of Steve Perry's 'Foolish Heart' clip that had the other guys from Journey congratulate him as he walked off stage, drink a glass of champagne, wish their fans happy holidays then go off to get food (but I can't find the damn clip on YouTube now!) As they walk off, Neal definately calls Steve Smith 'Smitty' - well, 'Smit-TAY!' actually

Yes.....They also used that clip for the Budweiser Commercial.....
switching out champagne for beer????

[bluejeangirl76]

(but I can't find the damn clip on YouTube now!) As they walk off, Neal definately calls Steve Smith 'Smitty' - well, 'Smit-TAY!' actually

No problem, I've seen it several times. I didn't pay much attention to what all got said at the end though. I just didn't recall ever hearing those guys call him that.

[Angel]

My 'rack' can't herd sheep or cattle! Well... not so I've noticed.

Baaaa Baaaa {if ya know what i mean}

Baa all you like, I'm not gonna go 'Little Bo Peep' for you

party pooper, have you any wool??

I have lots of wool, both spun and unspun. But only one guy gets to peep at my bo's at the moment - and I'm missing him terribly.

Sorry to hear that,he is missing a great 'rack experiance",and a fun time with you

Thanks for the sympathy. He lives OS and is stupidly busy at the moment - too busy to spend much time talking with me, which I'm finding hard. But it'll sort itself out.

Sounds like you need to find a boy toy closer to home.

[Arianddu]

I have lots of wool, both spun and unspun. But only one guy gets to peep at my bo's at the moment - and I'm missing him terribly.

Sorry to hear that,he is missing a great 'rack experiance",and a fun time with you

Thanks for the sympathy. He lives OS and is stupidly busy at the moment - too busy to spend much time talking with me, which I'm finding hard. But it'll sort itself out.

Sounds like you need to find a boy toy closer to home.

I don't give my heart easily, but once given, it's utterly loyal and faithful. Regardless of how far away the one who holds it is.

[JohnH]

Steve's a master craftsman. He's on the cover of the current Drumhead and there's a great interview in there. The other day Don't Stop Believin was on the radio in the background at some restaurant I was at and I heard those cymbal parts in the chorus and was just thinking holy sheesh!!! I love Deen too he has the same kind of talent and even more with those fabulous vocals.

John

[annie89509]

Listen to the his timing when he comes in for Still She Cries. Perry lets out a breath at 00:43 and then Smitty's comes in. Perfect.

The intro to IHSBYH. His steady beats and light tapping in FIB.

TBF is a Smitty masterpiece.

TBF's also one of the few times get Valory's not in the background. That bass is pounding.

I know TBF is loafed by a lot of people, but I love that album. At first, it was all about the vocals. Over the years, as I have listened to it more, all 5 shined equally. Yes, the songs are better than on FTLOSM.

By all accounts, Smitty is the consummate singer's drummer. If you look at all the past interviews, SP often talked about "seating in the backseat" while Smitty does the driving. And Smitty talked about "watching" SP (following his singing) at all times for his queques (sp?) in their live shows.

Many factors contributed to the ROR fallout. But there has never been anything -- from either SP or SS -- to indicate that these 2 don't have the utmost respect for each other.

[StoneCold]

there was an extra 'bit' at the end of Steve Perry's 'Foolish Heart' clip that had the other guys from Journey congratulate him as he walked off stage, drink a glass of champagne, wish their fans happy holidays then go off to get food (but I can't find the damn clip on YouTube now!) As they walk off, Neal definately calls Steve Smith 'Smitty' - well, 'Smit-TAY!' actually

Holiday Greetings from Journey (Frontiers era)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il9RvgkyL7o

[Michigan Girl]

there was an extra 'bit' at the end of Steve Perry's 'Foolish Heart' clip that had the other guys from Journey congratulate him as he walked off stage, drink a glass of champagne, wish their fans happy holidays then go off to get food (but I can't find the damn clip on YouTube now!) As they walk off, Neal definately calls Steve Smith 'Smitty' - well, 'Smit-TAY!' actually

Holiday Greetings from Journey (Frontiers era)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il9RvgkyL7o

Yeah....Good job!!!

[chad]

I was listening to Trial By Fire today and that made me realize how tasteful a drummer Steve Smith is.

One More features some of the best drumming work I ever heard on a Journey song. It's fun to hear him get loose towards the end.

I like Castronovo, but Smith is something else. It's the same with Jeff Porcaro and Simon Phillips in Toto.

Could not agree more!

Drummers like Steve Smith, Jeff Porcaro, Simon Phillips and Steve Gadd have such a sensational feel. Drummers like Neal Peart or Terry Bozzio are technically awesome, but as a drummer myself I tend to gravitate to the ones who also have the 'feel' (i.e. groove, swing)

It's all good!

Chad

[Loneman1]

IMO Steve Smith is the #1 greatest drummer of all time.

Yup.

[Ehwmatt]

Listen to the his timing when he comes in for Still She Cries. Perry lets out a breath at 00:43 and then Smitty's comes in. Perfect.

The intro to IHSBYH. His steady beats and light tapping in FIB.

TBF is a Smitty masterpiece.

TBF's also one of the few times get Valory's not in the background. That bass is pounding.

I know TBF is loafed by a lot of people, but I love that album. At first, it was all about the vocals. Over the years, as I have listened to it more, all 5 shined equally. Yes, the songs are better than on FTLOSM.

By all accounts, Smitty is the consummate singer's drummer. If you look at all the past interviews, SP often talked about "seating in the backseat" while Smitty does the driving. And Smitty talked about "watching" SP (following his singing) at all times for his queques (sp?) in their live shows.

Many factors contributed to the ROR fallout. But there has never been anything -- from either SP or SS -- to indicate that these 2 don't have the utmost respect for each other.

TBF is a great album... it's produced REALLY well, the songs are good for the most part (though a bit slow depending on the mood of the moment), and I just really appreciate the matured Perry voice on there. I don't care if it was 45 takes for each vocal, how many punch-ins there were, how much other studio magic, it still sounds great on the album and that's all that matters to me.

To this day, the layers on TBF, instrumentally and vocally, blow my mind. There is so much to discover listening to it time and time again, especially on headphones. It would make Mutt Lange blush

[texafana]

Peart is fantastic, but Smitty is better.

I would have to disagree. Being a drummer, it is much harder for me to emulate Neil Peart than it is Steve Smith.

Any "real" drummer understands Peart is a technician. Even Peart admits his natural physical skills as a drummer are limited. He is more of a thinking drummer than raw power or skill. Peart has often been described as a drum machine due to his natural ability to sync to almost perfect time without using a time clock. Also labled as "stiff" or "can't groove" enough, etc, etc.

Let's face it....here are Peart's strengths and weakness.

Strengths:
a) Double Bass Quads.
b) Decent single stroke rolls.
c) Good use of parradiddles.
d) Good use of flams.
e) Excellent use of doubles on the snare.
f) Ability to use all four limbs to construct mind boggling mystic rythms.

Weaknesses:
a) Fairly slow double bass abilities.
b) Single kick doesn't do alot of doubles, and no triples.
c) Somewhat stiff, not really a groove drummer.
d) Hasn't really gotten "better" on the drums over time. Listen to his solo on All The Worlds A Stage. That solo sounds very similar to his solos 30 years later except for the electronics.

Steve Smith is simply on a whole nother level as far as abilities go.

Old Steve Smith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6gJxag_jnE

Newer Steve Smith:
This is insane towards the end...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVQRL_pE ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJh46j0 ... re=related

I LOVE RUSH and Peart IS the thinking man's drummer, but Smitty has progressed into something on an entirely different level of ability.

"it is much harder for me to emulate Neil Peart than it is Steve Smith.."
Maybe back in the 70's and 80's when Peart WAS better than Smitty, but not anymore. Smitty's drumming in Journey was never about "ability" he always said playing in Journey taught him how to compliment a song more than anything else.

[7 Wishes]

The title track off the vastly underrated Trial By Fire is his signature track...every musician and drummer (lol) for whom I played this thought it was a drum loop...

BTW...how many drummers does it take to change a light bulb?

Six...five to turn the ladder and one to hold the bulb in place...


What do you call the guy hanging out with four musicians?

The drummer...

[Arianddu]

The title track off the vastly underrated Trial By Fire is his signature track...every musician and drummer (lol) for whom I played this thought it was a drum loop...

BTW...how many drummers does it take to change a light bulb?

Six...five to turn the ladder and one to hold the bulb in place...


What do you call the guy hanging out with four musicians?

The drummer...

What do you gt if you cross a drummer and a roadie? An even dummer roadie.
Why do roadies say 'check one two, one two'? 'Cause if they could count to four, they'd be drummers.
Did you hear about the bass player who locked his keys in the car? They had to break the window to get the drummer out.

And my personal 2 favourite musician jokes of all time:

Did you hear about the bass player who was so badly out of time even the lead singer noticed?

What's the difference between a musician and a premium bond? Only one of them will eventually mature and make some money.

[Journey/Survivor]

Peart is fantastic, but Smitty is better.

I would have to disagree. Being a drummer, it is much harder for me to emulate Neil Peart than it is Steve Smith.

Any "real" drummer understands Peart is a technician. Even Peart admits his natural physical skills as a drummer are limited. He is more of a thinking drummer than raw power or skill. Peart has often been described as a drum machine due to his natural ability to sync to almost perfect time without using a time clock. Also labled as "stiff" or "can't groove" enough, etc, etc.

Let's face it....here are Peart's strengths and weakness.

Strengths:
a) Double Bass Quads.
b) Decent single stroke rolls.
c) Good use of parradiddles.
d) Good use of flams.
e) Excellent use of doubles on the snare.
f) Ability to use all four limbs to construct mind boggling mystic rythms.

Weaknesses:
a) Fairly slow double bass abilities.
b) Single kick doesn't do alot of doubles, and no triples.
c) Somewhat stiff, not really a groove drummer.
d) Hasn't really gotten "better" on the drums over time. Listen to his solo on All The Worlds A Stage. That solo sounds very similar to his solos 30 years later except for the electronics.

Steve Smith is simply on a whole nother level as far as abilities go.

Old Steve Smith:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6gJxag_jnE

Newer Steve Smith:
This is insane towards the end...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVQRL_pE ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJh46j0 ... re=related

I LOVE RUSH and Peart IS the thinking man's drummer, but Smitty has progressed into something on an entirely different level of ability.

"it is much harder for me to emulate Neil Peart than it is Steve Smith.."
Maybe back in the 70's and 80's when Peart WAS better than Smitty, but not anymore. Smitty's drumming in Journey was never about "ability" he always said playing in Journey taught him how to compliment a song more than anything else.

Excellent post.

[S2M]

Sometimes I just think people like to appear informed about certain things.....

When all is said and done, it really doesn't matter.....Smitty....Peart......Smitty.....Peart....eh.

For all those who do not think Peart has 'feel'....'soul' in his playing.....check out 'Burnin' for Buddy'....

Some people just prefer to play a certain style of music....doesn't mean they can't play other styles....

Look at Vivian Campbell.....has played in some KILLER bands, playing KILLER music. But he prefers to play in Def Leppard. Go figure.


Neil Peart - Cottontail

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d3CwzGWSuI


Buddy Rich - battle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3loE1NDJIk&feature=related

[texafana]

I know all about Peart's Burning For Buddy sessions, Cottontail, etc, etc. It was a great tool for Peart to learn how to loosen up a bit and get some groove going. But still... his jazz playing is still no where close to Smitty's. Alot of peeps don't realize just how frickin good Steve Smith has become over the last 10-20 years. Easily one of the top drummers in history now. And some of his best abilities are right now. Amazing....

[S2M]

I know all about Peart's Burning For Buddy sessions, Cottontail, etc, etc. It was a great tool for Peart to learn how to loosen up a bit and get some groove going. But still... his jazz playing is still no where close to Smitty's. Alot of peeps don't realize just how frickin good Steve Smith has become over the last 10-20 years. Easily one of the top drummers in history now. And some of his best abilities are right now. Amazing....

While that may be true....I don't think that throwing sticks, and playing with them backwards, while tapping them whilst on your shins qualify one as a drumming prodigy...

[ProgRocker53]

I have to wonder how phenomenal an album of Cain, Schon, Smitty, and a good studio bassist would be....

Not necessarily melodic rock or anything, not necessarily jazz or anything with lyrics, even... but just them playing some good music.

I would LOVE an album like that...

[Journey/Survivor]

I know all about Peart's Burning For Buddy sessions, Cottontail, etc, etc. It was a great tool for Peart to learn how to loosen up a bit and get some groove going. But still... his jazz playing is still no where close to Smitty's. Alot of peeps don't realize just how frickin good Steve Smith has become over the last 10-20 years. Easily one of the top drummers in history now. And some of his best abilities are right now. Amazing....

Again, very well said.

Peart's a great drummer no doubt about it. I have many of Rush's albums, I've seen them in concert several times, seen tons of VHS and DVD footage of his drumming, and have heard Peart's Buddy Rich tribute CD. Great Rock drummer.

But in the lat 10 years or so Steve Smith has taken drumming to a whole other level beyond anything I've ever heard ANYONE else play. No one should judge Steve Smith's drumming based solely on his drumming in Journey.

His drumming should first and foremost be judged based on his playing in "Vital Tech Tones" "Vital Information" and his live concerts with those two bands.

[Journey/Survivor]

And I don't know why so many people don't realize how great of a bass player Ross Valory is? Now, I don't put his talent level up there with the talent that Schon and Smith have, but he is a very underrated bass player.

[Arianddu]

I have to wonder how phenomenal an album of Cain, Schon, Smitty, and a good studio bassist would be....

Not necessarily melodic rock or anything, not necessarily jazz or anything with lyrics, even... but just them playing some good music.

I would LOVE an album like that...

Swap Cain for Rolie and I'm there. Requesting some smokey blues!

[OneJourney]

I'm glad someone posted this...I have noticed his drum work on the ENTIRE Trial By Fire album and always thought it was by far HIS album. His work is exceptional on it, and on this track when he does that un-earthly fill at the end...it is a reminder that Steve Smith is a modern day drumming great.