Friday, December 28, 2007

Somebody said that somebody said…

...that I wasn’t a very good drummer because all I do is play “four in the floor”. Four in the floor is when you play the kick drum on 1, 2, 3, and 4 and the snare on the 2 and 4. OK, I give, I’ve been playing drums for thirty nine years, much longer than he’s been alive, but I’m just gonna take his word for it, I suck. I ain’t got it right, ain't GONNA git it right and at this point in my life I should just give up,despite HOW many people move their asses when I play.
No, no, wait a minute…now that I think about it, I remember that time that I was cutting a track with Marti Jones, when Don Dixon (her husband/producer) put a metronome on the track after I was done recording it, sans click track. It was astonishing how the metronome, once set, never wavered from the beat on playback. I was as true as the setting the sun. And let’s see… that was about 21 years ago, so I’m pretty sure I haven’t gotten worse.
Look, Goddamn it! Number 1: I DO play other beats but it’s ridiculous to even go there, it ain’t about the damn stupid ass beats you play! It’s about the song, dumb dumb! Don’t play the drums, play the song! If the song wants to be driving and pumped up, maybe the four in the floor is exactly what it needs. If the song is sassy, swing that bitch! If it’s sad, drag it! Jeez! Rock stars! Get it together! It ain’t about you or me, it’s about the damn song! Fuck being a good drummer! LIVE the fuckin’ moment on your instrument, whatever it is…don’t act it!
That’s when it works!


So there…

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I bet they meant to say your songwriting, singing, painting and being a friend sucks too.

roscoe said...

4 on the floor is a mean bitch to serve.
you gotta serve it up to buy the right to bitch about it bitch!

go ahead and kick it birthday boy.

Ace said...

Damn you T, Stop it. You're stealing lyrics from my new song. "Everyone's a MYSPACE RockStar"

Anonymous said...

That asshole should get a life...

It's only rock 'n roll !!!!!

Maybe the songs could use a little dynamic, but the beat is right fkn on!

halfpear said...

Is it all right for a man to love another man's touch... on the hi-hat?

Tell your new 'friend' to go buy a Rush album if he wants a million notes... and then tell him to fuck right off.

PH

Anonymous said...

That "somebody" is obviously an ignororamous who's more impressed with theatrics than keeping a beat that never wavers and serves the song. It amazes me how many professional drummers can't keep time without a click track. But the real issue here is how many of these so called "good" drummers can play an unwavering beat and sing lead at the same time? Not many folks in that category. Greatness isn't measured in show off pounding but in playing just enough...at least that's how these ears hear it.

Anonymous said...

Jeez, what an azzhole to say sumthin' like dat!
johan

Anonymous said...

someone's cuisin' for an olympic ass kickin'. for the record, terry anderson held my jockstrap once and he held it well. kept me swingin' in time the way i like it. george, paul and john will back me up on this. he's in the same league as me.

sincerely, ringo starr

Anonymous said...

Heresy, pure heresy, I say.

The Johnny Barbata of Bunn is the finest rock'n roll drummer in all of these here parts. He's one helluva songwriter, too. Seriously, who else do you know who has had a song written about their songs?

Illegitimi non carborundum, TA

Foy

Anonymous said...

"Four In The Floor" huh? I'm sure you've heard the old adage,"It's not the notes you play but the space in between". At least that's one of the things my teacher said to me. As well as "less is more". I digress.

I'm glad there are drummers around that have practiced their triplets, paradiddles, flamadiddles, pert-adiddles, doodlediddles and piddlediddles. All done in weird time signatures with their quadruple double bass pedals and wrap-around rack-toms, double giant bass drums with about 50 cymbals (ranging in size from a 4" splash to a huge-ass gong.

Don't get me wrong. I can appreciate a guy like Terry Bozzio, Simon Phillips, etc., etc, etc. But sometimes that kind of drumming seems more about aerobics than the music. "Tone colors" I guess.

Whenever I listen to one of your records, be it, OAKTeam, Yayhoos, whatever, you're always consistent and play EXACTLY what the song needs. Not overplayed, NEVER underplayed and always on the money. We (drummers) should all "suck" so bad!

For me, if I had my druthers, I'd just play Yardbirds and surf music.

Ace said...

It's like the song goes,

"A runka runka guitar
with a surfer beat" (that's all you need)

Damn fine song......

Anonymous said...

As I'm not a drummer, but have dated and been friends with drummers, I had to call an old buddy for help on this one. However, old fried, Norm, who knows Terry's drumming, says this fucker is totally out of line. Terry's drumming completely fits his musical style, and hell yeah, fuck you, stupid dude, whatever. My sentiments, not his. As though I had any doubts. I just needed the musical explanation. HA! GO TA!!! WE LOVE YOUR BEAT!!! love, jody and norm

Anonymous said...

I don't know a damn thing thing about drumming, but Mr. Busdriverman(did I do that right? probably not) is what hooked me a few years ago, and I think that's one of the coolest beats anywhere.
JL

philwo said...

4 on the floor
and I don't need more.
Happy New Year from Mallorca !!!!!

Anonymous said...

So lessee. Charlie Watts, Kenny Jones,Stanley Jordan,Mick Avory,Mauro Magellan stand shoulder to shoulder with you in the ranks of suckdom. Whoever this dipstick is who allegedly said such a thing is a 'dog' and should meet the same fate as Joey Zazza.

Anonymous said...

the thing about Capricorns is they take criticism to heart, regardless of how far out left field it may be. they should all be required to take "don't give a damn" lessons. you held ringo jockstrap???

Anonymous said...

That person was probably in the crowd booing Bob Dylan back in '66, too!

You one of da best damn drummers in the biz, and don't ever fricking forget it!!!

joanna lynne said...

ringo's jockstrap? oh hell. and i didn't even think about the capricorn thing. no wonder you're so awesome! capricorns and ringo's jockstrap holders are two of my three favorite types of people! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Anonymous said...

"What do you say to people who say that you're not a very good drummer?"

"I tell them I was the drummer for the Beatles."