The conclusion

The drumming world as had its share of greats, from Neil Peart to Travis barker all the way to Buddy Rich. One cannot look at all of the great drummers in the music business because they are way too many to even to begin to look at. However there is one way to define a truly great drummer, a true drummer has a passion for beats that burns brighter than any fire could ever burn. Drumming is more than what people do to just pass the time; it is a way of life, you either have the passion that makes you great or you don’t. As we looked at drummers of all types, styles, and genres of music we can see that every single one has the passion and the drive that makes them great.

Passion, power, skill, drive are just some of the things that can make a man into a legend. All of these qualities are found in the drummers I have talked about in this blog earlier, but not only that but in many drummers all over the world.

Many people don’t truly understand what it takes to be a true drummer. People just look at drumming as the “backbeat” and less important instrument of a band; however drums are one of the most important instrument in the band. Without drums the beat would fall apart, there would be no tempo and no style to the music. These are just some of the things that drummers carry on their shoulders when they preform each and every time.

If you have been reading and following my blogs I want you to leave with one thing in mind. I don’t care if you learned nothing from all my other posts just as long as you get one thing, men don’t choose to play the drums… the drums chose the men.

RIP JImmy "the rev" sullivan

The music world knows great musicians when it sees them, that is why a death in the music industry is such a great loss. As I write this blog post I dedicate it to one of the greatest metal drummers that has ever lived.

The year is 2001 and one of the greatest bands has recorded their first album Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, the band is Avenged Sevenfold. Avenged Sevenfold has rocked the charts for the past decade as they produced hit after hit. One of their greatest attributes is their drummer who name is Jimmy Sullivan. Better known as “the rev”, jimmy became one of the founders of avenged sevenfold after he left a previous band at the age of 18. Jimmy begun to play the drums at the age of 11, after only a year of lessons jimmy began to play with college percussion groups and then 6 years later he began to join bands which started his career as one of the most famous drummers in the world.

Jimmy “the rev” Sullivan took drumming into a new era. Jimmy was in my mind the master of the double kick pedal. The way he could transform a song by a sick break with his double bass was truly incredible. It was as if he gave the song a new life, he was Jesus of the double kick. Not only was Sullivan a great drummer but his piano, and vocal skills truly where set apart from any others out there. Sullivan was not only a man, but a musician, a hero so to say in the music world. But as it would be all great things have to come to an end eventually. In the winter of 2009 jimmy Sullivan was found dead in his home in Huntington Beach, California at the age of 28. His death is truly a loss for the band and many other individuals who thought of jimmy Sullivan as a hero. Avenged Sevenfold’s fifth album, nightmare, was dedicated to Sullivan a year after he passed. Sullivan will be a man that many shall remember for his amazing drumming abilities and his truly great musician ship.

The Greatest Drummer to Ever Take a Breath!

Now it’s time to move aside from the rock side of drumming, it’s time to look at a little jazz. Of all the influencing drummers in the jazz world, there is none better than the great buddy rich. Known for never practicing outside of a performance buddy rich was a man on extreme talent.

                Born on September 20, 1917 buddy rich began his drumming career at the age of one when his father saw that he could keep a steady beat with spoons that were lying around the house. At 18 month Buddy rich officially started playing the drums. Although out his childhood he began to join big bands and become the bandleader. In jazz bands are a little different then rock bands, they consist of trumpets, saxophones, a bass guitar and a pianist. Another thing to look at is the style of play by jazz bands rather than rock bands, jazz bands have a more laid back style but can come at you with an upbeat hit that you can’t help but move your feat too. As we take a look in the past jazz was the style of music that started it all, in the 1920’s jazz and blues started the trend of all music that we have today. Buddy rich is a man that I can honestly say took jazz and shaped it into the upbeat type of music it is today. Once buddy rich got behind the kit there was no stopping the pure genius that was produced by his playing. He was truly the greatest jazz drummer of all time.

Aaron Gillespie at his best

True musicianship is something not very many people can say that have reached over the years. However Aaron Gillespie is a prime example of a true musician, from drumming and singing for the punk christian band Underoath to recently becoming the lead singer for the band the Almost. Gillespie is a very talented musician who not only plays drums and sings but plays guitar, bass, keyboard, and the banjo.

Born July 18, 1983 Gillespie was a drummer ever since he was little. At the age of 14 he became a stand out drummer who’s christian belief led him into praise and worship ministries. In 1997 Gillespie joined Underoath and went on tour with them for over a decade.  Around 2010 Gillespie left Underoath and joined the Almost where he currently is committed to.

Aaron Gillespie is musician of multiple talents such as singing, playing the guitar and bass and playing the piano. However Gillespie is more known for his musicianship on the drums.  As a boy Aaron was told by member in his church that he plays badly and too loud, when in fact Aaron’s style of play is in my eyes perfect. He keeps the beat flowing and uses the drums to not only add beats but to have a voice. He uses the drums to give the music emotion, and feeling. Aaron Gillespie has talent that not very many can match. He is a truly blessed man, he uses his talents to praise god in every way he can. To me Aaron Gillespie is an inspiration that moves me towards what I’m supposed to do with my life as a drummer and a man.

Kicking back retro with Terry Bazzio

Some drummers aren’t made, they are born. There are drummers out there who have been playing for their whole life. These men are born with the beats flowing in their blood from day one, drumming is more a part of them than anything else in the world. Take Terry Bazzio for example, this man started messing around on the drum kit before he was old enough to go to school.

Terry Bazzio lived to play the drums, as a young boy he was all about music. At the age of 13 Bazzio went to see the Beatles play and after that he begged his dad for drum lessons. That one show started the career that brought a new life to the world of drumming.

As the 70’s came along Terry Bazzio began to take off in his career. Bazzio played in various bands that toured all over the world. Bazzio also has had some solo tracks that he has produced over the years. I was fortunate enough to have the chance to see Terry Bazzio live in Moline, Illinois when I was about 16. As I watched this amazing drummer do his thing I couldn’t help but just stand there in awe of him musician ship. My jaw dropped as Bazzio moved around his kit playing everything perfectly in time without hesitation or anything. Bazzio threw out beats and rhythms I have never even thought of before in my whole life. He played solo after solo each one being so much better than the last.

Terry Bazzio is a man of incredible talent and skill, I have never seen a man that can do some of the things he can do on a kit, it was truly and incredible sight to see.

Travi Barker.... nuff said

You all may have heard of a band called Blink 182. They have been around for nearly a decade now playing punk rock music all over the world. Blink 182 has more hits than most bands out there, in my opinion this bands musician ship and vocals are excellent but what makes this band is there drummer Travis Barker.

           Travis Barker takes the musicianship and skill of a drummer to the next level.  Like a true drummer he’s not focused on one style of beats, he mixes it up to provide the ultimate listing experience that will change the way you think about the drumming world forever. Barker was born in 1975 in California, as a boy barker was surrounded by music. When he was four barker’s mother bought him his first drum set which he began taking drum lessons on when he was five. Barker eventually moved on to other instruments such as the piano and even vocals but in the end he always came back to the drums. Travis barker is a god at playing drums; he can truly be called someone with extreme talent who knows how to use it. The things he can do with a pair of sticks are amazing! He moves around the kit like it’s no one’s business, barker uses abstract beats and fills to give his music the sickest feel that you can’t help but bob your head to. If you ever want to learn a new beat or try to improve your skills I encourage you to check out some of Travis Barkers songs, you will not be disappointed. 

Introduction into the drumming world

Why hello there, my name is Dillon Smith. I'm 18; I like to think of myself as a musician by trade and a drummer by heart. I started drumming when I was 14. I took part in many different bands over the past four years; most have been with my church. However I also took part in a rock/ heavy metal band for almost 2 years. We took part in gigs that where just to show people who we are and to compete against other bands from our area. As a drummer I love to play heavier types of music to get the blood pumpin and just go crazy. I have a lot of respect for musicians and drummers who have natural talent and show it. In this blog I will be reviewing a new drummer every week. I will go out and listen to new bands or even old bands and find the best of the best to do my review on. If you are a drummer who is looking to better his skills by listing to another drummer, or even a person who just likes to learn new things about music then this is the place to look.

The living legend of the beat

There are some people who set a mark on the pages of history. These men change the world they live in forever. They take their ideas and their skills to transform something and open people’s eyes in ways that no one else could ever do. I’d like to talk about one man who transformed his world, the world of music forever and hasn’t looked back since. This man started his career as a drummer and a musician at an early age. He is not just a drummer or a musician but a living legend. His name is Neil Peart.

Neil has transformed all drumming styles forever from the way he takes a beat and breaking it apart and rebuilds it to form an ever new better sick version. He explores different styles, different time signatures, and different ways to enhance the sound and feel of the music. Neil not only writes all of his drum beats, he also writes lyrics and guitar riffs for the band Rush. Rush stared around 1974 and took off from there. Neil and the other band members took Rush too whole different levels of music. For example, there songs “Tom Soyer” and “Trees” are only a few musical master pieces that the band has created. “Tom Soyer” to me as a drummer captures and captivates me on a whole new level. The musical genius of this song is unbelievable! Neil takes a standard 4/4 beat and transforms it into a sick twisted 12/8 style beat. He keeps the beat moving while adding different downbeats and much more.

Neil by far is a drummer that can write a beat for a song on the spot that can give you goose bumps while keeping you captivated on his sticks. You’ll hear the beats flowing so smoothly together you will only be begging for more when the song is over.