DRUM SOLOS
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12867
Printed Date: December 03 2024 at 01:48
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Topic: DRUM SOLOS
Posted By: progron
Subject: DRUM SOLOS
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 11:05
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I HAVE TO ASK THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL: ARE LONG DRUM SOLOS IN ALBUMS AND CONCERTS REALLY NECESSARY? ISNT IT JUST BORING AND INTERESTS DRUMMERS ONLY? ------------- no music, no life no prog, no good life |
Replies:
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 11:07
| I don't play drums, am not a big fan of drums.. but I loooove Grand Vizier's Garden Party, which is just a use of percussions. So I guess you're wrong |
Posted By: Ty1020
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 11:09
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No... that's like saying guitar solos are only interesting to
guitarists, which, of course, is incorrect. I don't play drums but I
love a good drum solo, and I know a lot of other people feel the same
way.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Ty1020/"> 
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Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 11:33
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Hard to make a general statement....but generally, I think they aren't
really necessary. Bill Bruford deliberately avoids drum solo's! Having said that when you're at a concert a solo can be great to watch..though the most impressive ones have been those of Carl Palmer that I've only seen on DVD...but listening to them on record is just plain boring unless they're kept very short. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 11:38
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Summed up brilliantly Phil. I love listening to Moby Dick on Led Zep II but the one on "How the west was won" is far too long. |
Phil wrote:Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 11:53
| I guess there are two or three solos will appeal but the rest will sound medicocre or worse. For me Joe Morello's Castillian Drums on Dave Brubeck Quartet at Carnegie Hall, Ginger Baker's Toad (Cream's Wheels On Fire), Brian Bennett's Little B (a sub-4 minute gem) on the 2nd Shadows album. Recently saw on DVD an edited version of a Buddy Rich drum solo, recorded on Jerry Lewis TV show (50's or 60's???), and it was astounding good - indeed Rich started from cold with no other musicians |
Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 11:55
 Agreed! I watched "The Song Remains
the Same" and it has Bonzo's live "Moby Dick" solo playing while you're
watching him go drag racing or some-such....I felt myself start to nod
off... |
Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 11:59
Agree about Buddy Rich - Carl Palmer was a huge fan I believe - I saw Buddy Rich once on something like Parkinson and he was astounding to watch...sadly died before his time I believe? |
Posted By: Manunkind
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 12:33
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Drum solos aren't fundamentally from any other solos. It all depends how long the soloist's imagination can last. ------------- "In war there is no time to teach or learn Zen. Carry a strong stick. Bash your attackers." - Zen Master Ikkyu Sojun |
Posted By: Pr@gmatic
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 12:59
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WTF? Praised be Bonzo! 
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Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 13:09
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I am a drummer and am not a big fan of the drum solo. -------------  |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 13:56
Excellent point! |
Posted By: el böthy
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 15:39
Yes really...its far to long...I only listen to it once...complet that is...still its my favorite live album! ------------- "You want me to play what, Robert?" 
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Posted By: Starette
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 17:14
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Depends whether or not they change tempo and are engaging enough...the first drum-solo that really captured me was that of the Corrs on their Unplugged album- Toss the Feathers- that I got for christmas when I was 14. (Dammit- whats her name?? I remember Andrea, Caroline and Jim but I can't remember the drummer!!) Even more impressive was the fact it was on a tradtional irish drum. (yep- theres a name for it but I don't know what it is.) Favourite drum-solo now would have to be Court of the Crimson King- after the piping-version of the melody, before it goes back to the mellotron-ed chorus. ------------- 50 tonne angel falls to the earth... |
Posted By: Uther Pendragon
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 20:07
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I've got to say that I really enjoy a good drum-soo in the middle of a
concert, as it provides a bit of variation, but only if it is an
interesting solo. I don't like the show-off "look what I can do" kind
of drum solo, but more like the Rythm Method by Neil Peart of Rush. Is
it just me or does everyone else think that the drum-solo in the middle
of YYZ on 'Exit... Stage Left' was just brilliant and made an excellent song even better? I also prove a point that it isn't only drummers who enjoy drum solos (as I am a guitarist myself!)  ------------- "And so as I patrol in the valley of the shadow of the tricolour I must fear evil for I am but mortal and mortals can only die." |
Posted By: BePinkTheater
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 22:41
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It can get a little boring.... I tihnk the best drum solos are the ones where the music is still going on....I dont understand why that isnt done more. The band doesnt stop for a guitar solo...why should they stop for a drum solo? ------------- I can strangle a canary in a tin can and it would be really original, but that wouldn't save it from sounding like utter sh*t. -Stone Beard |
Posted By: Toob-Wurm
Date Posted: October 10 2005 at 23:55
Yeah, Tool does do that actually (46 & 2), and so does The Mars Volta (Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)). It's nice when bands do that, but most of the time, they just stop the music and paste in some drum "filler" stuff. ------------- 
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 00:06
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I'm also a drummer but also believe drums solos aren't really necessary, I love some of them, but I rather listen a keyboard and drums playing together (Like Wakeman often does with the incredible Tony Fernandez) or a rhytm section semi solo, drums and bass playin alone sound excellent. About the solos I like:
Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: Doesburger
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 02:22
| Drum soli CAN be exciting in a live environment. But to listen to on cd's... hmmmm The only interesting one I can listen to is Christian Vander. Imagine this : 2 cd's worth of drum soli!!! |
Posted By: Damen
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 02:40
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Just keep it interesting... ------------- "It's amazing that we've been able to put up with each other for 35 years. Most marriages don't last that long these days." -Chris Squire |
Posted By: Eetu Pellonpaa
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 02:47
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Some solos are OK, other are not... The drum solo on "Weiss Der Teufel" by RUFUS ZUPHALL was amusing. One on BUDGIE's "You're The Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk" wasn't... |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 04:48
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Suggests purgatory!
Jon Hiseman released a CD in the late 80's/early 90's of drum solos recorded whilst touring with his wife Barbara Thompson's Paraphenalia. |
Posted By: M. B. Zapelini
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 07:32
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Personally, I like a good drums solo... Some drummers are really innovative and play nice-sounding solos, like Bill Bruford, Carl Palmer, Jon Hiseman and Neil Peart, but others are simply showing themselves, like Mike Portnoy, John Bonham and Queen's Roger Taylor (not Duran Duran's Roger Taylor). Some great drummers never played a solo, like Charlie Watts and Jim Capaldi, but I have always wondered how it would sound. Mr. Heath, I would really like to listen to Hiseman's CD - at least to satisfy my curiosity! ------------- "He's a man of the past and one of the present" PETER HAMMILL |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 11:29
A websearch proved fairly positive, the album being mentioned here: http://www.temple-music.com/temple_music/html/biogs/jon_bio.html - http://www.temple-music.com/temple_music/html/biogs/jon_bio. html QUOTE: Jon is famous for his drum solos and 60 concerts were digitally recorded during Paraphernalia and United Jazz & Rock Ensemble tours in 1985. This resulted in the album 'About Time Too!' being released in the Autumn of 1986. This is a drum solo album and has just been re-released on CD. It's a great album for parties when you want people to leave!UNQUOTE I kept searching and there is hope of finding a copy of the CD:
http://www.schott-music.com/shop/resources/0262253.jpg"> http://www.schott-music.com/shop/3/1000122/1660509/show,92953.html - http://www.schott-music.com/shop/3/1000122/1660509/show,9295 3.html where there are samples to download!!! It turns out the LP was released in the 80's and the CD issued some time between 96 and 98.
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Posted By: Biggles
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 11:55
Yeah, that's a good point. Another one is Cream's "Toad," which, although it's quite good on the original "Fresh Cream" version, they do a live one on "Wheels of Fire," and, believe me, I have MUCH better things to listen to than a 17-minute drum solo. Even Keith Moon thought drum solos were boring. I love a bit of fancy footwork, like that awesome short drum solo on Focus's "Hocus Pocus" that segues into the next section, but a drum solo should be there for a reason, not just for filler. Jethro Tull also has two brilliant drum solos in which, though the drummer is in the spotlight, he isn't the only one that's doing something: "Dharma for One" and the beginning of the second part of "Thick as a Brick." I put it to the public that if a drummer's only opportunity to express himself creatively is during a solo, then he is either a bad drummer (in which case he shouldn't be soloing to begin with) or he is in a bad band. The great drummers are ALWAYS doing amazing stuff, whether you're paying attention to them or not (i.e. Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham). ------------- The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe. http://www.last.fm/user/sbonfiglioli/?chartstyle=red"> 
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Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 12:34
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You are probably refering to Vander's 'Korusz', long drum solos (the shorter is 11 mn) recorded during various concerts. Max Roach released in 1979 a record under the name M'Boom (King Crimson's B'Boom title being probably a wink to M'Boom, Max Roach being a great influence on Bruford's drumming) with seven percussionnists. The result is rather pleasant to listen to, the compositions blending various instruments ranging from marimba, vibes, chimes to xylophone, leaning more towards african ethnic rhythms than jazz. In 1984, Max Roach released an album entitled 'Survivors' that features a 21 mn plus drum solo : believe me, this is the most enjoyable piece of improvisation I have ever heard. But in general, I am not keen on drum solos and in the case of Jethro Tull's 'Thick as a brick' I think it is out of place. ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Yams
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 13:02
| I've always liked Barlow's drum solo on part one of Thick as a Brick. Drum solos are just like any other solo. It's either good or it isn't. |
Posted By: samhob
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 13:10
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The funniest thing on this video is when he starts he's drum solo , the band just get out to drink a bit and leave him alone ! |
Posted By: Protagonist
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 13:17
| I think that everything depends of the drummer. Sometmes there's very interesting drum soloswhich are not boring. In my opinion the drum solos are important, but also they're more attactive in live shows, not in studio records. |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 13:21
Jean and I went to a Magma concert once, and Vander played a 45 minute solo. No joking, I accidentially looked at the wall clock when he started, and when he finally finished I was curious and looked again. And believe me, it was not boring for a second! Vander really knows how to do it. -------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 13:24
Last night at the Spock's Beard concert they played a nice drum solo ... two drummers, playing simultaneously and in a call-response scheme. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to: 
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Posted By: Pseud0
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 16:37
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drum solos can be good like the one in thick as a brick  ------------- 
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Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 17:16
I think that's well put. Great drummers are always amazing to listen to - they don't need to be doing solos to show it. And your examples of Bruford and Cobham are two of the very best... |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 17:34
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http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/buddyrichsticktrick.html - http://www.drummerworld.com/Videos/buddyrichsticktrick.html I keep posting this but it is amazing! |
Posted By: Pr@gmatic
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 17:58
I love it when drummers do that...
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 21:58
I love a good drum solo. In studio albums, it is much easier to have on that is out of place and perhaps bad, but i don't care. Drum solos =  ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Bj-1
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 22:11
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Agree!! But I play drums ------------- RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on! |
Posted By: alan_pfeifer
Date Posted: October 11 2005 at 22:36
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Agreed. And I play the drums as well. Only real Fdrum solos I listen to on studio stuff is from Jazz drummers. |
Posted By: Trotsky
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 00:10
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I'm a keyboardist who likes a good drum solo ... but agree that it can go on for too long (just as with any other instrument) ... as such I actually prefer the studio versions of Toad and Moby Dick to their live counterparts ... My favourite drum solo of all is still Ron Bushy's in Iron Butterfly's In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida ------------- "Death to Utopia! Death to faith! Death to love! Death to hope?" thunders the 20th century. "Surrender, you pathetic dreamer.” "No" replies the unhumbled optimist "You are only the present." |
Posted By: KoS
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 02:09
Vander is so |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 06:23
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Old (hi-)hat - Allman brothers did in the early 70's, Collins and Thompson did it live with Genesis, Don Ellis did it with three drummers...................... The masters Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich did it on record many times. Tony Williams Live In Japan, has a drum battle between Tony Williams and Billy Cobham. On Billy Cobham's his album The Traveler, there a drum duo with Cobham and Gary Husband. |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 07:24
Want it! For me in the 1980s, when 90% of the gigs I went to were heavy metal, the drum solo was always a good time to go to the loo (problem being you ended up with 50% of Hammersmith Odeon empty & 1500 people in the queue for the khazi!). Drum solos have to go somewhere, they have to grab the 90% of the audience who don't consider drums & percussion to be musical instruments in their own right. The late (and much lamented) Pierre Moerlin was a master of this, as is (to my mind) Neil Peart - how many drum solos have garnered a Grammy nomination, as did Peart's 'O Baterista'? This solo is an awesome display, combining power, restraint, humour (believe it or not), technical prowess, and above all, staying interesting to the end - a quality I'm afraid that John Bonham never had for me in his solos. ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 09:00
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May seem an odd suggestion, but go to Brian Auger's website (he's on the album) for more details |
Posted By: Andersfretless
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 09:34
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well, i'm not a drummer, but I saw an extraordinary drum solo of Morgan
Agren with Mats/Morgan Band and i'm sure the gig will have been different without this supercharge of energy!! so the question is not if solos of any instruments are necessary or not the important thing is how do we feel music... I guess... |
Posted By: rushfann2112
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 09:38
no no not really...im not a drummer and i find them totally kick ass. i love hearing Neil Pearts 8 min drum solos |
Posted By: Haragei
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 10:11
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Chester Thompson on You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Volume 2, Frank Zappa's Helsinki Concert/s. It will give you a new appreciation for the drums. LISTEN!!!
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Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: October 12 2005 at 10:45
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There is a studio album named "From Stickslands With Love" by various drummers, doing nothing but solos. A friend of us (who now lives in Japan) has it. I don't recall all of the drummers on it; the only one I remember is Mani Neumeier of Guru Guru and the Irene Schweizer Trio (I think the album was recorded before Guru Guru were formed, and he still played in that jazz trio at that time). ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |