I have a friend that has been drumming for well over 9 years and it shows. Most notably, it shows when he talks about music. His favorite drummer ever is Danny Carey, his favorite band ever is tool and his favorite lyricist is Maynard Keenan. I wouldn't mind it if he wouldn't shut up about Tool though. I don't want to go in depth about it, but I want him to explore different things. He's really interested in technical aspects like time weird time signatures and whatnot. Some of his favorite bands include Incubus, 311, the already mentioned Tool, A Perfect Circle (of course), and System of a Down. I tried suggesting Hella, but he didn't seem too impressed. I don't know, is it a bad idea to even suggest things, should I just leave him be? Any suggestions?

Make him a mix of drum nerd music. But no Rush. Some Mahavishnu Orchestra, Tower of Power, Meshuggah, The Police (especially their live recordings), Zappa (he always used amazing drummers like Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, Vinnie Colaiuta), Zeppelin (gotta love that Bernard Purdy shuffle that Bonham ripped off and then perfected), GRP All Star Big Band, Yakuza, Peter Gabriel (anything off of Secret World Tour Live, Manu Katche is a beast), blah blah blah.

Then tell him to chill out, nerd music is for nerds. If he plays for the song he'll play way less busy and he'll get more tail.

Has he ever been to a Tool concert that wasn't a major sausage fest? Of course not.

If he likes Tool, the Mars Volta might be the best you can do.

What about math rock? Would that be a good direction to steer him towards?

You know, just get him this book called Extreme Interdependence by Marco Minneman.

it'll f*@! his s#*& all up.

Have him try Dave Weckl. The guy's amazing. He's considered a jazz drummer, but he has a rock sensibility that appeals to me.

I've got several of his albums and have made a compilation of my favorite tracks. If you'd like to hear it, just PM me- I'll send you a copy for your friend.

fp

More, from Djangos/AllMusic

Dave Weckl is one of fusion's most acclaimed drummers, making his name during a six-year-stint with Chick Corea. Weckl was born in St. Louis and grew up listening to soul and jazz; he received his first drum set at age eight and developed his playing by listening to drummers like Buddy Rich, as well as R&B grooves. He majored in jazz at the University of Bridgeport, but left after two years to become involved in the New York jazz scene, also touring Europe with various bands. Weckl joined a fusion group called Nitesprite, where he attracted the attention of drummer Peter Erskine; Erskine helped him get a gig with French Toast, a band also featuring pianist Michel Camilo and bassist Anthony Jackson.
From French Toast, Weckl branched out into session work, playing on numerous early-'80s sessions with the likes of Bill Connors (Return to Forever), the Brecker Brothers, Tânia Maria, Paquito D'Rivera, Eliane Elias, and George Benson, as well as pop and soul albums for Diana Ross, Madonna, and Robert Plant. In 1986, Chick Corea saw Weckl performing in New York with guitarist Connors and invited the drummer to join his new Elektric Band. Weckl spent a total of seven years with Corea, performing on numerous albums and also appearing with Corea's Akoustic Band; his skills received considerable esteem, and he augmented his work with Corea by continuing his session work and appearing often with the GRP All-Star Big Band. Weckl also released a series of instructional videos, and in 1990 he led his first solo date, with Master Plan for GRP. Heads Up followed in 1992, as well as Hard-Wired in 1994.

Upon leaving Corea, Weckl's primary focus was recording and touring with guitarist Mike Stern; he also continued his work as a sideman. In 1998, Weckl led the R&B-oriented date Rhythm of the Soul, a return to his other boyhood musical love, and the like-minded Synergy followed in 1999. The Dave Weckl Band had really gelled by the time of Transition's 2000 release, but Weckl didn't leave teaching behind, either, and released another instructional recording, The Zone, in 2001. After working extensively with a quartet for the last few years, he debuted their efforts with 2002's improv-heavy Perpetual Motion. He has a website at www.daveweckl.com.

~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

I like Dave Weckl as well. And what's wrong with Rush? You cannot deny the skill of Mr. Peart. That little groove he plays in the middle of La Villa Strangiato where he is just using the high hat, cross stick on the snare, and the bass drum is great. First its down beats, then up beats, then down again... sounds so simple but yet difficult to master.

I think Billy Martin is another great Jazz drummer with rock tendancies. I love some of the beats he comes up with.

pre-black-album Metallica
Primus
Bloc Party
Dismemberment Plan
...Trail of Dead

We all know what's wrong with Rush. Geddy Lee. And i like Dave Weckl too, which is why i recommended GRP All Star Big Band. To me, Weckl has got chops but he's SO clean it sounds like he's got no balls. And that's a compliment, to pull the shit he pulls without any visible effort requires inhuman, robotic control.

But listen to Dennis Chambers, and he's right in the same vein, but he sounds like he wants to beat the shit out of you and your momma too, just as soon as he finishes demonstrating what he's going to do you on his kit.

meg white?

c'mon, now that's so silly that it doesn't even approach funny.

The Sea & Cake
John Coltrane - "A Love Supreme" (Elvin Jones on drums)
Big Star (Jody Stephens is VASTLY underrated, as a rock drummer)

Hop On Pop (but seriously, Dave is a motherfucker; on "Ashes On the Water" and "Suckers" in particular)

I'm glad Todd brings up Jody Stephens in every drummer thread. Dude needs more respect. High five!!!

I never realized just how great he was until I saw Big Star in 1996. It occured to me at that show, that his playing was every bit as essential to those songs as Alex's (and Chris') vocals.

Matt Tong - Bloc Party

if you've seen him live, you'll understand.

Byootiful.

Cedric Burnside. Undeniably the most gifted drummer I have ever seen.

you should see Ryan when he plays the drums in Paper Airplane Pilots. That shit is Dave Grohl quality.

Not mentioning Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater while talking about drummers is a huge huge sin. The man is a technical marvel, and great instructor.

He has several DVDs on advanced drumming available. Check out his site at:
http://www.mikeportnoy.com

I saw one of his DVDs, (my brother is a huge huge fan), and it was amazing. He starts out simply, and keeps building, changing, improvising, etc. Truly wicked drumming. You can definitely see the Berkeley College of Music in him.

You can obviously hear him in his band Dream Theater, but also with out a vocalist in Liquid Tension Experiment with John Petrucci, Tony Levin (bass god) and Jordan Rudess. He also plays drums in OSI.


Run out and buy him the "Change of Seasons" Dream Theater Disc. It is a 23 minute opus of incredible musicianship....

Trail of Dead and Mars Volta are great suggestions for this guy.

But do him a favor and burn his 311 cd's.

James Brown's drummer from 71-74ish is insane
sadly i'm not sure of his name, or even if there was just one or not.

Al Jackson - booker t and the mg's

my suggestions were terrible for this guy.

you have to take him to a Hella show. i didn't think much of zach's drumming on record but seeing him live blew me away.

I'm still a Keith Moon fan.





And Stewart Copeland

I think he needs to hear Don Caballero.

Personally, I've never been impressed by Hella, either, and I've seen them play live. I think a lot of more technically-minded musician types aren't impressed by nutty bands like Hella, Lightning Bolt, etc.

And how come in these drum nerd discussions nobody else ever mentions Can? Like 'em or not, you have to respect Jaki Liebezeit.