I think people are confusing being perfect like a machine and playing together as a group of musicians. This is why old record of music seem to feel better with song that last an entire life in our mind, while we are forgetting almost every new music from modern artist, but yes there is still good music to find... But the cold and stiff drum machine from computer doesn't play a note off the static grid. A false believe is that you need to be a perfect drummer to be popular and successful in a band, I mean the drummer of Seven Nation Army or even Metallica are showing you that it's not true at all. Just like I'm aware of how Thomas Lang is crazy with his technique, I can't remember any song with him playing it... Even John Bonham was far from been always perfectly on time. Basically, I see my imperfection and human side like a +, and not a -. Because a guy like El Estepario saying he did practice at least 8 hours every day for 10 years, now he is known on the planet, but not for his creativity or musicality, but for his undecent and unhealthy time behind a drum. I've been in the music industry and a lot of people are addicted, stuck with drugs, and not so happy in the end. The few man and woman that you see at the top are not the reality of the vast majority of drummers and musicians around the world.
I enjoyed reading your comment and you definitely raise some valid points, but I just want to offer a contrasting opinion about some of the older drummers. I do agree that being human and out sometimes adds to the creativity and humanity of music. But guys like Purdie and Steve Gadd and Nate Smith have incredibly deep pockets and the way they play subdivisions is just so tight and in time. There is a famous Steve Gadd solo that I have learnt to play for myself and I have noticed that there is about a 4bpm variance from start to finish in that solo, but it is almost impossible to hear it without a reference click, because the subdivisions are all so perfect. My point is, I agree with you about not being robots but also those guys were incredible musicians and highly disciplined athletes.
