What many of you need to realize is that Gregg went to the University of North Texas and was in the One 'O Clock band that happens to be one of the best big bands in the US. He paid his respects at an early age. He's not just a rock drummer with a mullet. He can play any style with ease.
Keith Carlock went to UNT as well. I used to see all of their gigs in Dallas in the early to mid 90’s. GB is a very versatile drummer and a good guy so is KC. Enjoy!
Chad Kent Exactly ! The trolls who downed this, spend their day playing X-Box, have a $199.00 4-piece drum set from Sears, they got for Christmas and have been trying to learn “Wipeout” for three years, so they could impress their “dudes”. They have a “Pearl” hat and a “Paiste” t-shirt from eBay and two old issues of Modern Drummer magazine. They hang around music stores on weekends, looking at hardware, with sticks in their back pocket, hoping some kid will eventually come up and ask “Hey man, are you in a band ?” 🙄
Ryan Cox SO ? At least he’s not shooting at Police and causing trouble in the world. Nice guy who get to play in Ringo Starr’s band. Huge accomplishment for a “ Religious Freak” !!!
I met Greg at a Drum Clinic in Maryland, not only is Greg one of the most versatile drummers in the professional world who can play all types of music, he is humble as well ! Not some self absorbed ego maniac like you may meet at a drum clinic or perhaps after a concert .He is also a very friendly person to talk shop with and take pictures with and sign autographs too. He was extremely gracious and personable! Thanks, Greg!
Maryland, I am totally with you having met Gregg Bissonette on stage two days ago during the Rock 'N Roll Fantasy Band Camp. I don't have his contact details, but I would love you to pass on to him that he was in my top 3 rock stars to meet, not only for musical genius, but for that very quality you picked up on: humility. I say THANKS GREGG, FROM YOUR COBBS GIRL. (He'll know what I mean), AND IF YOU HAD WANTED THIS SAX SOLO, DURING, SAY, MAGIC MAN, I WOULD HAVE STAYED UP ALL NIGHT TO LEARN IT FOR YA, AS CLOSE AS I COULD HAVE (THAT GUY IS A KILLER THOUGH - I'D NEED SOME HELP WITH MY ALTISSIMO REGISTER.....) AND IF YOU EVER COME TO ADELAIDE, JUST TELL ME AND I'LL PULL THIS BABY OUT, COBBS STYLE. BUT INSTEAD I HOPE YOU LIKED SLASH'S SOLO IN SWEET CHILD ON SAX. HA HA STUMPED 'EM AT CAMP, EH? ALL MY LOVE, THE SAXOFFENDER!
I met him on an airplane once. Coolest dude ever. I gave him my band's CD (I was tour at the time). He was so stoked. We talked about DL Roth. We talked about Matt Chamberlain. We talked about headphones. Saw him in the baggage claim and his suitcase blew wide open and he was sitting on it trying to zip it up. He was like, "One of those days..."
I once had a drum clinic ticket to see this man but had to play a last minute gig instead I went to the music store to pick up a head or something and THERE was Greg setting up .I said hi to him and said I was gonna be sad to miss his clinic. The man actually stopped setting his stuff up and asked me what kind of music I played and was genuinely interested in what kind of drumming I WAS INTO. Here he was one of the most famous drummers in the world asking me what style of a drummer I was . Blown away was not really the word for it I was just a kid (20s) Greg is one of the coolest most humble guys in the world .Hangs out with Ringo Starr but will talk drumsticks for an hour with a complete stranger Great guy !!
@@randymiller899 Man, reading this makes me happy. I've known about him for a long time, but just recently started digging into his playing, after discovering DLR's first three albums. So cool that some of the true GOATs just want to hang and geek out about the instrument.
He's actually a big band drummer who can play rock really well. He played primarily jazz and big band for a large part of his career until he was hired to play in David Lee Roth's band. Until then, he was primarily a jazz and big band specialist, touring with some of the world's best big bands from a very early age :)
I've seen Greg Bisonnette live playing heavy metal. He can play BeBop, big band jazz, metal, funk... as well as being a very highly sort after session player, teacher and clinician - is there anything he can't do? The guy is an incredibly versatile and talented drummer... anyone who makes negative comments about him is an idiot.
I remember seeing this for the first time and thinking, wow these guys are so much more than just rock drummers. No wonder they were great rock drummers, that was really childs play to them. All I ever wanted to be was a rock drummer, but most of these guys were so much more, rock drumming was just 1 of their many stops.
Here's where Gregg blows his peers out of the water.. All those metal drummers from L.A. and everywhere else, who thought he was just a mere hard rock/metal drummer who played with David Lee Roth, got the wind knocked out of them when they witnessed this spectacle of virtuosity..
Exactly, that's typical when GREAT Musicians (like Greg) get their education from North Texas University and play in the NTU Jazz Lab Band (NOT EVERYONE gets that opportunity) as it's one of if not, the best Jazz School in the country. Severinsen snagged a lot of these trumpet players for the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, as well as McCartney and Wings...the 60's and 70's grads. There's a rich musician history coming out of the NT Jazz Lab Band system. Greg was already on the on the map with or without DLR.
Gregg is a drummers drummer. A musicians drummer. AND he plays with feel and can get loose and fun with his playing. Not to mention one hell of a nice guy. No wonder so many people want him as their drummer and bandmate.
Notice how he tours around four distinct styles, even straight up metal, and stays in the pocket and shiny clean the whole way through. He was so up for the task!
All while being's David Lee Roth's drummer. This is still is one of my favorite all-time drum solo. And... There was this hard rock-ish vibe he carried through the sing and predominantly on the solo. How he joined with fills on Marcus's solo was great. The latin beats, the transition to using brushes and back into doing high speed rock drumming at the end make it a well built, all-rounded solo.
I went to a clinic of his at my local music store and he blew me away. Had no idea he was so versatile. Spent an hour playing world grooves from all over, some of the most complex stuff I’d ever heard. Plus he was hilarious.
My son is now in the UNT One O'Clock Lab Band, and whoever comes out of there, like Gregg, is totally killer! Gregg actually recommended UNT to my son directly.
I have always loved the late Buddy Rich and his incredible band. They are all top , top shelf musicians in my book and the tribute work. Simply ? Fantastic.
Spectacular. Gregg honored me with his performance on my album, and he was just unbelievable. 13 complex prog metal song in 1 single day. And a hell of a guy too. And this jazz stuff is killer as well.
The first time I saw Gregg, he was playing with Maynard Fuergeson's big band. He was just amazing and really drove the band. This was in 1982 or1983 at the Loras College Field House in Dubuque Iowa. My drum teacher told me I should really check it out and man, was he right! To all of the people out there that choose to leave negative comments, why can't you find something positive or just go away. Gregg is an awesome musician.
I have this on VHS. It's from a BR Tribute Concert in '89. I dig Gregg's drumming. So clean and refreshingly accurate. He, Louie Bellson and Dennis Chambers all do a bit with the band then combine to wail successfully on the last tune. His and his peer's talents are what keep me practicing, daily. OUTSTANDING DRUMMING!
i saw greg one or 2 times in clinics held in chile, santiago. and yes he is one of the best and most versatiles drummers ever. hes very funny and down to earth guy. he could be an ego maniac for his talent but hes not, hes very natural and extremely entertaining to see and watch. very nice person. here in chile we love him.
Greg embodies the quintessential professional drummer. He's a monster player but humble, that gives props to others while he pokes fun at himself because he just loves it. His videos are great as he is versatile and passionate and it shows. Because of this video, I'm gonna go get loose now. Todd Sucherman said, "I don't like going more than a day without touching my sticks, it keeps me well connected". I agree to a point, but sometimes I take a few days off when I feel unmotivated. When I return, I'm usually crisp and creative. The only thing that suffers is my endurance but that comes back in a couple of days.
I agree with you 1000%. You hear his name all the time but sometimes he's not mentioned in the elite category, which is ridiculous. I think he is one of the most talented musicians I've ever seen. Like yourself, I'm motivated to go loosen up myself. That is if I don't try to play like Greg which for me, won't be in this lifetime. Be good my friend.
I saw Greg Bisonette sometime in the 90s playing a form of of progressive heavy metal and doing a very good job of it. I think his brother was on bass. He is a very versatile drummer, he seems able to excel in almost any style.
I love Gregg and spent a week with him at a drum academy, he's the nicest, funniest bloke you'll ever meet but nothing could ever make up for that haircut!!! lol
Another great young drummer with arm, hands and feet that fly in all directions. Love the man who always plays the saxophone in the Buddy Rich Band. He is fantastic! SYLVIA - FL
For me personally, my all-time favourite moments of Gregg Bissonette will always be his time with David Lee Roth. This & his time with David Lee Roth will always be the best.
Haha. Damn Gregg is awesome! I just love his comping and his solo! But let's not forget the saxophone players! I mean, God DAAAAAAAAAAMN that's some tight stuff!
Where is the "Love" button so I can click it?! I've been watching videos of different drummers play w/the Buddy Rich Big Band, like Weckl, Gadd, Steve & Marvin Smith, Omar Hakim, Simon Philips, David Garibaldi, Cobham, Colaiuta, and this has been the most solid performance yet!! I don't think ppl realize how damn good he is! I saw him play with David Lee Roth around the time of this video & he was great. They did Hot For Teacher & he tore it up!!
