Simon Phillips, studio tips and tricks 

I am always amazed at how sweet this man comes off, how normal, rational, and intelligent he is. He just slams the rock and roll image with a gentle and humble personality.

6:45 and on... Man I could listen to this for hours. Such a great sounding kit, so much feel in the playing..

Simon is simply one of the best drummers you could ever wish to hear. Just listen to his playing on "Sukarita" by Judy Tzuke. Everything he plays is so crisp and 'right'. An absolute genius.

I like how Alan Parsons pretends like he doesn't know any of this stuff for the video.

Incredible drummer and one of my favourites. He has just about the best tom sound I've ever heard.

I really like that Alan Parsons has to act as all this stuff is new for him (for those who do not know, that fat guy recorded some of the greatest sounding albums of all times)

It's like a seven minute commercial for Tama drums, and then the second they should a grommet inside a badge, it's the Ludwig keystone.

I look upon Simon as an icon in drumming, but one things struck me when going through in my mind my fave, not just drummers but other musicians, Simon Phillips, Gary Husband, Gavin Harrison, and the late Jeff Porcaro, that they've all had a kinda head start in music business by having a parent in the biz, It makes you wonder if they never had this exposure to music contacts in there background when growing up, would they be where they are today without this unique early help.

I really like his drumplaying. Especially in the song "Poison arrows" with Mike Oldfield.

fantastic interview!

Saw Simon many years ago in a clinic. He convinced me right then to not dampen my drums. I agree with him. Drums should be wide open and the entire set should work as one instrument

Great video!! Notice the windy sound effects at 4:00 (LOL!!)

this guy was great on the Judas priest albums, bets drummer they had

It is Bill Bob Thorton.

Life is just a game with Stanley Clarke is one of my favorite performances to watch Simon go to work. Kick Ass!!!

Simon really does get one of the best drum sounds around, he has good ears

He's one of my heroes....he's an incredible musician....and he has GREAT hair! :):)

Hey, thanks for posting the knowledge.

Great Simon !!!!!!

LOVE THAT BASS DRUM SOUND MAN! THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF BOOM!

The gong bass drum within the groove at the end - that's just cool.

Hola buenisimo video!! pregunta para afinar toms y snare utiliza el parche de arriba mas tenso que parche de abajo de abajo?

Simon is the man!!!

I think you have done a superb job covering for jeff in toto ! i love and miss jeff but i give you credit my friend

Those Bubinga Elites are beautiful. Simon, just out of curiosity, have you played the new TAMA STAR's? Are you contemplating switching to the new flagship? I'm curious of your opinion and perspective on the new STAR drums in comparison with the Starclassic Bubinga Elites / Maple.

@AustinGraggmusician You are talking about Simon's voice? Yes, I agree about that. His voice is very clear and relaxed.

the man ...got his loops today ....happy bout that

best sounding drums ever!

The paint can trick is awesome! :)

Great!!

with that voice drums seem to be part of those stories of pararell universes. awesome!

@maelstone Yes, I do believe it is Alan Parsons, of Alan Parsons Project fame and also also one of the assistant engineers on Dark Side Of The Moon."

From reading Hal Blaine’s autobiography, I think he claims that it was he who first removed the front head on his bass drum.

Simon wonders who it was who first took off the reso kick head. In his book "Here, There and Everywhere - My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles", Geoff Emerick describes taking the front head off of Ringo's kick for the Revolver sessions.

who first took the front bass drum off? Geoff Emerick thats who!

What a STUD!

I don't know if you noticed, but whoever is interviewing is Alan Parsons.

Nice info about kick drum recording :)

Hal Blaine, the 60's studio legend, was the one who started experimenting with taking off the front head on the bass drum mostly for definition. Geoff Emerick, The Beatles' recording engineer then, liked and suggested it, and the band loved it; like with so many things they did, everybody copied the idea.

It would be cool to hear the different sounds in a recording, especially with the bass drum. I want to hear examples of with the head, the hole in the head, without the head.etc

Bravo à Simon Phillips le drums de Toto.

Is that Alan Parsson?

@shardennefroider Totally agree.

Dude ! I just tought the same thing, haha.I looked him up, he actually plays drums and has a band.

Simon Kicks ASS!!!!

@maelstone Yep!

Paint can full or empty? Or have to play with it

question: is the paint can in the kick drum full?

That random Taylor Hawkins shot at 6:50 had kind of a homoerotic vibe, wtf was that? lol

I swear Simon is the Bob Ross of drums

Best instrument ever, the drums.

anybody know where i can find instrumentals like this to jam to? thanks!

My guess is Hal Blaine, he's the one who popularized it for recording, but he was doing it long before Ringo did it for sure.

BTW, Simon, Sin After Sin is STILL a great work! #judaspriest

my thought exactly! It really sounds like him!! haha

sorry my english, but, what microphones is on the tom and floor tom?

is that the asset from Jason bourne?

@0509killer It's added when the vid was edited...

4:02 is the best thing ever

I don't get why Taylor Hawkins was in two shots in the end of the video. What was that about?

There is a close up of a Ludwig tom when he shows the interviewer the vent hole. They must have just used a clip of a drum they had lying around during editing and didn't think anyone would notice, LOL.

I thought the same thing!

👍

@AustinGraggmusician That's the voice of Billy Bob Thornton :) /check the website/

Whats wirh the bizaree Taylor Hawkins fade ins....?

what's with the short clip of Taylor Hawkins @ 6:48?

Man, i got the exact same thought... the do look similar though

Wow ll these open toms, already give the drum reverb. similar to plate reverb. They resonate when he is playing. you can hear it when he speaks.

I LOVE JAZZ !!!

The intro voice sounds like Billy Bob Thornton. Which is strange coz I just finished watching Fargo... haha

i think you mean 6:48 and thts taylor hawkins... the drummer for the foo fighters, you may have heard of them

I've seen the "ASSR" videos, and I wish they would've touched on recording drums with only 2-3 or 4 mics. that way you record the drums as one instrument. in these videos they choose to only tell you how to record with a hundred mics, as if dozens of mics is the best and only way

@AustinGraggmusician The guy in the beginning sounds like Billy Bob Thorton.

I'd agree with you, but the problem is the brand at 6:11 . Go take a look

Marvelous fucking drummer, and he was from a young age .

What does Billy Bob Thrornton know about drums?

LOL! whats that sound at 4:01?

Is that Billy Bob Thorton talking in the beginning?

Yes. It's Billy

eric idle look works

@rareinc7794 Simon's hand is so dang fast, he created a breeze of wind past the mic.

Haha... I had to rewind it a few times to try and figure out if that sound was added in. weird!

It's full of either paint or sand .... anything that give's it some weight! Many years ago people used stage weight in a kick and it does make a difference!

dat voice...

What kinda paint in the can enamel or latex? Water based or oil based? LOL!!!!

Simon knows his stuff. Great drum sounds back when drums sounded horrible on records usually (as far back as 1979-1980 Empty Glass, There and Back, etc.). I saw him live with the Who in 1989. Best rock drumming performance I ever saw live - along with the best drum sound.

Didn‘t know that Gilmour is doing interviews.

Right off~ my ears were thinking It's Dave Weckl narrating this! Anyone else hearing his tone and annunciation?

harpo marx is a great drummer !

i believe it was ringo who first took the resonant head off

6:40

Most guys use different snare drums in the studio. Or maybe there is a Ludwig snare close by.

Anybody else notice Billy Bob Thornton's voice at 5;45?

Ludwig badge @ 6:12.

Is that a full or empty paint can?. Either way it does not make to much sense. I have not tried this. Has anyone else?. Let me know how it worked. I do not have any paint cans and don't know if I should spend the 12 or so dollars on a gallon of paint. I think he is pulling our leg on that one. Let me know. Cheers.

At 4:01 you can hear the wind of his hand swatting by...

@rareinc7794 Its the air. Going Straight out. LOL

That's Alan Parson's, the random guy who recorded Dark Side of the Moon...

toto!

Wait, is this the same instrument I’ve been beating the crap out of ???