THE DRUMS (1935-2022) | THE GROOVES YOU NEED TO KNOW (feat. Gregg Bissonette) 

Rick, since you know Gregg, you could ask him to try to schedule an interview with Ringo Starr, that would be historic.

The way Gregg plays all these parts with the exact amount of energy and make it seem so effortlessly is out of this world! His passion for the drums is in every single stroke. Legend!

Today I learned that Gregg Bissonette is a legend.

(don't mind me, this is just a note to myself what to transcribe later) 0:16 Sing, Sing, Sing - Gene Krupa 0:41 Wipe out - Ron Wilson 1:48 The end - Ringo Starr 5:12 50 ways to leave your lover - Steve Gadd 5:37 a Ringo fill 6:41 (hard) a samba ostinato 7:51 (hard) a Steve Gadd piece 9:33 (hard) 777-9311 - David Garibaldi 9:55 Too proud to beg - 6 stroke fill (10:19 - 5, 6) (10:32) 13:40 (hard) Passion Dance - Elvin Jones 16:27 Hot for teacher - Alex Van Halen 17:41 Teen Town - Jaco Pastorius 18:26 Now that you're been gone - Danny Seraphine 18:48 My hero - Dave Grohl

He is an absolute riot. His personality comes roaring through his drum kit when he plays. I wish this video was an hour long. This was so much fun to watch. Thank you for sharing with us Rick.

As a drummer - I love this As a musician - I love this As a guy who loves drummers and music I'm shocked that Alex Lifeson is so good at the drums

My wife has known Gregg and his family since childhood. As a drummer, one of my greatest regrets is not having insisted that we move in next door to him decades ago. I can tell you, the skill, enthusiasm, and love of the instrument you see in this video are real. Gregg is a force of nature, a gifted musician, and a truly decent human being.

Are you kidding me? This deserves a second and third episode, ridiculous amount of depth and knowledge shared by these two!

Wow, this is like a compact Master Class from Gregg, brought to you by Rick Beato. So much knowledge here. Respect!

Gregg is just such a badass. I remember when I was about 16 years old I got his solo record and transcribed some of his stuff... changed my life for sure. Ran into him maybe two years later when he did a workshop near where I was living. I asked him about one lick I heard him play that night... the infamous Harley Davidson lick. He showed it to me and it genuinly seemed like he was as happy about me asking about it as I was about him showing it to me. He then admitted to me that he himself couldn't figure out that lick when he heard Vinnie play it, so Vinnie showed it to him just like he showed me. Gregg is just awesome both as a drummer / musician, but also as a human. Love him

Not only is Gregg a fantastic drummer, the guy's a walking drum encyclopedia! Fun stuff and more please!

Greg is a walking encyclopedia of drumming knowledge who can play the entire world book encyclopedia of drum licks

That was the most incredible display of drum history and grooves all in under 25 minutes. Where does Greg Bissonette get the energy? He's just unbelievable! Thank you Rick Beato for sharing this wonderful knowledge on your channel.

0:15 gene krupa 0:41 ron wilson 1:20 charlie watts 1:46 ringo star 2:07 stewart copeland 2:20 larry mullen jr 2:27 joey kramer 2:46 john bonham 4:50 immigrant song 5:04 joe morello 5:14 steve gadd 6:40 samba ostinado 9:35 davi garibaldi 11:31 jeff porcaro 13:40 elvin jones 14:46 mitch mitchel 16:25 alex van halen 17:40 jaco pastorius(especial mention) 18:25 dany seraphine 18:45 dave grohl 19:15 bobby colomby

Unbelievable talent. New found respect. I never realized he was THIS good.

This has become one of my all-time favourite videos about drumming on RU-vid. Gregg's enthusiasm and interaction with Rick just keep bringing a huge smile to my face.

gregg's enthusiasm for playing even after all these years is great to watch, he's someone you'd want in your band...

This turned pretty quickly from "The grooves a drummer needs to know" to OMG lets let Mr. Bissonette play tons of amazing stuff...and I'm so glad that it did, I wish this had been like an hour longer just the two of you naming different drummers or bands.

I'm not a drummer, but I'm blown away by Greg's knowledge, enthusiasm and technique in SO many styles. What a joy he would be to play with!

I watched this with my wife, a non-musician. She said her first impression was that Gregg brings the same kind of energy to percussion that Robin Williams did to comedy. We really enjoyed this video.

I don't think I've ever seen Rick so quiet in one of his videos. But with Gregg present he just starts and doesn't stop. It's awesome. I love how the few comments Rick does make just cause Gregg to get even *more* excited. Seems like these guys are destined become great friends. :)

In my previous life as a recording engineer, one of my biggest honors was working with Gregg Bissonette on a project. And I was over the moon when he told me I'd gotten a great sound on his kit. I took a lot of pride in my ability to get good drum sounds, but when people would ask me the keys elements, I would always say they are, in order: good drummer, good drum kit, and good recording technique. Nobody exemplified that philosophy more than Gregg, because when he complimented my sound, what I was thinking was, "Dude, you made it so easy." Good players are just easier to record well. The other thing I remember about that session (which was not long after he had been playing with David Lee Roth) was the contrast between the subtlety of all his grace notes on the snare drum and the incredible force with which he hit the 2 and 4. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I still smile when I go back and listen to those recordings.

Bissonette seems like a really cool guy with an infectious personality. Nice!

Gregg is such a monster drummer. Effortless and knowledgeable. I’ve seen many interviews with Billy Sheehan where he talks so highly of Gregg and now I get to see it myself. 👍👍👍

Love when Rick gets together with artists as enthusiastic about music as he is.

Dude's library of things in his head and hands is amazing. Gregg isn't so much a monster as he is just a living encyclopedia of groove

Bissonette is the actual best drummer, Earthwise. He 's mastered the art, in a happy, creative, genius manner. He's the guy that gets called when the greatest drummers need a sub.

Gregg's vhs had so much impact on my drumming...he is able to play everything!

I could watch Gregg for days. He is so technically proficient while being a wealth of knowledge and not coming off as a D-Bag know-it-all.

Gregg's brain is sharp as a freaking tack and running on all cylinders at all times. Not only of the beats but of the names and places and details- it's just exceptional as hell.

Gotta respect a guy who calls it a bass drum!

Tip of the hat to Gregg. A walking encyclopaedia of drumming, a whirlwind of enthusiasm and a fantastic player.

The chameleon of drummers. Now you know why Gregg got the RINGO gig. All those great legends playing all their greatest tunes. If you ever get a chance to see that show don’t pass it up I had the privilege to see Ringos All Stare Band when Burton Cummings was playing along with many other great players. . Gregg was incredible . He can literally play anything As a drummer of 46 years I can relate to the time it takes to reach this level. He’s got thousands of hours on the kit It’s really amazing to watch a life time of work . And he can name every drummer in history it seems. So he’s also studied the history of the instrument and the players He’s got it covered. Just an astonishing musician 👍👍👍

Around 1996 I had Gregg put on a drum clinic and he's still the same now as he was then. They say never meet your heroes because you'll end up disappointed, not in this case....he's absolutely a nice guy.

Saw him at a clinic here in Denver last month! Aside from being a drumming legend , he’s such a great guy to be around and lights up any room he’s in with his positivity

I had the privilege of providing sound for a clinic that Gregg did here in Syracuse many years ago. He jammed with some local players before, during and after the clinic. He's a legendary drummer, a great educator, an encyclopedia of music and one of the coolest guys I've ever met.

I had the privilege of seeing Bissonette play drums with Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey’s Bass Extremes at the Jazz Kitchen here in Indianapolis this past February. We had a table right in front of the stage (close enough that my feet were next to/touching cords). Huge honor to witness such precise, world class musicianship delivered with passionate enthusiasm and sheer fun. This guy is a gift to the human race.

Gregg is not just an amazing drummer but a super funny and endearing person 🙂

Gregg is a national drumming treasure.

Gregg Bissonette might be at the top of the list of Beato guests that share/match Rick's uncontainable enthusiasm for music. As I watched Gregg's mastery spill out of him like as hyperactive 5 year-old trying to share his expertise of dinosaurs with a distracted parent... only this time the parent was fully engaged and watching with an ear-to-ear smile and a clear sense of bewildered awe, I just kept saying to myself "He makes it look so easy!" I LOVE this channel! What a couple of badasses these guys are... and with zero pretense whatsoever. I SO appreciate what Rick does.

The amount of life, energy, skill and knowledge that Gregg displays is very uplifting.

This is an absolute treasure. I don’t know squat about playing drums but I’m a lover of music. This is just such good content. The world is fortunate to have Rick making these kinds of videos for us. People will watch this stuff a hundred years from now.

I have watched this video at least four times in the last week or so. Love it!

Gregg ‘s greatest talent is being blessed with the ultimate positivity without it being overbearing or sappy. Truly a great musician and human being!

I could watch this for hours.

It is truly inspiring when you see someone so passionately explain and demonstrate a complete knowledge about his life's obsession. This guy is encyclopedic when it comes to exact details about the world's most consequential drummer's work and techniques. Having a father as a first mentor must have thrown him into overdrive since childhood, but on top of his knowledge surrounding all these notable drummers, he is a very creative drummer in his own right. The honesty, excitement, and passion are palpable. I've never taken a drum lesson in my life, but watching this video was like studying with all his teachers and heroes in one lesson. How could anyone NOT get excited about playing drums after seeing this video? Hats of to RB! Hats off to GB!

A proper musician! Makes it look so easy and he's so relaxed. Genius!!!!

So refreshing to see a legend gush like a fan about other drummers, acknowledging them and genuinely loving his fellow drummers, when he himself is on same par if not better.

Gregg is such an outgoing, fun guy. Great video!

All the original drum grooves, without the concern about the video blockers. Genius!

I met Greg back in the 90's at his studio in LA.He was a really nice humble guy and a super amazing drummer.

I love this. My drum instructor used to say, "If you can say it , you can play it" Its so true!

I didn't know Gregg Bissonette.I love this guy.What a master musician and just a joyful human being. I could listen to him all day.

I love this guy. He is so full of life and positivity. You ought to have him on your channel more often, Rick.

I'm not a drummer, but I thoroughly enjoyed this! Gregg was fantastic - is...fantastic!

I saw Ringo Starr and his all Starr Band yesterday and Gregg's solo was an amazing meddley of all those tributes. Flowing seamlessly...

I didn’t want this video to end! Greg’s enthusiasm for music is contagious and inspiring.

Gregg is so infectious with his personality, knowledge, skill, and positivity.

The cool thing about Greg B. is that he has an awesome feel, great dynamic touch, and a huge musical vocabulary. Way beyond the “metal hard rock” brand they were pushing on him back in the 80s and 90s. He’s way beyond that. He’s a real musician.

This guy is just genius..how he can recall those thousands of songs and play then is amazing!

Wow. Gregg has programmed his entire body to remember beats and grooves. He's got auditory phrases that remind him of the rhythm of the beats (much like tabla players using Dat-Dit-Dagga-Dun), he accesses the same facial muscles every time he does cymbal crashes and different ones for tom rolls, his whole body is always moving and anticipating the next beat. Clearly he has been a sponge for great drumming techniques for decades and has incorporated them all. Impressive.

Gregg's passion is contagious! He sets the bar through the roof... There's a reason he's Ringo's drummer!

A joy watching this master of the instrument.

That guy is a playing historian of the drums. He is a master at his craft.

It's always great to find a drummer that plays their kit like an INSTRUMENT and not just as a metronome for the band. I love having my mind blown open to appreciate the depth and nuance involved in so may fields other than my own.

Gregg has been a huge part of my drumming throughout the years. I'll never forget my mom agreeing for me to have a drum kit for Christmas. We drove in the car to the Drum shop and I bought my first set of drums. I bought two books, a beginner book and Gregg Bissonnette private lesson. I would go through the beginner book and then listen to the tape and try to play a few bars each time going through Gregg's book. I absolutely love this book. I always remember hearing a flam he was doing that was on the rim and thinking how on Earth was he doing that but playing something else at the same time. About a year later I was amazingly surprised when I saw the VHS video of it. I watched through it and saw that part what he was doing - playing the left hand flam between the tom rim and the snare rim and I just fell over blown away as this was driving me crazy thinking how on earth he was doing that. When I saw him playing the flam with the left hand between the Tom and snare I was floored and loved now knowing how that was done. There are so many great things in that book. A year later I met Billy Sheehan at one of his clinics in Manchester England. I really enjoy my friendship with Billy throughout the years. Both Gregg and Billy have been a huge part of my life for many many years. All the best Gregg, God Bless! Rick great as always! Keep up the passion. 👍🥁👍DC

I love Greggs energy. Cheers me up. Absolute legend

I am a former drummer and took this as proof that the Muppet character Animal is not so far from the truth. I mean this as a true compliment, with all the greatest respect, because of Mr. Bisonettes feeling for the music. He just needs a hunch, then goes right into the beat and kills it. Mr. Beato needs to remind him of like "we are making a video here". Simply great - as are the beats! 😍

Greg is so fun to watch. His enthusiasm for drums and sharing his knowledge is really admirable. I also want to add, keeping the hi hat going through your fills will keep you from rushing. It’s the main time keeper.

Dude I don't even play drums and I couldn't stop watching this guy. He's got great energy and a sh%t ton of beats that he can pull out right there on the spot. That's freaking impressive.

Love how Gregg sings along whilst playing... so connected with the music as a whole, not just the drums. Reminds me of Hendrix singing along to his guitar solos :)

One of THE MOST PROFICIENT, EDUCATED, WELL PRACTICED, VERSATILE DRUMMERS EVER!!! And an absolute 100% good natured, nicest people you'd ever meet

I love how Gregg ticks the box of nearly every stereotypical drummer's personality. He's such a spas! I love it! Amazing drummer! My buddy Stephen Dresch took some lessons with Gregg back in the 80s and said he was amazing. I never knew how amazing he was until I watched more and more of his style. What a cool guy.

Most genuine fan of drums. He's like a kid in a candy store sharing his gifts with us.

Excellent ! Gregg might be on the top of the list of best drummers ever ! Passion and Joy !

Gregg Bissonette, a man who can remember every musicians name from the beginning of time. He's also pretty good at drums.

That was fun Rick... Tell Gregg (and Matt) I said hello. Would be good to hear "Best Rhythm Sections"

This is the exact reason why I subscribe. I work 40 hrs construction,have no music teacher,have 2 kids...basically,not much time for this. I have learned so much as far as insight and detail that I never would not being a subscriber. I will keep watching. Thank you much!

GB is technically superb, a super teacher and so entertaining. Drummers take note of how invested he is in the music, his appreciation of melody and phrasing and how he compliments the arrangement dynamically! Murder by Numbers.... a very underrated song...

I happened upon one of Greg's instructional DVD's in my formative years and it made music make sense in a way that I could never misunderstand it again. God bless you, Greg and God bless you, Rick!!!!! Two of my heroes in a room talking drums. Much much love you guys.

How one guy can be so knowledgable and so ridiculously good is really beyond me. So much experience, but it's clear his passion pushes him to the next level! What a monster!!

This guy is awesome! I am 16 and think that these beats really are essential for all drummers to know at my age no matter what style they end up playing because the beats show the history of the drum set and how these great players who made the beats maneuvered around the kit. I know some of these grooves myself and I learned a lot from just taking pieces of each beat and applying them to my playing , so I totally agree with you that these beats are essential to know even through they are 70-40 years old.

Gregg is one of the best if not the best drummer in our lifetime, his skill level is off the charts. Great interview Rick...

What can you say about Gregg Bissonette? Well, poet William Blake said “Exuberance is beauty.” And that’s definitely true, and Gregg’s exuberance and enthusiasm is a beautiful thing to behold !

Can’t believe how fast Gregg gets his thoughts out and executes. Love this!!!

I usually find these high-energy people a bit taxing after about two minutes but I could watch Greg drum all day. His enthusiasm and energy are infectious. Great guy. 👍

OMG! I volunteered at PASIC many years ago and Greg snuck into a session through the door I was 'guarding'. LOL! Man, he could do PASIC all by himself. What talent!

this is completely mind-blowing. the way he plays everything perfectly is just ... .wow

I am a struggling player, this was the best video for me so far cause he is alot of fun aswell as great.

I’m a guitar player not a drummer but could watch this for hours. Fantastic. Saw Greg and his brother Matt with David Lee Roth on the skyscraper tour in Edinburgh. Happy days!

Wow, speaking as a lousy guitar player, I am in awe of this guy and all drummers. What an incredible and insightful video for us non-drummers. Thank you Mr Beato and Mr Bissonette. It was like watching a close up magician.

One of the best video of all time. Gregg rules. And this channel is AWSOME.

I am not a drummer but it is amazing just to see how many complex rythmns this guy is just pulling out of his sleeves with an ease. Fantastic. Time was really worth spending here. This guy has really accomplished something.

When a drummer's drums speak in effortless tone like this you know you are in the presence of a master.

I did not want this Beato edition to end. Always respected Bissonette, but this was a rare gift. Thank you both.

Rick, just came across your post about that gentleman that passed away recently. And I concur with him. You're one of the few out there that has experience, wisdom and heartfelt compassion for music, instruments and, the willingness to share it. I too being somewhat of an old timer do appreciate you exposing your heart. There's not enough of that in this world anymore. I too thank you.

Absolute Pleasure watching this guy play. I couldn't believe the title, "with Gregg Bissonette."

I always knew Gregg was a great player ... but damn he's just a monster. And such a cool dude as well with a deep deep well of knowledge and just pure passion for music. Great great video.

I will be forever grateful for him explaining the Rock and Roll intro. I feel like a huge weight has just been lifted from me 😂

Love how Gregg and Rick seem like 2 kids in a candy store! Their excitement is infectious......