just a hobbyist here and I totally agree. The most metal drum-solos are just fast and loud. Jazz drummers on the other hand crank out fantastic solos very often. Jazz solos almost tell a story. Some examples: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dksFL9VXnCs.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7Agh591ykng.html
I am, I don't. I don't consider myself a solo guy, instead I do little improvised compositions... I drum solos only if the audio goes away... Then I have to keep the flow with the crowd, 😂😂😂
The way I view drum solos is that in most rock and metal, the guitarists and singers are at the forefront of everything and 90% of the time drummers are playing songs and being over shadowed by the rest of the band gallivanting around the stage being entertaining, whilst I agree it's easy to bore with a drum solo, it's a chance for the drummer to have a few moments to show off the way guitarists do in a song (provided the solos are less than 3 minutes
Even though they were never Metal in the slightest,it's a universal truth that Neil Peart was THE only drummer whose solo was worth watching/listening too....Most drummers when they start to solo,people hastily retreat to the bar.With Neil Peart,everyone leaves the bar to hear the master at work....So let it be written.
@@jacklodge8560 I`ve been a huge fan here in the UK since i first heard them in 1977-i was 16,still my all time fave band,seen them live 134 times...i don`t consider their early stuff anything but Rock/Hard Rock.
Now I'm gonna drop in my two cents. A solo of a musician is needed at concerts for one particular reason. You can't go relentless for 2 hours without a break at any type of concert, especially if you're the vocalist. One of the reasons Klaus Meine lost his voice was the lack of breaks during Scorpions concerts. The other of course being he wasn't warming up. Nobody can sing more than 9 songs in a row. Thus a drum or a guitar solo should be dropped somewhere into the set, so that at least the vocalist can rest. And of course, if the vocalist rests, the other musicians would also want to rest, right? Indeed. Thus often they do two breaks at big shows, often filled in by these solos. They decide who when rests and do it. Sometimes there might be other ways to fill that in, but these solos are better than flatout stopping the show and appearimg 15 minutes later IMO. The rest you say is true though. These solos must be meaningful. They must flow well with the concert, entertaining for the audience and of good quaility to listen. Otherwise they're just a showcase of skills. Basically that also is valid for the solos the musicians play anyways. And this is the same reason why we see less and less of them in songs, but that still depends on the musical style. (For instance I can't imagine a Prog song without a solo.) But still they must show the music as an art, not as a competition.
Depends on the drummer, I've heard some great drum solos from the likes of Cozy Powell, Scott Travis, Vinny Appice, ect. Also keep in mind the drum solo lets the rest of the band take a break and get off stage for a few minutes
Dude, we did solo spots. I hated it. We stopped when my "solo" was just one power E chord and a "thank you very much". Seeing that it got more cheers then the drummer (who was really the best musician, but he knew it a bit too well) deflated him enough to abandon the idea. And we were just a cover band in the 90s.
I played lead guitar in a cover band in the 80s and I would do this lame finger tapping thing for like 10 seconds when the singer introduced me. I wasn’t into tapping at all but my introduction came in the middle of a VH cover, so I felt somewhat obliged.
The best Slayer show I was ever at had a fantastic drum solo from Dave Lombardo. The reason it was so great was because you didn't know what was coming next and it was an integral part of the next song. The ambassador theatre in Dublin, June 2005. Slayer played the song Post Mortem in the middle of their set. The crowd waits for the traditional "dun dun dun" segue into Raining Blood as the guitars sustain feedback. But Dave unexpectedly (for the crowd) starts rattling the snare drum and the guitar noise is allowed to fade out. Next thing he's playing a drum solo, at the end of which he goes into the galloping rhythm and a roll on the snare drum that traditionally introduces Show No Mercy. At the end of Show No Mercy there's a big crescendo of noise and they let the guitars feedback once more. Then, when I thought it'd never come, there was the "dun dun dun" I had almost forgotten about. It was the coolest way to include a drum solo and keep the audience guessing in a metal show and a moment I'll never forget.
Drum solos can be entertaining if they have a musical purpose and meaning and take the listener on a musical journey. If it’s just a barrage of fills and to showcase the drummers technical abilities (which most drum solos are) then they don’t really work. Although the drummer also needs the technical ability required to be able to captivate the listener and play all the ideas and concepts that take the listener on the musical journey. Thus drum solos can be entertaining but it’s not an easy thing to do. And most drum solos aren’t entertaining
I’ve been a touring drummer all of my adult life. Whenever I’m asked if I would like to do a drum solo in the set, I politely decline. Once a drum solo starts, the audience takes it as a cue to go take a piss or get a beer. It’s much cooler to just have a short drum feature in a song and then call it a day. That’s just me.
@@greggallagher2854 A great example of that is Keith Carlock when he plays his solo during Aja with Steely Dan. Quick and dirty and just jaw dropping. But it’s in the song. Crowd goes nuts.
Totally agreed. Isolated solos in a concert must stop. Bands can test them and see the crowd reaction. If it entertains, then keep them. But most of the times, they are just boring.
The drummer from Disturbed can put on a hell of a drum solo show, I actually enjoyed that one, I've never seen another drum solo that wasn't boring though
I love Danny Carey's drum solo sections at Tool concerts. He makes each of them slightly new and fresh, and he makes sure they are entertaining visually and sonically.
With a few exceptions (Rush, for example) I've never really gone to a show and come away thinking of the drum solo as a highlight. Part of made Neil Peart's solo stand out was that he tried to make it into a piece of music rather than an excuse to show off his chops. Generally, I'd rather hear another song than a drum solo.
I completely understand your point. There are a few drummers that I could just watch.... Portnoy, Peart, Danny Carey of Tool, but yes.... I have to say that I absolutely love Mikkey Dee solos. Usually the drum solo is the part of the show that my wife goes to get a cocktail....until the 1st time we saw Scorpions together. I told her, You have to stay and watch this. He absolutely crushes those skins... He hits harder than about anyone ...1 other person I really love to drum solo is Tommy Aldridge. Metal Pilgrim.... I'm with you. 90% of them are a waste.
An interesting perspective MP! We incorporate a drum solo into the live version of our song ‘Mayday’. The song is about having your ambitions intercepted by a dark, unseen force and the story is told from the point of view of a ship being attacked by an enemy vessel - the imagery of canon fire seemed to cry out for such a solo 🔥 The live drum solo punctuates the end of an exciting instrumental section and, so far, seems to add to the live performance rather than take away. I agree that these kind of moments need to have something for the audience and not simply be a demonstration of the individual player’s skill. Soling for the sake of it is 🥱
As a percussionist, I can appreciate some drum solos. But most are terribly boring. That being said, it can be done in a very entertaining way. I've seen a band where the former drummer turned lead singer do a drum duet with the current drummer. It was amazing and fun. I have a vague memory of James Hetfield doing a drum off with Lars as part of the show. That was fun too.
It's difficult for the audience to "feel" a drum solo emotionally. Music triggers emotional reactions and drums enhance that, but by themselves, drums become in danger of being a more cerebral based analysis of what's taking place and the only person "feeling" it is the drummer. Impress the audience...get a "wow!" from them...then finish in less than 3 minutes.
Depends on the band and depends on the drummer. And don't discount the reason that the solos are put in the show to a) give the singers a break, and b) sell merchandise/beer.
Totally agree with your take on drum solos. Although she’s not a metal drummer, Paulina Villarreal is a great modern example of a Rock drummer with great crowd control without the need for solos. She won Rock Drummer of the Year 2023 for a reason. Her sisters and her put on a solid rock show that gives the fans what they pay for.
A drum solo is 50/50 for me, always depends on the drummer. However, what definitely needs to stop are isolated guitar solos! Such a waste of time. If the singer needs a small break, bands should have instrumentals, for example Coast to Coast by the Scorpions.
The only drum solos I like are the ones that are a part of the song. And I say that as a drummer. This goes for other non-song instrument solos as well.
I love a live show where the drummer and bass player get a moment in the spotlight to showcase their skills. They are typically the most underappreciated members of any band even though they are the bond that makes everything else work. Honestly what I'd like really like is less guitar solos - especially the shreddy type.
As a drummer, I basically only feel the need to do a drum solo if something on stage has gone wrong. Guitarist broke a string and we need to stop and replace the string/guitar, I’m gonna take a whack for the people waiting. We just lost power in a smaller room? The drums are at least loud, I’ll do something to keep the show moving. Everything is going along smoothly? Sweet, no need for me to do a drum solo! I do love a solo that’s baked into the song though, think your Tom Sawyer and As I Am over the show stops, the solo happens, the show starts again.
Drum solos are often quite boring ,but always enjoyed Mikky Dees solos, he has the ability to entertain and even his regular playing are always played in a style that will fit the actual song,and he probably needed to play the solos so Lem and Phil could have a break😂
The other thing about drum solos from the olden days is also often the set where longer in a small venue- and the rest of the band need a break for nature calling or a beer. Just like often the Balade give the drummer his break
I’m going to agree with you and you can throw in guitar and bass solos as well. When I’m at a show and there’s a solo all I think is we could’ve heard some more songs. I’m there to see the band and I make sure to watch every member of the band. I’d rather hear another song that a solo
I think that if someone thinks music is competition... they can get lost. Personally, I wouldn't like minutes long solo's of anything either guitar, bass or drums. If it's just a part of an enthousiastic sound check, fine. No musician needs to attempt to convince me how good they are. They should already know how good they are, as should I, so we can ditch the narcissism. Slava!
Heh Vlad, I am a drummer and I completely agree. A drummer solos hundreds of times per gig every time he/she takes a tasty fill... most guys are fucking boring as hell, no originality or skill in their fills, so they think they need to prove they can play at some point and hence the needless solos. Awesome engaging compositions rarely need a drum solo, and as for the big solo in the middle of the set, as you stated, that was a 70's thing with the likes of Bonham, and many other greats. By the 80's most bands did not have a drummer innovative enough to cover that time with anything to peak interest. And yet, if the solo was short and sweet, I never minded... I come from a varied musical background, Jazz, Funk, Prog, metal, etc... so I am more accustomed to arranging songs with a short solo or drum break but only if it adds dynamics and new direction to the composition, like a jazz tune, but it doesn't have to be jazz for this concept to work. Rush concerts were always special because, IT WAS THE PROFESSOR! People went for that, but unless you are that guy, or in the same league, spare us. Now, how about follow up this video with the best drummer jokes you hater! Ha Ha
PICTURE THIS: You're at a rock show and a drummer does a drum solo. It's okay. Then he starts hitting the double bass and it sounds like Hot For Teacher, like a motor revving up. The stage fills with fog from behind the kit, and the drumkit and riser begin to move! The riser, drums, drummer, and all move to the front of the stage. He zips to one side, then the other, then back to the middle. He's really hitting the double bass now, and some guitar chords rev up the invisible motor. Then ZOOM! The riser, kit, and drummer zip down a ramp, off the stage, and through an aisleway dividing the crowd. The drummer heads off into the horizon, leaving the guitarist and bassist scratching their heads.
Hey! I'm a drummer... And I kinda agree. Drum solos can be cool, but I sorta show off my skill during fills and just trying to be a decent drummer. I got more compliments on my drumming when I just played the songs than when I had any kind of extended drum solo.
Dude, that's TOTALLY fine! :) Thank you for watching either way, and thank you for disagreeing, but in all honesty, most of the drum solos I've seen live, especially from smaller bands were terrible
A several years ago I saw The Damned on their 35th anniversary tour. At one point Captain Sensible said "remember kids, it's because of us you don't have to listen to 20 minute drum solos any more" (they were vanguards of the UK punk scene in the 1970s). The next evening I saw Opeth performing on the very same stage. Not quite 20 minutes, but there was an extended drum solo...
Don't mind a few minutes of soloing. They are a good way to allow out of shape band members catch a breath/drink/smoke. Just NEVER put them on a live album!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree that most drum solos are a boring annoyance and when listening to a live album and it goes into a drum solo I lift the needle and place it past the solo to skip it.
Drum solos give the band a break without taking an intermission. Give the audience a chance to take a dump or get a drink if you do not like drum solos. Most drum solos I have seen the crowd usually loves them. Enjoy them myself if the drummer is good. None issue in my opinion.
Standing ten feet away from Vinnie Appice as he absolutely destroyed a house kit in a small bar a few years ago was probably the one and only time I was glad a drum solo was part of the set.
I always saw solos as a way of keeping the crowd entertained when the guys need a quick break. Most metal performances are a workout. And I like drum solos. As long as the solos aren't too long (guitar included), it's all good. 3-5 minutes seems to be the sweet spot.
Live Undead by Slayer....Dave Lumbardo's drum solo was killer while leading into Show No Mercy. It depends on the band and player...but I get your point...you hit it when you said it must add something special.
Drummers sweat constantly and therefore don’t need to pee as often as the rest of the band. So the drum solo is basically just a bladder relief break for them.
This video should just consist of the first 3 seconds. I clicked because of the title, hoped you would say it's referring to drum solos, watched the first 3 seconds, threw up my hands in wholehearted agreement...and continued surfing.
I never got it why anyone would take a solo spot. Not even guitar. And I play guitar. In metal everyone has parts whitch are showing of their abilyties. And whlie doing it in songs the audience gets more songs and classics to enjoy. Best solo spot I've ever seen was Adrian and Dave doing Walking on glass together on the Somewhere on tour world tour. That gave me goosebumps
I see both sides of this argument in that I agree that the drum solo is not what it used to be, as I love what guys like John Bonham, Neil Peart and even Danny Carey of Tool can do behind the kit by themselves. One guy whom I think would agree with you is Roger Taylor of Queen, who hates long drum solos and I don't know, but I guess that he tries to avoid them as much as possible... ... like the plague. Another skinsman I wish was still with us is the late Joey Jordison formerly of Slipknot and his solos, which aren't all that bad as it gives him a chance to shine as the only percussion instrument for a couple of minutes. Also, as a fan of drums I like to hear every single drum being played and that includes not just rock and metal, but jazz drummers Joe Farnsworth and the late Max Roach, but that's only me and I am not going to hate you for this video.
Overall, I have to disagree with the take on drum solos and/or other solos during live shows. I do agree that often times they come across as just showing off for the sake of showing off, but guess what. THat's what a live show is meant to do. I mean if fans just want to listen to the band play the songs from their albums, they should save the hundreds of dollars they spent on tickers, dinner and travel costs and stay home playing the records in the comfort of their own home without going deaf and having their ears bleed. Let's be perfectly honest here. There are not a whole bunch of artists that I would actually pay to go see play because they hardly EVER play the songs differently from the recorded pieces. Why would I pay money to see that? I want to see the band play the song differently, which gets me back to the point. Having the different members do little bits that I can't hear on their albums, and being there to see it is the purpose of going to the show. I'll definitely concede that many solos go on for far too long. Drummers like Peart spend weeks and months developing the craft of perfecting his solo performance for each tour. There are documentaries about how much time and consideration he puts into developing the routine. Others go up on stage without any plan whatsoever and basically give a 10-minute wank session hoping everyone drools and worships their godlike mastery of the chosen instrument.
Not with you on this one. Neil Peart's solo was a highlight of every Rush show I saw, and Mikkey Dee's solo during Sacrifice was the coolest part of the only Motorhead show I saw. Depends on the drummer.
@MetalPilgrim yes, but those were just the 2 examples I thought of at the moment. Overall, I think drum solos are cool. Now bass solos or stand alone guitar solos are another story !!!
You have no idea what you are talking about. I bought the Whitesnake DVD just because I saw Tommy doing an espetactular drum solo. Also the shows of Slipknot will always be marked by the crazy drum solos with that contraption.
Agreed 100%. Unless you are of Peart quality don't do it. I've been a music fan since the late 1970s and I'd rather hear a deep cut than a drum solo. I get it; drummers need BJs too but don't. Just don't.
The same can be said about guitar and bass solos. There are few musicians out there that can make a solo sound interesting. Neil Peart's solos were excellent and well thought out, not just flailing arms around (or wiggling fingers in guitar and bass solos).
I love watching solos. Good solos, though. I was never a lyrics person, so instrumental music speaks more to me. Not in general, I still love a good sing-a-long. Drums, guitars, keyboards, whatever, I love watching the musicians highlighting their levels of talent. But, yeah, they have to be good. I don't agree with those who say it is just masturbation, unless it's Malmsteen. Just kidding! 😄
I am a drummer and instead of a drum solo (which I don't want to do at all) I created this little piece: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-c7tm3Ji1tOA.html Thanks for listening 🙂
Being a drummer, I can agree. The best breakdown band is Alice Coopers. The band does paired solos that compliment the performance. The approach serves the songs 1st . Apart from Mickey Dee ...Slava Ukraini ✌️🤘🥁🏴☠️🇦🇺
Definitely agreeing with you. Solos are fuckin' boring. Especially on vinyl or CD. There's just one solo I enjoy every time I watch it. Eric Carr 's solo while their Crazy Nights tour.
I cannot stand solos by any instrument. If you are a skilled musicians, your job is to provide tasty licks, fills and solos within the context of a song.
I agree. The only one that comes to mind is Lars Ulrich's drum solo at San Diego 92' and the battle against James Hetfield. Funny, interactive and enjoyable.
Self indulgent undoubtedly. More importantly I think drum solos were of a certain time and that being the 80's. Saw Bruce Dickinson in London back in July and really thought it was a slot wasted when there was a drum solo. Back in the day my fave drum solo or more a little interlude was by Brian Downey of Thin Lizzy on the Live and Dangerous version of Sha La La. A final thought though for all the Maiden fans here. But for drum solos we wouldn't have the classic ' track ' A Mission From Arry ' :)