From the first time I saw that beat years ago I never forgot about it. Any drummer executing what he did in this video would be considered amazing, but the fact that he was only 12 here takes it up a few more notches!
This is THE reason why I still remember this clip, from early days of "Google Video". 06:25 is just sick, and is the benchmark to what I call "good drum skills".
Normally I hate it on talent shows when there's a young kid playing an instrument at a mediocre level and the crowd goes crazy just because they're young... but holy crap this guy could be considered amazing for any age.
Yep, can't stand it either. People who don't have a music background, who didn't grow up seeing other young kids who can play instruments at an adult level at a young age always fall over themselves when they see it. But then there's this level. So tired of how easily the P word gets thrown around *sigh*.
I see a lot of comments saying “Well i’m done now” and “I feel terrible about myself” but y’all should be using this as motivation. I mean he was born with talent but also spent a ton of time on the drums from an early age and accomplished a ton. that should be like motivating you to go practice. This kid accomplished his dreams young, but who’s saying you can’t?
The thing is if you have been following him, he has matured a lot since this footage and technically so much better than now than this footage. But i love this young tony royster jr. Somewhat raw and explosive. I can watch it 100 times again. I love how the commentator laughs as he speaks in the end. That how i feel every single time i see this video.
I actually like this solo more than his later stuff. To take it a step further this is easily one of the best solos I’ve heard from a drummer of any age. This solo is creative and have a nice flow to it. The great for a 12 year old comment doesn’t apply here. He’s a prodigy. There is a very high degree of difficulty throughout the solo. I don’t see any weaknesses in his playing. He even switches to traditional grip without missing a beat which is a skill in itself. I’ve listened to hundreds of drum solos and this is world class.
I completely agree. This was one of the first solos I ever saw on youtube. I've watched a ton of incredible drummers since then. Just came back to watch and I have even more appreciation for how incredible this solo is.
@@budda777pl Today he is considered one of the premier drummers but my issue with him is he’s never really hooked up with a progressive/fusion band to showcase his skills within the parameters of a group with any consistently. He is basically a solo machine. That takes nothing away from this mind boggling solo. Every time I play it I notice something else that only makes me shake my head . I’ve yet to hear anyone on this thread have anything negative to say about it other than they wish they could play like this. It’s flawless. It’s a where do you go from here performance.
Me too. I first saw this video probably 16 years ago and have been inspired by it ever since. I don't touch my drums that much these days, but every now and then I come back to this video and it makes me want to pick up the sticks.
I still watch this video every few months. The groove, technical proficiency, tone, levels... everything is there. And he was 12 then. Sure, plenty of videos of the man's awesome talent on youtube now but it's cool to go back in see this. TWELVE YEARS OLD. Damn.
@@s.o.t.s1938 Avery has gotten much better in last few years. Not Tony's level, likely never will. Tony's early years were broiled in being creative, not a constant train of covers. Avery I think missed the boat on being elite. Now he will have to settle for amazing. :)
He was a beast at 12 and he's even better now. Seems like a genuine guy and a true player. Love the Louie Bellson up and down hat technique. He clearly studied the legends
I'm not kiddin, this guy may be the best i've ever seen. His technique even when he was 12 is nearly flawless. He's a combo of intense dedication and, honestly, he's flat out gifted i think
Mine too.... he is still amazing today....however i think I saw him do some things at age 12 that I have never seen him do anymore... is that possible???
Without comparing my insignificant amount of talent to Tony Royster Jr. I have a blast playing drums. Knowing, and watching this type of talent increases my love for the instrument. He is older now, and wildly Talented. Drums are still so much fun to play. I love being a drummer, and I am happy that guys like this are also drummer's.
I saw him perform (and tie for 1st place) at the very first Drum-Off National Finals in Hollywood when he was eleven I believe. Incredible, brought the roof down!
I see a lot of comments saying "if only I had started that early" as if u wouldnt have just chewed on the drumstick and shit your pants. it's not that he got to start at 3, it's that he could that's amazing.
It’s not just practice it’s god given talent. I could barely speak at 3 and hell if I started at 1 year old I still wouldn’t been half the freakin drummer 12 year old roy was.
Harari Percussion lmao. I smell the jealousy through my screen. This kid, within a month of playing, could play drums at a master level. By the time of this video he was playing with the equivalent of 50,000+ hours of practice when you know he hasn’t come close to putting that much time in. How in the world can you watch this video and say 10% talent? It’s more like 80% talent and I’m lowballing for the sake of argument. If you know anything about drumming you’d look at this with your mouth hung open. At 12 he’s playing at the level of the best that ever was and they put the time in to reach it where he literally couldn’t of.
Mathias B I get what you’re saying, but I just had this conversation with my wife about how most people consider “talent” this elusive magic ability to just pick up something for the first time and be amazing. That’s not how it works, and in a way, is an insult to the time it takes to play at this level. Not saying talent doesn’t exist, I just think it’s a misrepresented word that most people use to describe something they don’t understand. Like a magic trick. “Well I don’t know how the just pulled that rabbit out of that hat, it must be magic”. It couldn’t just be that he spent hours and hours studying the great magicians and mastered slight of hand. Nope. Magic.... Talent to me is a combination of passion, drive, love, dedication, and obsession with something. But if the work isn’t put in, that’s all it will ever be. I know people who have played an instrument for 40 years and still can’t play their way out of a paper bag, because it’s more of a hobby than a full on obsession. Then there are people like Tony who was obviously OBSESSED with drumming from an early age. He studied the greats and probably practiced thousands of hours at this point. It’s not fair to the craft to pretend like he just picked up a pair of sticks one day and could play like this. I will say, as a drummer and instructor, I have students that just “have it”, while others need a little more work. The one common denominator I’ve noticed is that the ones that pick it up quicker are the ones who listen to more music and have an undeniable love for it. The others are more interested in playing video games and most can’t even name one drummer or band/song they like. Just my 2 cents, FWIW 🙃
El mejor solo de batería que he visto en toda mi vida, para mi nadie puede superar esto, este chamo es asombroso, lo que me sorprende es que toque para un rapero, inexplicable, demasiado talento, un prodigio, hubiese querido estar ahí ese dia!
si , yo lo vi cuando tenia como 15 años y quede loco hoy en dia tengo 34 y hago 240 bpm en el doble pedal pero es mucho peso soy un mediocrte . este niño !!!
Yo también pensé lo mismo que toca para un rapero, pero creo que le pagan muy bien así que vale bastante la pena, como quiera en sus videos que hace y en las clínicas que da, demuestra su talento al 100%
I’ve came back and watched this video several times since I first saw it on Drummerworld when I was 12, and it has consistently become more impressive each time. Unbelievable how far ahead of the game he was here.
Velocity, rhythm, groove, pattern creation and retention to revert and re-invent on the fly, Tempo change, pace, invention due to height and reach, showmanship, and wtf age! This kid born genius and the maddest part.. he proved he had better from the start! Wow. I rise for the greatest of Juniors
YALL...HE WAS 12.. 12 LIKE LOOKING BACK ON THIS?!?!?! THIS SOLO IS CRAZY!!! He had control, crazy dynamics, percision, accuracy, speed, insane improv, AT 12!!! Legendary!!! Dude is one of the greatest to do this!
I come back to watch this about once every 3 months. Best fucking drum solo ever! More groove in his fills then 1000 years of experienced drummers combined!
I could never be mad, only frustrated that I couldn't start playing at his age. Didn't pick up drums until I was 16, and sitting at 22 now I only wish I would've gotten into it even earlier...
I can remember strapping a toy drum to me as early as 3-4 years old. I got a drum set around age 6-7. My Mom tried to get me in formal lessons at 8 but they would not take me until age 10. Fast forward to any point during my now 52 years alive and I was never half as good as Tony at age 12! We all have a gift but some are just great.
@@wldock , that was not a gift...it was environment. Have you ever saw a child "prodigy" in anything who's father did not practice the same endavour as the child?
wIthout watching this video i would think who ever was playing drums had to be a SEASONED 40 YEAR OLD SENSATIONAL LEGENDARY JAZZ DRUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tony roster jr. is ONE OF A KIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!,,,,,,what skill yet so poised and focused for a 12 year old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
je ne me lasse jamais de voir ce solo de batterie ! 12 ou 50 ans, on s'en fout ! Qu'importe l'âge et l'expérience, l'énergie et le groove sont là, c'est tout. A écouter fort ! Enjoy
****VERY IMPORTANT!!!**** Anyone that gave this a thumbs-down - go to your local tattoo parlor and get a giant "thumbs down" (👎🏿👎🏼) tattooed on your forehead. Send me the bill, I'll pay for it.
After years of watching this solo , it still gives me goosebumps. One of my true inspirations as a drummer. But ill admit the first time i discovered tony royster and this video, i wanted to go home and burn my drums to the ground.
This youngster at the age of 12 , is one of the best drummers even at the age of 12 , and I put Mr royster up there in the top ten I was impressed beyond impressed all I can say is this kid is a professional drum player good luck to you young man I look forward to seeing you play again .
This video blows me away every time! He's just unfathomably incredible and even greater nowadays! However, I cry for the state of modern music, that a drummer of this talent is stuck playing with Katie Fucking Perry to pay the bills, so depressing!
yeh true. but you dont get many drummers (even professionals) as good as him even at this age... plus he drums for one of the best hip-hop artists in the world now... i think hed have to be in the top 5 in the world
nathan roggow I really have to disagree with you, if you look at how he can just switch between playing techniques which take years to master for example 'Moeller' and 'push pull' techniques along with many others and how much understanding and accuracy he has with all of them. He was Amazing at 12, but now he is Amazing and Professional about it, so just tightened everything up and added to it really.
Are you famous? Do you live in a manchine? How old are you? Are you married? Are you the best drummer in the World? 🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑😎😎😎😎😎😎 Waishe and Charis just wanted to say HELLO
I've been tooling around with my old drum kit since 1987 and I couldn't be even 30% as fast as he is with his feet. He has improved drastically by now, and I would say he's on a league of his own. A unique style and speed that nobody can top. If you don't like it, don't watch it, but don't have any negative comments because I doubt you all can ever be as good.
The one thing I’ll point out about this solo that REALLLLLLYYYY separated him at this age was the maturity of the ghost notes on the snare at 3:00. Even then he commanded every single note
