there is an idea of a Craig Reynolds, some kind of abstraction, but there is no real me, only an entity, something illusory, and though I can hide my cold gaze and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable: I simply am not there. It is hard for me to make sense on any given level. Myself is fabricated, an aberration. I am a noncontingent human being. My personality is sketchy and unformed, my heartlessness goes deep and is persistent. My conscience, my pity, my hopes disappeared a long time ago (probably at ACM) if they ever did exist. There are no more barriers to cross. All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused and my utter indifference toward it, I have now surpassed. I still, though, hold on to one single bleak truth: no one is safe, nothing is redeemed. Yet I am blameless. Each model of human behavior must be assumed to have some validity. Is evil something you are? Or is it something you do? My pain is constant and sharp and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape. But even after admitting this-and I have countless times, in just about every act I’ve committed-and coming face-to-face with these truths, there is no catharsis. I gain no deeper knowledge about myself, no new understanding can be extracted from my telling. There has been no reason for me to tell you any of this. This confession has meant nothing
In a behind-the-scenes video from the Steve Vai days, Virgil was straight up watching porn when it was his turn to be filmed backstage. I think the man has both a really dry and a really twisted sense of humour.
I still love Mike's playing. Pretty sure he's got people working for him online that tagged it, Virgil used to do the same. I doubt Mike would actually care anyway, he's a got a great sense of humor. Hopefully you get it sorted out.
Had the pleasure of operating lighting during a Virgil Donati Trio gig with Rufus Philpot and Tony McAlpine. Apart from being an incredible show, he was really memorable as a kind person to all staff and crew. Gotta admit, I struggled synchronizing lighting cues with his modulation.
@Steven Pounsett It seems like they are good for pro drummers that get them all for free haha. I wouldn't personally say they are worth the price that some of collectors series go for though.
Virgil love’s comedy, just so you know…i bought his old Sonor drumkit from double bass mania video from the 80’s . He goes to a lot of comedy show’s in his time off.
“where is the 1?”... Virgil Donati is on another level. The only guitarist able to play alongside him is Allan Holdsworth, he’d be able to find the 1... lol
This dudes an alien.. i watch his vids all the time at work and my coworkers cant figure out why smoke is pourin out of my head.. lol i try to explain how ridiculous his playing is but i dont comprehend it myself Haha
People who don't play drums look at Virgil Donati play and think "I would LOVE to play drums like THAT!!!" People who DO play drums look at Virgil Donati play and think "I'm going home to burn all my drums!!!"
I'm 42 now when I was around 15 16 I seen Virgil at a clinic in Newcastle and he was playing premier drums and I still have the pic that I got with him
"sounds like i got fuckin ten different kids that can't play instruments together, and i made them play one bar of music...." holy fucking shit ahahahahah
I like this commentary, it's a perspective and one that belongs in the discourse of music and rhythm. I will say though, I love donati and his rhythmic prowess but one caveat! Analyse donati at MIT in 97 or 98! He has since peaked and now is an ultra version of the once more thoughtful musician he was then. I mean this. Even check his 97 modern drummer performance. Amazing and hard to fault. Please review that performance in the future. You may have a new perspective on moments of one's career. Ex, weckl was stiffer in the 80s but loose in his late 90s stuff. Don't de textualise the journey of anyone one musician
In 90’ Mike play bleed fill easy and clásical fills Pornoy width one hand, at the same time 90’s virgil a fan boy ir dream plays covers in a band.. the Mature lével is hight diference.
To be fair, Virgil played Pearl for 10 or so years. He would have been great in Dream Theater but, he would have left after two albums as he tends to go off and do other things pretty frequently. I’ve seen Virgil a few times and he is a bit on the “out there” side of personality. No doubt Mangini was chosen not just for his skills but for personality. There is a reason this type of avant garde sells bugger all. For all its musicality, it is incredibly hard to listen to. It’s why Holdsworth with all his skills and love from musicians, pretty much died a pauper.
Completely agree, I'm not a fan pearl, ziljdian or mangini... I'd love a DW kit, and out of the drum theatre auditions there were drummers who I thought played the music better than mangini, Lang was fantastic and Marco too. All were great tho.