Virgil Donati Throwback Thursday From the MI Vault 8/18/2005 

i'm a drummer and a guitarist. only donati can blow my mind with drumming in a way that holdsworth did with guitar. most of the time i dont really fully get what he's doing, i'm mostly just amazed by his command of the kit, his fluidity, dynamics, creativity. if he'd be a boxer with that same mindset and skill, he'd be undefeated for decades

That’s true. There are a lot of really amazing drummers out there… Well, maybe not “a lot” of them, but there are some really amazing drummers out there. There are the speed masters, and guys who do incredibly complex stuff, with tons of independence. There are guys who play very musically and their playing is very beautiful. There are guys who have amazing chops and fills. And then, there’s Virgil, who sort of combines all of those things, with super-healthy doses of odd-meter polyrhythms thrown in.

RIP

Tom Floor I fully agree. I have no reason to believe that Minneman, Lang, Mangini et al can't groove, and I do try to contextualize the solos they play as they are often in clinic setting where a bunch of percussionists are demanding serious drum porn. I think that's why Donati and Sucherman are so nice to see because they are musicians first, and drummers second. That sort of philosophy permeates into their clinics as well, so their chops and technicality is more "groovy." I greatly appreciate your thoughtful response. Very refreshing. Also, you have the best username of anyone I've come across. Happy drumming!

I agree! His musical concept is quite advanced.

@@hermanmelville3871 I agree, as well. I really like Sucherman, and he has very nice fills that he blends together very musically. I wouldn't put him in the technical category of Virgil or some of the others you named.

This guy does not impress me one bit. I'd like to hear him on a 3 piece kit.

Why do you even comment since you are not a drummer@@Bonerhed1968

Jeff Porcaro Groove.. Piano was his first instrument which he has been playing from a very young age!!!

He is boring and overrated

@@krioni86sa go back to your video games, nerd

@@krioni86sa Ok Jordinson fan. :D

@@franciscojavier9739 lol im not even a jordison fan.. i hate him too. the artist we like are subjective and it is okay if you like virgil or not. i just love from like drummers vinnie colaiuta, benny greb, larnell lewis, chris coleman and you

I didn't think he had a wife and kids? I'm prolly wrong

I'll tell you how. There's a very small percentage of people, yes, even in the drum world, that can actually follow what Virgil does and really understand, or "feel", the rhythms he plays. And there's a few that will go so far as to say something isn't good (or doesn't stand out) because they don't get it, which in Virgil's case, I imagine its most of the time.

Thats a typical drummerworld jazz elitist comment. Those guys would never understand a drummer of the depth of a donati, not in a million years.

@@UR_Right24 I'd genuinely love for you to name some of these other drummers. I've seen plenty of amazing drummers doing amazing things, but the only one I've seen come close to a close emulation of Virgil Donati is Thomas Lang. There are plenty of guys out there who emulate Virgil and do a great job but hardly any of them can do it with his power, precision, and finesse. I don't even really listen to much of Virgil's stuff these days (I'm more into emulating guys like Blake Richardson and striving to play Nile songs) but I give respect where I know it's due

​@@UR_Right24 Ok, so I understand now that you're simply in the "I don't like Virgil Donati" camp, and that's fine. You might want to re-watch that DT documentary as well, because they actually explain that he showed them he could play the parts perfectly but was trying to improvise and play new things... But we can't let the facts get in the way of personal opinions, right? :) It's ok if you like other drummers more than you like Virgil, there's no problem with that. But you're missing the point here. Virgil pioneered many of the things he does. I would love to see Joey Jordison or Keith Moon duplicate what he does, that would certainly be a unique experience given neither of them play anything Virgil does. And again, that doesn't take away from their abilities as drummers, but just because you like someone doesn't mean that they can do something better. It just means you prefer what they do and how they do it.

👍🙂 He's doing it NOW!!! (Stand out, man!!!) 😮🙂👍

Excellent book. My tip - don't worry about the doubles and paradiddles etc on the feet, that's only going to be useful if you're going to practice 5 hours a day and play outlandish ostinato's etc etc. I have pretty much completed the book otherwise, it's not bad if you work hard at it.

baddrummer07 Yes! although the ride cymbal is a bit tinny, everything else sounds sick.

+CHC4669 Allan Holdsworth, Tony Macalpine, Steve Vai, Bunny Brunel, Scott Henderson. All these guys have hired Virgil.

+CHC4669 haha what an ignorant comment . Love RU-vid . There's always one :/)

+CHC4669 ure an idiot.

lol what was that???

Hahaha... wow.

LMAO 🤣

Lol 🤣

He makes another brief sound at 19:38 lol

Lol what the hell 🤣😂

@@The0987yuio lol true XDD

😂👍

It's very true my brother

Erik Kristiansen In what media publication is it stated that he is underrated?? Enlighten us with some data, rather than just throwing out your opinion. Thanks.

@@jumpinjojo what a stupid reply

+Paulo Moura hahaha definitivamente!!!

Thayane Santiago

I dont know any other drummer at Virgil's level... what he does is unique and super developed. He's waaaaaay bigger than Dream Theater as well...

The only but big problem with Donati is that he's so used to play alone that he can't play with a band like Mike.

@@drum4fun969 Really? that's a BIG problem? He has CHOSEN to play his own solo music, to get AWAY from bands and their obvious leader control issues. He played for years in the bands you talk about, Southern Sons, [i don't need to even say anymore]. Oh, Steve Vai..............etc, etc.

@@drum4fun969 He was planet X drummer

@@drum4fun969 Virgil also played and/or toured in pop and rock bands during his earlier career. He played with Southern Sons as well, who had multiple top-10 hits. He has a DEEP pocket when that's what the music calls for. Otherwise, he chooses to be creative and explorative (which is something to be admired, not shunned because it's not the norm).

His gifts cost him 16 hrs. a day practice.

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-D6_fQIqLdls.html

Virgils playing. reminds me of a John Bonham that had 3 lifetimes to combine all these different elements. Virgs pocket is ridiculous. Listen to his ‘In this life ‘ album. Insane.

Any instrument can be studied endlessly.

Dan Laurin Probably would have ran his pretentious mouth something disrespectful and done some lame ass snare drum noise fest on an out of tune drum and smiled like he was something.

I've never heard Buddy be complimentary of any other drummers

cephoras that's not true...he loved Joe Morello.And he introduced many drummers for positions w/ big bands!

Wizzle Buddy Rich was NEVER LAME.!!! LOL.

Dan Laurin He would have respected that Virgil played everything with traditional grip!!!! He may have also frowned on the style, but definitely would have given props for Virgil’s facility on the drumset!!!!!

I wonder when he writes, if he is left handed or right handed. My best guess would be he is left handed.

When I was on contract with Cigna as an Enterprise Data Architect, I stayed at this three star "Quality Inn" type hotel when working at the client site. I would not rate it all the best, though, it was adequate. Anyway, I was at their business computer checking on a Progressive Rock website called "Progressive Ears". I was reading through conversation regarding the band "Planet X"; a band of which Virgil was a drummer of at the time. After signing off from the computer and starting to walk away, I noticed two dudes at the check-in reservation desk of whom looked like prog rockers. So, I bellied up and walked to the reservation desk and looked at the two of them and stated "You guys look like proggers to me". And, indeed they were. It was Virgil Donati himself checking in to the same hotel I am staying in. I asked them their purpose of their stay at this hotel. They stated they were there for a drum clinic. This sounded interesting and I attended. It was really good! I believe there might be a photo of Virgil and myself floating around out there somewhere.

Then he alternates them.

Kon Adam why just Australia?! Coz He's way up there along side many of Drummers (MD) hall of fame.