| BradMay 19.09.2014 17:33 |
This is something that really speaks to me, i'm not a drummer (i play keyboards) but i do like Roger's drumming style. And in my opinion he hasn't played better in the last 15-20 years.. In the 70's he was the bombastic / powerhouse. In the 80's he started to lose some speed but he made it up with fantastic new drum patterns/grooves. In the 90's he seemed to be drumming in a pretty lifeless kinda way... And during the '05 tour he was on fire again although he lost agility of course. Now during the '14 Tour with Lambert he's killing it again. Sure, he's not as powerful as he used to be, and he has lost some agility (Yes, even more..) But everything he drums "Makes sense" he uses all his cymbals in a nice way, using some nice accents here and there, drumming stuff like he's never been drumming them before, and i think that it's quite cool. Of Course the guy's 65 years old so we have to give him a break for not being the powerhouse or the nimble drummer he once was, but the way he drums Now I'm Here or Stone Cold Crazy or even I Want It All at his age is unbelievable. And the funny thing is, a few months ago lots of fans (even on QZ) said that Roger couldn't pull of Now I'm Here anymore, and a few months later he's drumming it again. |
| lemonysnick123 19.09.2014 21:14 |
I've been playing drums for 10 years now. Roger was an incredible drummer in the 70's. His fills and runs still baffle me. Some of his drum beats are still extremely difficult to replicate, especially with the hi-hat pattern he plays. He was. and is, a very unique sounding drummer. But in the 80's, his style became a lot tamer. His studio work obviously changed because their music changed gears dramatically, which no doubt affected his live work as well. Gone were his very intricate fills and runs that made me envious haha. His work was good! Just a lot different than his early work, which was really an older style that drummers don't really play anymore. More recently, he's lost some power and agility, that's mostly age. He probably couldn't play Now I'm Here at the speed that they used to play it at in the late 70's and 80's, but even I have great trouble with that, and I'm 20 years old haha. Roger is still my second favorite drummer of all time. Behind Bonham haha. |
| darcy-wright 20.09.2014 03:39 |
Lets not forget that the 80s ushered in the age of electronic drums and programming. How much of the Miracle / a kind of magic and Innuendo is actually live drumming? if he was even around at the time that is.. radio gaga - programmed, a kind of magic - sounds programmed. 90% of the miracle sounds programmed. and he was off drums in the late 80s while playing guitar in the cross. so ....... |
| Sebastian 20.09.2014 09:03 |
darcy-wright wrote: How much of the Miracle / a kind of magic and Innuendo is actually live drumming?A lot. Not all of it, of course, and not most of it either, but a lot nonetheless. darcy-wright wrote: if he was even around at the time that is..Yes, he was around, a lot. Not all the time (same for all of them), but still a lot. darcy-wright wrote: radio gaga - programmed, a kind of magic - sounds programmed.And they both most likely are. They are, however, just two songs out of many. darcy-wright wrote: 90% of the miracle sounds programmed.Not really: * Party: Programmed. * Khashoggi's Ship: Not programmed. * The Miracle: Not programmed. * I Want It All: Chiefly not programmed. * Breakthru': Programmed. * Invisible Man: Programmed. * Rain Must Fall: Programmed. * Scandal: Not programmed. * My Baby Does Me: Programmed. * Was It All Worth It: Not programmed. That means roughly 50% of drums were programmed, not 90%. Still, IMO, when you have an excellent drummer in your band, even 0.01% of programmed drums would be too much. darcy-wright wrote: and he was off drums in the late 80s while playing guitar in the cross. so .......Not really. There are Cross recordings with him on drums, and there are Cross recordings without him on guitar. |
| BradMay 20.09.2014 11:11 |
darcy-wright wrote: Lets not forget that the 80s ushered in the age of electronic drums and programming. How much of the Miracle / a kind of magic and Innuendo is actually live drumming? if he was even around at the time that is.. radio gaga - programmed, a kind of magic - sounds programmed. 90% of the miracle sounds programmed. and he was off drums in the late 80s while playing guitar in the cross. so .......A kind of magic has a lot of real drumming on it (One vision for example, One Year Of Love, Don't Lose Your Head) The Miracle has ton's of live drumming with the exception of Rain Must Fall, My Baby Does Me, most of the rest is a combination of either Sequenced drums and real drums or programmed drums with one or two real fills in them. |
| Vocal harmony 21.09.2014 08:51 |
Sebastian wrote:[/ * Party: Programmed. * Khashoggi's Ship: Not programmed. * The Miracle: Not programmed. * I Want It All: Chiefly not programmed. * Breakthru': Programmed. * Invisible Man: Programmed. * Rain Must Fall: Programmed. * Scandal: Not programmed. * My Baby Does Me: Programmed. * Was It All Worth It: Not programmed. That means roughly 50% of drums were programmed .......Ten songs and the split is 6/4 so surely that is a clear 60% not roughly 50% |
| mooghead 21.09.2014 15:07 |
He is a 'safe' drummer now, exactly like Brian is a 'safe' guitar player... throw in the odd trademark bit people know you for but dont stray too far. Of course they should be trying to keep peoples interest with skill and innovation but it seems they just can't be bothered anymore. |
| cmsdrums 22.09.2014 09:52 |
Alongside the machine parts, there are some real drums on the invisible Man, and, I think, Party. Does Roger really play the drum part on Scandal?? |
| lemonysnick123 22.09.2014 11:25 |
cmsdrums wrote: Alongside the machine parts, there are some real drums on the invisible Man, and, I think, Party. Does Roger really play the drum part on Scandal??It doesn't sound or feel like a programmed track to me in Scandal. Also there are bits where it's not really a loop. Parts of the beat change and they're subtle changes. |
| PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2014 11:35 |
@Sebastian There is some programming on "I Want It All"? I always thought that "Breakthru" was featured live drumming...honestly I always thought that "A Kind Of Magic" did, too. |
| cmsdrums 22.09.2014 13:18 |
Breakthru has got some real drums coming in towards the end after the guitar solo; a bit like Staying Power has in the middle. The introduction is subtle but clearer on the 2011 remasters. |
| Oscar J 23.09.2014 03:40 |
Interesting that his drumming got so uninspired in the later years that we're actually discussing whether it's Roger or a drum machine. |
| Togg 24.09.2014 08:27 |
I dont think it really makes a difference whether some tracks were programmed, Roger has always played so the the SONG was the important thing, so if they felt at the time a more regimented style was needed so what? I certainly contributed hugely as a musician during those albums. Something like Invisible Man for instance would have sounded totally different with real drums, it wasnt the style the song needed, so why use them? |
| Ibez79 24.09.2014 14:09 |
I really like his drumming in the beginning, he immitates John Bohnam, but develops his own sound, since he was well known as a drummer besides Queen in these days. In The Game area he is so groovy with John, although he didn't really like the direction of their sound, Freddie wanted them to go. But his timing and technique always fits and is a trademark of the band's sound! |
| NickESB 24.09.2014 17:07 |
Oscar J wrote: Interesting that his drumming got so uninspired in the later years that we're actually discussing whether it's Roger or a drum machine.In the 1980s, yes. But I'd say that virtually every live Roger drum part from 1991 onwards, while not as notable technically as his early work, has been distinctive. You only have to hear a few seconds to realise it's him playing, so obvious his open hi-hat/snare trademark is. As unpopular a mix it may be, the Orbit version of TMBMTLTT reinforces that. |
| Holly2003 25.09.2014 02:02 |
It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :p |
| cmsdrums 25.09.2014 02:36 |
Holly2003 wrote: It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :pFrom the first time I heard him play, that was the thing that stood out to me and it has always been a massive part of his trademark sound known to, and discussed by, drummers well before Roger mentioned it in the ANATO 'Classic Albums' interview. |
| tomchristie22 25.09.2014 05:54 |
Holly2003 wrote: It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :pYeah, in fact there were probably never any drummers in thirty years who listened to Queen and recognised the techniques Roger was using... :P |
| Oscar J 25.09.2014 06:22 |
Holly2003 wrote: It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :pBah, I noticed that years before I saw that video. Pow tic PAZZZT tic Pow tic PAZZZT tic... |
| Oscar J 25.09.2014 06:30 |
NickESB wrote: But I'd say that virtually every live Roger drum part from 1991 onwards, while not as notable technically as his early work, has been distinctive.Interestingly, the Made In Heaven album doesn't have that much hi-hat buzz on the snare actually - there's some on MIH (the song), but otherwise it's really not that much. Not as hysterical as here anyway: link |
| NickESB 25.09.2014 10:07 |
Oscar J wrote:I disagree. It's easily recognisable on Made In Heaven, Let Me Live, My Life Has Been Saved, Heaven For Everyone and A Winter's Tale. OK, it's not for the whole songs (particularly the latter two), but it's there.NickESB wrote: But I'd say that virtually every live Roger drum part from 1991 onwards, while not as notable technically as his early work, has been distinctive.Interestingly, the Made In Heaven album doesn't have that much hi-hat buzz on the snare actually - there's some on MIH (the song), but otherwise it's really not that much. Not so evident, but there nonetheless too, on TMLWKY (because of the electric snare overdub?), You Don't Fool Me and Beautiful Day (reprise). |
| Togg 26.09.2014 04:40 |
Holly2003 wrote: It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :pProbably because you are not a drummer... It has been discussed in drumming magazines for decades, in fact I can remember having a long conversation with Bill Bruford (King Crimson drummer) back in the early 80's when I went to a seminar he held |
| Viper 26.11.2014 08:34 |
I'm no expertise on drums... What do you think on Roger's drumming on Runaway? I think it's great! |
| Bike It 80 22.06.2016 13:51 |
Holly2003 wrote: It's amazing how suddenly there are so many experts on Roger's "open hi-hat/snare trademark". Up until he mentioned it himself only a few years back, I hadn't heard anyone, anywhere mention it :pDoes anyone knows if Roger came up with it by himself or did he pick that up from another drummer? |
| Killer_queenIII 22.06.2016 19:49 |
He mentioned in a bonus feature in the ANATO Classic Albums documentary he came up with that little trademark from involuntarily opening and closing the hi-hat. Here's that aforementioned documentary: link |
| Togg 23.06.2016 02:38 |
It's an involuntary movement of the foot, but one that sounded as if it increased the explosiveness of the snare so I think he has developed it further over the years, it's a neat trick and when you do it suddenly you do sound more like him than other drummers, a little like when you mute the guitar strings on a guitar you tend to sound a little more like Brian. |
| Killer_queenIII 23.06.2016 08:17 |
^Well said. As a drummer, I'd say it's a little trick you didn't know you needed. I took to that trick like duck to water, it really brings some life to the snare. |
| Sebastian 23.06.2016 08:51 |
When did he start using the trick? |
| cmsdrums 23.06.2016 10:18 |
Sebastian wrote: When did he start using the trick?It's present on some Smile stuff, and certainly on Queen's first album, so must have been pretty early on in his playing I'd guess... |
| Bike It 80 26.06.2016 21:39 |
Killer_queenIII wrote: He mentioned in a bonus feature in the ANATO Classic Albums documentary he came up with that little trademark from involuntarily opening and closing the hi-hat. Here's that aforementioned documentary: linkAh yes, I forgot about that, thanks! It's just a shame that he doesn't talk about it more than that, though... |
| Togg 27.06.2016 03:01 |
If you watch Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, he does exactly the opposite, he generally lifts his hihat stroke away and only hits the snare, he does this on many of their best known hits |
| np11256 29.06.2016 06:46 |
i honestly never thought much of Rog as a drummer. perhaps of the way the records were mixed etc. yes, in the beginning he was really "hard hitter", somewhere in the middle drums were replaced with electronic-kits (or similar) and there was nothing much to think of. but i was very suprised and glad, that i was proved wrong when on this current tour he was really loud and packed a real punch. |
| Oscar J 29.06.2016 07:34 |
Yeah, Roger rarely sat perfectly in the mix with his drums IMO. There are a few numbers on SHA and ANATO with good sounding drums, and ADATR had really great drum sound overall. The drum sound in songs like It's Late from the album after also had a cool raw quality to them. Jazz was a catastrophy, The Game the total opposite - very crisp, if not all that much "Roger". Was It All Worth It from the Miracle comes to mind as one of his best sounding bits as well. link The early stuff from Smile and the Queen De Lea Lane demos had quite a natural sound to the drums, come to think of it. |