Arguably one of my most important drumming influences, Stewart Copeland has had a huge influence on my playing over the years. Like just about everybody else in the US, the first time I heard him play was on the Roxanne single. Copeland’s style was so unique and powerful, I went immediately to my tiny Ludwig kit in my basement and tried to learn the song, playing the 45 on my parents’ record player over and over until I could do it.

The thing that has always amazed me about Copeland is his backbeat. Few drummers in the history of rock hit like he does and that backbeat is undeniable the minute you hear it. That particular characteristics has been a part my own style for years and shows no signs of going away. Of course, it helps that I play a Stewart Copeland signature snare from Tama on my all Gretsch kit!

So, to honor one of my drumming idols, I picked this video from what none of us at the time knew would be The Police’s farewell tour:  The Synchronicity tour of 1983-1984. There aren’t a lot of great videos of Copeland playing with The Police online (most of them focus on Sting and, this one in particular, has some annoying shots of audience members dancing around), but I think this one has enough cuts that demonstrate the raw, earthy power of his playing to make it worth watching.

Enjoy watching this remarkable drummer hit some drums really, really hard. Happy Friday!

When I was a teenager in the 1980s, I often got depressed listening to the radio. Electronic pop music was at the height of its popularity and was ubiquitous. I listened to the radio looking for great drummers and, with a few notable exceptions, I found mostly drum machines droning in my ears.

So I decided I would step back a decade or two and found a treasure trove of rock drummers to listen to, and one of my favorites was Danny Seraphine, the drummer for the band, Chicago. Of course, at the time, he was on the radio all the time, but it was “You’re the Inspiration” and “Hard Habit to Break.” I’ll never forget the first time I listen to Chicago’s debut album, “Chicago Transit Authority.” I couldn’t believe some of the drumming Danny did on that album. I was really drawn to the way he took his obvious jazz roots and incorporated them into the somewhat psychedelic music the band was making. Danny had a lot in common with Mitch Mitchell, but seemed more in control, maybe more focused on serving the song.

Twenty-five years later, I still have trouble nailing down exactly what it is that makes Danny Seraphine such a great drummer, but ultimately that’s not important. The music is. And so, for today’s Friday Drum Launch, I chose Danny performing with his new band, CTA (California Transit Authority), at the 2006 Modern Drummer Festival. In honor of the impact Chicago’s first album had on me, I picked a song I must have listened to a thousand times because it had a long drum solo in it:  “I’m a Man.”

Enjoy!

The thing that originally attracted me to the music of John Mellencamp was his growly vocals or down home guitar licks. It was the drumming, executed by one of the most dynamic, exciting and hard-working drummers in rock today, Kenny Aronoff.

Kenny is no longer with Mellencamp, but makes an excellent living as a hired gun playing with some of rocks biggest artists, including The Smashing Pumpkins, John Fogerty, Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Alanis Morrissette, The Rolling Stones, Puddle of Mudd, Avril Levigne and many, many more.

While perusing the internets earlier this week, I happened up upon this video of Kenny apparently at a clinic playing along to Philip Sayce’s tune, Powerful Thing (the title on the video is mistaken). I think this video captures Kenny’s innate sense of groove and features some startlingly complex fills that also work very well in the context of the song.

So here you go. Enjoy Mr. Kenny Aronoff and Happy Friday to you all!

What helps kick my weekends off with a BANG? Watching some incredible drum work. It just gets me juiced and ready to play on the weekend. So, each Friday, I’ll find some tasty tidbit to share with you and see we can help your weekend get started right as well.

This week, I chose an amazing little video featuring one of my favorite drummers of all time, Dave Matthews Band drummer Carter Beauford, displaying some absolutely amazing chops and musical taste as they jam to the tune, “Two Step.”

Let the summer begin!