Good Bass players will say their job is to gel with the drummer and make everyone else sound good. Mutual respect. The one drummer who disregarded this was Bonham. He followed and complimented Jimmy Page and thought Drum was a lead instrument; which is why he sounds so different. Him and Keith Moon were similar in that. Listen to The Who playing Can't Explain. Moon makes the drum a lead instrument not just a rhythmic counterpoint.
I would not really say that about Bonham. Yes, he played to Page's riffs but he was a total team with John Paul Jones. Listen to 'The Song Remains The Same' or 'Achilles Last Stand' just to give two examples, totally locked in. If you analyze Bonham's drum parts, they are very inventive and the feel and power is amazing but his playing is VERY disciplined. On songs like 'Rock And Roll', 'Immigrant Song', 'Poor Tom' and many more there are hardly any fills or variations - and few crashes. I would agree about Keith Moon though, he played as a lead player but mostly to the vocals. And rather than having a bass player compensate that, they had John Entwistle who pretty much was a lead guitar player in bass clothing. On paper it should never have worked but it did. I love both bands but I could not think of two rhythm sections that are more unlike each other than those two.
I think Mr. Bernard is a safe drummer. His Purdie shuffle and fills are simple, and he anchors the groove. I do think much of his recognition and demand are based on him being willing to sacrifice flash for steady timing. He is a human metronome, and musicians love when they can play off of and lock-in with the drummer - hence Steely Dan and others reaching out to him on an ongoing basis. I do think everyone runs to compare him so quick to other rock drummers because of their mainstream appeal yet you ask the rock drummers about pocket, fill, timing, space, tone, and even flash, they will mention Art Blakely, Tony Williams, and Max Roach. The drummer family tree and web are complex and rich. So - Mr. Bernard is good yet not in my top ten. He is extremely positive and a good guy.
It's a treat seeing any and all Pretty Purdie interviews.
Love this guy! An amazing musician and so humble about his role in the band.
Words of Wisdom from the Master of Groove ! 😎
Beautiful.... Love you Bernard!
What a legend
Good Bass players will say their job is to gel with the drummer and make everyone else sound good. Mutual respect.
The one drummer who disregarded this was Bonham. He followed and complimented Jimmy Page and thought Drum was a lead instrument; which is why he sounds so different. Him and Keith Moon were similar in that. Listen to The Who playing Can't Explain. Moon makes the drum a lead instrument not just a rhythmic counterpoint.
Same with Ginger Baker. Those three were breaking all the molds.
I would not really say that about Bonham. Yes, he played to Page's riffs but he was a total team with John Paul Jones. Listen to 'The Song Remains The Same' or 'Achilles Last Stand' just to give two examples, totally locked in. If you analyze Bonham's drum parts, they are very inventive and the feel and power is amazing but his playing is VERY disciplined. On songs like 'Rock And Roll', 'Immigrant Song', 'Poor Tom' and many more there are hardly any fills or variations - and few crashes.
I would agree about Keith Moon though, he played as a lead player but mostly to the vocals. And rather than having a bass player compensate that, they had John Entwistle who pretty much was a lead guitar player in bass clothing. On paper it should never have worked but it did. I love both bands but I could not think of two rhythm sections that are more unlike each other than those two.
Exactly. Bonham was a pocket drummer all the way.
He's got really good stuff to say when he's not claiming to have played on Beatles records
I think Mr. Bernard is a safe drummer. His Purdie shuffle and fills are simple, and he anchors the groove. I do think much of his recognition and demand are based on him being willing to sacrifice flash for steady timing. He is a human metronome, and musicians love when they can play off of and lock-in with the drummer - hence Steely Dan and others reaching out to him on an ongoing basis. I do think everyone runs to compare him so quick to other rock drummers because of their mainstream appeal yet you ask the rock drummers about pocket, fill, timing, space, tone, and even flash, they will mention Art Blakely, Tony Williams, and Max Roach. The drummer family tree and web are complex and rich. So - Mr. Bernard is good yet not in my top ten. He is extremely positive and a good guy.
Musical instruments are unknown to Gen z alpha millennials😅
Sad but true.