To be honest, and Brian Downey is one of my favourite drummers, one of the best of his era, I think his solo might be the least interesting thing about his playing. What really makes him special is the snap, swing and groove he brought to Thin Lizzy's music that very few rock drummers could probably replicate. I think songs like Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed or Massacre show off his technique to greater advantage.
Yes, not a fan of drum solos either, that said, Brian is up there with the best of the best laying down the groove in a supporting roll. Don't believe a word, killer fills and shuffle!
Agreed! Downey is of my favourite drummers. In a way, I think of him as the anti-Bonham (another of my favourites) in the sense that the snap of Downey’s snare is the focus (rather than the thud of Bonham’s bass), and while Bonham often plays waaaay behind the beat, Downey is usually not just on top of the beat but often pressing it. If I had to sum it up Downey’s drumming in one word, I would choose “insistent” (or maybe “febrile”), whereas Bonham would be “thunderous” (or maybe “juggernaut”). Crazy how both drummers give their bands such propulsive energy, just different kinds. And yes, Downey can play a killer groove.
@@JohnSmith-oe5kx @delorangeade I completely agree with this. Live, there seemed an almost psychic link between Lynott and Downey, knowing when to push the beat and when to lay it back a little, to make it flow. And with Downey, that propulsion, that drive, is done with such a light touch. He doesn't need to hammer it home.
Brian Downey is my favourite rock drummer of all-time, so it's tricky to not be biased. But I can honestly say that this particular solo doesn't highlight his true strengths. Even in his prime, during the Bad Reputation tour, when he would play a different solo most nights. Downey's best attribute to me (a guitarist who likes to drum, occasionally) is the fills and little flourishes he'd do on many Thin Lizzy songs and of course, his sense of swing. He really was the heartbeat of that band and only when he'd told Phil Lynott he wanted a break, that's when they called it a day in 1983. Lynott knew he couldn't find anyone who'd do the songs justice.
I totally agree Downey is top 10 in rock drumming but rarely gets credit Way better than the likes of Keith Moon who regularly gets elevated to the top 3. I am biased 2 as I believe Lizzy were so underrated I think partly because bad luck thwarted success in America
That sense of swing! When I met him on Chinatown tour was lucky to spend time with the band after the show. Brian spoke us of his influences and some of fife and drum things that really required handy snare work.
You only need to listen to Mark Nauseef on drums, in Sydney or elsewhere, to know how critical Downey was to the flow of Lizzy songs, and how poorly they worked without him.
Downey's drumming makes the Thin Lizzy sound. Without his drums it doesn't sound the same. Goes to show the importance of the drummer. Watched them play live, amazing set. It's all about the groove.
And having spent a few hours backstage with him after a Chinatown show in Tokyo I can say that he is a very humble, cool guy. He treated my teenage self as an equal and not a dorky fan.
Saw Downey with his band Alive and Dangerous the year before last, hearing this song live is amazing and he can still play with all the power he had in the 70s, those thunderous double bass drums are something else!
Check Out Bad reputation ,a Song for Jimi ,Warrior and Massacre for Some of Brians best Playing .This is Good but ... Brian is Very Under rated as many on Here Have said , better than Many of the more famous Drummers of his Era .
Have a listen to Live & Dangerous - “Sha-la-la”! And “Bad Reputation” :) Brian Downey was as important to the Thin Lizzy sound as the harmony guitars imho - speaking as a guitar player, not a drummer ;)
Brian Downey is one of rock's best drummers, but he's slipped through the net rather. He seems a quiet, reflective fellow, like Simon Kirke - maybe that's why. Of the UK hard rock bands who broke through in the late '70s, Thin Lizzy was unusual in even having a drum solo: UFO's Andy Parker never played a solo, to my knowledge (have lots of UFO bootlegs), and Judas Priest had a succession of drummers (have heard that Les Binks was good). Haven't heard a solo from Darrell Sweet (Nazareth) either.
I met the producer of many of Thin Lizzy records, Tony Visconti. He told me that Brian was a very quiet guy but he often nailed the drum recordings in max 3 takes. A man of few words but a lot of action.
Brian's my fave drummer since about /76 from the Jailbreak era. I;ve seen better solos than this one though it's great in places no doubt.I always loved that continuous roll he did from snare to the cymbals he didn't do a lot of here.Hey he's even older than me so we can forgive him if he needs to lighten up a bit!
To be honest, and Brian Downey is one of my favourite drummers, one of the best of his era, I think his solo might be the least interesting thing about his playing. What really makes him special is the snap, swing and groove he brought to Thin Lizzy's music that very few rock drummers could probably replicate. I think songs like Johnny the Fox Meets Jimmy the Weed or Massacre show off his technique to greater advantage.
And bad reputation fantastic
Yes, not a fan of drum solos either, that said, Brian is up there with the best of the best laying down the groove in a supporting roll. Don't believe a word, killer fills and shuffle!
Agreed! Downey is of my favourite drummers. In a way, I think of him as the anti-Bonham (another of my favourites) in the sense that the snap of Downey’s snare is the focus (rather than the thud of Bonham’s bass), and while Bonham often plays waaaay behind the beat, Downey is usually not just on top of the beat but often pressing it. If I had to sum it up Downey’s drumming in one word, I would choose “insistent” (or maybe “febrile”), whereas Bonham would be “thunderous” (or maybe “juggernaut”). Crazy how both drummers give their bands such propulsive energy, just different kinds. And yes, Downey can play a killer groove.
100%!
@@JohnSmith-oe5kx @delorangeade I completely agree with this. Live, there seemed an almost psychic link between Lynott and Downey, knowing when to push the beat and when to lay it back a little, to make it flow. And with Downey, that propulsion, that drive, is done with such a light touch. He doesn't need to hammer it home.
Brian Downey is my favourite rock drummer of all-time, so it's tricky to not be biased. But I can honestly say that this particular solo doesn't highlight his true strengths. Even in his prime, during the Bad Reputation tour, when he would play a different solo most nights. Downey's best attribute to me (a guitarist who likes to drum, occasionally) is the fills and little flourishes he'd do on many Thin Lizzy songs and of course, his sense of swing. He really was the heartbeat of that band and only when he'd told Phil Lynott he wanted a break, that's when they called it a day in 1983. Lynott knew he couldn't find anyone who'd do the songs justice.
I totally agree Downey is top 10 in rock drumming but rarely gets credit Way better than the likes of Keith Moon who regularly gets elevated to the top 3. I am biased 2 as I believe Lizzy were so underrated I think partly because bad luck thwarted success in America
That sense of swing! When I met him on Chinatown tour was lucky to spend time with the band after the show. Brian spoke us of his influences and some of fife and drum things that really required handy snare work.
100%!
Si! Ma prima ci sono John Bonham e Keith Moon se permetti.
You only need to listen to Mark Nauseef on drums, in Sydney or elsewhere, to know how critical Downey was to the flow of Lizzy songs, and how poorly they worked without him.
Downey's drumming makes the Thin Lizzy sound. Without his drums it doesn't sound the same. Goes to show the importance of the drummer. Watched them play live, amazing set. It's all about the groove.
A seriously underrated drummer
Brian is just a super drummer. Very under-appreciated.
And having spent a few hours backstage with him after a Chinatown show in Tokyo I can say that he is a very humble, cool guy. He treated my teenage self as an equal and not a dorky fan.
What an experience🤘🤘
I saw your comments early on another clip of Brian soloing lol ,You're lucky to have have met him!
Great drummer. Groovy and smooth. One of my favourites.
Saw Downey with his band Alive and Dangerous the year before last, hearing this song live is amazing and he can still play with all the power he had in the 70s, those thunderous double bass drums are something else!
Glad you liked it!
Give Emerald or Chinatown or Someday She Is Going To Hit Back a listen…. Just three tunes from Lizzys discography that show Brian’s outstanding skills
Got to see Thin Lizzy a couple of times back in the 70's when I lived in Germany - Brian is one of the best !!
Bad Reputation is superb drumming.
A masterpiece
love your work and the drumming if Brian Downey!!
Check Out Bad reputation ,a Song for Jimi ,Warrior and Massacre for Some of Brians best Playing .This is Good but ...
Brian is Very Under rated as many on Here Have said , better than Many of the more famous Drummers of his Era .
Brian Downey's drumming resembles war drumming,it''s thunderous and menacing.
What a brilliant, tight and clean solo.
For sure! Thanks!
Yeah he's always been a great player. He's great on Chinatown the track. Often overlooked
Have a listen to Live & Dangerous - “Sha-la-la”! And “Bad Reputation” :)
Brian Downey was as important to the Thin Lizzy sound as the harmony guitars imho - speaking as a guitar player, not a drummer ;)
Yes
You have to evaluate him from the thin lizzy early days
One of my biggest regrets is not seeing TL
Still as good as ever!
Brian Downey is one of rock's best drummers, but he's slipped through the net rather. He seems a quiet, reflective fellow, like Simon Kirke - maybe that's why. Of the UK hard rock bands who broke through in the late '70s, Thin Lizzy was unusual in even having a drum solo: UFO's Andy Parker never played a solo, to my knowledge (have lots of UFO bootlegs), and Judas Priest had a succession of drummers (have heard that Les Binks was good). Haven't heard a solo from Darrell Sweet (Nazareth) either.
I met the producer of many of Thin Lizzy records, Tony Visconti. He told me that Brian was a very quiet guy but he often nailed the drum recordings in max 3 takes. A man of few words but a lot of action.
He is Quite old here,, still awesome,, check live and dangerous sound track
Brian's my fave drummer since about /76 from the Jailbreak era. I;ve seen better solos than this one though it's great in places no doubt.I always loved that continuous roll he did from snare to the cymbals he didn't do a lot of here.Hey he's even older than me so we can forgive him if he needs to lighten up a bit!
Si! Ma prima ci sono John Bonham e Keith Moon se permetti.