ELP: Karn Evil 9 1st Impression pt. 2 Carl Palmer Drum Solo~Steve Barber

[Amberscion]

Man o man...

I don't know drum lingo, but I absolutely loved the camera jump every time you hit the bass drum. And the sequence starting at about 3:30 was amazing. Not the the entire rest of the performance wasn't amazing. As an ELP fan, this really rocked, :)

[hazumjozum]

Been following ELP for 38 years and YOU ARE ON THE MONEY. I've always tried to duplicate Carl note for note but even when I was 19 yrs old I don't think I played it as well as you. Great job!

[MrFoxstirling]

nice job ,i have been learning to play tarkus and trilogy,i have been playing drums for 30 plus years and never tried to play cp stuff and im having a great time learning it,nice job and good luck with your kit.

[jamalshookup]

Brilliant! Thanks for taking me back to my ELP days, when musicianship meant more than flash.

[RockbertoRocks]

Very cool!

[audiophile55]

@throbbingmember They are fantastic, and they simply cannot be beat. The tone, quality, overall sound, feel--everything is superb about them, as with all Paiste cymbals. I wouldn't waste another minute thinking it over, if I were you. By the way, you do a great job, playing!

[pveneto]

As a long time CP fan and a fellow drummer. Great job.

[audiophile55]

@pveneto Thanks very much, pveneto! Glad to see you are into CP, too!!!

[muspobear]

@mineheadX1 SO-AGREE!!!!

[muspobear]

We BIG-STRONG Men make some of the "Finest" Drummers AROUND!!! You got both SUPER-POWER and DELICATE FINESS!!!!! ALL in PERFECT HARMONY!!! Congratulations Feller Big-Strong Man!!!!

[audiophile55]

@muspobear Thanks a million, muspobear. I deeply appreciate the comment and encouragement!

[paperpichu]

Do you use a Speed King? Great job!!!

[audiophile55]

@paperpichu Hi Paperpichu! I've watched so many of your ELP videos!!

I am currently using a Tama "High Beat" pedal. Prior to it, I used the Speed King. Thanks for asking. Keep those great ELP videos and audio recordings coming!!!

[anchinooky]

Sir, could you tell me what make and model your cowbell is? Sounds exactly like the one CP always used and I've been trying forever to figure out which one that was!

Thank you and hope I can play it as well as you someday_(:o))

[audiophile55]

@anchinooky Hi "anchinooky". It is an Latin Percussion "LP" "Bongo Cowbell". I am also using the Latin Percussion LP328 "Sliding Bass Drum Percussion Mount", to hold it, as it allows it to be mounted in the same angle as Carl Palmer's, when he used the 70's drumset. Thanks so much for asking, and if I had not responded already, please accept my apology for taking so long to answer. Thanks ever so much for the compliment. You just made my day. : )

[Amberscion]

To put into words my verbal interjection upon hearing your percussive mastery:

Fuckin' sweet! 

[audiophile55]

@Amberscion Thanks you very, very much! It is compliments such as yours that keep me practicing each day!

Thank you!

[mineheadX1]

wow ! as a lifetime fan of ELP and fellow drummer, I congratulate you on this spectacular feat...you haven't lived as a drummer until you can play with ELP music, specifically "Tarkus", "Karn Evil 9 pts.1-3", and "Pirates"...if you can play those pieces in their entirety then you'll know what true discipline is...and what a true genius Carl Palmer is...

[ossiezig8]

Wow, this was my favorite drum solo growing up...I knew it/know it by heart and you nailed it (add a left foot going crazy up and down on the hi-hat between 50 secs & 1:00, and add one bell hit at 2:44 and I would have thought this was the Palmer solo). I don't know too many drummers who can mimick this solo the way you did...this is absolutey brilliant!!

[sonorman1965]

Amazing Sir! That was BEAUTIFUL!  Beautiful kit!

[worldofdrumz]

I still come back to this video.... this is just so F'ing awesome it's hard to believe. And you are so minimal in your movements it's hard to believe you are playing this Steve. FANTASTIC!!!! 10 STARS!!!!!

[JMBoivin]

Well I din't often comment on youtube covers but Holly shit man. You've nailed this DIFFICULT AND IMPOSSIBLE solo. And you're economical with your movements, Great stuff man.

[dlgoatboy]

That was totally fantastic in every way!!!!!!!

[budgey1]

I really enjoyed this! I loved Carl Palmer as a kid. One thing it reinforces for me though is how his solos were just technical displays-- albeit amazing and exciting technical displays. And you've done a great job in matching the speed and power.

Kudos for this. It's awesome.

[kubrick681]

Oh my god!!!!!!!!!!! You are very inspiring

[kittysusca]

yes yes this is right down our alley

[2001winepimp]

damn dude, thats impressive!! nice work

[bubbawad]

Awesome man!!!

[audiophile55]

@bubbawad Thank you, bubbawad. I take this as a great compliment, as well as great encouragement coming from someone of your stature!

[seeifyouspamme]

I'm quite impressed with that, not an easy act to follow :)

[markelp]

WOW !!!!!

How unbelievable is that - Fantastic performance Sir; superb sound & technique to probably my favourite drum solo ever.

[stoogman]

Very nice chops!!

[PimpCNuggz]

Sounds great man. Palmer is truly a legendary drummer.

[kaptinpsycho]

Your hand technique with matched grip is nothing short of spectacular! As an "older" 50' ish drummer, I salute you sir!

[audiophile55]

@kaptinpsycho Thanks ever so much, kaptinpsycho. Compliments, such as yours, keep me going!

[ifmaribel]

great music!!

[VirusMan254]

I absolutely love the snare rolls you do--tell me, do you have any tips to improve snare rolls? I can do them, but not consistently well.

[ajsjoberg]

Part 2 I' am almost there still trying to get a 6" tom but for the time being I' am using 8" thru 13" for the left side and 14"thru 16" on the right side, would like to pick your brain on tuning, heads, and sizes, and getting into the round lugs, rosettes, and all the custom stuff, if you get a chance drop me a note thanks, Cheers Joe

[audiophile55]

Hi ajsjoberg (Joe)! Very nice to make your acquaintance! Thank you very much for the nice compliments! Sorry I took so long to reply. Compliments like yours are what keep me trying! I will be happy to share any information with you, re tuning, etc. Will drop you a note. I just purchased my first stainless steel tom. May have been a mistake. Now, I will probably want to replace everything with stainless steel!

Thanks so much!

[ajsjoberg]

Part 1Hello Steve, being a Carl Palmer fan/fellow drummer since the 70's has made this video a real pleasureand a treat to watch, beautiful playing with an equally beautiful kit, and what makes it fit in the "its a small world" category is the fact that for the last few years I have been collecting Ludwig stainless steel drums to make a replica of what can only be described as the holy grail of drum kits the BSS tour/Works kit,

[audiophile55]

Thanks a million, trowuttatow! As much as I enjoy the Spggy videos, it made my day that Spoggy listened to me play! Good to hear that you play bongo's! I think that playing with your bare hands can be more creative than people think. Never stop playing! Give Spoggy a hug for me, would you? May you all always have peace, happiness and joy in your life!  Steve : )

[jpdrummer747]

Also, what is the size of your snare and what is the make? I can't see it but it looks deep.

[audiophile55]

Hi JP. I posted a description of the drum set in my channel, if you are interested in the lot as well.'

The snare is a Ludwig Super Sensitive, 6 1/2 x 14". It is a remarkable drum, indeed! Thanks!

[jpdrummer747]

I love the fact you imulated the great Carl Palmers '73 stainless steel kit. I also owned one but not a replica like yours. I truely admire your abilty to copy the master to a near T. Congradulation sir!

[audiophile55]

Thanks very much, JP. It has taken a lot of work, and I'm still working on it. Would like to have someone make the lugs to match to those Carl had, with the copper plate and the chrome lugs.

[birchofacookie]

It's people and songs like this that made me buy a drumset in the first place. You are NASTY!!!!

[audiophile55]

LOL! Thanks, birchofacookie! I have never been called "nasty" before. : )

[hsmusic1]

Hello Audiophile55 !! watched your videos solo drums and their ability is amazing. "5 star" ......hsmusic1 - Brazil.

[audiophile55]

Hello hsmusic1. Thanks a million for the nice compliments, and the rating!

[MRCJCOLLINS]

THAT WAS THE S H I T!!! even carl would dig this vid for sure. I own 5 P A I S T E gongs but only 2 are symphonic series. 20' & 28' and it was absolutely inspired by mr. palmer. but what the hell did the previous owner play that gong with, a hammer??? OOOOOOUUCH!!!!!! but it still sounded good. where did you find a 1/2 rack of tube chimes? once again, that solo was bad-ass. I'm puting it on my fave list...........NAMASTE.

[audiophile55]

Thanks so much MRCJCOLLINS! I wish Carl could see this video! It has taken me 35 years to get to this point with this solo, and it still isn't perfected. Carl is impossible to duplicate!

I don't know what the previous owner used to cause the dents, perhaps a sledgehammer.

I actually have 20 tubular bells, but only room to hang four of them, while using the gong. Am working on building a separate, professional stand for both the gong and chimes. Thanks so much for your nice compliments!

[drumcatf8]

i dont normally post comments,,,,but that was incredible.....absolutely.....­...amazing

[audiophile55]

Thanks ever so much, drumcatf8! I very much appreciate this!

[SilverHamer]

Hey Steve! Terrific rendering! I didn't quite understand the comment about ebay though...I'll have to go back and watch this again and see if I can figure out what I missed the first time around...HAHAHA. That's a cool-looking kit you're playing there! Keep RAWKIN in the free world!

LC

[audiophile55]

Thanks a lot, SilverHamer! The comment re ebayis the gong. Note the dents in the center. The guy I purchased it from either used a fake photo, or situated it so the dents wouldnt show, because they couldn't be seen when it was posted. I am pleased with the sound of it, though. It's a Paiste,which says it all. Paiste's are *THE* BEST in the world, no matter what!

Thanks, so much for the compliments. I deeply appreciate them! Steve

[rickfreslanta]

Excellent! I love your style. Clean. Yea man, you and Shacklett should get together for a session or two. That would be cool.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you.

[audiophile55]

Thanks so much, rickfreslanta! I wish Kerry Schacklett and I could get together, and put together the ultimate USA ELP tribute band.

A belated MErry Christmas and Happy New Year, to you, as well!!!! THANK YOU!!!!! Steve

[babayaga321]

Great playing Steve... love the tuning of the drums as well - sounds very much like Carl's original kit as far as I can tell.

[audiophile55]

Hi Graham! Thank you ever so much for the nice compliment! I tune the drums to the same notes Carl had his tuned to, to get the full Carl Palmer sound! Thanks so much for noticing!

[cornfudgeycorn]

I LOVE the sound of your toms!! What kind of a set it that?

[Zilljun]

Well... I can't believe what I just saw. I've loved and wanted to play this solo since the mid 70's. Your duplication is an absolutely AMAZING feat. I'd love to see some more of your work. Can you help me? I'm looking for all the books & transcriptions I can find to help me play Palmer type solos. For years I've wanted a transcription of Tank. If I could afford it, I'd buy you the 2 Paiste gongs for Christmas to relieve you from your ebay fiasco. :) Great work,Steve

[audiophile55]

Hi Zilljun,

I can't thank you enough for your compliments and very, very generous mention, regarding the 2 Paiste gongs. An extremely kind thing to say! Thank you! I wish that I could help you with the books and transcriptions you seek. Have you ever seen Carl's "Applied Rhythms" drum book? I believe it is out of print. It doesn't contain his solos, but many songs by both ELP and Asia.

Would this help? I learned the solo by ear, but it took 35 years to "perfect"!!!! Carl is impossible!

[bowserb61]

Unbelievable precision! The whole thing is a stroke for stroke recreation of the original. Very nice work!

[SoulamSee]

Give that man a hand. Wow!!!!

[lennon2009]

good job, but it be better if u played tradtitional

[audiophile55]

Thanks a ton, keyboardtricks!

[keyboardtricks]

fantastic! Bravo!

[audiophile55]

Hi ugopk1994. Yes, you can learn the drum solo by purchasing Emerson, Lake and Palmer 's "Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends, Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake and Palmer", available on CD. It is a double disc CD. I hope that you will buy a copy.

[ELPTonyO]

Excellent

[audiophile55]

Thank you, ELPTonyO!  So is your video of Carl Palmer playing the the stainless steel Ludwig 100th Anniversary drum set! I hope he will hold onto those, and continue playing them! You just can't beat Ludwig drums!

[PinesWindy]

That was an awesome performance! What a talent!

[PinesWindy]

that is the best drum solo that I have EVER heard!

[audiophile55]

Thank you so much, Pineswindy, but I can't take the credit. Mine is a performance of the Carl Palmer drum solo. Please purchase the ELP CD set to hear the real thing! It is an unbelievable drum solo by Carl Palmer, featuring a church bell, which he rings by yanking on a string attached to a specially designed clapper, and a much longer gong solo than what I played. You won't be disappointed when you hear the real solo!

Thanks, again!

[elpmoelpmo]

I like that very much how you are playing. Especially at about 3 minutes, those faster and faster beats (you call that whirl in english, or how?), phrasing, accents and so on... fantastic. Thank you for that, looking forward to seeing more of you.

[audiophile55]

Thanks, elpmoelpmo. Those parts at about 3 minutes that you mention... those are very difficult to do, for me, at least but, I'm not sure about how difficult for other drummers. It, for me, is the most difficult portion of the solo. Thank you very much for the compliments. I hope to post some newer videos, soon.

[rmcmullin1]

That was great beat for beat, you my friend are a true Carl Palmer fan, Peace out cub scout

[audiophile55]

Thanks a lot, rmcmullin1!

[stevenismylife96]

W.O.W. i just heard "welcome back my friends to the show that never ends" on a tv show and i was looking for the full version & came across this. WOW, my mouth was open the whole time, i may be really young, but i know what fantastic music and amazing skill is. and THIS IS IT!!!!!

[audiophile55]

Wow! I'm almost speechless, stevenismylife96! That is one of the best compliments I have ever received! Thanks a trillion!

[worldofdrumz]

I ran out of room on my other message. Just had to say again that was GREAT!!! I just finished my version of "Hoedown" two days ago...check it out on my channel and see what you think. I actually started to tailor my set after Carls (in my own way) back in the early 70s. It's seen a lot of road, but I kept it in misnt condition.

[worldofdrumz]

OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!! I grew up on listening to that solo....and i know every little beat in it, but I would not even come close to playing it. That was unbelievable!!!! How did you learn to play that fast???!!!! Carl's drum solo has been my all-time favorite all my life and I have never seen it played by someone aside from the great Carl Palmer. My hats off to you sir; SUPERB!! If it weren't for the shorter gong part and the missing bell (played) with his teeth..I would have thought it was fake

[audiophile55]

Thank you very, very much, worldofdrumz! I am glad that you are into this solo. It's one of the best drum solos I ever heard,too, because it is a musical drum solo. In answer to your question, I learned everything by listening to Palmer, and *had* to do this solo. Spent a lot of years on it. I just don't think I will go so far as to do the bell ringing.

I will go check out your playing "Hoedown", for sure! I'm looking forward to hearing it! Thanks a million!

[VincePalamara]

awesome!

[audiophile55]

Thanks a lot, Vince!

[rdevicsaint]

Superb playing, absolutely killer. And such challenging material, Carl Palmer of that period was phenomenal. Great stuff1

[audiophile55]

Thanks ever so much, Chris. Yes, Carl--during the 70's--was indeed phenomenal. When he stopped using the stainless steel kit, and reduced his amount of toms, it seems the "magic" is gone.

[chaz955]

Steve This is great.. please do more of these for you tube...Carl would love this..C

[audiophile55]

Thanks a million, Chaz955!

[17drums]

Steve, is this one new? I don't think I saw this version. GREAT, as usual! 5 stars. (And the ebay gong still sounds killer anyway!)

[audiophile55]

Hi Dave, No, this is the same one that has been up all along, but thanks, again, for the compliments!

[rikza]

Quite incredible the accuracy of the playing here and the kit looks amazing. As I've said in other forums - for me CP lost some of his drummming "voice" when he stopped playing the full concert tom kit - so crucial to his sound.

[audiophile55]

Thanks vrye much, rikza. I couln't agree more, re: "Carl lost his "voice"..." when he stopped using the stainless steel set. I realize that one doesn't need all those toms to play well, but, Carl was the one who started it all, with the octa plus set, by using them the way he did.

[JohnLRice]

Excellent job! I used to play along with this in high school but it's been MANY years since I even attempted it. Way to go man! :-)

[audiophile55]

Thank you, JohnLRice!

[Cozy990]

Hi Steve

I was out of town, just received your e-mail...

WOW, you nailed it man...you shurely have Palmer's feeling when doing this WBMF drum solo.

Can't wait to see your Timpanys and tubular bells on Toccata..:)

[audiophile55]

Hi Cozy,  Thanks a lot. I hope to have Toccata posted in the very near future!

[kirkmach32]

Speechless!

I just watched this for the first time. WOW.

You and Kerry have to do some virtual performances if you can't physically play together!

Man.

[audiophile55]

Hi Kirk, Thanks so much!

[rodblackwood]

"Carl Palmer,all right"-Well done,Steve-great job.Now if we can just get you and Kerry together.........

[audiophile55]

Hi rodblackwood, I deeply appreciate your compliments. Hopefully, Kerry and I will be able to perform together, or at least record--someday.

[AmishCake]

Wow, Steve, that was excellent!

[audiophile55]

Thanks a million, Amishcake!

[Racket73]

Awesome!!!!!

[audiophile55]

Thank you, Racket73!

[kshacklett]

Yeah Steve! Great hands and great sounding set. Of course it's no wonder that I like the sound of your set since it sounds about as close to Carl's as you're gonna get.

[audiophile55]

Hi Kerry!

Thanks ever so much!

[17drums]

Steve, if someone played me just the audio of this, I would SWEAR that it was a Palmer performance! This version is even better than your other one. At least there's a GONG in this one! And I like the ending you wrote. The china on your left even sounds like it's a bit synthesized! PERFECTO! Great job! 5 stars. So how do you top this? The Tocatta solo?

[audiophile55]

Hi Dave! Thanks very, very much. The China Type, as with all my cymbals, is a 22" Paiste 2002. I never got into using them upside down, like most drummers. I like the sustain & sound you get when playing it right side up.

I'm hoping to post the Toccata timpani/gong/chimes solo, as well as some tricks with atmospherics that Carl Palmer used, in very the near future. Thanks, again!

[17drums]

That's what I have also, a 22" Paiste 2002 China. I liked the attack much better right-side up, but found it was murder on my sticks! And at the time, I had alot of trouble trying to find anyone who sold Quantum 7000's. So I turned it upside-down for the smoother curved edge, and ended up leaving it that way. Now I'm used to it that way. But on my smaller set, I have a smaller Paiste China that I keep right-side up. (Also since I've found my sticks online and buy them by the dozen pair now!)

[audiophile55]

Dave (17drums)

For some reason, the China doesn't damage my sticks as much as playing on the snare does. I keep my snare tilted inward, and, doing so many rim-shots damages the sticks more than anything, in my playing. Believe it or not, those sticks I am using are a year old, and are Pro Mark 5 A. I switch back and forth between 5 A and 5 B, usually on a daily basis. As you can tell, I'm not a hard hitter, so, I think that makes my sticks last a little longer.