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From: picwikbid
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  • I really like how Virgil's drum set up has stayed consistent still to this day. Hes fucking awesome..

  • Everyone I don't think my post was negative and if perceived that way I apologize,I simply mentioned the great Bobby Jarzombek because as a musician speaking to other musician's I thought someone may enjoy what he has to offer as well but victorpiantanida says I'm full of crap and states he can play better than Bobby but he doesn't post any of his work.I thought we were all on this site because we all love music period.Another drummer to check out all"Sebastian Lancer"of Panzer Ballet.

  • Effin great too technical, random, precise, creative, power, finesse... He is Virgil. Love the footworks!

  • Virgil is great but there is one man out there that has some incredible rhythm and precise stick handling and his name is Bobby Jarzombek.I love to hear both men jam out but I'm just saying to the drummer's here if you haven't heard Bobby before you're in for a treat.

  • He plays so fast that the video can't sync with the audio lol

  • Hes was really mad that day , go Virgil!!

  • holy fuck

  • Thanks for this great video!

  • its kinda like what Brad Pitt says when hes cuttin up that soldier's forehead in Inglorious Basterds "You know how you get to Carnagie Hall dontchu?.....Practice"

  • Virgil is a once in a century genius, like Buddy Rich, raised the bar to a new level

  • This is really techy. But that snare drum drives me crazy after like 10 seconds.

  • Unatural level of independence..... I just don't know how he get's his head round it....

  • Virgil should start to worry that scientists might dig up hes brain when he dies! just like Einstein

  • Virgil is amazing... I used to watch him when he was starting out... every Thursday night at thegrainstore with a HOT band called Loose Change... He just gets better and more intense as the years go by... very cool!!!

  • Yeah very technical but he doesn't play dynamics. I mean I get really fed up with his snare after a while. This never happens with Gadd or Weckl.

  • watch him play jazz.... his dynamics are even crazier than theirs are .... only he can play swing jazz in odd time too... if you're looking to compare then any renown name in drumming history gets put to shame when compared to Virgil ... but perhaps there's an unheard of drummer out there that's a match ...(I don't know though) regardless at least he ventures into uncharted musical development while the rest just play the same shit over and over again ...

  • @UlrichPortnoyDonati9 hey buddy, can you tell me please the name of any video of donati playing jazz? =D it would be very helpfull thanks

  • listen a bit closer mate. there's ghost notes all over the shop

  • Virgil is amazing. But no where near as good as what happens at 8:39. What the f***?

    Seriously though - his brain must be legendary.

  • That is some technical shit there! =D

  • premier ew

    ddrum all the way

  • DW for me....

  • JUST GREAT!!!

    NBdrums

  • powerful.

    he can split his mind in four indipendent parts.

    he's better than normal drummers like a double dual-core processor is vs a fucking old-fashion pentium.

  • Time to watch God manifest into physical form for a little while and show you the immensity of his amazing capability beyond comprehension.

  • Screw all of you groove addicts. Screw all you portnoy fart sniffs.Tony Royster? he still sounds like he's 12 and never got over his chronic diarhea of hands. Dennis Chambers? Didn't Tony Williams prove that Dennis was a poser?Steve Gadd has to be the flimsiest example of a jazz musician that the media ever contrived and doesn't play hard enough to be condidered a percussionist. Virgil is the most unlimited drummer in the world and probably the best example of perfection ever.Most musical?Not..

  • the right choice of drums there ,

    thats for sure !

  • I just can't understand his sense of rhythm. Virgil is just genius!

  • Is that Virgil's laundry room at 8:39?

  • where did that come from?

  • Looks like Modern Drummer Drum Festival...

  • No, the "laundry" thing!! =)

  • LOLOL

  • He has the best sounding "out" and "free" playing. Amazing.

  • haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaa!

  • ok, ppl sayin hes not musical...buy one of his albums.....i think yall are just mad that he was playin somethin simple then he turned it into a monster and yall got lost... anyway...drum solo..not drum song..this stuff is mainly about technique

  • OMG! He is not human!!!! NO WAY!! lol

  • VIRGIL,THE BEST.THE BEST IS VIRGIL

  • why do these videos always turn into a contest of whos better than who? everybody is different, this is how virgil plays, he ant trying to be anyone other than himself. if u wanna listen to good simple songs think twice before clicking on a virgil donati drumsolo

  • Just because he can play really good doesn't mean he is the best a lot of drummers can play better than him.

  • please define "better".. is there a "better" musician? in what? he's taller? can bake more cookies in a minute? showers faster? eats more? i must have missed the time when music stopped being a form of art and expression, and became a competition..

  • Incredible skill, precision and perfection, in chops. But I would like to hear to also see some groove rather than hit everything with speed and accuracy..

  • Check out him performing with Tina Arena live!! Virgils sounds awesome when he plays simple, much power and he really knows how to drums a straight beat good!!

  • Amen my friend he does do everything very well. People don't realize that to have this much control you have to master the simple stuff first and always root yourself in 4/4. virg is a master of all musical genres. Even though it might not sound like it, everything he plays is related to 4/4 in some form or another, even his drum solos. peace

  • Amen to you man! Thomas Lang said it: "Even though I play in 7/8, I try to count in 4/4, because 90% of western music is in 4/4".

  • Some of you idiots should stop to quote your drummers like Weckl or Rich. In this context, we don't care of them

  • virgil is the best

  • Premier?

  • if you wanna hear him play music, buy one of his albums

  • Lol "Sofakingrate" yup. so true. and too funny. however, being a drummer, I can appreciate the level of "slam-man-Ship" that goes into this kind of Playing and commitment. that said, jesus.... it's become, "look at how Fucking incredibly Difficult and Fast and Stiff, and Chop-impressive I can Play. gets old real quick huh. I'd rather hear a great song anyday, over the next "muscle drum god" , riffing out and attempting the 1000 meter Paradiddle sprint.

  • so, what defines again what is music and what's not? you?

  • Many modern drummers may accompany well but can't build structured and "musical" solos like Max Roach or Joe Morello did.

  • i really dig this from a beat displacement perspective, i am just starting to try apply these techniques into my playing and this video is helping me tremendously.

  • la claridad que tiene para tocar no la tiene cualquiera y el feeling ni hablar me gustaria poder tocar la mitad de lo que toca virgil da ganas de tocar cuando uno lo ve se te pone la piel de gallina que tecnica es impresionante

  • I grew up listening to Billy Cobham, Lenny White, Tony Williams, Vinnie Caliuta, Buddy Rich, etc. True legends who were known as much for their style as their technical ability, so I don't get blown away by drummers too easily. I'm very torn on Virgil because he obviously has very fast hands and good technique but I find his solos very repetetive. As far as this groove he's supposed to be keeping it's boring as hell. I would rate him a notch below the very best. Tony Royster jr,Dennis Chambers

  • It's a very good solo, but he has better ones...

  • i guess Virgil woke up in the bad mood!! thats some badass solo!!! amazing playing Virgil, thanks (L)

  • HEY STELLARSHORE!!! KILL YOURSELF!!

  • I would say if you're a fan or student of rhythmic structure, and the evolution of rhythmic ideas Virgil should be right up you're ally. What he's been doing the last 15-20 years has been extremely exciting. And if you want to hear him play in 4/4 for a change? Check out his website. He has a studio trail a mile long. One of the busiest guys in the industry.

  • ive seen this guy in person at one his clinics , spoken to him also , with a very down to earth attitude .I remember him saying that he can count the days on his fingers that he hasnt had a set of sticks in his hands ,that certainly shows how much dedication hes got . to me by far one of the worlds best drummers ive ever heard & seen.

  • Disadvantage is that he only has his kit and music, some other drummers I really like (but are technically less advanced) like Mike Portnoy do have families at home... still produce amazing music :-) it is great to listen to people like Virgil though!

  • It's a disadvantage only if you like having a family :)

    Virgil's amazing, and it takes an inhuman amount of work to be that technically competent. I personally think that if he somehow lacks a life (and I don't really know either way), he makes up for it by changing "drumming" itself. He's adding to our vocabulary.

    Portnoy is good and may inspire people, but he doesn't add anything to drumming itself. That doesn't make him worse - he simply didn't want the same things Donati did

  • They're both very important drummers, who deserve our humble respect, in other words, as they achieved what they set out to do.

  • Virgil do seem to have a normal life outside drumming and music. if you watch hes gallery on hes blogs he travel and has fun it seems.

  • whateverman666, yes i agree. Very smart post. but i dont think Virgil himself finds himself much different from other musicians....of you read some interviews, when the interviewer asks him how he feels about life, he sounds very happy with himself, almost childishly happy! If someones enyoying life, its Virgil! He has a strong passion and has the oppurtunity to create hes life around that gift. If he wasnt able to make a living out of drums he might had a family.

  • get a clue ass wipe

  • I used to watch him doin van halen covers in crap pubs in melbourne during the early nineties (hans valen)with 'pre' southern sons members, he was amazing back then, applying most of this stuff back then.

  • Amazing! I dont agree that it only sounds good to drummers though. I am a vocalist and trumpeter and i am awestruck by what virgil does. One of the most inspirational musicians i have ever seen play. Absolutely Amazing.

  • lolwtf, im pissing my pants

  • My Favourite Drummer By Far.

    Just Watchn His Steve Vai Astoria Solo Makes My Jaw Drop

  • u the type of person that makes the world wat it is today......EVIL AND FULL OF HATRED.....just shutup :P

  • To me he is the most amazing, inspiring drummer that I have heard.and he keeps getting better and better!

  • He is a mother fucking bad ass. And is still pushing the envelope for progressive beats. You all have no idea what your talking about

  • premier are excellent. been around for decades. since the 50's maybe? not sure, but like all major drum manufacturers, they probably have an 'entry level' line that you'd want to avoid...

  • you all dont know wat real drummin is then check out virgils solo at the steve vai concert at the astoria

  • dude, thats some of the sickest grooves I have ever seen... you have no idea what your talking about

  • mate go listen to him play space martini...or anything he has done, that wasnt a solo....the drums are in a position where they do not have a variety of melody to work with..., this is what all the people cheering paid to see. I paid to see him live for his speed and dexterity and sheer performance not so he could hold a groove, he does that perfectly when playing in a ensemble.

  • HE A METRONOME

  • 3eyedho, danzman2652 and locoindio, I absolutely agree with yous1 His playing is quite boring. There is dynamic and soulful of drum technic anyway.

    I'd rather listen to Pat Torpey, Dave Weckl and Jeff Porcaro!

    Cheers

  • it sounds boring to those who aren't drummers.

    everyone who can actually tell what he's doing is flipping out.

  • i do agree

  • HES A MONSTER

  • BRUTAL!!!!!! DONT THIS WORLD!!!

  • actually was in the 8:39.... what the hell!?

  • lawl, reminded me of cloverfield..

  • 8:37 What the fuck is that ?

  • It seems a kitchen or something like that.

    Weird

  • I've seen truly amazing things out of this guy. This does NOT sound like one of them. Technical or not, it sounds like crap overall!

  • WTF? It sounds like just like it what virgil do....

  • A lot of the snare/ bass drum interplay is nothing short of annoying on this. Every time I hear it, it just sounds like a drum off contestant, who's trying to play off beat to impress his audience, and it isn't working, here. He is AMAZING, but I just don't dig the goings on on this vid. Just my honest opinion.

  • Agree. I don't really dig drum solos that show off technicality. It should only add to a somg and be musical, not a showoff of how fast I got my double bass speed or how much I practice a day.

  • I agree also. Virgil is amazing, but he's definitely more technical than he is musical. I hate that his drumming has little to no dynamics. Everything he plays is prestissimo fff. And it all sounds the same after a while. I'm more into guys like Vinnie Coliuta, Billy Kilson, and Antonio Sanchez.

  • vinnie colaiuta and virgil are definitely my 2 favorite drummers....

  • Dave Weckl never seems to let me down, also. He is capable of anything!

  • you're in the wrong video man..

  • Who does this guy play for?

  • I believe he's usually a clinician drummer, but he's played for some guys like Steve Vai a while back. I think he just plays for who ever he wants.

  • Come on!!! hanvent you heard about virgil and planet x? thhis is real progressive!

  • Planet X

  • he's playing for "PLANET X"

  • a band called "planet x"......seek dude!!

  • he does the weirdest rythems in the wolrd, I dont see where he came up with this shitt, hes incredible but I think hes very lax in musicality and phrasing! Does some really hard stuff though

  • hola alguien me puede ayudar a conseguir las partituras del tema 'Dragon Bones' del album Serious Young Insects de virgil donati,, les agradeceria las necesito urgente

  • i love the way every metalo drumming videos is filled with comments from faming retards. but then why you go to a video of a TRUE great. none of those kids have even found most of these videos.too busy watching joey jordinson play semi fast sinlges with his feet

  • virgil is the best drummer alive today. most drummers dont even understabd alot of what he does.

  • just incredible! and for me he have a lot of soul in his playing , not only technique.

  • C21schizoidman, you're right about Virgil being an incredible experience to see live, I saw him in Austin, Tx at Round Rock Brook Mays Clinic, in 2005; and people let me tell you, he is way beyond what you all are watching now. I was in the front row off to his side and I could see absolutely every move, feet and all. Since that day I've been inspired to do the impossible on drums.

  • Love when he goes across the bar!!!

  • As awesome as this is, his playing/technical ability has increased tenfold since this was taken! Amazing!

  • I like Danny Carey for his emotional playing - Technique can always be persuited, gained and mastered, but emotion is paramount, and almost untamed.

    Carey is the ultimate emotional drummer.

    Virgil is... well, Virgil is everything haha. He is the Icon, the Greatest of drummers, in my opinion.

    I want him in my band haha.

  • I was in the same clinic in Miami Fl. Shit man! amazing!!! I think is better than Bozzio and Chambers

  • Danny Carey.

    Terry Bozzio.

    Virgil Donati.

    Nothing else matters.

    lol

  • Couldn't agree with you more dude..

  • i think the same thing virgil donati terry bozzio danny carey hooray!!!

  • Danny does not belong on that list. I love tool, but Carey is way overrated. Virgil, Mike Mangini, Weckl, Smith, Portnoy, Colaiuta. These guys should be commented on way before Danny Carey.

  • bobby jamborzek

  • bobby jarzombek* my bad. I just heard of this guy he's sick.

  • you missed out a few

    dave weckl

    vinnie colauita

    steev gadd

    dennis chambers

  • NEIL PEART!

  • this is proof that technique is just as important as speed

  • Technique gives you speed. Clean, well executed speed. without it...forget it!

  • yeah ,your right , i think this is gay too

  • And again: don't come to post ridiculous insults on my videos without offering phisical proof that you're better.

    Ps: on your profile it says that you're 23...if so: where is all the experience you claim???????????????

    Post a video of yourself instead of bashing around.

  • If you don't conceed that Virgil is one of the most phenomenal drummers on the planet, you are either really, really ignorant - or you are just hating. Either way it's just annoying.

  • hey mate, give the man some room, will ya? :) afterall he is in a higher state of consciousness.. he can judje what other people listen to, just by looking at their hair.. virgil can't do this, now.. can he? ;) this alien 123 guy must know something that we don't know.. only 23 and he can read other people's hair that easy.. what a genious! :)

  • Hairs Reading...that must be a new gipsy business...

    By the way I've asked "Alien123myass" to upload a video of him...but apparently he doesn't even have a kit nor a camera...duh!

    But afterall I still have hope to see the drum master.

  • holy shit shut the fuck up already. whiney bitch. just watch the video...that's what we all are here for.

  • To alien123io: you keep saying Donati is boring...how about showing some interesting drums personally recorded by you.

  • If u prefer weckl, click on some other link that says "WECKL CRAZY DRUM SOLO" or whoever tickles ur drum buttons..but if u ever get a chance to see Virgil or ne1 of this calibre performing live..do it! Its an amazing experience. Even if just to imagine how much time and excruciating effort has gone into bringing a humans physical and mental discipline to such an enviable level.

    ~ Peace

  • Whether u like it or not this man is undoubtedly skilled and passionate about his art and it definitely shows. None of u can play like that so y be so pedantically critical?

    If u CAN play like this..why r u wasting ur time on youtube perving on drum solos from 8 years ago? Why arent u playing? I wish I could play like that.

  • or i hear people "he is all around drummer, complete"

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    and that metal music for me is all speed.feet .non dynamics...flat musi c....stick trick....nothing new

    same pattern from always....

    and i simply don't like that music.....

    recomend to lesten more and more genres and styles..

    and don't be virgil clone!!!!!!!

  • yeah, i am sure your hair look much better than mine, as with everything else.. and how the hell do you know i am not into jazz music? cause i have long hair? that must be one of the most rediculous things i've ever read! who said about us wanna be virgil clones? don't make assumptions all by your tiny little brain.. we are just trying to set things right, meaning to say the obvious: weather you like it or not, virgil IS an all around drummer..

  • now be careful! not having done everything, doesn't mean they can't do it! those are assumptions made only by you for virgil.. i am just saying that they haven't covered all the genres, which is ABSOLUTELY ok, cause everybody has a style which they are best at.. the only man that can do, and has done, nearly all is vinnie! he is a real phenom..

  • all those (gadd vinie denis bissonete simon weckl jojo....) are studio greats.have recorded 1000s albums each of them and played in any situation session and music genre with 1000 of other musicians and at least are far away in music and drumming experience !!!

    i recognize Virgil only in prog metal stuff with only a few "on fingers" projects and with same sound!!chops overplaying feet....tricks poly moly bla bla!!!!!

  • and what was that?? what the hell has being a studio or a band drummer has to do with evolving??? gadd, weckl, colaiuta, bissonette, chambers, jojo, phillips haven't changed the way they play radically for the past 10-15 years, cause they are studio drummers??? that's great, you really know all about music then! and you think all of the above have covered every music genre?

  • your problem is that you mix your personal taste with what is generally good or not.. so, when someone tells you he likes someone that you don't like, from now on it would be better for you (for not taking all this flaming) to say "he is fine, but not my cup of tea" or something like that.. the fact that you don't like him doesn't make him a bad drummer, does it??

  • EXAMPLE:

    obvious you are not in jazz oriented music nor understand it!!!

    watch at least weckl back to basic and next step vhs back in1990 and 2002 dvd series "evolution" not because the name speaks itself or i am weckl fan!!!

    compare and see how he is moore relaxed ,dynamic ,fluid.......left hand etc.etc...blind will see and person not in music and drumming...a new man,

    sound .......

    also the rest of the crew you mentioned:

  • to say the truth, yes, you are right.. my favorite weckl's job is the one with the trash metal band, and from jojo is the one with the country band.. oh! mr.weckls best must be that rock band of his, and ofcourse steve gadd's best work was recording with spice girls.. oh, i underestand music alright, much better than you, weather it's jazz, rock, pop or whatever it is!

  • "playing the same stuff isn't so bad you know"

    offcourse for sure,but is boring!!!!!!!!

    "and tell me one of the pro's that has actually evolved since 10 years ago"

    now i know that you are not listening those drumers you mentioned!!!!!for sure your hair speaks about your style in music!!!!!!!

  • This guy is dangerous

  • Still waiting for a good reply from "alien123io".

    Where are you man?

  • here is my voice with facts:

    1.just add water - not bad but the tribal tech crew did the job mostly (sctott is da man)!!!!!!!

    2.on the virg - copy paste drumming again(where is the EVOLUTION)

    3 planet x project - "the self called alien band" all 3 albums the same copy paste shredding and the last one Quantum

    with half the same songs plus 2 min syntaxe holdsowth!!!!!!(just for reputation) he sells this album!!!!!!to have something new at least

    Steve vai -----boriiinggg shreding

  • and the minor other artists albums as guest prog metal same style

    copy paste drumming with the same hand foot patterns

    and cymbal crashing stick twirling tricks beat displacement odd times bla bla bla bla!!!!!

  • as i said not very musical mostly mathematical and if you like his prog rock metal style music only and think that music is the end of the world you are dummie for music and evrything related!!!!

    and to compare with buddy and worship as don't know

    you need simply education!!!and music listening in the next 50 years 24 a daay!!!!

    ask Jojo mayer.weckl.vinnie chambers.smith.steve.billy.sim­on.

    bozzio and many greats

  • hey Connieisland0 your diagnose"'

    if those advice don't help man we don't have the cure for you in this universe........sorryy

    ask virgil donati to find in his next quantum universe cd...

    my elaboration is finished

  • I've seen that you spent a couple of days retrieving informations about his discography.

    Good job...what about you practical application?

    As I was askinf for something more real than just words, considering that you claimed you are a man of facts.

  • plus i didnt spent time to discover his albums have already listened all his releases 10=20 times per album!!!!!!!!from every perspective!!!!studied deeply

  • I'd like to hear your playing...as you consider Donati not really instructional...

    How can you take yourself seriously???????

    Pal...as long as you hide yourself behind accusation you remain unkown...

    Are you able to provide such proofs?

    If not because of techical reasons, means that in all this years you and your knowledge weren't able to do anything.

    ...Will I have the honour to see you in action???

  • Plus, I don't compare to Buddy Rich as for music and style they cannot be compared...

    Clearly you sound like an olf geek stuck behind its own beliefs. I still don't get if you are denying Donati's innovations or simply you don't really hear what happen in his composition. You should be definitely respectful that through his achievements you can explore new dimensions of time...

  • Diagnose? About what???

    Him Being Mathematical? Shouldn't all drummers be devoted to Mathematic to obtain time perfection?

  • weckl not mathematician his aproach is more musical and is more precise in time and fluidity not to talk...the best time keeper from always!!!!! he was never bored with numbers 5/4.13/8.7/8

    9/8 ..just perfect timing would come by time with practise natural not buy reading MATH transcriptions!!!the final product enjoing music want to hear melody not to transform my ears in calculator!!!!!

    at least how many people on stage would feel dancing on his(virgil) calculus operation and style!!

  • Strange that you didn't mention the band CAB as they probably fit you preferred music style...

    But eventually who care, you are a mediocre guy with lack in judgement and from where I come from people would call you "Sfigato".

    So...I'm still waiting for some real talent from you.

    Where it is??

  • who is comparing with Buddy .......

    i was frustrated from "drummers" that wosrhip him like you

    just drumming scientiest like you how have listened 3 albums and think heard everything

    Beside that have all CAB albums and he i splaying only on the cab3 and Dennis is fitting in that combination much better than him!!!!!!

    don't need time to explore his poor discography cause all albums and knowledge are in my head!!!!!!!!

    again yor are without facts and proofs

  • you say that there is no evolution in virgil's drumming and that he plays the same all the time.. did you actually stop to think that it's HIS personal style?? and tell me one of the pro's that has actually evolved since 10 years ago, and that he doesn't play the same stuff.. dennis? nope! weckl? nope! gadd? certainly NOT! vinnie? NOPE! phillips? ummm.. nope!

  • playing the same stuff isn't so bad you know, since it's your personal style, and virgil is one of the very few that still does his homework after 40+ years of drumming.. no, if you don't like his style doesn't mean that he is not good you know, being a big boy and having all that vast experience in music you should be able to know the difference by now..

  • You know. I'm just going to put this out there. But, does this make sense to anybody?

    I mean, "all CAB albums and he i splaying"... "he final product enjoing music want to hear melody"...

  • yeah hes a good drummer, he does the traditional. i havnt really heard him play before but i can really tell that hes good. i think Milan has got more of a Jazz style than Virgil as Virgil uses more latin based beats in his music. Im still one of Milan's students at the moment.

  • Your oppinion on Steeve Vai is certainly childish I have nothing else to add to this. I have posted a proffesional oppinion.

  • steve vai sucks. boring bullshit.

  • I saw Virgil live 3 times and he was amaizing all times. If a drummer works on a tour,on an album,on a dvd or simply a single with "Steeve Vai" this means there must be somthing he is doing right!!!! Take your stupid comments and use them in a chat room and leave this space for people who have respect for the musicien. A drummer who can play like this is to be respected and we should learn from his experteeze.

  • hahahahaha i like the shot of your kitched at 838

  • why do people bitch about raw talent ... so what if u think he isnt as good as some one else that your opinion.. keep it to your self u fucking tool

  • What is raw talent? and to whom are you referring to?

  • There is no heart and feel in his drumming

    Booorrriiinnnggg!!!!

    all his solos are "copy paste"

    worse traditional left hand alive!!!

    interesting when first came on drum scene in 90\s and

    some double legs impresions ......sience nothing new