Battles Drummer John Stanier Speaks: 9/1/08

[nofx84]

This interview is awful, I'd be embarrassed to even upload it. Hell, I feel embarrassed watching it.

[DanielGrozier]

@nofx84 i feel embarrssed that your tag is nofx84,take you some time to think that one up?

[nofx84]

@DanielGrozier Good one. Such an intelligent and witty response, I'd expect nothing less from an impeccable interviewer like yourself.

[Druffmaul]

One of the all time great drummers, no doubt. But I do question his taste in snare tones.

[DanielGrozier]

@Druffmaul mY FavOurite Drummerrr no dd dd ddoubt,but his snare is off?grow a brain fuckwitt tt tt,questt ttion,do you stutter/live at your mums/fuck your hand/hate your life/pretend to be a p p percussionist?

[IronSaucer]

GAH they played with les savy fav...i wish i had been there

[thebrade]

Why do music interviews have to be so awkward?

Answer: the interviewer doesn't come prepared. Those questions were so... basic. Plus he didn't get the "no one asks me about the high cymbal" joke. Man...

Ask him about cooler stuff, like his favorite beer, or his favorite concert that he went to growing up and how that impacted him. But whatever the case, just COME PREPARED.

[DanielGrozier]

@thebrade you'd just love to snuggle up to hids fore-skin wouldn't you cause you know what to say.Hold me

[joecritch]

He made him sweat by geeking too hard.

J

[wileypeter]

The first little clip sounds like the ending part of TRAS.

[ZiR23]

whats the first song shown?! i'm GOING CRAZY TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT! OSIDHFOISH GP(ret9otue ro aaghghghghghh

[witzerdog]

Loved this guy growing up. I still play "Meantime" when I am setting up.

[AlecBFlores]

he's talented ,yet very humble and he has a very pleasing personality :))

[iwazused]

admit it....... you have drum love for him...

[farbercasteel]

He has this cymbal hung that high ´cause he´s a great fan of LÄRM and their drummer olav also has his one crash cymbal hung up high. So...

[mindcorrecting]

i met him at a bar in Nyc where he was suppose to Dj at, i was soo curious as to what would he spin specially cuz he's a big influence on my drumming it turned out that there were technical difficulties and he did dj. i saw him at the bar and had an awesome conversations w/ him about HELMET he gave me drink tix and i told him how he's drumming is so amazing that a DJ sample his stuff and made beats w/ it, i let him listen to it outside and he was like WOW! people like me! humble guy and tall.

[19TOFY58]

ex-helmet one of the best drummers in my opinion, i think his style of playing matches with the great Mike Clark of headhunters but heavier, solid consistent beat patterns & amazing syncopation the works

[MDR5288]

Can't believe that he's 42 he plays like he is still in his 20's, beast.

[idektron]

sitting that low & having that cymbal so high can't be good for your back muscles..

[AKMaiky]

What's the song 2:57?

[sadunkal]

hahhahaha

[Floskeknosk]

My lifelong drumming mentor! Stanier is the best. No doubt 'bout that!

[matiasterzo]

@Floskeknosk I agree man, I agree...

[Jd4eva626]

i could imagine if he played with a larger kit and more cymbols o_O

[BrandtCooley]

He looks like Christopher McDonald

[AGiantSquidy]

"I have, I have love... for you."

"Oh cool."

Hahahhaa

[MrMichaelSchwark]

Though being a die-hard Helmet fan since I was 13 years old I still don't get this Stanier hysteria out there. I don't mean this in a negative way, he's been my idol too, having a Helmet poster hanging on top of my kit in my fathers garage some 15 years ago. But in the end...if more drummers would dare to leave this four fourth pattern boundaries behind, we would have a few more Staniers out there and a bit less boring music :-). Honestly...I appreciate this man a lot, just my thoughts.

[ryanke07]

@MrMichaelSchwark

I don't think it's about the time signatures necessarily. He's got a style that's just really fun to watch and get into. Plus he keeps time like a metronome, something young drummers anxious to show off their odd time signature navigating ability forget to work on.

[MrMichaelSchwark]

yeah, of course, this is my opinion, too. should have included that in my statement somehow. i am not a native English speaker, sorry.

[Colenelly]

If you listen to Battles you'd know he is a much more skilled drummer than he shows in Helmet.

[MrMichaelSchwark]

I do, in fact. And nope, I don't think so. He's gifted anyways. I don't see a technical reason to tell his work in Battles from the one in Helmet. But i also do not see a reason to argue on that :-).

[Colenelly]

@MrMichaelSchwark He just plays really stripped down polyrhythms, like one song (Tras) is in an accented 9/8 all the way through, while, although easy to play, a pain to keep going to... 6 minutes.

[Joshro85]

I have so much respect for Sir Stanier. He's humble and underrated. I can tell he doesn't much like interviewing with close minded "interviewers". LEAVE HIM ALONE!!

[420jaymac]

@Joshro85 stalker much

[rollo131]

Does Battles have an album out? I'd be inclined to give it a listen

[gnarly6154]

yes! download it, it is amazing!

[vortexsurfe]

or buy it?!

[gnarly6154]

@vortexsurfe

yes buy it!

[AlteZakhen]

my favorite drummer !

(maybe after bonham)

[bassmassiv]

I really love the fact that a humble and shy guy plays such drums.

Nowadays in the music business there is the mindset to do "happenings" and "big shows" Music becomes irrelevant to most parts of the record industry.

No chance for Helmet these days. Battles would be the same. I love both bands very much but I assume they wouldn´t be able to put out records if they haven´t earned their credits in a different media environment.

The same goes for Notwist or Radiohead starting from Kid A, etc.

[retroremo]

what is the first song that the band is playing thanks

[GamerConor]

its Tras

[YoPappee]

Single most influential drummer for my playing. I love John Stanier. And I never thought I'd say this...but live, I prefer Battles to any Stanier/Hamilton/Bogdan Helmet show I ever saw. Fuckin' crazy, but true.

[whatthehellbrosef]

my theory on the towering lone cymbal is that it was a jab at Damon Che (Don Caballero drummer) and his snare drum that almost sits on the floor.

[Shalomp]

that's cos he lets his drumming do the talking and everyone just shuts up and listens.

[ThrashGuru666]

Thanks for that, never heard him speak before. Real rarity. Seems like a decent guy. Not to mention drumgod.

[hawk65]

Battles are great, but the original helmet

the best.

[041364c]

Time is running out John, Henry, Page.......

[nomadlebowski]

As great as the Bogdan/Stainier/Hamilton lineup was, I can't see why John would be at all interested given his current gig. Henry Bogdan apparently doesn't like that kind of music anymore (just a rumour, mind). The last Helmet album was pretty poor, in my humble opinion.

[041364c]

Yes, well said nomad. Alas, harsh reality sets in. It was a different time with different energies(early to mid-90's). It would be nice if we could tilt the time-space continuim back in that direction though.

[nomadlebowski]

Truth acknowledged on all fronts! You know, I might be getting old, but things just don't rock the way they used to....like, for example, Reading Festival 1993: Primus, Bad Brains, Stone Temple Pilots, Butthole Surfers, Soundgarden, Ozric Tentacles, Fishbone and a little known Tool opening the whole festival!!! Can't remember seeing something as good on paper since. The mid-nineties was a real zenith I agree (and I'm ready to push the continuum, grab the edges mate! :OD).

[Cataclysm31]

I just think good bands are becoming harder to find. Not because there are less, but because the media has shifted.

An even narrower range of bands get airplay/video-play or whatever than ever before... but the internet is good i guess... still... it lessens the chance of such good international alternative music fests happening. I can certainly relate to that.

[Drummersleven]

Yup, Drummers changed...

Some good bands you name,

Remember Fyfe Ewing Of Therapy?

He was also an amazing drummer very unique!

[MrMichaelSchwark]

Well, though Strap It On was my first Helmet, I loved them all up to the and including the last one, Aftertaste. Aftertaste features a bunch of cool songs, my fav is Crisis King (not sure whether this is the exact title, but...)...

[mirak63]

"I love you, but that's drum love, it's not like porn"

nice one

anyway who is John favorite drummer ???

[mlgordon75]

I asked him after a show on the "Aftertaste" tour. Neil Peart, he said. Natch.

[dutchpunx]

man, this man is a fuckin underrated legend!!

[willarveschoug]

AWESOME

[250glebeptrd]

Great interview , but way too short.

John Stanier is GODHEAD...an absolute legend!