Liberty Devitto PREVIEW - behindthenotes.com

[MFGood2000]

inspirational

[bparker3872]

Billy would have made it without Lib, but not the same way. There is no way another drummer would have had the same influence on the ultimate sound of his music.

[MrBigSmoothie]

you came to my school today with ted nugents gutarist and some other famous people thanks your awesome and i think your jewish idk!

[TheCoon71]

Brilliant.

[jdrum12]

Liberty - If you read this, please know that when I recently took my 9 yr old to a Billy Joel concert at MSG, he IMMEDIATELY heard the major difference in the drumming and said to me he didn't like the different drummer that was playing. He said it sounded slower and not as good. Even a nine year old could hear the obvious difference in the music. Chuck just plays what is necessary and doesn't break a sweat. Hope to see you in the band again someday! I'll take my son to a REAL rock N roll show!

[agilblom]

The man that turned me into a musician fifteen years ago, thanks Lib.

[MegaObserver1]

When they were together, Lib always sang along while playing drums on stage. Billy Joel said this helped at times when Billy forgot the words - he could always look over to Liberty and he'd prompt him. But Billy said that one time Lib payed a trick on him. When they were doing Just The Way You Are live, he looked at Liberty and Liberty sang "She got the house, she got the car". Cracked Billy up!

[mindawgybr]

I had the pleasure of recording this guy the other day. amazing drummer and amazing style and feel to his playing. truly talented

[scottdevito1]

WATCHING THIS MAKES ME WANT TO BUY DRUMS. LIKE GOING TO A CONCERT MAKES ME WANT TO GO HOME AND WRITE SONGS AND PLAY GUITAR.

[qqwlyd]

i met him in a percussion camp 3 weeks ago. hes really nice!

[bsew64]

billy Joel wouldn't of made it with out liberty Period!

[steve51704000]

@bsew64 - OK, Lib is a really good drummer and he made contributions to Billy's music, but to say Billy wouldn't have made it without him is a stretch. Billy is still making it now, and he has been using other drummers. Granted, Liberty has a hard-hitting New York groove like none other.

[GimmeKitty]

I'd love to meet him. He seems real. The full meal, real deal to me.

[GimmeKitty]

Billy Joel's songs were enhanced by this guy!

[fess04]

love it . Liberty=Groove nuff said

[luvzpalin1]

interesting

[TonyBtheEG]

Thanks for sharing.

[gwonyahoreya]

I can recall the Turnstiles show (?74 or 75) at Massey Hall/Toronto - total respect for Liberty ever since. Amazing performance by him that night.

[robertnobody]

Legendary drummer that helped make Billy Joel's music the success that it became.

It is unbelievable that Billy Joel would fire him and replace him with a Broadway show drummer.

I hope they can resolve their differences and work together again sometime soon.

[sgtpepper1138]

@robertnobody no doubt, I saw Billy in Nov. of 07. AMAZING show (plus I won the tickets off the radio) and his new drummer is a fine drummer........but c'mon, it's not the hard hitting Liberty. he's a monster on the drums.

I think i'll do a drum cover of Angry Young Man tomorrow (if I get around to it)

[charliejazz64]

I've Loved These Days- thats soft no?

[EzrinJem2]

Dude, he's a hack no matter who he plays with! He couldn't play softly if his life depended on it.

[paradidd]

Dude He;s not a hack..Come on, playing soft ain't his thing...I can play soft, I can play Jazz, big deal, I still dig the guys spirit and feel....That's all that matters in the end...Plus he's a very cool guy...

[drummer78]

Damn good drummer he is. Great feel.

[jofujenkins]

i REALLY like this guy's philosophy toward playing for the song and playing within the band. there are many, many kids today who are fixated upon playing blazing double bass drum phrases and could learn VOLUMES from mr. Devitto.

[musicalmemories]

Liberty is a show within a show. I hope oneday that he will play with Billy again!

[darrenbarkman]

Liberty's the reason I got started playing drums when I was eleven. I saw Billy's "Live from Long Island" special on HBO, supporting "Nylon Curtain". When Liberty did the flam on the bottom tom during "...Italian Retaurant" - right before the Brenda and Eddie section - I think he busts the head. He hits it, then quickly looks down at the drum. Just his style and intensity have always inspired me. So good to see this up here!

[bookitty914]

i love liberty,and miss him so much....

[HollywoodWags]

Always loved his time, it is surprisingly smooth for how hard he hits.

[jpcohen1978]

Billy shouldn't have gotten rid of Liberty!!

[Trommestikken88]

what's the name of the track at 2:58 where he explanes the shuffle??

[onionsandsuch]

big man on mulberry street, the bridge, '86

[deanwest2000]

Big Man on Mulberry Street.

[TheTechHead]

nope...prelude/angry young man :-)

[iamjezuzchrist]

Ive always wanted to be Liberty!!! God I love this man (pause)

[carterito]

drums are music, u don't need a band 2 make music u stupid old man!

[paradidd]

You tell him! Ya little prick!!

[drummer78]

He's kind of not saying that. Soloing and playing various rhythms is music but drums are really at their best when they support other instruments.

[sgtpepper1138]

stupid old man??

he's been on basically all of Billy Joel's hits (minus some songs on River of Dreams) he knows his shit, and has been playing obviously a lot longer then you (if you play at all)

[carterito]

i kinda hate this guy..

[grudy123456]

why isnt he with billy anymore what happened

[rafalweb]

He made some comments about the age difference between BJ and his YOUNG wife....also demanded tour cash up front, in 2006, I think, so BJ fired him. Too bad.

[sgtpepper1138]

well shit, his "now ex" wife is younger then me, and I'm only 29.

[AndysMagic1959]

This video should be on the required watching list of EVERY drummer. The stuff about playing the song etc is SO, SO important!

[EzrinJem2]

Has this guy gotten ANY work since Billy kicked him out of the band??!!

[elki49]

Yes he has, he does college tours and speacks with young percussion students.

[EzrinJem2]

Wow! College tours!  Impressive!

[sgtpepper1138]

yeah, imagine that

helping/inspiring others, what a concept!

just because he's not with Billy anymore and doesn't do mega tours doesn't mean what he's doing is any less important, he's recorded many important songs (to me and many others)

[mickeymarquez]

The First two frases of this video totally chamge my life as a Musician (i mean it), some day i will write him in his myspace profile and give him the thanks.

[MyKindOfBlueEyes]

AMAZING! I also wish Billy still had him with us.

[ebyard]

AWESOME

Lib is one of my biggest inspirations in drumming, only wish I was in New York so I could see him play for real!

[bjoelfan98]

Great drummer! Wish he was still with Billy.