Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing Live (drums by Jouxplan)

Here at last after a long delay (I had flu!) is my attempt at this epic, epic live track by Dire Straits. This is by no means a 'note for note' attempt: that would be horrendous! This is simply my INTERPRETATION of a master-class in drumming by Terry Williams, drummer for Dire Straits on this track taken from their live album 'Alchemy'.

I remember trying to drum along to this when it came out in 1984 - I was 20 and had been playing for 12 years. I always had huge difficulities with those massive fills that Terry Williams stuffs into this track, and I kept coming out halfway through a bar and hopelessly losing time!

Here I am, some 15 years later, and I STILL have the same problems! Those fills are super crazy, and it is very easy to get it wrong! Or is it just me?!

Terry Williams' drumming on this live version of what is probably the most famous Dire Straits song, is frankly, stunning. Not only does he pull off a series of epic blinding enormous fills, he also has a beautiful, delicate, jazz touch to his playing - check out the way he plays the ride cymbal: not straight ahead rock there, he is swinging it! That makes this a very difficult track to cover, 'cos most of us can either do the rock bit, or the delicate swingy bit, but not both, with such aplomb. Terry's drumming throughout this track is awesome, and he is not remotely afraid it seems - he just goes for it and pulls it off every single time. Epic!

For this cover I had to move one of my crashes over to the ride area - need both nearby as you will see! I also got rid of one of the small toms, so you could see a bit more clearly! Oh, and it's my new drum room, and it's Xmas, and so there is a bit of decoration about.......and even my godamn cat again.....!

I have often wondered how they mic'ed up his hi hat on this live album. Basically, it sounds like they did not put a mic on the hat, and that makes the track sound even better! When I play along, the fact you can hear my hats pumping out the 8's is actually a bad thing! (Incidentally, you should hear the hats on 'Once Upon A Time In The West' - they sound amazing, and I think he must be 'linear drumming' or something. Always loved the groove on that live track..)

All the big fills are difficult - the ones where you have to hit the crashes in threes, sometimes three times, sometimes four and sometimes two. Most of 'em are of the '3x' variety, and you can get used to coming out of those ok. However, because you have to mix in a couple of 2x and then near the end, 4x crash, you can all too easily get yourself in a huge pickle. I would never have had the balls to play this live like this!

Very early on in my cover I get a couple of the opening fills on the snare wrong - they are supposed to be playing the same 'guitar part' as Mr Knopfler, but for some reason I am a 16th note adrift, and this really is a pants thing to happen - makes it sound wrong and hence my face pulling!

At 3'19 the 2x crash is followed by a 2x hi hat, another 2x hi hat and then a 3x hi hat! AWESOME FILL! I have not managed to open my hat properly - if you are really confident, you play the hats by opening them a split second after hitting 'em, and then closing 'em up again before repeating. Kind of rolling with your two feet. It's fiendishly difficult!

The one at 4'02 is a 2x crash followed by a 3x hat (try it with the rolling feet thing, unlike me!) and then gently rolling out on the toms - again, beautiful and awkward all at the same time!

At 6'01 I always stress about getting that first rimshot in. I almost drop my stick as I prepare for it, if you look carefully! This nect section is easy to get wrong - you are so puffed out with adrenaline, that getting the crash / bass accents in the right place is not as easy as you might think!

From 6'20 I am always intrigued by the subtle hi hat work going on, as if someone is playing it backstage or something! Sounds wonderful - anyone know how he / they did it?

Obviously the whole outro thing is just one huge piece of epic'ness, with fills all over the place....!!! Very, very easy to get wrong. And you got to play with Knopfler, especially the most famous bit that everyone knows on guitar! Great fun!

Hope you enjoy this. Hope you like the accoustics more than previous room. I need to sort out the lighting though, 'cos this vid is a bit dark and fuzzy, which is a shame.

A Very Happy Christmas to you all, and a Happy New Year! Lots more vids to come!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Dire
• Straits
• Sultans
• Swing
• Terry
• Williams
• Alex
• Warwick
• drums
• drumming

[1969portsmouth]

Nice, Drumming from the heart. love the NRG. sweet grove. cool.

[jouxplan]

@1969portsmouth That is high praise! Thank you!

[vivalasaunders]

Sick DnB at 8:40 :D

[jouxplan]

@vivalasaunders Cheers!

[jirishj]

you have chops but you need to lighten up on the drumming then it would be super good..... great choice in music btw :)

[jouxplan]

@jirishj I never think of myself as having chops, I must admit! I am at the limit of my ability just trying to play the groove, and there is so much energy required in this that by the time I find myself trying to play one of Terry's outrageous fills, I flail around the kit like a madman - you are right :-)

With these Flix sticks, this song is especially physical. I'll be re-doing this vid over Christmas on my Roland and with wooden sticks - I'll try and lighten up!

[forresttmcarthur]

0:56 - 1:06

what is moving outside the window?

[172jonno]

i no nothing about drums but i watch this more than the original!

shit hot mate

[NucleAhero]

very  nice

[nighthawk21]

In this video....dislike button=envy button

[v4howvball]

Great Job, was wondering if you have done Eddie Money - Two Tickets to Paradise? Or if you plan on it, would love to see you play that one..Keep up the good work..Awesome

[FutureLegendDiva]

Great!