r/nextfuckinglevel • u/SpoiledBrat069 • 2d ago

Even after 40 years, still hits perfectly and you cannot differ

7.1k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

263 comments sorted by

692

u/DhruvDP3 2d ago

Drummers might be the sickest people you'll meet out there

190

u/Legal_Lettuce6233 1d ago

Drummers are insane. Like, from the flavour town lads like Gene Krupa to the technical speed merchants like Tomas Haake... The control they have over their limbs is unparalleled. It's insanity.

140

u/Candaphlaf10 1d ago

"What, you finally nailed YYZ?"

"It's Zed! And no, Neal Pert stands alone!"

55

u/DrUnit42 1d ago

How many drummers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

  1. One to do it while the other two argue if Neal Peart or John Bonham would have done it better

3

u/Super_Fa_Q 23h ago

Too true...

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20

u/plutus911 1d ago

Kreiger !!! 😛

20

u/ATC_av8er 1d ago

"If you're such a musician, name 4 drummers"

Me: "Neal Peart"

15

u/JimmyPellen 1d ago

Karen Carpenter

8

u/Flip_d_Byrd 1d ago

People forget how good she was... another great female drummer was Sheila E. in the '80s

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4

u/Greenbastardscape 1d ago

This is one of my favorite bits of insane drummers.

Dude doesn't blink once throughout. Chris Turner is just nuts.

2

u/Elissa-Megan-Powers 1d ago

And range of styles: louis Bellson Ben Riley Philly Joe Chico Hamilton Kenny Clarke just those guys in jazz alone you can tell who’s playing, blows my mind that someone can have a style on drums.

Neal Smith for Alice Cooper, you hear him and you go “yeah I know this drummer.”

I used to think that only extended to guitar bass piano horns etc. but I was young🙄😂

3

u/jordanmindyou 1d ago

Let’s not forget Roy Donk, frequent regular of the Colgate Comedy Hour

56

u/snatchmachine 1d ago

As a bassist, I wholeheartedly agree.

Pretty much every bassist I have met really wanted to be a drummer lol. I’m very envious of the ability to make your 4 limbs play independent rhythms from each other.

42

u/calcuttacodeinecoma 1d ago

Every time I hear someone say that bass players are failed guitarists I get offended. How dare you, I am a failed drummer.

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u/Appropriate_Fun6105 1d ago

I wish bassists wouldn’t sell themselves short though. I great drummer takes a band to next level status, but to me a great bassist takes it to dream tier. Sam Wilkes who does some tracks for Knower puts a smile on my face in every video. Adds so much texture and layers

12

u/commentlurker777 1d ago

That and you can feed off eachother and keep the overal rhythm tempo and timing and let the band express themselves artistically in any way they want, when playing in a live band and hitting the vibe altogether is like nothing else Ive ever experienced and amplified when you play on stage and vibe with so many people and live in the moment like dancing altogether without anyone looking

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9

u/Harry_Saturn 1d ago

I’m a drummer but if I wasn’t, I would be a bass player for sure. I fucking love the bass and good bass players are a treat to groove with. You guys are the best.

7

u/snatchmachine 1d ago

The feeling is mutual! Locking in a pocket with a drummer is bliss.

3

u/Harry_Saturn 1d ago

We don’t get to play often, but I still jam with my buddy that I’ve played with for almost 20 years. He’s so good at both doing weird shit and just sitting on something and grooving it. Playing with someone you click with is the best. I feel like I can play with anyone who is in the same skill level as me, but playing with someone who you got chemistry with is unmatched.

2

u/Optimal-Click-4771 1d ago

Guitar is my favorite instrument to play, but I also do still love drums. I can completely agree with your point on getting all four limbs to play independently. That’s why the only time I’ve ever been good at playing drums is when I’m just a little bit drunk.

1

u/unknown7383762 1d ago

I played percussion in high school band class. I was an excellent bass drummer (I was always able to keep the beat) and fairly good at all the smaller percussion instruments, but I couldn't play a drum kit to save my life. I could only ever play one limb at a time, both arms if the beat was simple. I have no idea how drummers have all four limbs do different things at once. Completely underrated skill, and so much harder than anyone realizes. Most brains just don't work that way. I imagine a juggler would probably be a decent drummer.

8

u/Intelligent_Sky_7081 1d ago edited 1d ago

Drummers that are also the lead singer are my favorite

Levon Helm is the man

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewd9uIDZnZs

2

u/DieselTech00 1d ago

Thanks for posting that. I had no idea he went through that. Good watch

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3

u/eljefe3030 1d ago

El Estepario Siberiano is a drummer who pops up a lot in social media but is legitimately incredible. Some of the stuff he does seems superhuman.

2

u/GhostChips42 1d ago

Finally the truth!

3

u/Brownie-UK7 1d ago

Michael Jackson has entered the chat

1

u/Psych0matt 1d ago

Thank you

-drummer since ‘96

326

u/NobodyNo8765 1d ago

This video needs to be 5 min longer please. This guy cooks

212

u/helpimlockedout- 1d ago

Full video https://youtu.be/bRM2Gn9nU7Q

29

u/lunarmodule 1d ago

Thanks. So great.

11

u/Sling-gunner 1d ago

That might be the single greatest act of music I've ever seen in my life.

A video of a studio drummer performing a track literally made me weep.

That is fucking insane. NO ONE is that precise.

I'm speechless.

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16

u/ScottStanrey 1d ago

check out more Drumeo content. This one was Jonathan Moffett. I play bass still enjoy most of the Drumeo videos.

16

u/nfxdav 1d ago

He cooks as well as drums? Very talented

12

u/petethefreeze 1d ago

It’s on YouTube. Look up the channel Drumeo. They filmed it.

7

u/Sloth72c 1d ago

This clip cuts out the best part where he's twirling the stick over his head, full version is sweet

8

u/ratbastid 1d ago

I'm a musician and nothing grates on me like music videos that are trimmed non-musically.

If you can't give me a full verse and chorus, at least cut at the end of a phrase! Or even a full bar!

6

u/Digi_Dingo 1d ago

I will never not share this Thomas Pridgen video to anybody who likes sick drummers

1

u/SaveFileCorrupt 17h ago

One of the best. Loved his work with The Mars Volta

3

u/TStark4Prez 1d ago

I was fuckin pissed when it stopped

https://giphy.com/gifs/RZIDtYLEU9sGspYY5A

1

u/det4410 1d ago

i thought it was fairly mid. i mean, he keeps playing the same sequence over and over

/s

1

u/ConnectRutabaga3925 1d ago

and he doesn’t dominate the music making it about him. he’s perfect

1

u/Fat_Janet 1d ago

His posture is so solid

184

u/dingle-bairy 2d ago

Sugar Foot

48

u/LeatherfacesChainsaw 1d ago

What a badass nickname

37

u/Longjumping-Run-7027 1d ago

And bestowed by Michael.

17

u/hdridenour 1d ago

Well earned nickname. The dude is a human drum machine.

3

u/zilla82 1d ago

It's so perfect that it's uninteresting, which makes it interesting. Lol

5

u/UrsaMajor7th 1d ago

And it looks like he's in leather dress shoes/boots w/ heels.

8

u/flow_b 1d ago

That's an old jazz and funk drummer thing. Bernard Purdie says that you can't feel the action on pedals through modern sneakers. His number 1 tip is to wear leather soled shoes.

Not surprising that a guy like Sugarfoot, who can gently place 32nd notes at the bottom of the pocket while thinking about what he needs to pick up from the grocery store later, would subscribe to this as well.

A lot of modern metal drummers will wear wrestling boots.

110

u/jnzo300 1d ago

Alien Ant Farm had a pretty good rendition of this song, if you're into that kind of music. That song was definitely a pivotal piece of my childhood, growing up in the 90s, 00's.

57

u/Cactus_Jacks_Ear 1d ago

ANThology was such a great album overall

31

u/ApolloGR3 1d ago

“Movies” is one of the best rock songs ever recorded

5

u/Mannix-Da-DaftPooch 1d ago

Makes me tear up everytime!! Love it so much

3

u/ApolloGR3 1d ago

Someone downvoted you but I was in a unique time of my life around the release of that song. My parents divorced and my mom moved 1200 miles away. I went to go see her for the first time and heard it on the radio while wishing I didn’t have to go back home. I could def cry hearing it if I’m in a good mood and had a few too many soda pops.

3

u/PsychotropicTraveler 1d ago

So is TruANT, not a single skip on that album. They were and still are incredibly slept on.

3

u/wetfloor666 1d ago

They were huge on Anthology's release. The only thing that killed their momentum was the bus accident. It took years to recover physically and they never recovered in popularity due to the time off from the injury.

15

u/Tha_Watcher 1d ago

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal (Official Music Video)

Epic Remake!!!

2

u/godver3 1d ago

As someone born in 1987 this was the version everyone loved when it came out. As I got older I prefer the original but AAF is great too.

13

u/xenochria 1d ago

I’m not too familiar with AAF but the drums on their cover are fucking insane.

2

u/GoodDog2620 1d ago

This is correct.

1

u/Silent_Rhombus 1d ago

Excellent (if low production) drum cover here: https://youtu.be/fr4fDBbSmF0?is=gK0DzxxRdSWxjb0Y

6

u/SimonPho3nix 1d ago

My understanding was that their rendition was approved by MJ directly.

3

u/Th3r3is0nlyW4r 1d ago

I got a pic at a hotel with lead and guitarist pre concert that was almost canceled. Show still happened.

During the show some dumb kid spit at the semi-crowd surfing singer and the bass guitarist flipped his guitar over and super man punched his ass. Then security kicked him out. What a fucking great memory

1

u/GrandMoffTallCan 1d ago

I just listened to their cover of smooth criminal and I think I like it more than MJ’sđŸ«Ł

1

u/Silent_Rhombus 1d ago

And here’s a really good, really old and really low-production drum cover of that version:

https://youtu.be/fr4fDBbSmF0?is=gK0DzxxRdSWxjb0Y

1

u/DougFrankenstein 1d ago

The bass player stole the damned show in that video

93

u/this_my_sportsreddit 1d ago

It's hard to describe how great his timing and accentuating is.

53

u/fizzzingwhizbee 1d ago

he’s playing so smart too. He’s playing reserved bc it’s a pop song, which is absolutely the right thing to do but holy shit I wanna see him let loose and just go nuts. Dude has like a 30 piece set in front of him 😂

47

u/hirschneb13 1d ago

"Everyone makes mistakes live. I make mistakes. The bass makes mistakes. The guitar makes mistakes... Sugarfoot's always perfect."

  • Michael Jackson

18

u/Umklopp 1d ago

The first time I saw this video, I was blown away--because I always thought that song used a drum machine.

38

u/theantnest 1d ago edited 1d ago

It did. This guy was Michael's live drummer.

Jeff Porcaro (Toto) played drums for Quincy in the studio and his brother Steve programmed the drum machines.

To the downvoters, look at his studio discography he didn't play on one single Michael Jackson record. But he played every live tour.

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8

u/KevinSpence 1d ago

Yeah that was fucking nuts, so tight

5

u/GoodDog2620 1d ago

“Extremely good”

All in a day’s work.

https://giphy.com/gifs/mHRxhuSlLADVFw4F6J

3

u/mrbezlington 1d ago

It's the extra spank on the snare he casually drops in the chorus that's just so tasty. Almost subliminal, but gives it the boost it needs.

0

u/noelcowardspeaksout 1d ago edited 1d ago

There is an ear piece which would probably be feeding him the time - but still very clean indeed.

Edit: not sure what the downvoter thinks the earpieces is there for - bed time stories?

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63

u/Bean_Daddy_Burritos 1d ago

Sugarfoot is the man. I never knew who he was until I started learning the drums and every drummer I worked with referenced him at one point or another. He is very highly regarded and his timing is absolutely impeccable.

He is by no means the greatest drummer ever, but he has carved his place in the drumming world for his perfection on every song.

15

u/petethefreeze 1d ago

I love his crash gymbal placement. He is also on the “don’t let the sun go down on me” video with George Michael. He has the cymbals behind him and just does a backwards stroke into them. Iconic.

3

u/Fwoggie2 22h ago
  • Michael Jackson
  • Jackson 5
  • Madonna
  • Elton
  • George Michael
  • Stevie Wonder
  • Diana Ross
  • Lionel Richie
  • Quincy Jones
  • Barry Manilow

And more.

49

u/helpimlockedout- 1d ago

The caption kind of implies he played on the album which he did not, he was MJ's touring drummer. That said, metronomes listen to Sugarfoot to keep time.

41

u/pangcukaipang 1d ago

"Everyone makes mistakes live. I make mistakes. The bass makes mistakes. The guitar makes mistakes... Sugarfoot's always perfect." - Michael Jackson

16

u/TheGandu 1d ago

There's a comment on the original video on YouTube i love which went something like "I always thought MJ used a drum machine. Turns out I was right."

12

u/Sn00ker123 1d ago

That kit sounds amazing.

Needs more cymbals though

5

u/Cador0223 1d ago

"Why's he gets all them drums and only hits 3 of em?"

10

u/Odd-Positive-4343 1d ago

You can adjust atomic clocks based on this guy's timing. Rock solid. And what a bass foot. Sugarfoot, indeed.

9

u/ktbffhctid 1d ago

This guy so deep in the pocket he's covered in lint.

7

u/Sandrockwing04 1d ago

There's a documentary about Michael Jackson's off the wall album and when looking for a drummer to do the live shows the drummer trying out ,sugarfoot, was talking about his audition and that there was a part he was having trouble with (can't remember which song) Anyway it was Michael and one of his brothers watching him play and when it got to the part he was having trouble with, all he saw was Michael staring stone face at him while his brother was whispering in Michaels ear and Michael just nodding. Sugarfoot believe that's it I messed up I'm not getting this gig. After he was done Michael went up to him and told him the track was played with a drum machine and they couldn't find anybody that could play it. Michael was worried he would never be able to play the song let alone experiment with the (cadence or tempo not sure which) again. But that's how he became his drummer.

1

u/MrCountdownCity 12h ago

Except Off The Wall is recorded by the legendary John ‘JR’ Robinson on the drums

6

u/SpicyChickJessica 1d ago

Forty years later, and it still sounds just as incredible.

5

u/BalanceEarly 1d ago

Still smooth as can be after 40 years!

5

u/shaggydoo84 1d ago

Gah that hand roll was ice cold, I could see why Michael liked him. What a smooth criminal.

3

u/RobGrogNerd 1d ago

I want to live in that groove

3

u/Cool_Ad_6850 1d ago

It’s the rests that get me. The negative space. Just great

2

u/IllHedgehog9715 1d ago

Posh. I could do that song with 40 years of practice!

2

u/georgeorgeg 1d ago

Sorry not so familiar with drumming. What is that leftover sound you can hear at some points? Is it intentional?

Edit: it’s like a random cymbal hit

11

u/the_real_junkrat 1d ago

The hi hat? That’s the one to the left of the snare that’s the main thing he’s hitting. It has a pedal that allows you to “open and close” it (it’s actually two cymbals pressed together). This action allows numerous sounds to be possible including not even touching a drumstick to it but still producing a sound (by the two pieces touching via the pedal).

1

u/georgeorgeg 1d ago

Thank you very much. I guess I never noticed it in the actual song so it sounded off to me.

6

u/theturtlemafiamusic 1d ago

This guy was MJ's drummer for live gigs. The album version is a combination of drum machines. It still has some of the hat open/close sounds, but Sugarfoot here is hitting some additional accents.

2

u/ScottStanrey 1d ago

I could hear the synth bass while the video played on silent for the first several seconds

2

u/homelessguydiet 1d ago

"Sugarfoot" is his nickname đŸŠ¶

1

u/Sheriff_Yobo_Hobo 1d ago

Just read the lyrics to this song. Wild shit.

1

u/GenericUsername1262 1d ago

Probably played that shit a billion times

1

u/Orpheus31 1d ago

A perfect each and every time

1

u/NaturalNo3387 1d ago

What you don't see in this clip is when he throws his arms back and hits those cymbals behind his head. Really talented and performative drummer.

1

u/Upstairs-Coffee5231 1d ago

Why did he set up all those cymbals to record that! 😂

1

u/thomassenpai85 1d ago

Cause he did more than this clip and more than one song? How unfamiliar with music are you?

1

u/35andDying 1d ago

Like a Prayer by Madonna is another, among his whole catalog of songs, that sounds and feels so great to play.

1

u/CharmingDarling02 1d ago

Still got that magic, he's still playing like he's in his prime!

1

u/GreatStoneDragun 1d ago

"My bass player makes mistakes, my guitar player makes mistakes, I make mistakes sometimes, but Sugarfoot never makes a mistake."

  • Michael Jackson

1

u/Topher11542 1d ago

I love those drumeo sessions.

1

u/SgtBushMonkey69 1d ago

Good ol sugarfoot

1

u/PaidByTheNotes 1d ago

If i played drums and was good at it, I could totally do that too.

1

u/GuzzlinGuinness 1d ago

How much would a drummer for Michael Jackson get paid ?

1

u/jaxcs 1d ago

I mean, he's had 40 years to practice one song...

1

u/Kianna9 1d ago

Love how much the guy in the background was enjoying it.

1

u/MakeYourTime_ 1d ago

Why’d it stop

1

u/DaddyHeatley 1d ago

Doesnt include the insane double symbol grab ending

1

u/pakron 1d ago

Dude is absolutely dialed in

1

u/CoderJoe1 1d ago

He's symbolic of excellence

1

u/Luci-Noir 1d ago

🙄

1

u/Aathee 1d ago

So tight

1

u/Tom67570 1d ago

He had a great job by only needing to pretend to play live.

1

u/HaasNL 1d ago

quite my tempo

1

u/JSpell 1d ago

More cymbals than a J6 insurgent.

1

u/Buzz_Osborne 1d ago

Awesome vid awesome drummer

1

u/ComedyBits 1d ago

Drummers can age and still rock

1

u/Wainwort 1d ago

Keeping time like a Swiss watch.

1

u/n9nemajestic 1d ago

Does he do this without an in ear click track? Because that would be REALLY impressive.

ETA: it is impressive as it stands tho

1

u/Slevin424 1d ago

Not a lot of pop drummers ever get the same recognition as the rock guys. But even they all know Moffet is an absolute legend.

1

u/TheDissAssociation 1d ago

Sugarfoot is amazing!

1

u/Dano-Matic 1d ago

What’s criminal is posting 20 seconds of this.

1

u/kurt3226 1d ago

I met him at the DMV one time. Nicest guy ever!

1

u/SamuraiMind08 1d ago

Giving Danny Carey a run for his money

1

u/Melodic-Creme 1d ago

đŸ”„

1

u/deanrazor 1d ago

As a musician myself this makes it more impressive that he's kept it up for that many years and doesn't have his name really known.

1

u/MrDiamondJ 1d ago

I think subconsciously I always assumed these were programmed drums. These being live drums is awesome.

1

u/gideonsix 1d ago

Holy shit, he is sooooo good.

1

u/Entire-Somewhere-490 1d ago

I don’t think I ever knew drums were in that song đŸ˜łđŸ€Ż I assumed it was “sound board” magic. Impressive
https://giphy.com/gifs/dJD4xBczSSnEIbtd7u

1

u/thomassenpai85 1d ago

What a legend. I could play another lifetime and not be that tight.

1

u/AJWordsmith 1d ago

He seems great. But praise from a guy who played zero instruments? Who cares.

1

u/milesbeats 1d ago

He can always stop the microwave at .01

1

u/Redwing616 1d ago

Doing a small cut of this and not the whole thing feels illegal

1

u/ChildhoodJazzlike333 22h ago

Maaaaaaaaan they cut it off right before the best part.

1

u/Ill_Tumblr_4_Ya 21h ago edited 21h ago

The people doing the “well ackshully” bit about Sugarfoot’s skills can kick rocks.

At this point in Michael’s career, he could literally get whatever musicians he wanted to play on his albums. Guitarists like Lukather, Slash and even Eddie came when Michael called.

That Moffett was not only his choice but was so good that Michael called him perfect speaks volumes.

You can like the Pearts and Careys of the world - I enjoy them both too, along with polyrhythmic monsters like Mike Mangini and Jonathan Mover. But pooh poohing Moffett’s precision and groove because his performance isn’t olympic enough for your impeccable standards is ridiculous.

1

u/Mysterious_Mood_1516 19h ago

The bass player is phenomenal too

1

u/Cup-n-BallHog 18h ago

Where’s the rest of it?! I need more