Again, with no context? Come on guys, this old argument is always just so one sided. Where's the pespective from the other side of the coin? Where's the room for a musical context outside of a top 40 cover band? The vast majority of my paid drumming life has been spent laying down a 4/4. No question, it's vital and you have to be able to do it. But while we're preaching it from the mountain tops, why not add the persepective that the musical context is everything? It dictates, not some preconcieved mandate on a drum forum.
Imagine Danny Carey thinking his musical ideas for Tool were out of line and he was to only play 2 and 4. Bonham's creativity would have been completely stifled if he genuinely thought that was all a drummer was ever allowed to play. We'd have no Gadd, no Vinnie, no Purdie, no Cobham. no Paice, no Cozy Powell. Moonie would never have worked in the first place.....he'd have been destined to a life of flipping burgers. Not to mention the jazz greats.....how would they have gone just pushing a 4/4/ groove? Think of everything we would have lost if absolutely everyone thought the same way.
I'm all for simplicity, really I am. But I get tired of seeing these same old madates get pushed without fear nor favour of any musical context whatsoever. Every time this gets raised, it does so with absolutely no balance whatsoever. What applies in one situation, doesn't necessarily apply in another.....yet we never mention that. It is simply ignored in favour of a "one size fits all" approach to music. Dunno about you guys, but I hate that. That's the kind of thinking that leads to sameness....to a souless approach where everyone thinks exactly the same way because they've read that they should. Sometimes boundaries need to be pushed and if your musical context allows or calls for it......then push away. There's two sides to every coin, even musical ones. If the side you flip calls for a little flair, then there's nothing wrong with working hard to develop it. Some genres just demand it.
Breaking the 4/4 mold doesn't make you a bad musician.....not knowing the context of when to do it does. It seems that people geniunely believe that in order to "serve" music you almost have to disappear from it. Listen to the great music that been created....it just not always true. I've said this before and I'll say it again. "Serving the music" doesn't mean you always bring it bread and water any more than it always means you bring it champagne and caviar. Knowing the difference is what being a "musician" is all about.