If you can play what Nicko Mcbrain plays
- Thread starter georgeusa
- Start date
From a technical standpoint yes. You can play what Ringo played (after) hes played it not befor. Why?..Ringo (to me) was near genius. Few if given the chance would have come up with his unique parts..he was magical. Sure..listen to Ringo and think ya..i can do that..but WOULD you have if you replaced him?....highly doubtful. Ringo was just plain..BAD. And I mean GREAT.
Al Strange
Platinum Member
It reminds me of that old joke:
“I could play ‘Immigrant Song’ by Led Zeppelin when I was 12, Bonham didn’t play it until he was in his 20’s…”
The guys above are spot on with their comments…
“I could play ‘Immigrant Song’ by Led Zeppelin when I was 12, Bonham didn’t play it until he was in his 20’s…”
The guys above are spot on with their comments…
but which is more likely to happen with the least amount of effort?
Ringo starr to be able to play what Nicko Mcbrain does?
Or Nicko Mcbrain to be able to play what Ringo starr does
SYMBOLIC DEATH
Senior Member
Would you rather defend yourself against 100 duck sized horses or one horse sized duck?
Beerserker
Member
How bad can one horse sized duck be?
jda
Platinum Member
If what you are asking is can someone play simply (sparsely) and can someone play intricately (densely) the answer is yes
bearing in mind there's a limit -how soft -how loud- how simply- How Intricately- anyone can play. (we're each only human)
But with study persistence and practice- you then choose- between- either and or both-
dependent on situation.
If you jam both of those drummers in your head
I'd guess most drummers have about a 100 drummers lingering rolling-around in their head..
And you base your drumming decisions on the moment in the moment on your ears
follow your ears (what you put in there) and your hands will eventually 99% obey.
You gotta allow it in before you can let it out
and (can't help but) add a little mixture of your own
That's drums
it's not rocket science +/-
it's better than rocket science (safer and cheaper)
bearing in mind there's a limit -how soft -how loud- how simply- How Intricately- anyone can play. (we're each only human)
But with study persistence and practice- you then choose- between- either and or both-
dependent on situation.
If you jam both of those drummers in your head
I'd guess most drummers have about a 100 drummers lingering rolling-around in their head..
And you base your drumming decisions on the moment in the moment on your ears
follow your ears (what you put in there) and your hands will eventually 99% obey.
You gotta allow it in before you can let it out
and (can't help but) add a little mixture of your own
That's drums
it's not rocket science +/-
it's better than rocket science (safer and cheaper)
Last edited:
harryconway
Platinum Member
Well, from a simple "least amount of effort" standpoint ...... Ringo is easier. Putting FEEL aside, in both cases. I first saw Nico with Pat Travers, 'bout 7 years before Maiden. I'm sure (just by his age) he's got a lot of the same influences as myself ..... if only because he's heard a lot of the same songs and drummers I have. We are all a culmination of who we listen to.
JimmyM
Diamond Member
It’s a pointless question. Neither happens without effort, and they are not the same people. I see no evidence that Ringo could play Run To The Hills, and I see no evidence that Nicko could play a straight shuffle with 1&2&3&4& on the hi hat for 3 minutes while singing Act Naturally or What Goes On.
Hey georgeusa,
With practice, no doubt lots of drummers on this forum could play what both Nicko McBrain & Ringo Starr play in a technical sense; however, it's the "nuance " that both of them (& pretty much what many pro-standard drummers play) that makes them special.
What both Nicko & Ringo do is to play what's right for THEIR music, THEIR songs; it's not about who's got the most speed, chops, flashiness; it's
about playing exactly what fits with what the rest of the band are playing, so that the "whole" is greater than the sum of the parts.
What many experienced drummers will probably tell you is that they started out wanting to play more complicated & flashy grooves & fills than their ability (at that time) allowed; eventually comes the realisation that PLAYING FOR THE SONG, whatever the genre, is more satisfying for both the audience & the rest of your band.
Hope this helps!
DrumEatDrum
Platinum Member
Does it matter?
Here is the thing about Ringo Star, Nicko, Lars Urlich, Neil Peart, and *insert anyone else who made albums":
They did it.
You didn't.
It's just not just about technical ability.
It's the ability to be creative.
The ability to get along with the other band members,
The ability to not fold under the pressure of the producer/record company/band manager/whomever telling you to do another take, the part isn't good enough, try something else.
Being humble enough to know one limits
The mental fortitude to stay in the band, make the albums, and deal with contrast pressure, even when things aren't going your way all the time.
Pete Best would eventually say he was glad he didn't stay with the Beatles because of all the pressure they were under and the downside of their fame, while he went on to have a relatively normal life, got married, had kids, etc.
Here is the thing about Ringo Star, Nicko, Lars Urlich, Neil Peart, and *insert anyone else who made albums":
They did it.
You didn't.
It's just not just about technical ability.
It's the ability to be creative.
The ability to get along with the other band members,
The ability to not fold under the pressure of the producer/record company/band manager/whomever telling you to do another take, the part isn't good enough, try something else.
Being humble enough to know one limits
The mental fortitude to stay in the band, make the albums, and deal with contrast pressure, even when things aren't going your way all the time.
Pete Best would eventually say he was glad he didn't stay with the Beatles because of all the pressure they were under and the downside of their fame, while he went on to have a relatively normal life, got married, had kids, etc.
Son of Vistalite Black
Active Member
“I was 11 — I had a poster of Ringo in my bedroom. He was looking over the left side of his drum set over his hi-hats, and I every night would go to sleep thinking, 'That is the man. That is the guy I wanna be like.' And he really did kick off my drumming career. One other thing is I got to meet him three years ago when he played down here in Fort Lauderdale — the first time after all of those years that I got to meet my hero."
blabbermouth.net
IRON MAIDEN's NICKO MCBRAIN Picks THE BEATLES' RINGO STARR As His 'Rock God'
IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain was the featured guest on BBC's "The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker" during the "Rock God" segment. Nicko picked THE BEATLES' Ringo Starr and stated about his choice: "I've chosen Ringo because he was the very first drummer that really influenced me in my genre...
blabbermouth.net
Al Strange
Platinum Member
Please tell me @Son of Vistalite Black introduced himself to Mr Starkey in the third person…that would be awesome!“I was 11 — I had a poster of Ringo in my bedroom. He was looking over the left side of his drum set over his hi-hats, and I every night would go to sleep thinking, 'That is the man. That is the guy I wanna be like.' And he really did kick off my drumming career. One other thing is I got to meet him three years ago when he played down here in Fort Lauderdale — the first time after all of those years that I got to meet my hero."
IRON MAIDEN's NICKO MCBRAIN Picks THE BEATLES' RINGO STARR As His 'Rock God'
IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain was the featured guest on BBC's "The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker" during the "Rock God" segment. Nicko picked THE BEATLES' Ringo Starr and stated about his choice: "I've chosen Ringo because he was the very first drummer that really influenced me in my genre...
toddbishop
Platinum Member
Question is did you and would you.
And could you includes not just are you physically able to play the same notes, it's also could you make the same (or equally good) musical decisions in that situation. And also would anyone hire you to do that job.
Like, Terry Bozzio could probably physically play anything Jim Keltner plays, while Keltner can only do a small part of what Bozzio can do. And nobody would ever call Bozzio to do Keltner's gigs-- something they wanted Keltner for. Notable that Keltner also has an order of magnitude more recording credits than Bozzio, too....
And could you includes not just are you physically able to play the same notes, it's also could you make the same (or equally good) musical decisions in that situation. And also would anyone hire you to do that job.
Like, Terry Bozzio could probably physically play anything Jim Keltner plays, while Keltner can only do a small part of what Bozzio can do. And nobody would ever call Bozzio to do Keltner's gigs-- something they wanted Keltner for. Notable that Keltner also has an order of magnitude more recording credits than Bozzio, too....
Xstr8edgtnrdrmrX
Local Boob
caveat...I grew up learning and playing to Iron Maiden on my dads 4 piece, 3 cymbal, Speed King pedaled 55 Ludwigs, and feel like I got Nickos style pretty well. I was able to replicate the fills - and had to sort of modify them to fit the 4 piece kit, which also helped me in creating fills and foot and hand patterns that I might not have if I had more drums. If the gig was based on style requirements alone, and not the look of the set, I think that it is possible.
I mostly agree with what everyone here is saying about the subjective nature of the question
but would posit a possibly an objective thing: I am willing to bet that, at their current age, and because of the nature of music they each play, Nicko has more drumming endurance than Ringo. It floors me that Nicko - and all of the guys in Maiden - still perform at the physical level that they did 20 years ago, on moderately long tours.