To me, a great drummer isn't always about somebody with chops who can shred. A great drummer is someone who is part of a great band.
Interpretation
A great drummer's value lies in their ability to contribute to the overall sound of the band rather than just technical skill.
Mike Portnoy emphasizes that the essence of being a great drummer goes beyond mere technical proficiency or showy skills. Instead, it's about how well the drummer integrates into the band, enhancing the collective musical experience. This perspective highlights the importance of collaboration and teamwork in music, where the synergy of the group is more critical than individual talent alone.
In practice
During a music workshop, a member might quote this to emphasize the importance of working together.
I could beat my mike stand into the stage, but I was still in pain. Maybe fans liked it, but sometimes people forget you're a person and they're more into the entertainment value. It's taken a long time to turn that around and give a strong show without it being a kamikaze show.
With rap, you go in the studio, you make music, you put the music out, then all of a sudden, you're a star: you have a big record on the radio, and you're on stage, and you've never done it before. Let's say your first show is 'Summer Jam,' and you're in front of 60,000 people, and you've never played an arena, ever. You're gonna suck.
I call myself a blues singer, but you ain't never heard me call myself a blues guitar man.
When you watch your favorite guitarists play, notice how little their hands and fingers move sometimes. The economy of motion can't be overemphasized.
I was never too keen on the British music press. They've called us a supermarket hype, and they used to suggest that we didn't write our own songs.
It's not easy to play in a framework that requires simplicity and to tastefully find ways to interject the kind of freedom that we have in playing jazz.
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