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Drummers who twirl their sticks
- Thread starter Joe Nerve
- Start date
Well I have no room to judge, in the 80's I was guilty of the flip, the behind the head playing, the Sarzo under the body string pluck with the over the necking fingering, not to mention the tapping (like shark tank) because of the that I'm out.I played a couple of shows this weekend with a drummer I never played (nor rehearsed) with before. Every time I looked at him he was twirling his sticks while playing. Every time!
Would like to hear your thoughts and opinions on that.
Very funny commentary.
A lot of those moves are from competitive marching bands and drum & bugle corps. Entertaining as hell. And he's flat nailing the hit recording version. If this was a wedding or dance party, you'd have a packed dance floor. Not sure what that event is, maybe an undertakers society or something.
Last edited:
LowNloud1
Commercial User
- Jun 11, 2012
- 711
- 1,100
- Disclosures
- I am a hobbyist making stone picks that I sell but mostly give away. They made me do this anyways.
LOL! Mine twirls his sticks and, during one song, he walks around the outside of his kit playing the cymbals. It adds interest to the show and I think of it as showmanship. People come to hear certain instruments (yes, it's sad but true brothers and sisters, not everyone focuses on the bass!) and drum fans like it.
Rhythm sections rule!
Rhythm sections rule!
okcrum
in your chest
It's impressive and cool as he77as long as they're not missing a beat
Nsfw version:
If you crossed this guy with Elvin Jones you'd have one of the drummers I work with. It's not a jazz gig.
I have to play super thick groove with him so he has a place to land.
I don't see why people get upset when drummer twirl their sticks. If they suck, they suck and if they're good, they're good, twirls or not. I would never fire a drummer because they twirled their sticks...
I believe it's their way of stage presence, since they're confined so sitting behind the kit. Should I get fired because I like to jump and dance around while playing? We're on stage to have fun!
I believe it's their way of stage presence, since they're confined so sitting behind the kit. Should I get fired because I like to jump and dance around while playing? We're on stage to have fun!
Keith Moon (crazy). Buddy Rich (pretty crazy). Carl Palmer (not crazy). All outstanding stick twirlers.
I'm playing in a big band tonight with a guy who's an inveterate stick twirler. Loses about 20% of 'em somewhere mid-twirl. Has a back pocket full of sticks. It's kind of amusing.
I'm playing in a big band tonight with a guy who's an inveterate stick twirler. Loses about 20% of 'em somewhere mid-twirl. Has a back pocket full of sticks. It's kind of amusing.
One drummer told me it's a thing with their craft. You learn to do it and then you're in a tradition relating to the instrument, even if it's just a show skill.
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
I put stick twirling while playing drums in the same category as big lurid wheelies while riding the motorcycle. I play drums and ride motorcycles, but I haven't learned to twirl or toss sticks, nor have I learned to wheelie. 
I can remember watching Dino Danelli the Young Rascals drummer twirling his sticks. It was a first for me and so cool back then. Now like everything else it's common place. Kind of sad in a way.
I played a couple of shows this weekend with a drummer I never played (nor rehearsed) with before. Every time I looked at him he was twirling his sticks while playing. Every time!
Would like to hear your thoughts and opinions on that
Joe, how many arms did he have?
As long as he's doing everything else he needs to do, twirl away, but once I got to know him, I'd probably ride him about it, as that's what I do
I like when drummers do stick twirls. It's showmanship.
It was more a 60's thing IMO. But let's face it, if you have Carmine's chops, it works! Always thought he was a terrific drummer.
PS, Joe, good shot of you in the avatar!
The Cheesiness of the move is greatly enhanced by wearing those ventilated driving gloves with holes at the knuckles whilst twirling (a-la Tommy Lee in the 80's) because...... because sweaty knuckles. I firmly believe that the wearing of these gloves in almost any context is an extremely reliable indicator of Personal Tooldom.
