New HoD Video Lesson: Drum Set Drags

[Manu]

sick stuff Steve.

[Steve Holmes]

I had to set approval on all comments posted on videos these days, mostly to filter out the Johnston trolls. Just so you guys know the level of ignorance that's out there, here's a comment a user named NGvilava tried posting.

"Seriously Bro, you HOD people make me laugh. Why would anyone take this seriously; you're just rehashing shit that Mike Johnston has done. Next thing is you'll be praising Gretsch drums right? Come up with something original and you wont be laughed at all over the internet. Or at least, take a ride up the coast and get some private lessons from Mike. He'll even show you how to market yourself the right way."

Here is his YT page. No videos.
http://www.youtube.com/user/NGvilava

I'm really glad folks aren't out there saying things like this while including my name on their rhetoric. I would be embarrassed. I almost feel bad for Mike that people are saying this kind of thing on his behalf.

[bstocky]

Is there any point in even arguing with whoever posted that? There is absolutely no comparison in terms of skill on the drumset between you and Mike. Mike even admits he can't do more clinics because he doesn't have the chops of the big boys to blow people away. Steve could easily get onstage with ANYONE and hold his own when it comes to hand chops.

Mike is great at taking a simple one bar lick or beat and explaining it to beginner to intermediate drummers so they have something new they can immediately use. Mike has a professional presentation of simple ideas. Steve has an amateur/low budget presentation of professional concepts. If Steve wanted to (and I hope at some point he will) step up his internet presence the last thing he has to worry about is drumming skill.

[Juan Expósito]

I'm really glad folks aren't out there saying things like this while including my name on their rhetoric. I would be embarrassed. I almost feel bad for Mike that people are saying this kind of thing on his behalf.

I have no idea where those comments/users come from but they aren´t doing any favour to Mike.

[Pocketplayer]

What happened to the audio when you shifted from playing to speaking?

That first bass drum hit just after you finished speaking (3:05) and went to playing was HUGE!

Good stuff SH

[Clint Hopkins]

There is a freakish loyalty to Mike that I don't think I've ever seen before in the educator only drumming circle.

[Morgenthaler]

Steve, know that we're a lot of peeps who really really are grateful for HOD.
Your videos are insightful and educational and carry a lot of knowledge and hat tips
to historical greats.

The HOD community is awesome. The personal messages alone makes this place
really effing great.

One such stupid comment can be really annoying and something you
can't help but think about. I bet Mike's audience is generally younger than us here.

Recently I had to deal with that kind of tomfoolery from someone within the industry no less.
I might share that story in one of the next weekend chattys.

Forget stupid brats like him.
Onwards, upwards.

[Pocketplayer]

In a word, idolotry. Strong, but true. There is an ugly side to human nature to make an idol
out of certain personalities, especially in the arts. They put all their security into this personality
(some might argue HOD does this w/Vinnie) confusing respect and admiration for the otherwise.
When someone threatens the idol, there is a defense and desire to destroy the opponent.

Bottom line, whoever this troll is, he could have engaged in a discussion, asking you what your
influence was to this specific pattern. Most realize at a certain age of maturity there is
nothing new under the sun (the humble approach allowing for growth and freedom) and
respond with an answer. This is not the road most traveled in Youtube vids, much like the
bathroom walls inside an airport, you get the sad impulse of the troll mind firsthand.

Welcome to going public and the new age of internet vids. This will never stop.

I say keep the comments unlocked and let them troll away...truth corrects itself over time.
It might take 8 pages, but...

Keep making vids Steve...

A little story on the sensitive side of critics that are both nameless and without merit of any kind.
The great Steve Lukather had an interview where he went on and on and on how someone blasted
him in an internet forum. This is Steve Lukather! WHY would he allow an unknown troll bother him?
I found it fascinating that even a musician with his success and influence would allow his personal strings
to be pulled so hard by this event. In the end, he is human, yet, should also be free enough to not
let this bother him in the slightest at this stage of his career.

[Phil T.]

Yeah, a guy who's had a lot of success and has become godlike to many (mikep@rtn@y) would never bother to respond to internet criticism. Particularly when the criticism is over a year old at the time of the response (mikep@rtn@y), as though he'd gone digging through the archives....

The internets. It's not a truck.

[markie04drum]

Checked this video out just before going to sleep last night, and damn if it didn't make me want to get dressed, and make the drive in the middle of the night to my space to work on this.

Nevermind the comments. Once I start reading comments on youtube, news sites, etc. it always turns into such a downer, and makes me start to doubt humanity.

Steve, you inspire! Keep the videos coming!

By the way, good sounds you're getting. Those yamahas all sound amazing and that 10" tom? Wow-Nice tone!!!