I recently saw a thread about which band was the best, Revolution or 2004 NPG and the drummers came up in conversation. So, since I did not see Bland and I assume he was the drummer on the CD version of "Sh!!" I want to know:

Who was the better drummer and why? I always voted for Blackwell, since I saw him onstage this summer, (saw Bobby Z and nothing stands out in my mind about his performance). And I have seen live performances of Sheila, but although she is very showy, she just doesn't pack the punch that really gets me on my feet. (kind of like Las Vegas style boxing, a bunch of rabbit punches may get more score than one big knock your azz on the ground left hook... but which fighter kicked azz??)
I have never seen Bland. If he indeed do the CD version of "Shhhh!" then he seems to have the talent... and then there is that question that no one here has the answer to, if Bland could originate that solo, then why did he get replaced???

Bland did Shhh.

My favorite P drummer is Sheila, 'cause she sounds the most like Prince on the skins.

sheila e

morris day

kinke said:

I second that!!

ya know,everybody is hung up on who is best "technically",well i say BULLSHIT!
when i was a kid,just getting into prince-nobody had a cooler drummer in their band than prince.that drummer was BOBBY Z.
i don't care hat he wasn't as flash as sheila or blackwell,bobby z was cool!
when i saw the 1999 video for the 1st time i was like,"who in the hell is that drummer?he looks like he's trying to look like the singer!"
that,to me,made for a cool "band".like when the beatles all wore the same suits.
i know bobby z isn't the world's greatest drummer,but,he was the coolest prince ever had for a drummer...

bananacologne said:

HANDS DOWN, MR. BLACKWELL

nobias said:

My favorite would be Bobby Z, but IMO the best would be Michael Bland.

I loved them all but I think the best is Mr Blackwell.

SHEILA E

Dude, Blackwell!!!!! Blackwell, DUUUUUDDDE!!!!!

Sheila no question.

I don't get what is so great about Bland or Blackwell.... they are just typical R&B/funk drummers. YAWN.

GaryMF said:

The words '...typical', 'John' and 'Blackwell' don't even belong in the same room, much less the same sentance.

U may not like him, rate him - whatever, but the guy is anything BUT 'typical'.

Sheila E.

Mike B.

Bobby Z.

John Blackwell

bananacologne said:

That's your opinion. I saw the Musicology tour twice and didn't think his drumming was anything to write home about.

How about someone explaining or giving some specific about what is so great or makes him not typical??? (he did twirl drumstick, fine but what else)? It would be a mot more educational that just making statements in boldface type.

Here is an xample.. Sheila seems to be able to play very complex, syncopated rhythm patterns that are pretty complicated and go beyond the tracks on the record (e.g. Housequake during SOTT tour.... Madhouse sets at Family Jamm etc.)

Alright, fine, I'll give you Sheila. But have you seen Blackwell on the Musicology tour? I was like WTF?

blackwell is too over hyped,don't get me wrong,he is a good drummer if you think that twirling sticks makes you great,in that case he is the best.
i don't like all the fills he does in simplistic songs.
he makes every song sound like a damn medley.he uses too many accents on the hi-hat,makes every song sound like disco-yuck!
it's cool to be simple.
my favorite drummer in the world is charlie watts so you can see where my tastes
in drummers differs from princes.
prince seems to like really "busy" drummers.gives me a headache and reminds me of a college football halftime show.

GaryMF said:

Damn right it's my opinion. I never said I didn't like Sheila or any of the other amazing drummers he's worked with. All I said was John Blackwell was not a typical drummer. Your post said that as if it was a bad thing...so...is it? I note with interest your a drum machine man anyway.

It's a shame people won't look past the hyperbole sometimes. Remember when your best friend suddenly started liking Metallica (insert a.n.other band here) and suddenly they ain't good, relevant anymore?

Same difference.

Sheila is the best female drummer I have ever seen. Period.

I'm done.

Kirk Johnson, anyone?

I LOVE Blackwell but Dave Groul has always been a favorite of mine.

RealMusician said:

Kirky J. was a joke!

bananacologne said:

Being typical is not bad per se. I just meant I don't see anything in particular about him or his playing that makes it great or "the best" which was the topic of the thread. Doesn't mean he is not good. Of course he is.



I'm not really following this analogy but it doesn't matter.



I would just take out the word "female" and we'd be in perfect agreement


And I saw Musicology twice so I've seen Blackwell perform too. Like I said, I'm not saying he's not good. I just don't understand what makes him "the best" and none has really pointed anything out (actually someone above pointed out examples of why he isn't in their opinion).

ETA Yeah I like drum machines... mainly the Linn..... but that isnt' why I feel the way I do about Sheila, Blackwell etc. Sheila plays totally live in concert and very UN-drum machine like.

If I were goingin that direction I woudl have voted for Bobby Z!
[Edited 12/29/04 15:51pm]

GaryMF said:

Nothing but a "Stick Twirl"????? John Blackwell is technical master, when he's in the pocket his lock is flawless, has a mastery of all styles and genres of music and the fact that he can do all that while still providing the most excellent showmanship I'VE seen in a drummer in long time is amazing in itself. He is all MUSIC, he doesn't have to dress flashy cuz his playing draws attention from tens of thousands of fans, many of which know nothing about drumming. My fiance and I attended the concert in Cleveland, and when he went into his solos on SSSSHHHHH, she was on her feet before ME! He is the perfect compliment to Prince as a drummer IMHO.[b]

bodank35 said:

yeah! this is me too. I don't know anything about drumming but I could really feel Blackwell on the drums during "shhhh!" and was on my feet too!
Then I started listening to the recorded version and realized as someone pointed out that another drummer did the CD version, so I just wanted to know who was better.
Could Bobby Z or Sheila E duplicate the fury that is heard on Shhh and live version 2004 Shhh?

prodigalfan said:Could Bobby Z or Sheila E duplicate the fury that is heard on Shhh and live version 2004 Shhh?[/quote]

I'm sure Sheila could!

Actually, if you were at MSG last date, you'd be amazed at the FURY she created with her timbale solo. It went on for like 5 minutes standing ovation!
[Edited 12/29/04 17:11pm]

GaryMF said:

I'm sure Sheila could!

Actually, if you were at MSG last date, you'd be amazed at the FURY she created with her timbale solo. It went on for like 5 minutes standing ovation!
[Edited 12/29/04 17:11pm]
[/quote]


I second that - She was amazing - she dropped her sticks and started playing with her hands and elbows! Blackwell was great too, but when it comes to comparing - Sheila back in her day - was just as powerful as John in the LoveSexy Tour. I remember she had a sprained wrist or some sort of injury where she was wearing a wrist protector at the NYC concert and still played that drum solo with amazing power and speed. I have not seen her recently on the trap set, so to say she is that powerful, now, like John is? I am not sure...

GaryMF said:

i totally agree, shelia e is the bomb. they said blackwell cuz she's a female