.

He's well known 4 his guitars and somewhat 4 the keyboards/piano...but how is P rated as a little drummer boy?

Pa-ra-pa-pom-pom.

my mom was a rock drummer in the '60s, and whenever we'd see footage of prince playing drums i'd ask her how good she thought he was. she always says that he's got really great showmanship to cover up the fact that he's a so-so drummer, and that sheila could kick his butt on a drum set anyday. i grew up playing a little too...what i get is that prince can come up with some good jazz beats, but i've never really seen him kill the drums like sheila can.

Whilst prince is not technically great, he does have a genuine and recogniseable style. His live playing has a lot of character and in the 80's his programmed beats were some of the most inspired and best around.

in sott when he plays he looks a little uncomfortable

He looks ugly cuz it funks! In SOTT movie that is...

He's no classic drummer, but he's solid. What annoys me though is him playing drums all over Musicology when he's got Blackwell in his camp. For shame, Prince.

Blackwell couldn't do anything on those songs that Prince couldn't do aswell.

When he plays live like in SOTT, he's using a drum kit set up for someone else. If he had everything set up the way he likes it, I'm sure he could do much better. But I've thought he was excellent ever since I heard "I'm Yours" way back when. Tamborine!

8up said:

I wonder how "live" that performance was.
Although he does look really good on the drums is that him playing them?

muirdo said:

The SOTT film could've been staged since every song except UGTL was redone in PP, but if u can check the America (live) video... that wasn't staged.

Just listen to Madhouse 8. He's slappin' those skins! Ever since I found out he did all the drum work I had a new appreciation for those albums.

Prince is a competant drummer, but he's definitely much better on guitar, bass and keys. I'm yours is a pretty impressive display of his drumming, at least in terms of fast fills, and lady cab driver is one of my favorite drum tracks of his just because it's so loose and funky. As a one man band, prince's drumming is analogous to stevie wonder's guitar and bass playing, in that A.most people aren't aware that he even plays them B.he's at least competent C. evidence of his skill level is few and far between and D. He usually has other people play them or substitute for it in some other way.

Just listen to the song "Crystal Ball". It has a great drum performance by Prince!

calldapplwondery83 said:

Cecy said:

YEAH!!! Especially on "7", my goodness...the drums on that track are KICKASS!

Cheek said:

Isn't that shiela? I also thought it was shiela in the madhouse albums (though i haven't listened to them).

thank you all...I am SO going to play my P music as you have described and listen all over again for his drums.....learning all of the time.
I am not music aficianado...but I appreciate trying to listen with more than appreciation but some music knowledge.

OKAY. At the last celebration, Femi Jiya said that Prince is an excellent drummer, as good if not better than he is on guitar or bass, and that he rarely showcases his own drumming skills. Of course you can hear him on tambourine, Sexual suicide, and the first madhouse album is all him drumming.

jacktheimprovident said:

"Susannah Melvoin lent her voice 2 the track and Claire Fischer arrnaged and conducted the orchestra. All other noizes are made by Prince."

Cheek said:

That's pretty good if that's case. But I could've sworn I'd read somewhere that that song and Sexual Suicide were both Sheila on the drums.

well as a drummer of 15 years heres my take...

his first 4 albums up to controversy,the beats are classic funk/rock beats ..hes no dennis chambers but his chops are solid bambi,just as long as were 2getha n sister show off his drumming capabilities nicely..

i was under the impression bobby z took over as drummer from 1999- parade and while the drumming suits the songs well,bobby was a pretty ordinary drummer

then s.o.t.t ,,simple drumbeats but complex in theyre effectiveness of course sheila contributed too,,then the drumming on black album much better in terms of fills and time changes ,lovesexy well sheila did most of em right??

batman ahh batman very clever drum programming on this album electric chair an awesum example

from there well mick b took over ,correct??? ,,,

crystal ball trax have alot of complex prince beats ,,,crystal ball the song for example

as a drummer hes as good as he is a keyboardist
he is a master on the bass and guitars/piano tho...

Prince on the drums

Good, not good...just let me watch.