Vinnie Colaiuta explains Sting's 'Seven Days'

[@DuftCloudly]

How long did it take all the drummers to realize he was explaining what he’s playing AS HE’S FUCKING PLAYING IT?! An absolute master

[@chadrumfull]

...AND while smoking a Camel.

[@alargelamp7552]

Sounds like someone had already asked about it before he started playing it. Plus it’s Seven Days, it’s iconic. But a master indeed!

[@scdrescher1]

Totally agree

[@PerrySennCourses]

Right?! Funny man! You’re dead on.

[@bloatedtreeful]

And all in perfect time. 🤦🏼‍♂️

Everyone loves Vinnie. Here’s why. ❤

[@garfield4108]

Sublime drumming. And Sting's time signatures are fabulous. Amazing musician.

[@chadcarrdrums]

He continues to play it perfectly while explaining it. wth? I swear Vinnie is an alien.

[@marccerruti5195]

Outerspace drummer

[@marccerruti5195]

With Ravi Shankar

[@belin-teamdjokovic1628]

I can barely talk and walk at the same time...

[@Keepmelevel]

He and Danny Carey from TOOL come from planet drum…

[@elderrayc]

He is a genius

[@MarkusBoettner]

More precise than a Swiss watch...and talking over it... My brain froze just listening to this.

[@primaroxas]

Thats a great phrase to describe it

[@ehsbe1056]

Vinnie managed to capture a really Copeland esque drum part and turned it into something unique and downright brilliant, an absolute great of drumming

[@paulseano5100]

Great part and with some speed and precision! Vinnie’s one of the best! Cheers

[@seanmalatesta4957]

Man, I just don't know if Stew C could play this song like Vinnie did. Closest to this is Bring on The Night or maybe Murder by Numbers. This work by Vinnie is really exceptional drumming. I think this is one of the toughest and best drum parts in Rock (to do it well).

[@hustlerblaze]

Exactly what I was thinking.

[@georgesigalas738]

That's a preposterous statement. Vinnie is so many levels above Stewart (who's also great).

[@3allz]

Vinnie was already one of the most established drummers in the world way before he worked with Sting. And I love Copeland, but Vinnie is levels above. Can also see/hear why Sting would have him as Stuarts "replacement".

[@thedcbroker7264]

This is why frank zappa loved him and his playing... he thinks on another level.....awesome!!

[@HardRockinJohnny]

One of the greatest and most original drum grooves ever. This man translates genius into drumming.

[@crissignori7482]

Vinnie's playing is just soooooo tight. He grooves like he's on rails.

[@PeterKudelin]

it's crazy how he just keeps talking and playing flawlessly

[@kaveman1021]

He also played a Frank Zappa instrumental just by sight reading the music charts, and during the audition turned the page of sheet music, popped a piece of sushi in his mouth and pushed his eyeglasses back up in one motion.

[@benbarletta2927]

Vinnie's truly the most amazing drummer in the world! His output with Zappa was over the top, and some of his jazz work is unbelievable. The Sting work just shows that he's the best drummer of our era! RESPECT! Thanks for the Music!

[@ER-me1ii]

Vinny became my favorite drummer in the early 80’s. I asserted he was the best drummer I’ve ever heard. My opinion really hasn’t changed. No one plays like that.

[@patxmcq]

@GT Tg Neil P and Jeff are not on Vinnie's level

[@patxmcq]

Virgil Donati would be a candidate. Thats as far as it goes

[@robertpinazza4043]

Where creativity and composition is concerned, yes, his equal.

[@michallysek6996]

True

[@jonasandezekiel1109]

@@patxmcq Jeff is a different drummer entirely, but yeah I still agree. Vinnie is the best drummer I've ever heard. The only person that has his sense of time and meter is Virgil.

[@farclebaba]

I think this has to be one of the fucking coolest grooves EVER. In the history of western music. Fucking genius. Vinnie makes this 5/8 pulse sit down and almost feel like 4/4 with the accents, back beat, and over the bar-line phrasing. It's like listening to Joe Garage: it melts my brain and makes me want to scream with excitement, frustration, awe, and the crushing knowledge I won't ever be in 20th as good as Vinnie.

[@maureenfoote4547]

Vinnie is " way out there, orchestrically "

[@quogir1]

Viva LasVegas

[@glmunir]

Reading and “speaking” the language of music has always been Vinnie’s forte. 50 years of practice and playing it is what you’re hearing when he performs. A true master.

[@BenjaminGib]

Can somebody do a life documentary on Vinnie please? Vinnie?

[@Keepmelevel]

My goodness such ear candy!!! Vin!! Love when you and Sting play together!

[@daveh3766]

This guy is so special that he's owned the name Vinnie to all drummers

[@Rockin_Ross]

He’s just unreal. I’ve been inspired by him since the 80’s.

[@KONAMAN100]

Just such beautiful grooving playing, Vinniful.

[@jetydosa1]

He's amazing. He's also on a Megadeth album, and his drumming takes them to the next level too.

[@drums5050]

Yeap man, I’m the hugest megadeth supporter of all time and when I heard this guy on kick the chair, I went ballistic.

[@frankmeenzen787]

Vinnie has transcended time and pulse!

[@davidbusby2550]

crazy. My wife freaked when she heard the timing, she couldn't handle it, it messed with her head. I should have explained to her that this is how aliens speak to us mere humans

[@Auntkekebaby]

Thankful for Sting for adding that swing part in the chorus so I can rock to it. Love this song and the drum pattern/time signatures. Vinny said, "Ok Sting. I got this."

[@paulseano5100]

Clever beat. 5/4 with dynamics and embellishments sparsed up so that people wouldn’t clap along. Vinnie has created a style of drumming unmatched. Thanks for sharing. You have a cool last name like some people I know. Ha!

[@karldegroot3131]

Who can't appreciate his brilliance and technical manifestation of such?

[@drew-shourd]

Vinnie killin it as per usual, ya got to admit though between Copeland, Omar Hakim and Vinnie, Sting has had some killer drummers backing him.

[@kjellnoekker4026]

I tried to pat out "4 over 3" with my hand doing the 4 and my foot the 3, and I ended up with cramps in both lol kudos to Vinnie and all the rest of you musicians out there- mad respect!

[@valsimotdesign]

I love to play that song,...such a nice rythm

[@criticalmass613]

Joe's Garage... 'nuff said. Vinnie is legend.

[@radeum1010]

And the kick just stays rock solid.... AAAAArrrrggghhh !! Also, Charlie Parker said that you learn everything you can but when you get up on stage you forget it all and just play. That's Vinnie. He know all the Grammar, syntax, Reading..! writing etc, but you just hear him only play music...interesting to hear his quiet 'hum' underneath. That says a lot..

[@morten1]

Frank Zappa / Steve Vai said that Vinnie would eat sandwhiches and correcting his glasses while playing then continue to play extreme advanced stuff 😀

[@WhyTheHorseface]

Sushi

[@morten1]

@@WhyTheHorseface Ah right. some food ;)

[@renelie8217]

It was Steve Vai who said that...

[@morten1]

@@renelie8217 Yeah I heard him say it too. or maybe it was Vai sure, about playing in Zappa band

[@bartgee-breakinglimits6383]

This is such a well written song! Great feel in 5/4 and I have to say the drumming is phenominal! I've just had a go at doing a cover of this. listening and working out the different parts to play into my keyboard and adding piano. It took me 5 days as for some of the drums I had to record bar by bar.

[@toivonencresto]

Out of this world

[@augsdoggs]

Vinnie playing with a recognizable Stewart Copeland style & feel. Cannot go wrong with that!

[@jackskvat5596]

Legend has it, before he could walk, Vinnie shuffled. And once as a kid he fell down the stairs in 5/8 time.

[@sprezzaturarrd]

wish there was a video

[@mattlehnardt8035]

he can play each part exactly without the music, and switch parts no problem. guy knows what he's doing.

[@albertofalzoi1541]

there is nothing to do. Year after year he's unreachable, the best ever and forever ❤

[@KONAMAN100]

Goodness what a corking snare sound. Vin has such feel.

[@sammiller3444]

that great gretsch sound...sounds like the head is made of titanium

[@mark1952able]

Smooth as silk

[@simonl1785]

I love the drumming on this song SUBLIME

[@carguy3460]

That was really deep, the way he equated being able to play something without knowing exactly what it is, to being able to speak a language but not be able to read or write. Genius stuff.

[@johnhiggins7530]

Loved Vinnie's work with Zappa

[@waltergrandinetti1788]

Te amamos saludo desde Argentina!!!

[@VladProkhorovDrums]

Hes just too good, one of the greatest of all time

[@emotionalideas]

I can't get my keys out of my pants and you know why?...because the DAMN POCKET IS TOO DAMN DEEP!

[@quemarioo]

OMG... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Colaiuta is from out of this world!

[@a.toniboysmith7360]

Out of sight man! 😎 I love it.

[@corradomanganaro7150]

Veramente un talento micidiale ❤️

[@malcspring448]

10 dislikers. They need medical help.

[@rhodigian]

Perhaps someone frustrated by trying to reproduce this wonderful yet super difficult groove

[@sp3ck4]

They couldn't dance to it.

[@JohnSmith-cl2sq]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤘

[@NRG2]

They’re just training computers how to detect lies

[@paulseano5100]

Those dislikers are just jealous. They can’t play the groove correctly so they have to criticize something they can’t play. These are the type of people that actually think they are better drummers than they are. They love to tell everyone how to play but, can’t take advice themselves. Bunch of insecure fools. Vinnie is a great creator of beats. Enjoy!

[@rudyspring2528]

It’s crazy how in the end it comes off as jazzy.

[@Canyon2023]

Awesome. Vinnie is so cool!!!

[@roryobrien8509]

Vinnie, you clever sonofagunyou! .. Love it!!

[@aqualunga9467]

Винни прекрасен. Как и всегда.

[@paulbrighton3303]

Greatest drummer ever.

[@larskovitch]

Explaination as brilliant as his playing

[@rajeevphilip]

He’s the best

[@Cabdrum1]

Many people are not this articulate when not playing drums in 5 at the same time.

[@giovannidangelo6386]

Con il charleston sei un mostro Winnie!!

[@scdrescher1]

Just another reason why jazz musicians make the best rock stars

[@kimankersen1750]

" don´t know if I am right or wrong"--- well,when we are talking anything drum-related...You are probably right, Vinnie...

[@bluebeltOompa]

playing 5/8 and talking over it like its nothing ....

[@msumungo]

Well he was having sushi when Frank Zappa brought him his score. He read it, played it and didn't drop a note while still eating his sushi. According to the story, Terry Bozzio who was observing simply left the room.

[@okie9]

And funny that he's sort of phrasing his comments musically, sort of poetic.

[@jagpycke]

"He's one of the most amazing sight-readers that ever existed on the instrument. One day we were in a Frank rehearsal, this was early '80s, and Frank brought in this piece of music called "Mo 'N Herb's Vacation." Just unbelievably complex. All the drums were written out, just like "The Black Page" except even more complex. There were these runs of like 17 over 3 and every drumhead is notated differently. And there were a whole bunch of people there, I think Bozzio was there. Vinnie had this piece of music on the stand to his right. To his left he had another music stand with a plate of sushi on it, okay? Now the tempo of the piece was very slow, like "The Black Page." And then the first riff came in, [mimics bizarre Zappa-esque drum rhythm patterns] with all these choking of cymbals, and hi-hat, riffs, spinning of rototoms and all this crazy stuff. And I saw Vinnie reading this thing. Now, Vinnie has this habit of pushing his glasses up with the middle finger of his right hand. Well I saw him look at this one bar of music, it was the last bar of music on the page. He started to play it as he was turning the page with one hand, and then once the page was turned he continued playing the riff with his right hand, as he reached over with his left hand, grabbed a piece of sushi and put it in his mouth, continued the riff with his left hand and feet, pushed his glasses up, and then played the remaining part of the bar. It was the slickest thing I have ever seen. Frank threw his music up in the air. Bozzio turned around and walked away. I just started laughing." - Steve Vai

[@isftish]

@@jagpycke LOL Vinnie purees music scores...

[@stevelk1329]

The proper response to this is "f*** you". ;-)

[@juankelly1004ify]

Vinnie is the king

[@hooman1238]

the MaSTER!

[@theavenger3363]

What’s the throaty thing going on with his voice? Anybody know?

[@dunesbra]

I mean, it sounds like he's doing it on purpose. But why? I would totally support it if he was being funny about but I don't think that's the case. Lol

[@markw9512]

Maybe he had a cold?

[@RobKMusic]

Anyone know what happened to the original video of this? This is the just the audio (which is fine) but there once was an actual video of him sitting behind the kit this audio was taken from.

[@Gretchluver1]

I think this was always audio, taken from the desk. I so wish there was video, as his opening solo for this clinic is probably the greatest thing he''s ever played!

[@michaelcontreras148]

What he’s saying is, Sting is a friggin’ genius

[@michaelciancetta6397]

people are calling colaiuta a genius whereas in fact the genius here is sting.. vinnie is an awesome drummer but sting is the man

[@michallysek6996]

I love how he says: 'I played it a little bit faster than on the record' @2:55 😂 Well, tune like this you play a little bit fast, just by accident:D

[@gregpeller9181]

"Washington needs to put into their yearly budget an investigation into this 'alien' Vinnie Colaiuta because he is not from this planet..... Vinny, your drumming is sick and absolutely ridiculous and I couldn't do what you do in a gazillion years....Thank you for your genius on the kit that I have been a fan of since 1979!"

[@MrFchank]

Vinnie's playing is superb. One thing,did he stop playing Gretsch and move to Ludwig?

[@arlink0664]

This got me in the drum kit for HOURS, must really take a lot of master skills to manage this, props to Vinnie. Ps: In the end I managed

[@_6079SMITH]

WOAHHHH. That was unbelievable.

[@sinapper1]

Probably my favourite drum performance of all time. I always called it soft wrist or just playing just a microbeat off the beat. I’m a keyboard player and vocalist, what do I know? Fascinating to hear him explain it. May well be the song I want played at my funeral, not because of Sting, but because of Vinnie.

[@MarkusBoettner]

Hums along, changes from 5/4 to 4/4 and back to 5/4 and explains the beat along the way. Vinnie, stop it already! You're frightening me! ;)

[@marianomere9925]

Hay una maquina que habla mientras otra toca? 😎😎👍👍👍💪💪👏👏👏

[@BrendanPramjee]

Wow ! I’m amazed this is mastery

[@Gretsch0997]

I’m speechless.

[@richboshart1201]

Not of this world

[@farclebaba]

Exactly my thoughts whenever I here certain Vinnie recordings. This is one of them. All of Joe's Garage elicits the same response...

[@technicalitems731]

Vinnie is the master. What is that weird snot like growl in his voice he does sometimes? But he doesn't always do it. Any idea?

[@MrQuirinus]

Vinnie Master!

[@themoonbubble]

It wasn’t vinnie Sting again Damn!

[@evankeal]

Takes two hands on the hats for me, very fun rhythm to play.

[@nofam]

Genius.

[@aquastargard]

"Out of this world" ;)

[@chief1b]

That was deep really

[@timandrew1091]

love 5/4.... beat on four, bass on 1 and 2 and again on 5

[@krachenford9594]

Everytime it sounds simple . . .

[@Larriex97]

Are these drums parts recorded by Colaiuta himself? Listening to the way he's talking, it sounds like he was speaking while playing! 😍

[@RustyKnorr]

Well obviously, hellooooo! 🤦‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@darrengordon-hill]

Basically: making a 5/4 not sound 4/4

[@fredricmontana5420]

HELP! Can someone give me the number for the nearest addiction center? I have seen Colaiuta Seven Days videos for seven days now.

[@carson3684]

Wow this guy is.....good! :)

[@stoictraveler1]

I play fingerstyle acoustic. This hurts my head.

[@Heinous303]

0:49 now the rEASON

[@kennethphillips2213]

I would say that if he is good enough for Frank Zappa, he's good enough for me, but let's face it… This guy is one of the most incredible drummers alive. I completely tried to rip his high hat technique. Ended up sounding like a mix between him, Phil Collins, and Stewart Copeland :-)

[@raizedbynerdz8718]

Loved Vinnie on Ludwig

[@jamespaul344]

Shortest endorsment in history

[@davidvanwyk2250]

Vinnie.... Consummate Profesional... and that's why he got the gig. Signature Technical style yet still fitting music as opposed to Manu Katche who has more organic influence and feel. Sting wanted a tight 4 piece back to basics line up for Ten Sumners Tales and he had to choose wisely.... complex song pulled off by 'Big' musicians. Brilliant.... the first major fiddling of time signatures for Sting...yet no real Jazz musician in sight.

[@gregparrott]

Whoa! Even though clearly explained, this was way beyond my temporal comprehension.

[@HadEnough745]

my personal experiential realization..OK Vinnie..

[@milkminotaur]

fucking hell. anyone want to buy my drums?...

[@RavenMcCarthy]

He was cooking around that 2:50 area. “Goofin”

[@ahchv]

Damn