Jacob Armen on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson -- 1989

8 Year Old Drummer, Jacob Armen, on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

[@johnsjohnson448]

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to have "grown up" during this Era of Late Night Television. Mr. Carson was simply the best. Jacob rocks! Thanks for sharing.

[@joeday4293]

When this originally aired, I asked the drummer in my band if he saw that kid on Carson last night tearing it up. He shook his head and chuckled, and said, "Yeah. I hate that little bastard."

[@thehandlesticks66]

That kid made me feel like a piece of trash when I was learning how to play.

[@georgedavis8412]

“When are you going to be 8?” LOL

[@joellafargue9882]

That was a horrible thing to say about a kid.

[@joeday4293]

@@joellafargue9882 We were only 17 ourselves. Lighten up. Besides, as of today, that all grown up little bastard can play rings around either of us.

[@pauls6002]

😂

[@jeprice08]

You know when a performer is really great when he/she gets applause before the act is over, especially the ones like young Jacob Armen got.

[@rexross6808]

damn I remember watching this YEARS ago

[@rexross6808]

like on the classic KZbin

[@jonathanma531]

Me too

[@TheCymbalProject]

I remember seeing this in 89' when I was 15... Have to admit, I was SUPER jealous of his natural skill. Definitely inspired me to try and improve.

[@vmeyer977]

Me too!

[@briankillian5248]

It makes us old men drummers cry for joy.

[@Mikeycrzed]

Excellent Armenian Drummer! I heard he played the drums for Prince! At his young age! Again I heard! 🙂

[@drummergirl9735]

As a fellow drummer, I wish I had started at this age. I know I would be a lot better than I am now👍

[@CHABIEPORTNOY]

The video quality is insanely good

[@canturgan]

Great drummer, naturally a drummer. Reminds me of the first time I saw Tony Roster Jr. playing a solo when he was 12. Amazing ability.

[@larryherbert252]

In all the years that l wacthed Jonny Carson l remember seeing this kid play drums on The Tonight Show, incredible playing at such a young age- that was funny when Johnny asked where's Ed(the drummer) as if to say he skipped out because the young kid was better than him on drums(LOL) just outstanding drumming, glad this was posted The Tonight Show was my favorite of late night talk shows.

[@douglasknoll3500]

As talented as this young man is he is not more talented than the late great Ed Shaunessy

[@bill3837]

Yeah that's awesome! That's great that you hear Giant steps too

[@mannythedrummer]

Fantastic

[@subiegal8428]

I LOVE THIS GUY!!! JACOB IS MY IDOL! MY INSPIRATION!!!

[@tomkelsey2303]

saw this live back in college. blew me away.

[@AntonisVamvoukas]

Amazing!!!

[@shantk7378]

My guy played Giant Steps!

[@georgedavis8412]

Mic drop.

[@zachtaylor77]

How anyone could have disliked this is beyond me lol kids cray good for his age! 💯

[@joellafargue9882]

I remember watching this one the night it first aired. For Jacob, it must have been really painful, because just before appearing on the show, he'd hurt his hand, and "Giant Steps" featured some really demanding tracks. Johnny had brought up the hand injury prior to his solo, and asked if he felt that he couldn't do it, but Jacob said he was fine.

[@drammeroo7drammer156]

Very nicse,good drumming .👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@dumbguydepot304]

I remember him playing on That's Incredible! Haha, the good ol days. Where's John Davidson and Fran Tarkenton when you need them eh? I always remember seeing this kid play more big band and jazz over Rock/Fusion/Metal. So I never understood why he had a kit that Tommy Aldridge or Cozy Powell could be playing!?!

[@stevetaylor1305]

Hey dumbguy, I was at TOMMY'S DRUM CLINIC at the Guitar center in Hollywood in August of 87 the kid was 5 or 6 years old! His Mother and him were standing right Next to me and Rudy Sarzo. She Asked TOMMY if her son could come up and play his DRUMS during Q and A! He thought it was Cute till he literally started Shredding them! Tommy actually got a little perturbed and thought someone had planted this kid in the Crowd! Rudy was Laughing so hard his face was Red! This kid was literally late 5 or early 6 years old! That was a piece of History!

[@dumbguydepot304]

@@stevetaylor1305 Yeah he was the real deal. His new music is pretty great too, he definitely didn't peak as a child! Tommy and Rudy, nice! Both legends of Rock/Metal. I heard a story kinda similar with a clinic I think on the East Coast like Boston etc. It was Carl Palmer doing a clinic and the guy that was the opening act was apparently awesome so Carl got his panties in a bunch and almost got into a fight with the organizer of the clinic! Haha, some of these artists can be such Princesses. When Whitesnake was touring in 1990 and we got to meet David Coverdale. While we were waiting the bus was there so we were asking him questions. Me and my friend Ryan (Van Poederooyen who drummed for Devin Townsend) were/are drummers so we were asking about Tommy. The bus driver said that Tommy raises cattle or has a farm etc.... he said he should stick to his farming. As in the guy wasn't very friendly. So your story seems to be on par with what I heard about him. Legend though.

[@jamesjackson5418]

That's my birthday!

[@KaninTuzi]

Where is he now?

[@thebob01]

The second coming of Buddy Rich

[@elmyr4art]

What about Edward Vesala

[@DubhglasZaffa]

thebob01 Its True!

[@nazario6664]

Totalmente !

[@dodge4x418]

More like the reincarnation of Joe Morello. Wow

[@jamespfitz]

Let's hope not. Buddy Rich was a talented ASSHOLE.

[@foxidrizov6945]

Thats it❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@KawikaChing]

3:10 im SITLL trying to learn how to do that!!

[@rutherfordBHAZED]

WOW!!!

[@richardreyes5126]

pro lil bro

[@VintageSixPiece]

In 1989 Jacob was already a very good drummer of any age.

[@carpediem4179]

Talented

[@Swagadelic_Wizard]

I am here because Daron Malakian sent me here who else lol

[@nazario6664]

Grandioso!

[@ifyoudbesokind6973]

Just got done watching Buddy Rich vs Ed Shaughnessy and felt ashamed as a drummer. Just got done watching Jacob Armen and felt. . . . Oh, just dig a hole and let me crawl inside.

[@heffy301]

Todd Wolfe Make the hole big enough for me too…

[@rexross6808]

it should make you inspired man!

[@ifyoudbesokind6973]

I've been playing since I was fifteen and I'm not even a glorified *basic* drummer. I could be with lessons again, but I'm 28 and got hardly any money lol sorry I didn't write back sooner btw

[@bookguitarguy]

There's hope for you though, because you have humility. That'll encourage you to work hard and get better, at drums, or whatever you choose to do. Nothing to be ashamed about, just do your best, and be yourself!!

[@macusaurelius1313]

Damn!!

[@BigBillLucas]

Over 2000 views and no comments ? Some cool Latin rhythms coming out from this kid, but did not need to be surrounded by soo many toms.

[@hamlettelmah441]

He is un-freaking-real. Was amazing back then and that much more amazing now.

[@cindybrand3458]

BigBill Lucas Not if he can make them rumble . or thunder he has a bright future ahead !!!

[@fluffypuppy720]

He obviously likes them

[@joeday4293]

Sure he did. It was 1989. There were rules. LOL

[@jglasernyc]

Where is he today?

[@gotham61]

You'd think he would have gone on to a big career, but not really. He released one album on Prince's label which is now out of print and quite rare, and more recently two self released albums, but not much.

[@GG-ml3vr]

@@gotham61 Thats a bit sad😢

[@gotham61]

@@GG-ml3vr This happens with a lot of child musical prodigies. It's one thing for a little kid to be able to play with the chops of an adult professional, but to make it as an adult once the gee whiz cuteness factor is gone, requires that you develop your own style and musical ideas.

[@Waluigi10K]

Does anyone know who's arrangement of Giant Steps he was playing?

[@kkampy4052]

I believe Tommy Newsome did most of the arrangements for the band.

[@Moonventure2020]

This is actually George Stone’s arrangement of Giant Steps! You can hear it on the CSUN JAZZ vinyl from 1986 of the same title!

[@Moonventure2020]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boaTaoOJlpykqZIsi=Dr1-4JpRfWkInzTw

[@Moonventure2020]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/boaTaoOJlpykqZIsi=Dr1-4JpRfWkInzTw

[@belchiornietzsche]

😥👏👏👏👏

[@russelladams9147]

4 pop drummers and 1 drum machine from Katy Perry's sound studio gave this a thumb's down.

[@joellafargue9882]

Poop on them and the drum machine (I have always hated those things -- would rather listen to real drums).

[@Yaboroqe]

I wish I was a latino drummer...or Armenian...

[@จีจี้มิวสิค]

เก่งโคตร

[@roybeckerman7843]

I wonder how many drummers were acts on this show, after BUDDY RICH had died two years before this ..

[@joellafargue9882]

I know that Louis Bellson made several appearances on the show.

[@purklang]

4 Thumbs down? Why that? I think 4 Looser!

[@bookguitarguy]

4 drummers who realize they'll never have the talent he has, and are jealous. LOL.

[@b.murenthaler]

Reminds me a bit to Louie Bellson ....

[@camc5483]

Jimmy Fallon would have been trying to sit on the throne with the kid.

[@luiszuluaga6575]

I hope this kiddo wound up having a really good career as a session drummer or otherwise. 😃🙏🏼🥢🥁🍗

[@sukhmandeepbhatti6867]

Simmon Phillips in childhood

[@BadRonald1]

I used to see this kid all the time with his Dad They'd always show up at some event and his dad would beg the people to listen to his son. Then another event would come and there he was with Daddy. The kid was bragging to some other kid how he can play better than most kids his age. I'm thinking this kid is going to have a bigger head by the time he turns 17.

[@sarkisian050563]

Again ARMEMIANS....OLL OVER..😁😁😁

[@DK138nzsk]

just imagine some fine down tunned guitars a fat 5 string bass and a decent growling with this

[@museumjunkie9317]

He diffidently styles his playing after Neil Pert.

[@GG-ml3vr]

Agreed,there definately a bit of the proffesor about him👍

[@BateroNs]

Tony Royster juniors cover

[@TheIndividual.]

Ed Shaughnessy? Lol