Jimmy Chamberlin Drum Clinic | Live At Chicago Music Exchange | CME Session

All things Drums at Chicago Drum Exchange here: bit.ly/35D68qQ
Jimmy Chamberlin, one of the founding members of Smashing Pumpkins gave an excellent clinic on the showroom floor of Chicago Music Exchange. Jimmy played "Tonight, Tonight" and "Geek U.S.A." from older Pumpkin records as well as some newer solo drum tunes. Enjoy seeing a brief recap of the evening and hearing what Jimmy has to say about the heart behind his drumming.
Jimmy is playing on a DW Collector's Kit Maple/ Mahogany
Check out our Giveaways page to win gear! - www.chicagomusicexchange.com/pages/giveaways

[@ferabra8939]

The Pumpkins were Corgan, Iha and Wretzky with a drum machine. They went from a drum machine to one of the best rock drummers ever, and that was the key. Definitely Jimmy is my top five ever, and always will be.

[@elbettto]

Agreeeeeee!!!

[@realest_shirts]

Fuck ya!

[@TheMichaelJoshua]

+Fer Abra Yes agree 100%. Ive always loved Jimmys drumming. Its totally the pumpkins sound.

[@BlueHopi144]

I saw him back in 94 - 96 - 98 - one of the best on stage with Danny Carrey i saw in the 90's

[@IgNaceus]

He's way more than just a machine.

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Not your average top 40 radio friendly drummer. Very underappreciated and often overlooked when name dropping some of the great drummers of this generation.

[@Imaguitarplayer22]

Geek USA is an absolute monster track

[@VBshredder]

heck yes - any drummer i've ever played with, i've turned them onto it, and they all are blown away. It's not just the flashy stuff, but killer groove, especially in the slow breakdown part.

[@benmiddleton9984]

Absolutely

[@tiolui1]

Man...really!!! How can this guy play this?one of the top favorite songs for Smashing.

[@fiddygd8304]

Tristessa??

[@Estusstew]

Imaguitarplayer22 all the songs on Siamese Dream are amazing. Definitely one of my desert albums

[@johnvaquera2211]

His drum fills are distinctive. You know when its Jimmy. If your a pumpkins fan that is.

[@carlossousa24]

Lotsa sextuplets and single rolls. Nothing wrong with that! I miss drum line

[@kevinanderson2185]

Aside from his still incredible drumming, he has aged well. His voice sounds way better than it did in 94-96 and he's been clean for years now with a nice family. What a guy.

[@bigbowlowrong4694]

Yep, Jimmy discovered the key to a long, happy life: heroin addiction in your 20s

[@drewlittell]

Kevin Anderson He’s truly one of the great addiction success stories. The dude was a complete mess in the 90s, nearly died several times. He got clean, stayed clean and exponentially improved his artistry in the years since. Truly inspiring!

[@Jellybeantiger]

Drums are a man’s true drug.

[@saintjabroni]

@@bigbowlowrong4694 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Confine it to your 20s. That’s the time.

[@northernelitegoaltending]

Did he not just turn 58? That's crazy.

[@ferabra8939]

The combination of his signature constant foot hi hat pedal, and all those ghost notes on the snare, is what gives his drumming such a distinctive sound.

[@phbarossi]

and those left handed hits on the hi hat that somehow enhance the snare that comes afterwards... absolute monster of a drummer

[@marcusmcclelland]

I think he is a really smart guy. It is his 8th notes on the hats, the accuracy and articulation of his playing that reflects this. You know if you can play simple 8th notes like he does it keeps driving the song. fills fit better too. jimmy is one of the greats for sure.

[@danieldesoto6787]

Good drum patterns are another distinction of his playing. He's just simply amazing

[@mcgarnacle21]

I think for me, as well as what you've mentioned, is his rimshots and flams definitely give his drumming a distinct sound too.

[@gulinotm]

hes the one i blame for constantly keeping my left foot going lol

[@donottalk4138315]

OK, I’ve spent twenty minutes just trying to write something about Jimmy and I’m lost for words. He’s a greatest drummer in the world for me. There was guys more technical, louder or faster, it doesn’t matter. Every time he hits a snare I have goosebumps. His style and hands are so distinct. I was in tears when I’ve heard an intro to «Doomsday Clook» for the first time. There’s a challenge for an artist or musician to be good. There’s an even bigger challenge to be good and staying that way for a long time. Jimmy is not good. He’s fantastic. Always was, always will be. Long live.

[@wisheye1]

This guy is a legend. One of my top 3 favorite drummers ever.

[@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84]

Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo underrated

[@Imaguitarplayer22]

I could watch this all day

[@cuteasxtreme]

Just realized I've never heard him talk before... Still one of the top 3 drummers of all time imo

[@jackgiuffre3501]

One of the best, and his Jazz band is awesome as well. Jimmie is a good guy, I’ve seen his Jazz band and with the Pumpkins and his playing never ceases to astound me.

[@allrequiredfields]

Best drummer of the last 25 years. Without a fucking doubt. Countless drummers with insane technique, but NO ONE with this level of technical ability paired with an intense desire to play FOR the song - not Beauford, not Carey, no one comes even close.

[@MozTheBoz]

+allrequiredfields Matt Cameron said hi

[@allrequiredfields]

+Msgr. Øystein Nidal Gein Cameron is a little to mechanical to me; Jimmy's far more dynamic.

[@daarionaharis3675]

Danny Carey?

[@allrequiredfields]

+Daario Naharis All technique, no taste or dynamics.

[@OverproofMMA]

Keep telling yourself that. Jimmy Chamberlin is a top 3 drummer for me but Danny Carey is in a complete other dimension.

[@TupDigital]

Even hearing this drum-forward, room audio of Tonight, Tonight is giving me goosebumps rn. Jimmy's left foot is a veritable third arm/hand. Drummers know.

[@communityclay5244]

He makes the entire kit sing. His grooves utilize every piece of the kit to the point where he creates a mountain of sound only to be rival by the wall of guitars that was The Smashing Pumpkins.

[@saintjabroni]

You make so much sense -and it’s fact based- I wanna argue with you just to see an earthquake start.

[@caiusmadison2996]

The proof is right here folks, the Pumpkins would not have been huge without Jimmy. He is my favorite drummer because he uses half of what Pert does and makes more interesting beats and change ups, IMHO. Less is more when you're Jimmy, and yet this guy is more busy on his setup than most drummers today. Corban, suck it up bro, apologize and get it together, your music REQUIRES a Jimmy to sound right.

[@SuperSaiyanScandinavian]

so true. any pumpkin fan that thinks it was all Billy's doing, is wrong. Sure he was the one who composed the songs and lyrics and obviously is the most important element to the Pumpkins; however, so many of their songs wouldn't have been as good without Jimmy's drumming. Billy and Jimmy were both lucky to have met each other, because they both had unique styles. No one composed songs the way Billy did, and to this day he still has one of the most, if not the most, unique voices i've heard in rock music. Jimmy had a very interesting style, and his influences were quite different from Billy's, so there was a nice contrast that blended the styles perfectly. Jimmy was great at doing what was best for a song, whether it needed a big heavy drums, or something more subtle and artistic. Not to put down Dave Grohl or anything, cos he was a good drummer too, but imagine if the Pumpkins had more of a generic drummer like Grohl. It just wouldn't be the same. Dave Grohl was obviously a good drummer, but Jimmy Chamberlin is a great drummer, and I think as time passes on, he may get a little more recognition than he has. I think he's a very underrated drummer, and he should definitely be ranked up their with keith moon, john bonham, neil peart etc. anyways, of course Billy is the soul of the Pumpkins, but Jimmy Chamberlin is a huge part of their sound as well. The Smashing Pumpkins is Billy and Jimmy. As much as I liked D'arcy and James, they didn't have a big impact on the sound, and mainly just played what Billy wrote. Even still, I'd prefer D'arcy and James in the band as opposed to any other musician Billy tries to get into the Pumpkins.

[@caiusmadison2996]

I agree with you entirely. I want the whole caboodle back. I would have been straight up insulted if was Wretzky and Iha with the first "Pumpkins" reboot having blatant copies of his ex band mates. A blonde chick bass player and a metro Asian rhythm guitarist? Blatently wrong of him, and knowing how Billy has treated the others over the years, it is no surprise that he would stoopso low, again. Losing respect for Organ as a person, because he has needed help since around 90', but instead has convinced himself that it is a spiritual issue, instead of what is clearly simple understanding issues between himself and others. He needs help, Jimmy is not that big on drugs anymore. It is time to get past old issues, and make right for themselves before fate closes a gaping door. So many good bands do this, simple tiffs spiral into major issues like deaths of members and I'll tempers toward legacy mates

[@caiusmadison2996]

On the road again.

[@MotoGreciaMarios]

Caius Madison You're so right. Speaking abour Peart... Peart was an iconic drummer. To me, sometimes he sounded too technical though, he almost exercised... too much control over his hits. Jimmy, when he needs/wants to, becomes a wave of dynamism and emotion that irresistibly washes everything away. Peart lacked this quality. Just imagine Peart performing "silverfuck". It would be impossible to convey the same level of passion and "Organised chaos". Undeniably, Jimmy's drumming paired with Corgan's composing ability were the two mainstays of the Pumpkins quality.

[@averagebusinessmen2]

Caius Madison Jimmy is currently touring with SP!

[@Esmith5488]

I don’t play drums and I watch this video A LOT

[@Jellybeantiger]

That fill in Geek USA after the slow section,love it. The Bonham of the 90’s and I’m not saying he plays like Bonham but his influences are jazz like Bonham. Chamberlin’s snare work is fantastic.

[@thizzlamicz559]

jimmy is jazz inspired with his twist that's why it so sick!

[@ebonyavengerstevenson1321]

I come back to this every few months when he mentions Elvin Jones and Kieth Moon... we are being schooled and I appreciate that.

[@SpaceBoy-97]

Jimmy has to have one of the best combinations of groove/technical ability I have seen in a drummer

[@synthguy7774]

To me, my all time favorite drummer is a tie between Stewart Copeland and Jimmy Chamberlin! He understood what being a musician is really about; doing what is best for the song. He's truly one of the most underrated players.

[@olympiawa7891]

He plays GEEK USA at 5:45 - GREAT drumming song I used to drum to that song al the time....

[@dashwig]

There's guys who play the drums (vast majority), then there's drummers and THEN there's artists - he's one of them! Amazing how he makes the whole drumkit kind of breathe and "sing". You instantly recognize it's him playing.

[@toobasaurus23]

Jimmy is the best! The Smashing Pumpkins got me through high-school. Saw them live on their melancholy and the infinite sadness tour. One of the best shows and nights of my life!

[@matter509]

Those parts in Geek USA wow. Got me hankering for some Siamese Dream.

[@braxtonswarroom8297]

One of the most underated drummers, ever.

[@fafa9493]

Best drummer in the world

[@sundriedturd]

Jimmy is one of only a few drummers with the power, chops and groove of this caliber. And on top of that, he has the artistic sensibility to not blow his load.

[@kymberlishea2036]

Man. Tonight Tonight made me fall in love and appreciate the drums so many years ago

[@Cantor214]

That fill at 6:22 is amazing!

[@Polyfusia]

The snappiest snare sounds from any drummer. Love his style.

[@kyleandrewsofficial]

This is god level rock drumming

[@AngelQuiroz]

What a freaking beast

[@onkel44lekno]

one of the best drummers of all time. to see and hear jimmy play live was mind blowing.

[@hphill3]

My favorite drummer.

[@vjwalleum]

5:46 -> end of video : love juice everywhere

[@compulsor5853]

One of THE BEST drummers- period.

[@Anonymous-is2qb]

He's an even better drummer now I think. Hits the cymbals a lot softer now too.

[@aheadrec6659]

Tonite.tonite,best drumming in my life...love jimmy...

[@laurentpk]

Couldn't hit the thumbs up fast enough! This man is from another planet... one of my favorite drummers...

[@mr.hitachi797]

He's legit TOO good for the band

[@DanthaFodder]

A goddman genius, making something so technical look so effortless.

[@DrevPile]

Awesome. Thanks for posting. Hope there's more. Cheers.

[@deadstar44]

What he says 5:31 "Injecting sophistication under the surface", that's what I realize about Chamberlin's drumming after listening to his Pumpkins work for 30 years. That's his whole motto being laid loud and clear that shows when you listen carefully to every drum parts of his, there are little technical details everywhere underneath the surface that enhance the groove and make it sound more than a typical rock song in 4/4. It's subtle and sometimes drowned under the guitars but it's there like that open hi-hat accent on Geek USA in this video. When he got to shine like Lucky 13, you realize that all of his drum parts are stacked with layers of accents, ghost notes and load of paradiddles peppered with jazz chops.

[@ObscuredJellybelly]

Awesome footage of an amazing drummer!

[@newworldhoarder7107]

Dude kills it! Ain't no Pumpkins or Billy solo stuff without James Chamberlin. Period.

[@leehuff9901]

Well said. Love this dude. Incredible drummer

[@ryanmason9320]

My favorite drummer ever. So happy you're well, Jimmy. Thank you for the music

[@amangonecrazy]

One of my favourite pumpkins song is Home from machina 2, his drumming on that track is probably what makes it my favourite

[@benmiddleton9984]

Love JC! One of THEE MOST UNDERRATED drummers of our time. The man simply doesn't get enough credit. He's an incredible jazz drummer.

[@jdclark5278]

Amazing 🙌

[@fidelrivera2887]

I can listen to this guy talk music all night.. what a talent and what a heart. Real, authentic music trumps the phoney stuff, always! No Pro Tools, no Auto-Tune, just dedication, hard work, practice and monster fucking playing.

[@jonn443]

How you go from playing Weather Report to the grunge of Smashing Pumpkins is beyond me... Just showcases his versatility. Unforgettable.

[@danieldesoto6787]

Why?? Weather report isn't too far off the spectrum if you think about other rock musicians and using jazz influence

[@MedalionDS9]

@@danieldesoto6787 I think they are trying to say he thinks of grunge as unsophisticated music compared to Weather Report and regular jazz perhaps

[@silversunstaley]

THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!! You guy have a fine enough set up for what you did! That sounded amazing!

[@blarghblargh]

Full audio and especially video of these would be amazing.

[@MeatyController]

He's become so handsome with age

[@kingofthefountain3091]

If he’d kept the mullet he would be an Adonis.

[@liamgallagherrr]

This makes it abundantly clear that we wouldn’t even know who Corgan is without Jimmys insane talent.

[@kristopherryanwatson]

this comment is absurd.

[@neilbrophy1826]

Geek USA, awesome! He sounds just as good now as he did 20 years ago. He might even sound better.

[@alejandromoro]

of course the has to sound better.... he has more experience and control over the instrument

[@nesfan8]

My favorite drummer of all time

[@MickH74]

Love this man awesome drummer.

[@filipdemeyst8842]

Mr. Chamberlin is such an unique drummer. I think much of the pumpkins soud is defined by his playing! One of the best modern drummers I guess.

[@brianhidalgo4315]

awesome drummer

[@rum02]

What else to you say but gorgeous. Right there that last section playing geek usa. That drum part is a work of art. Pure flow and totally.unique. love it. Can always come back this video.

[@zenzenzen4741]

What a professional, one of my top ten favorite drummers

[@sebastian_ghoxt]

my favorite drummer Jimmy Chamberlin

[@Jellybeantiger]

I can listen to Chamberlin all day.

[@pruston599]

JC’s abilities are out of this world!!

[@JCYoo]

Amazing.

[@j.d.r.5491]

My favorite drummer, can't think of someone with such a character in 90´s Rock music.

[@the6ig6adwolf]

Juan Diego Rincón Dave Grohl comes to mind.

[@werideatdusk]

The only ones who come close, in my view, are Danny Carey and Matt Cameron

[@momentumcharting6700]

So effortless yet so powerful.

[@xiaolee2975]

in the wave of grunge in 90's, he is the best drummer

[@mdjones4]

Matt cameron, dave grohl

[@blppt]

Sean Kinney, Dave Abrussezze were up there too.

[@patrickreichert1442]

Jimmy is my favorite drummer of all time. His dynamic with Billy makes that band

[@patrickreichert1442]

Ray M Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, The Breeders, and a few others aren’t bands you respect? I agree there are few left but just one I disagree

[@patrickreichert1442]

playlists it is! my favorite Breeders record is “Pod”. Steve Albini’s production is incredible

[@63Baggies]

I really like this guys playing; fresh, innovative with plenty of drive...

[@iagobroxado]

Simply outstading.

[@producemusicathome]

I just shared this on my Big Wreck Uncensored Facebook page One of my favorite drummers!

[@RoBMcCullochexperience]

Jimmy Chamberlin has always been one of my top favorite versatile drummers of all time.

[@CHEF_ALMERIA]

Thank you Chimex! From Spain.

[@0mFg0ShiSh]

one of the smoothest rock drummers ive ever listened to. hes got sick skills, little 5 / 7 stroke rolls, off the ride / hi hat > to the snare beats, generally sick with the high hat, indeed. he changes grips from standard to old school too. brushes, sticks, it doesn't matter. he's real good with them brushes though. :) anyone of those picses iscariot / siamese dream songs, when he uses the brushes, adds magic to those tracks. also a sneaky little flam master. knows precisely when to use them, without over using them. o yes grasshopper, I study. dave grohl used click track with butch vig in studio, I highly doubt mr chamberlin needed the same. his timing is impecible. id love to take lessons, hell even A lesson from this dude. he knows what's up & makes it look effortless @ the same time. don't even need to see the vid & could tell you that, although it would be nice. lol. its the thought that counts, & for that I thank you. :)

[@acarlovonsexron1994]

Dave recorded one song on click- Lithium. Jimmy recorded the entire Zwan project to a click. I'm not detracting from Jimmy, because in the Pumpkins' Butch didn't want a click because of the push/pull dynamic Jimmy and Billy played into, while Zwan focused on studio wizardry.

[@User-jk8wq]

I agree with everything you said there, except that point about click tracks. Dave Grohl only used a click on Lithium, and almost all of Siamese Dream was done to a click (though the drum tracks on Gish were recorded with just Jimmy and Billy playing off eachother. It’s really a testament to Jimmy’s ability to thrive in either situation)

[@PedroDVC]

What a great drummer!

[@Amp1771]

I love jimmy chamberlain

[@sij6169]

My favourite drummer from my favourite band. No one is better than Jimmy, I saw a quote from Dave Grohl saying he was the best rock drummer in the world during the 90s. Now that is big praise. I love the fact that his timing is so spot on but he smashes the crap out of that snare. Not many drummers are able to come up with the drum hooks he does, especially to run alongside the crazy guitar riffs pumpkins can come out with. Wound off machina shows how technically gifted he is. God damn I could talk about that band all day.

[@nico_rico3185]

Wow... SO GOOD

[@Oseanyboy]

That man is an absolute hero to some.

[@woodson129]

God I wish he was with the Pumpkins still, nobody can even come close to replacing the sound that he gave them. Best drummer ever.

[@drumtravelfun]

Wow, he sounds awesome.

[@conannanoc8768]

My favorite drummer of all time. The two songs displayed here, the ending of Untitled, Jellybelly, Muzzle... this guy can make a song soar like no one else.

[@robin5on]

I haven't read the comments, i just know everybody say he's the best

[@joewillburn]

Jimmy, you're the man! A god among musicians!

[@soulintake]

Almost 2019, can someone upload the whole session already?

[@juliejohnson3626]

OMG!!!! Awesome!!!!!!

[@miaodu1695]

Tonight, tonight is my favorite!!!!

[@Mikesjr]

I love you jimmy.

[@mattspeck435]

as huge fan of Jimmy Chamberlin my favorite part of his playing style is the paradiddle....he uses the rudiment all the time and its with that that I learned it so fast. I and I never new until I found out his back ground in Jazz why he used his hi-hats so much as he played along . LOVE HIM !!

[@toddmusic]

Those Geek USA fills!

[@ThePsychedelicCinema]

Him and Dan Carey were the 90s drum gods

[@danieldesoto6787]

Jimmy Chamberlain is one of the best Rock drummers of our time

[@laurentpk]

Goosebumps on Geek... incredible...

[@spookypunky]

One of the best albums of all time.

[@yosemitesam76]

Jimmy Chamberlin...the one true drum machine.

[@spookypunky]

Rock+Jazz=Jimmy Chamberlin. Im so glad he's out there talking. I'd have loved to see more of this in the early 90s. Seems like a super legit guy

[@spoonman7]

1:30-2:38, amazing drumming. Chamberlin is in a class by himself, such an amazing talnet, I could literally watch him play all day.