Jimmy Chamberlin on Crafting Drum Hooks for "Tonight, Tonight" | Reverb Interview

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Jimmy Chamberlin's drum part on The Smashing Pumpkins "Tonight, Tonight" contains one of the most iconic drum hooks of the '90s. Jimmy talks us through the "why of drumming," and how his approach to crafting drum parts isn't about showing off chops, it's about reinforcing the content and feel of a song.

[@joetrosclair8434]

I cannot express how much I love that Jimmy cleaned his life up and turned things around. What a treasure

[@nathanhewitson3880]

I don’t follow the Pumpkins too closely anymore and honestly thought he’d be living under a bridge by now. I saw him in a recent video doing well and almost cried, so happy for him.

[@ferd1572]

​@@nathanhewitson3880 what happened to him?

[@jordanroherty4483]

@@ferd1572 I think they're referring to everything that happened in the 90s, when he was fired from the Pumpkins. I too am very glad he's thriving now. He's my favourite drummer and it's not even close. Such a tremendous talent.

[@Gee-1979]

​@@ferd1572During the Mellon Collie tour he developed addictions to crack cocaine and heroin. Then their keyboardist died while getting high with Jimmy and he was fired from the Pumpkins. Thankfully he was one of the rare success stories, he got clean and got his life back. He's an inspiration.

[@Jtdubbzz]

Yeah there were times when he was always playing in his sleeveless prison shirt I thought he might not make it. Always one of my favorite drummers though…

[@lilstinker1949]

Jimmy is one of the only drummers whose fills I remember like they were choruses or catchy riffs.

[@MrAngryTwinkie]

He is musical as all hell.

[@WillCorg]

BurtSampson, I know right? I remember when Today was released, it wasn't necessary the opening hook or the dreamy sounding guitars that got my attention, it was the drums on that song that made me tap the dashboard when driving (and I'm a guitarist)! Cherub Rock is another great example, unmistakable, and there's not another song out there like it, before it or after it!

[@BionicleSaurus]

The only other drummer I can think of who has achieved that is the classic, Neil Peart. Very impressive indeed!

[@seamus2112ophelan]

BionicleSaurus I throw Phil Ehart into that esteemed group too.

[@adePRS]

agree, i can remember every details of cherub rock's drum part

[@8ulls3y3]

Jimmy's playing literally makes new brain cells grow.

[@michaelsotomayor5001]

wet the fuk? :D

[@panduwib470]

90's

[@GREENngrayZP]

yes yes and yes

[@lewisham]

Wow, they should play it to Alzheimers patients then.

[@mlgspongebob5385]

@@lewisham do you even know what Alzheimer's is, I could explain in full detail but I'll save myself the trouble; look it up. Don't even @/woosh me

[@theepicrrotmg7325]

Jimmy Chamberlain is really the main reason that I think that the Smashing Pumpkins set themselves apart from most other alternative rock bands from the 90s. He started as a dedicated jazz drummer and brought all of those influences into his drum parts for the band. It’s goes to show that simply being able to play some rock beats doesn’t fill in the empty space as well as someone who took the time and dedication to practice master the techniques of such a broad and complex genre like jazz.

[@TheNeutralViewFromSwedenAKAHer]

Jimmy's drums and Billy's songs are the golden combo.

[@Ulrich_von_Jungingen]

I consider Stewart Copeland of the Police the same. He brought a sound to the band in a similar way Jimmy really made the Pumpkins music stand out.

[@vinskilindqvist4554]

@@Ulrich_von_Jungingen but Stewart is deffinitely not a jazz drummer

[@diegoleiva7242]

Chamberlain and Cameron have a feel that stands out from other 90s Rock bands. Awesome drummers.

[@MrStoudemire11]

Mate 100% mixed together with 2 great guitarist, intelligent song writer and babe bass player 😁

[@ryanern18]

The fact that Geek USA was a first take is mind blowing.

[@Fakename70]

Still one of the best-sounding snare attacks in the game

[@dmfglobal132]

Yeah, when I think of Jimmy, his snare attack and sound is what stands out as his signature.

[@Steaminlidz]

Absolutely this. There’s not many bands that would put their drummer out front on his own for four bars at the beginning of the first track of their first LP. But it’s totally recogniseable.

[@AlexNapierHolland]

@@Steaminlidz Great point.

[@AGGIOSOUND]

I am not a drummer, but every time I listen to a pumpkins song, for some reason he’s drumming was always the focal point for me.

[@larry2388]

I can see why this guy is my favorite drummer. "There's nothing worse than a drummer that knows how to Pro Tool." "Those imperfections in those performances have a feel to them." Ya, it's called the human quality. That which reminds us that we are not machines, but spirit.

[@MrAngryTwinkie]

He is a prime example of chops serving the music. That dude is CRAZY musical with INSANE chops. One of my favorite musicians of all time, and you can tell it's JC from one note. He comes through his playing.

[@bilawallahootidrums]

Well said

[@kierenmorre5641]

We're spirits? Cool ... where's your evidence? More likely, we're glitchy, imperfect machines ... not like the well-functioning drum machines we made.

[@maya-xk9ud]

jimmy's drums over protools.i wanna see jimmy drums on pumpkins again. if jimmy come back,pumkins would make another classics

[@funghoul9124]

fuck yea.....hes completely right bout that cut and paste bullshit..........that aint drumming.....its a buncha pussy bullshit.........playing straight thru takes balls and thats a performance worth keeping.....itll never be completely perfect which is why its perfect........theres no way an asshole who plays 2 bars and fucks up and patches his shit together is first....a real drummer....and second......could ever be truly proud of what he did.......jimmy knows what the fucks up! hes proven it!

[@formattester6]

this guys brain and his senses are so balanced.

[@bedford4383]

Amazing considering...

[@kmasonsos]

McSpitfire heroin

[@PartiallyAgonized]

People are such dumbasses when talking about shit they don't know anything about. Heroin is different things for different people. different reasons and booze is literally just as much of a crutch for people as any other drugs

[@PartiallyAgonized]

It doesn't mean you're fucking handicapped for the rest of your life

[@kmasonsos]

Cousin Kyle you can really fry your brain on heroin tho

[@diegopenamata]

What I love about Jimmy's style of drumming is the fact he plays FOR the song, instead of trying to make everybody knows he is playing, as many drummmers do.

[@SmallvillenerdTwo]

Even on Gish Suffer has a really unique and groovy rhythm that MAKES the song.

[@JohnnySuckss]

every drummer should watch this. this guy knows what the fuck is up when it comes to songwriting on drums.

[@ebeep]

Tone. Dynamics. Feel. Precision, Grace. Such a magical drummer.

[@BearIslandComics]

Jimmy Chamberlain: easily the most likable member of the band. Loving the enthusiasm he displays here.

[@socialmedia1789]

Just an exceptionally musical and gifted drummer. Billy Corgan may have an ego big enough to fill a room, but it was Jimmy who filled the SP albums with soul and finesse

[@AngelQuiroz]

“There’s nothing worse than a drummer who knows how to pro tool” -jimmy chainberlin

[@TheMuffinMan01]

haha love it

[@sharinglungs3226]

@kevin white how so?

[@p0llenp0ny]

@kevin white Because...

[@timpauling7516]

I'm not a drummer, nor a musician. But I LOVE watching Jimmy play. He does it with such ease. He doesn't look, like some drummers do, like he's having a seizure whilst playing. He always just sits there, & all that really moves is his forearms. Almost like he's a robot. He looks so natural. He almost mesmerises me when he plays. I literally watch him looking for faults. AND THERE'S NONE!!!!!

[@socalsp3]

Greatest drummer of the 90's. There would have been no pumpkins without JC.

[@connorjoseph6565]

Dave abbruzzese

[@franksbtka1624]

Agreed.

[@ryukan250]

Sean Reinert, Gavin Harrison, Danny Carey, Gene Hoglan, Jon Theodore, Tomas Haake, Mike Portnoy too

[@RallyCarDelta]

When I was young, listening to Gish, I heard something special in there. As a drummer myself, he's everything I always wanted to be in terms of talent (never quite got there). His style is so unique yet it compliments every song (instead of trying to take it over). Even now when I listen to Solara, I can hear Chamberlin trying to enhance the song, not be a one man show. AND that's considering that the drumming on Solara is a massive part of the song.

[@sweetpeajunglebean]

Best drummer of his generation.

[@caryd67]

Don’t forget Matt Cameron 🙂

[@danlc95]

Easily. He and Dave Krusen (Pearl Jam - Ten)

[@TheRedSetterr]

@Melan Colín Alan 'Reni' from The Stone Roses

[@connorjoseph6565]

@@danlc95 nah Dave Abbruzzese

[@danlc95]

@@connorjoseph6565 - He's awesome, but so many people cite his work on Ten, without realizing it was Krusen. But he's tasty as hell. Love him to death!

[@looksdirty]

Some years ago I had the opportunity to photograph Jimmy during his Jimmy Chamberlain Complex days and he is the nicest guy. Obviously I knew he was a great drummer but had no idea he was so articulate about his technique and thought process.

[@DavidRFIT]

Listen the work of this man on "Set the ray to Jerry". Mindblowing.

[@sully5810]

hell yeah, one of my favorite pumpkins songs due to Jimmy mainly, fantastic, the atmosphere and presence he creates on that song

[@MeatyController]

I love how his goofy laugh is in all these Reverb features, so cute! He really comes off like such a warm person

[@isaiahbroome6616]

Billy's songwriting and Jimmys magic behind the kit is the reason SP stood out so much in the 90's and 00's. Crazy fucking talented

[@lukerogers151]

Most emotional drum part of all time. I can hear this isolated and still cry. That's WHY Jimmy is a genius.

[@Duzz14]

Jimmy Chamberlain is the fucking truth. For years I've listened to guitar players telling me drummers don't matter. Pearl Jam (my favorite band) had 5 drummers and it didn't matter. Untrue...but how about how much the fucking pumpkins changed without Jimmy. Never has a band changed so much from losing a drummer.

[@CoryGamesHD]

dave abbruzzese was the best pj drummer ;)

[@Duzz14]

Cory90 most definitely Dave Krusen on Ten was real good. He's really over looked. Abbruzese was the best though

[@destination-nn1zq]

You are absafuckinlutly right!!!! Well said, an example to back your comment I think was the first album after jimmy's departure I think the album was called ADORE which I made the mistake of buying in the hope that Jimmy's departure wasn't going to upset the pumpkins chemistry too much... Well I was horrified on my first play of that album, it just wasn't the same band I had heard when i played siamese dream or melloncholy.... they sucked and I wanted to throw that heap of crap album out the window!

[@kurdtjohn]

The phrase "your band is only as good as your drummer" has always been true

[@JasonTMays]

Honestly, this just makes me want to take drum lessons just so I can learn how to play "Tonight, Tonight" on drums.

[@Reverb]

It's quite the hook - and to think it just came to him the moment he heard the song. What-a-drummer!

[@aheadrec6659]

the time is now..

[@Goatchild90]

One of the greatest drummers of all time

[@mitchellhughes5180]

The best drummer of the '90s.

[@EDAR96]

Mitchell Hughes Danny Carey?

[@MozTheBoz]

Along with Matt Cameron

[@omenroc1]

Best is such a subjective term. I’d call Jimmy the best. The most unique? DEFINITELY. Jimmy Chamberlin stands out from the whole crowd. In his era. definitely. He is a guy that will be remembered years later people will go: That guy was amazing! For years & years... Why? Because he & Billy both shared a common philosophy: THE SONG is the most important god-damn thing. No matter how good you can play: It’s nothing if not in service to the song itself. Good playing is nothing without the context of good songs that (the songs themselves, not the player’s abilities), will live forever. SP forever!!!

[@BEHEDETY]

Josh Freese?

[@tparker2095]

M01535 Matt Cameron doesn't come close, he really isn't that good.

[@abigaelrubion3014]

He is not just a drummer. He is a real artist. So talented. I believe his drum skills set a pace from other band. It made the Smashing Pumpkins music unique.

[@kunkushun1]

He's been killing the paradiddle shit forever. Love Jimmy C

[@pieroduharterondon7377]

One of the best drummers in the rock scene.

[@dAvrilthebear]

"I can play all those Weather Report chops I've been keeping in my back pocket!.." Gotta love this guy :)

[@thelastshoegazer4491]

Tonight, Tonight is the first Pumpkins song I fell in love with back in the day, and this guy helped with that - what an honest, talented musician. Hats off sir, from a fellow drummer to another.

[@TheLarryburns84]

Yep, same story here. and i'm a drummer too!

[@thelastshoegazer4491]

John Burns Very cool brother!

[@ijonicus]

It makes me beyond happy that not only is Jimmy playing with Billy, but that he is so kind to take time out to walk through some of these amazing songs. I absolutely love Jimmy's drum clinics and videos.

[@TundraMouse]

one of the most underrated drummers (and bands) ever, his back catalogue wipes the floor with some of the greatest drummers ever

[@EmilyCampbell_]

that 8" is the sweetest tom I've ever heard

[@elbettto]

100% fan of him... He went though many things also, drug overdose and everything on what he went out.. It was never better drummer than him for The Smashing Pumpkins. He is an exceptional drummer!

[@igorsim8170]

Instinct smarter than the brain . Love it. First idea is usually best and right one. Great drummer.

[@droctagon3k]

Tremendous, dynamic musician. Musicality, power, precision in the pumpkins catalogue.

[@joshuabrunetta4656]

I think the most underrated Jimmy drums are on Stand Inside Your Love. The drums on that track always kick me in the gut so hard they’re incredible

[@BW-kv9wj]

Jimmy is a God on the drums. He’s very articulate and well spoken. Just an all around cool dude.

[@Vor_Tex_Sun]

Jimmy is the reason I have been playing drums for 24 yrs.

[@nelsonventura7374]

One of the best drummers of all time! Jimmy is absolutely unique.

[@jamlemon]

I’m not a drummer but I appreciate how good Jimmy’s drum parts are on Tonight Tonight.

[@arklowrockz]

Jimmy Chamberlin is the real deal for sure

[@norwegianguy9480]

Jimmy is one of my three biggest influences. He is up there with Bonham and Copeland.

[@davidr1620]

I'll never forget when I first heard Thru the Eyes of Ruby and I realized how powerful and original of a drummer Jimmy is.

[@Krooksbane]

He is very articulate and easy to understand. I appreciate his drumming on Melancholy and the infinite sadness .

[@jellyboy123]

my favourite drummer of all time. Love how he say words drive the song. i feel the same when i drum in my band.

[@derekbell5333]

"...it's what God wants to hear."

[@photofriend44]

That's a great line isn't it?

[@friendship6668]

The giggle afterwards 💕💕

[@salemkid1979]

it sure is!

[@ericrosenburg657]

Thanks, Jimmy, for 30 years of jamming down bike trails, and generally being the soundtrack of my life. Smashing Pumpkins are the best!!

[@tmcmojo2292]

Jimmy is hands down the best. Unbelievable!

[@pedalfiles4441]

Such a talented and great drummer. So many words of wisdom that many people in todays music industry can learn from. I have been in bands before that even wanted the guitarist to play to click DURING A PRACTICE. Music isn't about perfection, its about imperfections and the things that make us human. In the great words of Ray Manzarek "Sometimes music isn't about playing music. Its about the lack of music and letting the song breathe."

[@OhanaFilms]

More rock drummers need to learn to groove like this.

[@kevincasey821]

I love how all the drum parts on "Tonight, Tonight" are mimicking a heartbeat.

[@vaughanxaviermusic]

"your instincts are smarter than your brain" this is so true when writing, for me at least. When I write with my band I often listen to demos and figure out what my instincts were, and go from there.

[@Mr.McCarthyism]

One of the top drummers of all time in my book..... Only a hand full of drummers who could make a drum set sound like any other instrument in a band.....he's put some real soul into that drum set

[@coltsuperocean10]

...Jimmy is just as good as it gets today. Bonham, Peart, Jimmy...there you go my top 3.

[@johnv9594]

coltsuperocean10 Jimmy, Bonham, peart

[@gpfband2138]

Interesting, he mentions Alex Acuña as one of his influences. Great peruvian drummer.

[@sweetpain67]

Whoa, possibly the best, most insightful and honest drum discussion ever.

[@darkhell227]

killer, and he seems so nice!

[@singthelongswansong]

He's grateful, not entitled.

[@dani1334]

After Bonham, the best and most personal rock drummer around

[@Millennial_Mike]

So great seeing Jimmy like this, clean and on top form.

[@caseykunz1703]

I think if there the was discussion of who would be on the Mount Rushmore of drummers... I definitely wouldn't have a problem considering Jimmy Chamberlin as those one of the greats!

[@fidelrivera2887]

My favorite drummer... without a doubt. Also seems like a cool dude, no pretentious attitude like his musical partner for so many years (still love WPC, but he is a bit much sometimes) I love how he calls out players who 'Pro Tool' and singers who auto-tune... the in-authenticity of fixing performances instead of, I don't know, practicing until you get them right or keeping them a little flawed and human is what is killing music now and why so much of it sounds so flat and lacking in dynamics. Jimmy is from another time, and like Bonham and Peart and Moon, these guys stand out from the crowd.

[@littlecurrybread]

You can hear the song play in your head just from his drums. Feels so natural. A great piece of drumming.

[@conorm2524]

Most sound engineers are drummers. That last quote hit me hard hahaha

[@ckartik77]

One of the best of our generation. As a 70s-80s kids, SP were a revelation when I was moving away from Pop,Pop-Rock.Just couldn't understand if them; and lo and behold, as the years went by, they and their songs have just grown on me. Cannot imagine SP without Jimmy. Best wishes Jimmy, keep smacking them skins, axeman!

[@wallacelovecraft8942]

Love hearing Jimmy talk about drums.

[@scott.hanson]

I know Jimmy had substance abuse issues - some of the post-Mellon interviews with the band are telling - but talk about humble. For him to have doubt about his playing and talk about "what if I'm fired" is pretty crazy...there's only one Jimmy Chamberlain. Just an amazing talent.

[@Asshat237]

I'm a guitar player and this drum part touches me on an overwhelming level. It's incredibly beautiful. It's so musical, but shows off chops also.

[@Deetroiter]

I always loved the fact that Jimmy sounded more like a jazz drummer trying to do rock music, than a rock drummer trying to do jazzy parts. It gave it a very unique sound and approach. No doubts about it, he could bang it out hard but it never lost its big band, jazz attack

[@davidemmanuel5057]

Mr Chamberlin you're my all time favorite drummer, thanks

[@jamesb1710]

Chamberlain seems like a great dude

[@bwanana252]

I'm not even a drummer but Jimmy is one of my favourite musicians. The way he talks about writing and performing is so refreshing and inspiring

[@DefendGlenn]

Holy crap. I knew ?JC was a drum god. But I didn't know he was so f-ing smart and had such a broad scope of musical history informing his drum selections.

[@SasaPetkovic_Bubnjar_Drummer]

Such a smart take on musical choices. VERY interesting to watch. Thx for uploading this.

[@tjlazer79]

Don't know who is a better drummer, Jimmy or Matt Cameron. Both amazing, two of the best from that era.

[@jakereeves1266]

Saw these guys at the late, great (original) Masquerade in Atlanta on the Gish tour circa I think 1992. Great show - they opened with Rhinoceros, cool choice - and Chamberlain was a monster!

[@ShawnKepner_YouTube]

Jimmy’s style is most aligned with how I always wanted to play behind the kit. He sets a very high bar with his immaculate stick control. Amazing drummer!

[@Peacecore09]

Jimmy is the man! Favorite drummer ever!

[@TippiGordon]

I've watched a bunch of Jimmy Chamberlin videos like this, and I've come to the conclusion that not only is he one of the greatest drummers who has ever lived, but he's also a brilliant music theorist and historian. He also has a remarkably unique style: you know it's Jimmy Chamberlin when you hear it, and not only that, he knows it too; listen to what he plays when he's talking about other drummers "going for stuff" at 3:58. It sounds like "just a drummer", but it doesn't sound like him. What an amazing talent.

[@Enough.Said.]

Jimmy Chamberlain and Dominic Howard have the most memorable drumming to me

[@AdamF89]

This guy is the reason I play drums, and why I love music so much. When I was 5 years old, I had Mellon Collie on tape cassette and used to set up books and jars into a little drum-set on the floor and play Porcelina, Thru the Eyes of a Ruby and Jellybelly. Of all the juggernaut rock bands of the 90s, Jimmy Chamberlain was hands down the best drummer. He and Billy alone could take on a band with 5 or 6 people and blow them out of the water

[@gsmith207]

Our band is rehearsing new songs tonight and this stuff JC speaks about I’m about to put into practice. Love coming up with my own drum parts for our own songs. Magic! Thanks for interviewing him, this is gold

[@popnocturne7909]

It’s amazing what he did with this song. So interesting to hear his explanation behind it.

[@andrewjdunbar]

Jimmy is such a musically intelligent drummer - completely in tune with the nature of the track, serving the song but able to introduce beat’s and tempo that push into your awareness. Amazing.

[@SrSacaninha]

Holy crap, what an amazing video! Such a intelligent and insightful musician. I'm so glad this guy is alive and well, the smashing pumpkins are one of my all-time favorite bands and Jimmy has a lot to do with it.

[@genevieveboucher2124]

Jimmy makes playing drums look so easy... I love the mix of all the genres he puts together to shine through.

[@garyabbot4659]

His kit sounds so nice and he plays so good.

[@indiefilmcomposer]

I can’t think of another 90s alt rock drummer with his skills , world class !

[@crystinamarie1]

This song. The drumming on it stands out and hits so much. I love it.

[@pablozee6359]

It’s so great to see Jimmy so healthy and thriving. One of my favorite drummers ever, and there were times back when I used to go to a lot of their shows in the early years, he was not in a good place. Such a cool result when you have jazz drummers playing rock.

[@caseyschulz1377]

Jimmy!!!! He got me into drumming. Glad to see him. Do more tutorials please!!!!

[@biffa_bacon3879]

Nobody hits a snare like Jimmy.

[@j_wah3084]

"There's nuthin worse than a drummer who knows how to ProTool..." Friggin classic!

[@truthaboveagenda]

J_ WAH - Hi, I'm a very basic blues drummer. What does he mean by that? - Joseph

[@TazorTots]

i think he meant that a drummer with protools will try to edit mistakes rather than play it right the first time

[@salemkid1979]

its poison!

[@VideosbySteve]

Ive been a fan since Siamese Dream came out and this is now the 1st time ive heard him talk. Very insightful guy.

[@danieltaylor4728]

Smart guy, great drummer.

[@bak1386]

My favorite drummer for sure. Such a melodic player, just a great sense of what needs to be played with certain guitar parts.

[@Jellybeantiger]

My fav drummer of alternative.