SNARE - Episode One featuring Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) at Studio 606

Every drummer has a story about a snare drum. And within that story is a complex emotional relationship that is deeply felt but rarely discussed. SNARE is a four-part documentary series from Lauten Audio that brings those stories and the details that defined them to life. In reconnecting legendary drummers with the snare drums they chose to define the future of music, we explore the nuance, impact, and importance of the indisputable lifeblood of music, the snare drum.
SONGS PLAYED
• Killing In The Name - Rage Against the Machine
• Bulls On Parade - Rage Against the Machine
• Show Me How to Live - Audioslave
• God Is Dead? - Black Sabbath
SNARES USED
• Pearl Free Floating Brass Snare - 6.5x14”
• 1980’s Tama Bell Brass Snare - 6.5x14” (Terminator)
• Ludwig Black Beauty - 6.5x14”
MICROPHONES USED
SNARE MIC (LS-408) - Top and Bottom Snare
www.lautenaudio.com/snare-mic
LA-120 V2 - Hi Hat
www.lautenaudio.com/la-120
LA-220 V2 - Stereo Overheads
www.lautenaudio.com/la-220
LA-320 V2 - Stereo Drum Room
www.lautenaudio.com/la-320
LS-208 - Kick in
www.lautenaudio.com/ls-208
LS-308 - Toms
www.lautenaudio.com/ls-308
Clarion FC-357 - Kick Out
www.lautenaudio.com/clarion
Atlantis FC-387 - Mono Room
www.lautenaudio.com/atlantis
Eden LT-386 - Mono Overhead
www.lautenaudio.com/eden
Each episode of SNARE was recorded directly to tape without EQ or Compression at Studio 606 in Los Angeles, California.
LEARN MORE ABOUT LAUTEN AUDIO
www.lautenaudio.com
SPECIAL THANKS TO BRAD WILK, DARRELL THORP, AND THE AWESOME FOLKS AT 606
Alastair Christie
Oliver Roman
Wiley Hodgden
Jerred Pollaci
Charlie Lo Presti
Ross Garfield (Drum Doctors)

[@JakeReedmusic]

This is so awesome! And, yes, the hihat rejection in UNREAL! My new favorite snare mic is SNARE MIC!

[@LautenAudio]

Thanks for being a part of it Jake. Can’t wait for your video!

[@testabeatdrums]

@@LautenAudionow I can’t wait for his video 💪🏻🥁🤓

[@RandyHanley]

Dude! This is amazing. It's almost like the snare is recorded on a separate track in another room because the isolation is so darn good!

[@marcobiccadrummer]

thanks Jake and Darrell for contributing to my debt :D ...... this Mic is FANTASTIC!!!!!!

[@torocruz1192]

Fellas what is the mic? Did I missed something? Is it th Lauten?

[@jaxonsavagedrums]

Brad doesn’t get enough love man! So much groove for one guy!!

[@LautenAudio]

He’s awesome

[@itLEAKED]

Although I do agree with you 100%. When I heard he was playing on Black Sabbath's final album in 2013. He got the official nod of approval.

[@dylanadams1455]

Yeah I thought he was perfect. Very few heavy drummers could stand in for Bill Ward's feel and swing. Brad nailed it.@@itLEAKED

[@videoaccount4323]

He's Lars Ulrich level.

[@thinkforyourself5672]

Lars is horrible lol

[@evolution_of_sean]

Aw man, I play in an RATM tribute, this made my day - Brad & Tim C, baddest rhythm section in rock

[@abrackas1]

Always thought their first album was Tama Bell Brass. Cool to know it was actually a Pearl.

[@BrianLoudenslager]

Us too! The secret is out.

[@G_Gr00v3]

I think Modern Drummer also said the snare on Rage's first record was a Bell Brass, which caused misinformation to spread

[@just.for.the.downshifts]

When you know the song just by hearing the beat. RATM. Legends forever 🙌

[@erics.4113]

I was playing complicated double bass and fills and chasing Dave Lombardo at the time until Rage came about. Brad's playing showed me another way to say a lot behind the drums without speaking as much. Just power. Not overplaying.

[@nateyoung]

I was about to write the same thing 😊

[@yongyea4147]

I need to learn them. I'm slaying nitty scott and the polish embassador right now.

[@thomaskauser8978]

You go with the polish ambassador he is a f'n genius!

[@savethefails]

right? nothing but the beat and groove and insta "oh hell yeah..."

[@jg1503]

One of my favorite drummers. All pocket just laid back groove. Rage and audioslave

[@MrMmnngghh]

"Like A Stone" is my favourite Audioslave song for that very reason.

[@carlkolthoff5402]

I'll never forget early summer of 1996. My brother had just bought Evil Empire. We put it in the cd player, turned up the volume and pressed play. People of the Sun, just 10 seconds in to the album when Brad starts playing that beat. We were both floored! Recorded drums had never sounded better before, so powerful, so groovy and punchy. Just lovely!

[@chandlerthegoolsby]

I wish he got more recognition, guy is probably my favorite drummer alive

[@LandoBassist]

I'm not a drummer, I'm a bassist. But from listening to music for my entire musical career its easy to recognize their songs just from brads excellent drumming. Truly an underrated master of his craft.

[@lukewalters4716]

Brad makes EVERY song unique and it's own thing. All of them. Imo top 5 all time drummers. Not for speed or flamboyance. Just amazing clean,tight and never a duplicate grove.

[@rafaelgonzalez7230]

The amount of history that snare has is so sick

[@RandomlyDrumming]

One of my favorite drummers! Brad is so underrated. Powerful, yet groovy, like a cross between Chad Smith and Dave Grohl.🤘

[@casanovafrankenstein8538]

I agree, and with some Bonham mixed in as well...

[@Buckseed]

Dave Grohl? C'mon man.

[@ripperplaysclon152]

He’s an influence whether you like it or not.@@Buckseed

[@Rika-vega]

@@Buckseed its a influencie, you hear a groove of brad? or rythm of dave?

[@GeorgeVrachliotis]

His playing on the last Black Sabbatrh album was outstanding!

[@user-zd5uk8oo8d]

especially in this song called god is dead

[@user-zd5uk8oo8d]

especially in this song called god is dead

[@MeTuLHeD]

Pearl still makes the full line of free floating snares.

[@freehaven1]

And they're still AMAZING!!!

[@HomeStudioRescue]

This is amazing! Rage and Audioslave recorded some of the greatest rock snare sounds of all time.

[@graveyarddrums]

It brings me great joy to know that one of my favorite snares was used on one of my favorite records.

[@thisisfrankie]

Such an incredible and underrated drummer. This guy should get a lot more recognition.

[@goddamnzordan]

I would LOVE to see something like this with John Otto and his 4x14 40 ply vented OCDP snare drum he used on Significant Other and Chocolate Starfish.

[@LautenAudio]

Going to check that one out now

[@NoNameForThisGuy]

Otto is so underrated. Shame about ocdp too

[@musiqsoundsproductions]

That was the rock sound of my youth.

[@iforgotthenamemate]

@@LautenAudio you better get that man !

[@jrdindiana]

Damn, Brad just doubled the value of my vintage brass free-floater 😆, not that I’d ever sell it.

[@nicklangmusic]

Okay this my favorite recorded example of that tama bell brass. When they going over the hi hat rejection the mic was achieving, that was also just mind blowing!

[@LautenAudio]

That's our new mic, "Snare Mic" 😄

[@StereoAnthony]

@@LautenAudio Ya, gonna have to get one of these for sure!

[@nicklangmusic]

@@StereoAnthonyyep, bought one today!

[@Pentoute45]

So... just like that... we were in the 606 FooFighters studio watching Brad W casually talking about snares, some that he and Ross Garfield used on RATM, Metallica, Nirvana, Off Springs, and countless historic records... ..just like that... That is friggin' amazing !! Coolest content I've seen in a while. Thanks for sharing this gem.

[@waltonbrown]

Ok this is my big moment, i got the same brass snare, bought it in the 70’s and yep, still my ‘go to’ snare today 😊

[@savethefails]

I've loved Lauten for a while and any time they say, "we have something good here.." I'm going to listen. I can NOT wait for the rest of these videos. I just started playing drums a few months ago and this is incredibly cool. I think one of the things that I love most about Lauten is how much they truly seem to care about the craft/art of the user of each of their products.

[@cesarrincon2008]

I love this snare. Got my first one with my Pearl CZX Studio kit I bought in 1993. That snare was eventually stolen. I found one about two years ago and bought it, and also bought another second generation brass free floater. I have a collection of about 8 or 10 free floaters in different sizes and shells. Love these drums!

[@grantgerathydrummer]

There is something to be said of how a great drummer knows how to Trigger the room. Brad does this so well. Beast!!

[@williamperri3437]

The pearl free-floating snare drum sounds phenomenal! I didn’t know that’s what Brad used, I figured it was a Tama or Gretsch. For those of you who are lucky enough to have heard The Roots “Do you want more” album Questlove told me he used a 4” Pearl free-floating brass snare drum on the whole album. The Snare drum on that album is second to none and we all know Brad got a phenomenal sound on the RATM records as well. It’s a great drum!

[@philippvollmer4373]

Hmm, I am pretty sure it was a Yamaha SD 493.

[@animus5469]

One of the most beloved and best drummers who knows how to set a groove and rock it like crazy.

[@anthonybolanos6223]

Great drummer and band! I was playing a lot of jazz when they came out, and Brad Wilk forever changed my approach to drumming after seeing how much sound he got from so little of a kit.

[@jeremycummings6702]

One of the most iconic albums of all time that still has relevance today!!!! Absolutely love RATM!!!!!!!

[@martindalby1365]

I loved this video. Brad is one of my favourite drummers. I play Killing and Bulls in my band and it was a real treat to see Brad play parts of those songs up close. I learned something new in each song. And I nevetr get tired of watching Brad play. Great to learn about the snares as well. Thanks 🤘😎

[@GlennWilsonDrums]

Thank you so much for doing this. I have such an emotional response to his playing, it just hits you in the chest. He’s awesome. Just ordered the mic :-)

[@GarrettBrown-TWT]

YES DUDE I'm such a weeny for dope snares especially with back stories. I have a few of my own now and am so grateful for my tiny collection.

[@bazZzment]

What a great video, thank you so much for this! I love Brad‘s playing so much! Great drum sounds as well.

[@jilips]

One of my favorite drummers and biggest inspirations

[@danieltrochei4544]

What an awesome episode!! professional as all hell, and fascinating stories behind one of the best mixed albums of all time

[@cobb_thedrummer]

Love Brad’s drumming and love that he’s playing the song from the heart.

[@ranadrums3174]

Center stage for drums, mics and a storied drummer... keep it simple. Great job guys!

[@andrewambriz6784]

I ran into Brad at a party in 1997 and he was so awesome to talk to! I was just a nobody and he took the time to give me a lesson with a butter knife and a fork. After that, I felt like he opened up a new gear in my playing style. I also was lucky enough to have Ross pimp out a DW snare for me!! Makes me wana play drums again watching this

[@visualnxghtmare6838]

Brads playing is simple yet it’s so good

[@JR59JR59]

And now begins my search for an 80s Tama Bellbrass

[@krusher74]

They just reissued it for $4k. OG's were going for $6/10k. Its actually a cast bronze shell, most of the companies have a cast bell bronze snare in their line.

[@itLEAKED]

The groove and feel of this. Unreal

[@strongbrave]

The White Pearls from Ludwig are absolutely awesome.

[@billyhughes9776]

Love Brad's playing -- pocket and groove all day long. The 408 will be my next purchase.

[@jefflyon2020]

His bass drum sounds the dopest of of all the drum sounds i heard here!

[@NickCostaMusic]

The off-axis rejection is bananas! Definitely looking to grab one of these ASAP - bravo, @lautenAudio !

[@baybae92]

Brad reminds me of Alex Van Halen in the way that he fills space in such an interesting way. It almost sounds like the groove’s gonna fall apart and it never does. Loved this!

[@30isdead19]

Very cool to revisit the snare drums and sounds on iconic albums but even better to hear the stories behind them.

[@mogwix]

Right off the bat - Killing in the Name! Awesome

[@LautenAudio]

❤‍🔥

[@randymaizland9662]

Been paying tribute to you Brad for over 6 years now. Guerrilla Radio Colorado. Do my best to keep it authentic and true to what you do. No more no less. I'm using an Ahead BOB snare that sounds fantastic. I'd love to have a brass free floater. Maybe one day soon. That bell brass is just way out of my budget unfortunately. I never get tired of this tribute band. So much fun to play and my bandmates kick ass too. Hope some day I can shake your hand and thank you personally for all you have given to music and myself.

[@JosephNoga]

This was AMAZING! Thanks for doing this.

[@fabioremedia6418]

This concept is just on another level

[@LDdrums20]

Legendary! Beauty all along. Exquisite sound

[@drummerdan95]

Really glad Sabbath came up, loved his drumming on 13!

[@mitchellmayer6326]

Looking forward to more from this series! Such a cool inside look

[@jtbknuggetsauce]

This was such a great video from a small channel I've never heard of - nice work can't wait to see more like this!

[@SpadaFer]

I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME IVE HEARD AN AUDIOSLAVE RECORD IT WAS THE FIRST ONE , God i heard that record so many times for so many years i think at least 10 years maybe more, those song absolutelly rock my world my life my sense of music, im not old enought to RATM but im not young, im 37 now, dam, life goes so fast, i just wanted to do rock that hard and well writen and beautifull powerfull, THE SONGS THAT HIT ME THE MOST AFTER SO MANY YEARS, ARE THE ONE WHIT THE MOST POWERFULL DRUMS, BUT ALSO THE QUIET ONES, I MEAN THE WHOLE ALBUM IS ............. I CAN WRITE ABOUT THAT ALBUM ALL DAY THANK YOU FOR THIS

[@ThePled9e]

OMG I had the brass free floating. Bought for £180 second hand. Everyone said it was too loud ❤. Loved it. When I stopped gigging the seller begged for it back 👌🏻

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

The Pearl FFS series was so awesome, still got my 6” steal, loud AF, always wanted the brass shell to swap out the steal

[@niklassilen4313]

Absolutely genius name for the new microphone! It's sounding good too!!

[@schlagzeugvideocoach]

Wow, great video! Thanks for sharing, great snares, studio and of course drummer! Very interesting - all the best! Greetings from Germany

[@EVILJAMARR]

I could listen to that snare all day

[@drumfanatik316]

The Holy Grail of snares! The infamous Tama Bell Brass! Often imitated, NEVER duplicated!

[@TheNumbrs]

If this video doesn't make you want a Bell Brass snare, your ears are gone. Absolutely beautiful!

[@michibassdeva]

Not even a drummer, but I enjoyed this video a lot! Looking forward to the next episode!

[@heavymetal1330]

This is pure gold… 🤘🏻

[@brianshaw8765]

Without knowing who this is, I immediatly recognized the songs, just by the unique style. Awesome.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

You know how much Brad loves his snares because he’s hitting the crap out of them without ear protection. I’ve still got my Pearl FFS steal snare and it’s LOUD

[@marcelogagliano7852]

OOhh i love that sounds... i always have a wood snare, and i always love the sound of metal snares, i´m from Argentina, and here it´s all so expensive, that cost a lot to afford a correctly snare drum.... but love that cutting sound of metal snares...

[@artsal]

All of them wow sounded so awesome. I really like the black beauty thanks so much

[@simonr9870]

Great video !! is it me or that Tama snare once retired needs to be sent to the Rock'n'Roll hall of fame.

[@BrianLoudenslager]

It will be one day! It's got to be one of the most historically valuable drums out there!

[@musicforbeing]

Its amazing how many of these videos I watch of a drummer in a top notch studio with the best mixer/engineers and they sound great but.... Brad just has that hit record drum tone with his control and power.

[@ronjon5386]

Thst kit sounds great. The Tom and the floor. Love Ludwig

[@AlexiefDelbes]

I am gonna check for this snare mic ,it is insane . Those snare are sick , I own a pearl hammered brass of the90s and they are awesome too

[@razmtb5028]

One of my fav drummer \m/

[@NintenDub]

Brad has always been a top drummer of mine. Low key great along with john dolmayan. Brads work on sabbath 13 was awesome

[@LautenAudio]

Couldn't agree more!

[@karaminalee]

Thank you. Just thank you.

[@gabrieljohannson6777]

This cat is a legend! Brad is So underrated in my opinion. RATM was such a pivotal band.

[@shankerramesh9673]

one of the greatest funk drummers ever imo

[@alanduncan1980]

I don't like the word "underrated". I get a slight back-handed compliment vibe about it. I'm pretty sure his music has been listened to and enjoyed billions of times over the last 30+ years. I don't understand how this rating system works.

[@Dechral]

the drums on that debut album is what fired me up the most besides Zacks vocals. I saw them at a big outdoor rave/festival in Miami called Divine Playground. The next day I bought the cd. Monumental album that is still as fresh & relevant today.

[@AdamSliger]

Y’all simply don’t miss. Stoked to try this out for myself😮

[@brendanmurphy33]

That was great. I always thought the bell brass was on the first Rage record. Cool to know it was that Pearl free floater.

[@BrianLoudenslager]

Me too! I think we all did.

[@KarlstadDrums]

Brad is such an awesome drummer! Rarely does any crazy over the top fills, but man he got the power, groove and plays exactly what the song needs to kick ass! I instantly recognized all the parts he played on here, that to me speaks volume! The Pearl free floating and Bell brass sound amazing on here!

[@ricardorsantos]

This is pure gold content!!

[@dansee6455]

Great series. Those 15 seconds when Brad is listening to the snare mic and noticing the lack of hi hat is amazing 😂

[@User-jk8wq]

I haven’t even finished this episode and I’m already demanding a season 2! It’s a dream of mine to play the Terminator at some point

[@hustlinc3540]

always loved his playing. Copeland's, Alexander's, Abruzzesse's and his. Instantly recognisable

[@jwdrums8948]

That Tama Bell Brass sounds amazing

[@MrYuvrajssingh]

Man you were awesome thanks RATM!

[@DesignRhythm]

1st saw them in 1993 open Lollapalooza Chicago at 2 in the afternoon.. no one knew wtf their music was, it was so so different... but by then of their set the entire crowd was blown away.

[@heliomg20]

The Tama "Bell Brass" is perhaps the ultimate snare drum. A true piece of art.

[@degmond6601]

this is great, plz make more of these 🙏

[@jasoncropper8300]

I love my Lauten mics Brian - thank you!

[@LautenAudio]

🥰we are so glad!

[@kerryallen-ql4ng]

Feels like if you're not micing your drums with Lauten in 2023 you're officially behind the times haha. As soon as their version of the Beta91A drops it's game over for everyone else haha.

[@LautenAudio]

❤❤❤

[@alexspano1588]

You made my day, 4 months ago I bought that Free floating snare.Year 1998.Super super cheap!!!

[@Stu.6]

Legend!!

[@bergerdrum]

I haven't seen it in the comments yet, so maybe it missed that someone already said this, but ... yes, there is copper in the bell brass snare (as well as the Pearl free-floater), because brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, at a ratio of roughly 68% to 32% (the ratio changes depending on the use). Great video.

[@woutervanrenterghem570]

The Bell Brass is actually a sand casted bronze shell, that got lost in translation when Tama released that drum.

[@bergerdrum]

@@woutervanrenterghem570 You're correct. I learned that after my comment was posted. The fact that there's copper content still applies, but with bronze it's at a higher percentage.

[@CosmicCamelClash]

Best drummer in Black Sabbath history.

[@nickmandleberg]

The Pearl Free Floating Brass is nice and all but as soon as he hits the Bell Brass the sound is just awesome

[@davidcurtis4478]

This is so cool to watch! 🤘🤘

[@NoNameForThisGuy]

This is great. For reasons that have nothing to do with music, I refuse to give $ to Tom Morello, so I haven't heard one of my favorite rhythm sections in years. More of this please

[@keithferris9574]

Ah you don't like people who support human rights?

[@josemariamedina3903]

What an amazing idea, to do this!

[@dino_not_dyno]

Used that tama bell brass on our catch without arms with Terry Date on bug eyes and the title track. Wish I had used it more tbh

[@skiddymark]

i have the same pearl free floating brass snare. love it