Mike Hetzel: "Africa" - Toto (Drum Cover)

Please enjoy my humble attempt of "Africa" by Toto! I tried to honor both the original Jeff Porcaro drum part as well as Simon Phillips' live approach. Pearl Masterworks kit with COATED Ambassador heads this time!
Africa by Toto
From the 1982 Release Toto IV
This is really one of those timeless tracks that never gets old to listen to. It's about time I made a drum video of it! :)
Check out my studio website for private lessons or to book a session!
www.pretzelstudiosmke.com
Pearl Masterworks Drums:
22x18 BD
8x8 Tom
10x8 Tom
12x9 Tom
13x10 Tom
16x16 Floor Tom
18x16 Floor Tom
DW 14x6 Edge Snare
Sabian Cymbals
Cameras: 2 GoPro Hero4 Silvers
Recorded and filmed at Pretzel Studios in Menomonee Falls, WI.

[@Manays]

The fills don’t feel forced, great cover my dude

[@tokugawa12able]

The most professional and musical cover out there…lots of good stuff without overplaying it or forcing it. I share your love of the well placed triplet. This is a “many times” over and over listen.

[@StarGuy_360]

The way you play is just silky and smooth. The true mastery of the art of drumming!!! 10/10

[@MrAbfrost1975]

Lovely playing!! I like the fact you have a bit of the Simon Phillips in there too with the crash on the 4 in the riff! Nice and love that idea! Nice time and great explosive Tom fills too! Have a well earned drink!

[@theclaudiobianchi]

In my personal taste this is an aweson job. "Africa" is one of my favorite drum tracks ever, this cover is very personal but also respectful of the original feel. Great!

[@Priyadarshan_Nag]

Absolute gem of a cover ❤ You've kept Jeff's spirit alive in your playing! Well played brother 👏

[@fireit7007]

Oh come on man!! I thought I was a good drummer and then I have to keep finding videos like this?! You are absolutely killing it!! I am so impressed and jealous!!

[@elizabethhetzel7207]

That boy’s got mad skill!!

[@jacocharzukanamericanautho2422]

Elizabeth Hetzel yeah he is awesome

[@alexismoranci4941]

I'm a guitar player and a very basic drummer but my friend that sound, that playing. It's perfect man !

[@philobetto1224]

I like that triplet u slipped in right before the second chorus. I just had a stroke in January and lost most of the use of my left arm. So now I watch you guys that upload videos. Well played great song.

[@demauri6868]

every time perfect! A very good work, specially the ghost notes.

[@lilRadawg]

Love the Ghost notes dude! Your timing is spot on, Great playing altogether !

[@staberdearth3130]

My impression of Mike Hetzel’s drumming for YYNOT holds up here. He doesn’t so much hit or beat the drums, he addresses them. Special quality to his drumming.

[@phillipzx3754]

That was absolutely wonderful. 👍

[@imbzq]

Seriously....that's some RIDICULOUS groove you've got going there! Really amazing feel!

[@SCHEPPEL]

This is def my FAV drum covers of Africa out there. Polished and detailed. Perfect.

[@Darkman24]

Glad to see you back! Great cover/playing as usual! The kit sounds great and love the set up!

[@d.becker811]

I could watch this over and over all day. That drum fill is the definition of genius. What would we do without music?

[@9975009]

Increíble, espero más!

[@BrotherAngstrom]

Great drumming. Your recorded drum sound is beautiful too.

[@martinel2450]

Nice. This song calls for dynamics and taste. You nailed it bro!

[@adamdrummer1991]

Watching this and listening very carefully, you have elements of Jeff and Simon there. I was beaming from ear to ear and possibly bopping quite a bit, I love this cover.

[@majorpuggington]

Beautiful, great feels👍

[@mychaelwyndler604]

What a drum set 😍😍

[@StarGuy_360]

I also love your set. Purely awesome setup.

[@daveh5508]

I could watch this all day. Sounds great through my bluetooth speaker.

[@philiplauzon1743]

Wow!! Very skillful and tight, great pocket and feel. Love your fills, you nail it drummer friend 😎👍

[@amrt6693]

Amazing !!!!

[@sergiozdrums]

amazing!! very well played! love the ghost notes and the hit hat work!

[@we_are_lucid]

So tight yet so musical. 🔥 cover brother

[@renejensen5219]

Great cover, so smooth

[@HuckFinn212]

Wow, the Simon Philips Fill on 3.20!!! Thank you for this one!!! Great Version, perfect for gigging!

[@danielfadd]

Oh Jesus man!! This pops up and I watch and feel like I've been wasting my time playing for the past 45 +yrs.You can't learn this kinda feel, it's in your bones brother.

[@josephlvis901]

Por mucho el mejor Drum cover que he visto de la canción

[@fleshno]

Wow, what a playing. Great stuff!

[@MrAlainpoudrier]

Great feel, creative improve and sound. Absolutely fantastic job dude!

[@ivanscarsella]

amazing sound and fills!

[@ConstantineIsslamow]

Enjoyed your cover. Audio quality is amazing at my end. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@Elielson2548]

Cara, que perfeito. Vou assistir várias vezes. Sim sim hehehe

[@Tianjalaarga]

This is amazing!

[@samnixon7013]

I this this is FABULOUS! I really like how you’ve captured Simons live version in this. Great job

[@katemarizt]

Spot on!

[@dannyboay9704]

This is so fire

[@ritamgayen4144]

God bless man great one it was....take❤❤

[@igordrums80]

Well done, very nice tunning, you did great !!!

[@brokenorbitmusic9724]

Awesome! ✊♥️✊💎❤️✊

[@hollyjonson]

world class Drummer...Exelent....

[@Anima.Libera]

Brilliant cover!!

[@busker-nh5le]

I've played well over 1000 gigs with some lovely musicians but sometimes I think I might as well just burn my sticks! Nice job fella.

[@ILSRWY4]

NAILED!

[@robinj204]

Awesome job!!! Sounded great!!

[@josecamilo8042]

Adorei o repique na caixa...Belo cover! Araranguá SC Brasil

[@jacocharzukanamericanautho2422]

Nice drumming sounds great and fantastic👍🏿

[@andyfrith7463]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@johnnypal1]

Very cool. Nice job!!

[@imbzq]

Really, really good!

[@josephbloch8574]

amazing bravo j'adore 1000 merci

[@hwilmore]

I can dig it! 😎

[@Riconnaissance]

great interpretation! I'm inspired!

[@tapsX3]

Another masterpiece Mike. You should be playing with Toto. I’m sure Jeff would give his blessings after seeing this.

[@patrickmeingast4741]

Wow! Impressive!

[@Nylonfetish1]

Great job on this cover!!!! 👍

[@BrunoLeoLage]

Awesome!

[@rafahmoura6777]

Best performance ever

[@DraykoDrums]

This is by fast the best cover I’ve even seen of Toto working on one myself but I ain’t as talented as you good sir keep it up ❤️

[@williep3426]

Very nice! Some cool fills!

[@sergiohgonzalez]

Excellent!

[@marceloseghese]

AMAZING

[@jessetrindade7477]

A levada dessa música é muito linda 😍😍

[@pyrrhuscunanan1122]

the fills! Nice man

[@FaithandPurpose828]

Really enjoyed it. Great Job!

[@zachwulf-americanpatriot5015]

FINALLY!! someone uses the ride PROPERLY!!

[@franktaraso2067]

Groovealicious my man

[@Paul-kp3xt]

You’re just so good at drum, I wish i could reach your level one day !

[@kike2180]

gran trabajo ....

[@HumbertoHerreraOficial]

Amazing! Congrats!

[@richardq16]

Man, you are awesome!!

[@CrisRibeiroDrums]

Smooth!

[@OReitmeier]

Wow!

[@Evrey89]

Great play!

[@niklasd8702]

Beautiful cover😊

[@AdrianoSantos-vj1lq]

Excelent!

[@billcowden6311]

Excellent 👍

[@kerstinlutz7660]

super super super gespielt mega Feel - du hast es echt drauf

[@dedentristanto974]

I enjoy it like I enjoy Mr Jeff Pocaro. awesome

[@duhduh666]

Nailed it.

[@leonardorotondy]

Bravissimo, super!

[@MrSticks9999]

Crazy good.

[@roy89drums15]

Grandioso trabajo bro 👌🤘

[@WikingKrieger]

Hammer gespielt, leck mich Fett😳🥳👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💪🏻🤘🏻

[@garchiavez]

In the pocket! Really nice

[@9975009]

Please, The Dance of Eternity 2.0! 7 years later :)

[@VW5767]

Nice cover Mike!

[@RahimMastafaPhotography]

Sick sound!

[@rborroto]

I like the Simon Phillips version of the Africa groove. It was probably easier to sustain for 10 minutes during live performances than right-handed 16th notes. Thanks for sharing your performance. You did an amazing job.

[@davidshimshi493]

I agree with Manays, nice fills, not forced and they are clean. Love his take on this song!!

[@christophmeirich5928]

Well done!!!!!! Greetings from germany Christoph 👏👏👏👏👏

[@dangermartin69]

Nice job. Tasteful fills.

[@xavordz4988]

Excelente cover

[@janetremsing6988]

👍Niceness!