Simon Phillips (Protocol) - drumtalk [episode 20]

Simon Phillips is not just an incredible player but he knows exactly how to communicate his experience, knowledge and creativity. Whether it's musicality, dynamics or playing with other people -- you will take something out of these 20 minutes.

[@stewarttiley9683]

One word describes the brilliance of this man - CRISES- Can't believe more people don't marvel at the drum solo on this Mike Oldfield piece!

[@salvatorerinaldo4613]

Mamma mia. Maestro. What have you not given us!

[@maddog4445]

Thanks Simon. My uncle was a session roadie in the 70's. I remember him saying there is this young kid who everyone is talking about called "Simon Phillips". He worked for Barry Morgan Studios Wembley.

[@drumtalkofficial]

awesome man!

[@user-qr4jp9qp1q]

Such a thoughtful and intellectual drummer!

[@charliequinn160]

How cool was that to listen to Simon 'talk the talk' about playing the drums in such a sensitive and easy going output about the different important components of making a superstar drummer ? The greatest advice , and Loved the Louie Belson story. My Dad turned me on to louie lessons when I was twelve, my Dad was a good drummer himself so he made a great teacher. Then lost both my legs in a railway accident and never played again ...until recently with an electric kit, and a custom chair for playing hi-hat and bass drum. i'm in heaven !! i'm terrible but having the time of my life learning all over again....!!!!! Thanks Simon ..what an inspiring interview for me...thank you !! Peace

[@pk-films]

+Charlie Quinn thank you so much for your comment! I'm glad that from time to time I hear that what I do inspires people in the end, since this is my inspiration with this whole programme. Thank you for your story and good luck with being back behind the set!!! all the best/phil

[@raybond6047]

Stay with it Charlie...

[@steevidrums]

Yeah man, major props to you for not letting an accident like that stop you playing. I remember a drummer in the 80's who played Simmons drums with Howard Jones (a UK 80's electronic Pop artist) and he used to stand up and not use his legs to play kick/hats, so yeah, it can be done. Keep it up, don't worry about being "terrible" Enjoying your drummer is the only goal, it's not a competition or a race! Much respect!!!!

[@user-ke3xi5vk7j]

На русском

[@jimthykeson9617]

Simon is truly one of the greats. When he talks about playing tonal notes with his kit reminded me of Joe Morello's 'Short'nin Bread' where he tuned the toms to match the Brubecks piano or the bass. When Simon backs up Hiromi, for a drummer the degree of difficulty doesn't get any harder, cause she's from a different planet...it's called jazz Heaven.

[@BKJPWNAGE]

He is absolutely correct. Dynamics make things more exciting.

[@ChicoFagundes78]

What a human being! Fantastic!

[@raybond6047]

I met Simon 15 some years ago... great clinic and the nicest guy! The first drummer I ever saw playing drum & bass style extremely well! He signed a pair of Promark 707's sticks for me and told me he uses the same sticks. Very cool guy and extremely versatile drummer!

[@FedericoMaragoni]

The most influent drummer in my drumming careeer. The best!

[@geminirhythmspirit2573]

I've always love Simon, he's been such a big influence in my drumming, thanks Simon,

[@lunarmonk169]

always love his attitude and insight....thank you

[@berniz2282]

One on the best drummer in Rock and Fusion , Jazz Fusion ! Thanks

[@yellowquantum4240]

Brilliant man !!

[@johnwilson2456]

metal is lovely....love his perspective! my brain is still sorting out the syntax of that concept. Amazing insight from an incredible musician!

[@elvin38]

I love that man. One of the great musicians on drums.

[@thomashauge4798]

Best drummer ever! Best concept ever!

[@davebander9730]

Simon is so experienced and a wonderful narrator, too. I love his music and style since youth, so 25 years. Its about language, music what you wanna express, not just speed. You need a huge vocabulary to express ideas. Simon has it.

[@markpeytonennis149]

Thank you Simon fantastic...

[@damianocogo1221]

Persona dotata di grandissime competenze. Meraviglioso.

[@t3hgir]

been experimenting with open handed playing and his comments about playing groove "focusing on the sound" rather than technique resonated with me. I've struggled trying to replicate the grip my right hand would have on the hihat but it's a completely different angle, just gotta let the natural technique flow...

[@MakeWeirdMusic]

This was such a cool interview. I love what he had to say about frequencies and space. Sebastian Lanser was very concerned with frequencies when I worked with him. Something I'd never heard another drummer worry about. Nice work, Phil!

[@drumtalkofficial]

same here -- don't play certain things when it might be interfering with the frequencies that are already going on

[@davinasc_]

Love this interview! Really cool!

[@pk-films]

+Davi Nascimento thanks man! cheers/phil

[@Dogdrum]

that was an excellent interview.

[@pk-films]

+Dogdrum thank you very much. the term excellent is nothing short of flattering ;-)

[@damirfenrich5439]

great man and great drummer...

[@krashboomboing]

I've learnt more from videos of Simon than anyone else, and not just drums at that

[@philipknoefel]

Das ist das beste Interview, was es von Simon Phillips gibt.

[@pk-films]

Philip Knöfel Vielen Dank für das Lob! greetz/phil

[@DanielGlue]

Da muss ich 100%-ig zustimmen. Und es zeigt mal wieder, was ein cooler, sympathischer Kerln Simon Phillips ist. Klasse!

[@alanvaughan2937]

My favorite drummer he's got it all all the crazy jazz stuff ,chops from hell and then he just does all those huge fills you always wanted to do as a kid {his are always perfect} Simon if you ever give up on the drumming you need to become a narrator for Shark Week ...such a cool dude .you would never know this gentle soul can destroy a drum kit ,hits so hard ..soooo perfect

[@nickarvis2986]

Pure genius!

[@GODCORRUPTED]

very warm musician

[@silverblack5475]

Sin after Sin

[@robertnobody]

Great interview with Simon...the ADs are super annoying though.....lol.

[@carminebattigaglia7654]

Simon number one

[@StartdrummingDe]

Top Interview! ( Wie immer! :-) ) LG, Jürgen

[@pk-films]

startdrumming.de Freut mich (wie jedes Mal) -- dauert 'nen Moment, bis es mit Staffel Nr.5 weitergeht, bis dahin 1000 Dank für den Support!

[@StartdrummingDe]

Immer gern bei solch guten Interviews! LG, Jürgen

[@christianeichlingerDRUMSde]

Sehr schön gemacht. Nicht nur vom Interview sondern ebenso von der bildsprache:)

[@pk-films]

christian eichlinger DRUMS Danke! liegt an den guten Vorraussetzungen: viel Zeit + klasse Location + helfende Hände..... ach ja, und ein fantastischer Gesprächspartner :-)

[@christianeichlingerDRUMSde]

+codaIV ja ist wirklich schön geworden. Werde ich in einem meiner nächsten blogpost featuren😊

[@pk-films]

danke für den support!!!

[@christianeichlingerDRUMSde]

danke für das tolle Interview!:)

[@pthompson108]

One guitarist I played with had a huge problem with how many drums I was using. Bass, snare, 10, 12, 14, 16 toms. So, I said to him, I've got six drums in my kit, you've got 6 strings on your guitar. I'll remove as many toms off my kit for every string that you take off you guitar. After that, I was very hesitant to play with people who don't respect my instrument as much as I do theirs.

[@pthompson108]

No.... it was a he.

[@donandannie4u2]

I always felt the same about small playing spaces, where I was the asked to downsize my already small kit. I always said the same thing, angrily I might add... "how 'bout you play w/ less strings or you w/ half of a keyboard".

[@damirfenrich5439]

Very good...we drummers make music with four piece drum kit and few cymbals...

[@jah9253]

Musicality is what sets guys like Phillips, Gadd, Porcaro, Bruford, Copeland, Harrison, Beauford, Roach, Morello apart from a lot of other technical drummers. Harrison, Phillips, and Gadd are my favorites, in that order.

[@alansimpson4561]

eric idle... ;-)

[@DrumTracksKM]

Master Yoda!!

[@haekalbadjeber988]

More like qui gon jin 😂

[@SuperChexmixer]

what an inspiration!!!! Slow it down!

[@The007Javiercito]

¡Maestro!

[@jpedrozab]

Muy interesante. Una "Master Session" para Tí.

[@mineheadX1]

I'd love to hear his AC/DC rehearsal...I cannot believe he's still playing those huge toms...jeez. I like the Andy Newmark philosophy...he said each drum should be like a boxer's punch, a great analogy, and his drums do indeed sound like a boxer's punches...Simon's drums are so closely sized, I can't see the reason behind it. I used to play an 8 piece Yamaha Rec Custom w/octobans, man, fun, but unless you're playing instrumental fusion you really can't work all of that kit in...Simon & Cobham, big kit players. I'd be looking for a more exotic set-up, hybrid with some V-Drum triggers and some exotic percussion & cymbal stacks. Bozzio always goes big but he has new innovations that keep pace with today's music.

[@thomashauge4798]

13:25 anyone knows what song this is?

[@perelapouc]

merci pour la traduction en Français....y a pas de batteur en France????

[@Lorisou]

Beaucoup de nazes c'est pour ça sûrement.. la France ne comprend rien à ce genre de concepts et de culture

[@perelapouc]

@@Lorisouquand on est Français et qu'on affiche le drapeau anglais c'est qu'on est un vrais enc..é

[@Lorisou]

Excuse moi mais ici en France niveau musique on ne vole pas haut.. Ce n'est pas ici ou il y aura du progrès en musique...

[@Lorisou]

After that I have nothing against France and there is no shame in appreciating English culture to progress. It's also helpful to know how to speak English these days

[@HUK38]

what a great guy...but his description of hardrock drumming was a little plain...he should know it better because he himself provided great drumming for Sin After Sin, Priest's classic album from 1977.

[@Nissardpertugiu]

Msg too, david coverdale s whitesnake as well

[@chrislinhares7311]

Syntaxes? I think he means Synapses.

[@kevgilroy1]

Isn't it interesting, how we can know a Cat..... MORE by their playing.....than by their words. Funny.

[@user-ke3xi5vk7j]

Где на руссом?

[@deadbydawn745]

I find it very, very disappointing that you didn't spend one second talking about Toto! :(

[@drumtalkofficial]

That's it, go ahead and run. Run home and cry to mama! =P

[@deadbydawn745]

@@drumtalkofficial Hab ich schon gemacht, aber die hatte null Verständnis für mich :). Warum habt ihr nicht über Toto gesprochen? Wollte Simon das nicht oder hat es sich einfach nicht ergeben?

[@drumtalkofficial]

@@deadbydawn745 Das Interview begann wegen einiger Soundcheck Schwierigkeiten viel später als geplant, nämlich als der Club gerade die Türen geöffnet hatte. Da wir auf dem Balkon über der Bühne saßen, waren wir plötzlich von den Konzertgästen umringt wie bei einer Talkshow.... Daher blieb leider einiges auf der Strecke. ;-)

[@deadbydawn745]

@@drumtalkofficial Hmkay, verstehe. Das ist natürlich schade. Diese Technik, ein Fluch und Segen zugleich. Na ja, beim nächsten Mal vielleicht. Ich hab die Musik von Toto recht spät entdeckt, da gab's Jeff schon nicht mehr. Bis dahin kannte ich nur Rosanna und Africa. Ich hatte ja keine Ahnung, was die für geniale Sachen außerdem gemacht haben :). Also, Simon Phillips war (für mich) der erste Toto-Schlagzeuger in der aktiven Band zu der Zeit, als ich sie entdeckt hab, deshalb hätte ich es cool gefunden, etwas über Toto zu hören. Alles Gute dir und mach weiter so! - Sebastian

[@vic3925]

he says nothing remotely interesting apart from the autobiographical stuff and loves the sound of his own voice lol

[@frank290862]

I found it interesting and so did everyone else on here. As for liking the sound of his own voice...Its called an INTERVEIW Duh!

[@matsjonsson9492]

Jean-Victor de Boer Yeah, that,s probably the reason he became a drummer. They very often dubble as singers. Especially in bands like Protocol.