Steve Smith - Vital Information - Tour Kit Rundown

Steve Smith gave us a rundown of his historic Sonor kit for the 40th Anniversary Tour of Vital Information. These are the same drums he used for Journey's first live album "Captured" in 1980 (released in 1981). He continued to use these drums for subsequent Journey albums including the Escape album which featured the hit songs "Don't Stop Believin", "Who's Crying Now" and "Open Arms". He later used the same drums in different configurations for the first Vital Information album, and continued using them throughout his career.
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[@davidmcaninch4714]

“I don’t want to overpower the instrumentalists with sound,” said Steve Smith with a big gong right behind him.

[@cscamby0410]

😂😂😂

[@davidperez5089]

Gigantic gong I'd say. Met SS at a show. Pleasant guy. Gave me a drumstick.

[@casanodrums]

Have you heard how he plays it? I bet not

[@sethhoffsommer353]

9:59 he goes into that for a few seconds. Love that he finds ways to incorporate stuff like that. His ears are w-i-d-e open and as he says, "I'm on control of the overall dynamics." Steve Smith is such a musical player, yet always a drummer's drummer at the same time. It's a hard balance to achieve but is the reason he's so busy and revered. Love this!

[@ClanceVaasen]

That hi-hat is legendary, very happy with mine. Steve is such an incredible drummer. Love to hear him speak.

[@stephengrant8505]

Such a world class GUY …… And just a true gentleman 🤙😎 such an incredible person and percussionist throughout 🤯. Thank you ❤

[@bodabar1]

Was in high school when Vital information album came out, I was blown away as a young drummer, Chapeaux to you Mr. Smith..

[@TM_Stone]

The drum master extraordinaire, Steve Smith.

[@Not_Andrew_Huberman]

Is he really?

[@ssw77west]

@Hammett43 Why yes he is!🥁🥁🥁

[@Not_Andrew_Huberman]

@@ssw77west is he kin to chad smith?

[@GeoffGillDrums]

So cool to hear these details ! I have to say, for me, on live recordings of pop / rock bands…the drum sound / recording for “Captured” is the greatest of all time. Period. AND Steve’s solo on “La Do Da” is the best arena rock drum solo of all time. You cannot compete with the sound, jazz motifs, technique & build / composition. Change my mind…😊

[@matthewtorossi8909]

You always sound great Steve! Hope to see you in Chicago!

[@TomDichter]

So inspirational 👍 amazing drummer

[@matthewpaluch777]

😎👍🇺🇸💪🥁💣🔊🎼STEVE ROCKS!!! I've been a fan since T-Mac's "Edge of Insanity" Steve. Your playing is inspirational and innovative.

[@SONORSQ2guy]

Love it 👍

[@willadkins7328]

Sonor drums are In a class all on their own. Love Steve's playing and musicianship

[@musiqsoundsproductions]

The only drummer that has the other Signature Special Edition in short sizes.

[@CyrusCariaga-g4j]

Damping with your Hand & Fingers on your 32. Back of the Forearm adds another dimension too.

[@MVO884]

Great inside. I bought a Sonor force 3000 in the 90thies. It was one of the first that came out and still build in Germany, and I selected myself in Germany. Abit of a adorsment treaty I guess. Later on the build them elswhere and they sounded differently. I used it with different bands from jazz to bigband and blues and even rock. It was easily tuned for different styles. I used 8"10"12"racktoms and 14"and 16"floors with a 20"bassdrum. Sonor build great drums.

[@fernandoperdomomusic]

Steve.. what drums did you use on Enigmatic Ocean .. thats my favorite drum sound of all time!

[@drumsybatabamboom8022]

That I'd like to know as well!!! Could be these. I think they were used with Ronnie Montrose in 1978.

[@krusher74]

Its always talk about journey/vital information. But by far my fave sound/playing from him is with ponty, sounded like a different drummer.

[@fernandoperdomomusic]

I like that Steve Smith!!! No offense!

[@georgeramos2176]

Where's the tour kit of Brooks Wackerman?

[@AaronJansz]

Wow, Steve Smith mixes himself while he’s playing. So unique…just like any half decent drummer. The bass player know how to use his volume dial too?! Wow. Incredible.

[@robertromanski43]

if you look at the shape of steves skull,its clear hes an alien sent here to dominate every other drummer on the the earth,,they just dont fight fair,.

[@tripbreaker]

What? You mean Steve actually plays the gong? It’s not a showpiece or something to light on fire? WOW. Who would have thought?

[@Monsterdrumma]

Phonic or phonic plus?

[@krusher74]

Phonic, (phonic plus are square sizes 10x10 etc not out till 82.)

[@Monsterdrumma]

@@krusher74 Ah okay thanks!

[@GeoffGillDrums]

Phonic. (Traditional sizes) With Oak veneer.

[@Monsterdrumma]

@@GeoffGillDrums Ah so oak is the finish, makes sense now and very cool! Now I want one knowing it was on captured one of the baddest drum sounds ever recorded imo!

[@walpurgisnacht9234]

I’d say Steve is just as good if not better than Neil Peart. Such a fucking beast. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be a drummer today.

[@Eleutherarch]

Although it's not a competition, Steve Smith is a much, much, MUCH more accomplished drummer than Peart, both technically and musically. Peart wrote fun parts that fit Rush's songs very well but was very limited outside of that sphere There is nothing wrong with that though.

[@PaulMarangoni]

I wish he'd stop using the black dots. Those drums sound way better with clear Ambassadors. CS heads sound best with a tighter tension.

[@edbigtruck]

I’m pretty sure he knows what sounds best for his style And doesn’t need a nobody telling him what he should use

[@Darvish4Prez]

I wonder if modern drummer would actually cover a modern drummer?

[@georgeramos2176]

They made a video with Brooks Wackerman but haven't posted it yet...

[@geralddyer8934]

Buddy Rich did a lot more with a lot less

[@lyslefollette9880]

Not a fan?

[@mosilflutil10]

Way to much talking

[@ChunkyPuke4me]

Has he heard of china cymbals? 😁 I use several specifically for their individual timbre and fairly quick diminished voicing. A drum head gel pad can also tame crashes and rides. Love Steve's career work, creativity and how he honors his inspirations, like Louis Bellson, Tony Williams and John Bonham.

[@gadymarcus2362]

Bello.🌡️🌡️🌡️🌡️🌡️🌡️

[@karstenbursak8083]

Those old Sonor Phonic kits still kick ass !

[@sethhoffsommer353]

Yes! Had a set of Beech Phonic Centennials that I stupidly sold in the 90s. Great drums...but heavy!

[@robertnobody]

Fascinating history lesson from Steve on this Sonor kit...Thanks Modern Drummer.

[@mlavinv2112]

jajaja he says he doesn't plays loud anymore smashes the gong to be hear down to Australia -_-

[@drumsbymark]

Did he say that he had the same drum key from 1980?! Good lord how did he pull that off?!

[@davidperez5089]

My guess would be no to extremely limited partying.

[@julesplace9107]

14" bass drum depth seems ideal from the comparison videos I have seen.

[@Dan-hc1ow]

I think that the black dots work the best with the heavy Beech shells. I was really happy when Steve made that change. They sound so good.

[@joelmarquez4629]

I was born in 1980 😳🤷🏻‍♂️😂🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@StephenWaldron72]

Legend 👌🏻🥁🙏🏻

[@Stephenhaake]

This is amazing. You're playing an instrument that's older than me... keep doing it Steve ❤

[@carolinewagenknecht1933]

True testament to Sonor quality. Take care of your instrument and it'll take care of you!

[@johannjohann6523]

Gotta love Steve Smith and his approach to drumming. He plays it all.

[@james35856]

When I was a kid that was my dream drum set

[@rolandedrummer9723]

I remember that kit well.

[@user-xt7rs8md7p]

Awesome!

[@justgoofingoff]

Lost all respect for Smith after the crap he and Valory pulled with Journey..

[@dilipkanuga]

Perry and Herbert sided with Smith and Valory

[@justgoofingoff]

The only one that would have any say in the bands name and financial benefit was Valory, being a founding member. Smith, replaced Dunbar, who replaced Prince, has no say in the name, hell, at that point, he was just a hired musician. @@dilipkanuga

[@DirtySk8RatStaney]

Super interesting kit!…. I love the groupings of three… 3 snares, 3 racks, 3 floors, 3 cymbals…🤌🏻