Mike Mangini & Ray Luzier: Drum Workouts, Pro Drummer Stories & Stick Tricks

Drum legends Mike Mangini & Ray Luzier trade tour stories, drum warm-ups, and studio-to-stage laughs from years in the music industry!
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Drumming icons Mike Mangini and Ray Luzier joined Sweetwater’s inaugural DrumFest to hang out with some snares and share tales of their drumming exploits, with a bit of warming up in the mix. From classic performances and solo work to studio life and navigating the modern music landscape, Mangini and Luzier are on the beat! Check it out!
00:00 - Opening Teaser
00:24 - Introductions
00:48 - Snare Drum Workouts
04:44 - Drum Grip Techniques
06:44 - Ray’s Crazy Stick Tricks!
07:50 - Best Drummer Faces!
08:48 - Nashville Drummers
09:05 - Technical Songwriting & Performances
10:03 - Mike Mangini Solo Album
10:15 - Drumheads and Drum Sounds
10:41 - Amazing Pearl Drum Sets
12:10 - Backline Drums & Locations
13:16 - LIFERS - Drummers for Life Commitment
13:58 - Horror Stories from Tours Past
18:02 - The Click - Metronome Talk
19:19 - Van Halen Tribute Stories
20:45 - DON’T DRAG
21:39 - Are You Rushing or Dragging?
23:40 - More Click Talk - Inner Tempo
30:43 - So You Wanna Be a Pro? Advice!
Keep up with Mike Mangini and Ray Luzier on Instagram 👇
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@rayluzierkorn 👉 / rayluzierkorn
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Stream the deluxe edition of Korn’s Requiem Mass 👇
Apple Music 👉 / requiem-mass-deluxe-ed...
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#Sweetwater #MikeMangini #RayLuzier #DrumFest2024 #Interview

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Which two drum-world icons do you want to see chop it up at next year’s DrumFest? Tell us in the comments, and be sure to explore exclusive Drum Month deals at Sweetwater all June long!  👉 sweetwater.sjv.io/Drum_Month_2024

[@BubbleWrapPerson]

Benny Greb and Cobus. Two of my biggest inspirations.

[@erickenlin8255]

Gregg Bissonette and Chad Wackerman

[@amienmukromin7147]

Mike mangini & mike portnoy 😂

[@mattchase2112]

Mike is such a fun guy. I met him during Dream Theater's Astonishing and 25th Anniversary of Images & Words Tours. He gave me some drumming advice that I now use. Best of all: he remembered me the second time we met and thanked me for trying the drum lesson he gave me! The lesson he gave me was to ignore the drums on recordings I practice to and play whatever beats and fills I feel should be there.

[@marcoaguillon4926]

I really hope life will bring Mike Mangini a big musical place to be in where he can be valued by the band members and fans just like he deserves.

[@joerobinson2538]

I agree--first thing I thought--Mike needs a grandiose gig that takes him throughout the rest of his career-he definitely has earned it and deserves it!

[@munton5150]

@@joerobinson2538 Something with Geddy or Alex or both

[@Ferbes47]

💯💯💯💯

[@jamhatsmusic]

Soooooo trueeee!!

[@jasongoad1084]

These 2 guys need their own KZbin channel together.

[@oliverforty]

We need to see Mike Mangini play Pneuma

[@craigfrober316]

Love this. Just two pros hanging out being authentic, no script.

[@munton5150]

This is the best drum content in a while

[@simonnathan2065]

Thank you for sharing this great discussion between two brilliant drummers. Ray seems like such a stand-up guy, and Mike is so humble and funny. You wouldn't know it by watching this that they are two of the best to ever do it.

[@diegopeart]

One of the most interesting and funny drum talks I've ever watched. This should be a full length picture.

[@fastandfunky]

What an awesome discussion between two super talented drummers, most drummers that have ever gigged can relate, we all have stories to tell, good and bad.

[@TheWorryKnot]

My favorite kind of content. Loved the tempo talk.

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Mangini is 61. Drumming is the secret to youth.

[@TheBridgesYouBurn]

Ray Luzier is 54, all of the original members from KoRn are now in their younger 50s. I have been a huge fan of them since I was around 12 or 13 back in 1996-1997. They inspired myself and many other kids to pick up an instrument for the first time.

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Also Gavin Harrison is nearly 61 and still looks like a 45 year old. Play drums. Stay Young.

[@albutcher9152]

He looks 61 to me...and out of shape. No hating

[@morbidmanmusic]

That's not old. Boomers aren't whimps!

[@unaldurmaz250]

These guys are old school kind of like basics of drumming thanks for the upload

[@SafeInstinct]

Mangini is a world-class gentleman, unlike the members of DT. Mangini took DT to a whole new level, so thank you Mangini for your service in the band.

[@hanginon1293]

I lost any respect for Portnoy when I saw him spit on someone during a concert. Not sure if it was on purpose but it still left a mark I can't get rid of. He is a good drummer but he's not even close to the level Mangini is, As a person and Drummer

[@crusher0427]

Looking back now, you can see JP had it in him when he did the same thing to Derek Sherinian. This move was made because he wanted to hang out with his best buddy again, despite being a vastly inferior drummer to Mangini.

[@deantalbotdrums]

I agree - Mangini was the best thing that happened to Dream Theater since Jordan Rudess joined. Their music has grown on the back of Mangini’s creativity and his massively inventive drum tracks, and the strings and keys have fed off the drums, and vice versa, particularly in the last two albums. I’ve seen them live 8 times, 6 of those with Mangini. I’ve tried to keep an open mind, but the only explanation coming from the band is “we wanted to play with our buddy again”. That really sucks, particularly as Dream Theater produced the best music they’ve ever made, last album. “View” is the best complete album I’ve ever heard. And The Alien, which JP said started with an idea of Mangini’s, won the band’s first Grammy. Unless there was another reason no one’s talking about, it was a really low thing to do.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

@@hanginon1293 Maybe he was simply recreating the legendary Roger Waters moment in Montreal, 1977. That's a true Pink Floyd fan right there. Respect to Mike!

[@ZachAnsley]

@@deantalbotdrums This is a 3rd hand source, so take what I am saying with a grain of salt, but based on someone I know who is relatively close to the band, this was a long time in the making, and there were some lingering problems that dated all the way back to The Astonishing. They thought some of the problems were repaired during the DoT tour, but they came to a head again during the last tour. I don't know the intimate details, and I loved Mangini's fit in the band, but my source told me that he was showing some 'major red flags' during the Dream Sonic tour, probably due to a combination of his own frustrations and with the constant clamoring about MP returning to the band. There were forces acting behind his back as well that became an elephant in the room. MM also felt extremely underappreciated and unwanted by a lot of the DT fan base. I also know quite a bit about MP's original firing, and I can say with 100% certainty that the story we were all told publicly is a bold-faced lie by everyone involved. I have never talked about this stuff on my channel, but through my channel I came in contact with a lot of people who were very familiar with the situation.

[@scsdrummer]

Thanks guys, I really enjoyed this. You should do more content like this.

[@Aaron_Gentry]

What a cool couple of guys. Very humble and down to Earth. I also like how they seem to be best friends :)

[@nikatapi]

Two incredible drummers and gentlemen, what a great get-together!

[@bahritkharakor9257]

The amazing Mike Mangini..❤

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Great pairing. Thanks, SW.

[@DavidOakesMusic]

Ray is such a chill dude and the best musician in Korn by a light year.

[@TheBridgesYouBurn]

Yeah right! Technically speaking, maybe. However KoRn started their own genre of music, there is no way Ray can compare with those guys. Ray never started his own band and started his own genre of music...You are wrong. J.D, James, Brian, David and Reggie are all WAY more important to the evolution of music as a whole than Ray could ever dream of! I can tell you are certainly biased though judging by your profile pic. Ray Luzier would agree with my comment too, he's a huge KoRn fan as well...

[@dilankarun9172]

Ray's an awesome drummer, but Ray came on I think for KoRn's 9th Album ? How did they manage w/o him for the previous 8 albums ? 🤪

[@spirothegamer]

@@TheBridgesYouBurn Spare me the BS, Ray has played with so much better musicians than those basic KORN guys. He was the drummer for legend David Lee Roth, Korn guys are insignificant DWARFS compared to David Lee Roth

[@ChrisPhoenixMusic]

Alright, "Spiro"... As a music teacher I can tell you that Korn isn't easy to play. Them becoming famous for what they wrote was during a time when classic metal was growing increasingly stagnant in that there wasn't much more to do with it until you added some new elements and did some exploring. That's exactly what they did. They also got lucky to some extent, but they stood out for a reason. There was dissonance and some atonal stuff going on, but those elements also exist in classical music. It's nothing to scoff at. Calling them basic shows your level of musical knowledge, which is clearly zero. Playing for DLR wouldn't require the same skillset as playing anything off Korn's first 2 albums by a long shot. If you know some basic rock and blues you can do literally anything he's released, especially as a drummer, because nothing he ever did was stylistically new or difficult. It's stuff everyone learns as what we call "the basics". There is no B.S. here. Also, just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's no good. I just means you don't get it. You think Korn are insignificant, but they did inspire and help to launch and entirely new style of music that is now quite recognizable and respected by accomplished musicians. Worldwide. Maybe you like the usual and predictable melody sets and easy to count drum beats. Maybe you like repetitive phrasings that all cycle around the number 4 because it's the most common. That's fine, but I never took even a little bit of interest in Dave Lee Roth's solo work. I never found him to be that great of a singer. Nothing stood out as special. None of it. He is known because of Van Halen. Korn, on the other hand, did stand out. To everyone. Take the next 2 years and study drums. Practice 2 hours a day. Every day. Then play Ball Tongue on a drum set. When you're humbled enough to see you probably can't even get through the intro you can take a look at how you talk to people and hopefully learn some humility, because having no skill and a big mouth isn't getting you anywhere in life. Or maybe upload more than that one FPS game you like and show us all how it's done.

[@TheBridgesYouBurn]

@@spirothegamer You clearly don't understand KoRn and you are wrong! And this is coming from someone who views Ray Luzier as a legendary musician and an Incredible drummer and who has seen him perform live with KoRn a few different times. KoRn are still inspiring new bands 30 plus years later, there is NO way DLR can touch what they have accomplished!

[@davidcurtis4478]

This is awesome. Keep Rockin' hard guys!

[@yoavdvash4141]

Even small talks like that can be very educational. Thanks guys for giving some of your time to understand some of the things that we're not really aware of. 👍👍👍👍

[@AggresssivePerfector]

Wow it's so comforting hearing their stories about playing the song too fast live, and not realizing it in the moment. I'm having the same problem, but it's getting better with every gig

[@Sybex82]

Nice Ray L🥁 and Mike M🥁🔥

[@MultiEchelon]

its very usefull content. Thanks so much

[@stinkfloyd1]

Rushing happens to me. The adrenaline is going, so live it feels like I'm dragging. Then, a video pops up online of the show. I'm playing it double the speed.

[@mojamo1]

Two giants!🎉🎉

[@GuidoNietmann]

Two amazing icons, and both soooo humble!!! AMAZING!

[@ZachBratland]

Ray is the Man🔥🥳

[@stickdrumsnrocknroll]

You're both amazing guys ! We love you :)

[@joeldrummer23]

I wish Rush would start up and Mangini played with em

[@drummerdan95]

No

[@jamescaliendo1030]

Absolutely NO!

[@bishopoftroy]

Nope.

[@dennishritz4677]

Luzier represents us Yinzers well! What a great personality!

[@TwoandaHater]

come from the drumming, stay for Ray bagging on Korn for making him buy the band shoe.

[@chrisrickenbach8167]

Had the pleasure of doind a drum clinic with Mike in Denver. Great instructor and an entertaining cat as well.

[@josecarlosdossantos335]

Dois monstros da bateria, top, top, top dos tops

[@pinkprogressive9904]

Everybody loves Mangini

[@MykeLewisMusic]

Man, that perception of timing thing, my first experience with that professionally was also my first experience using a click in a live setting. It was a cover gig, I mapped all my tempos to the original songs, got to the gig, counted in and the band leader looks at me like I just threw poop at him. During the intermission we sorted it out, I showed him the actual songs, that the click was to the correct tempo, and we just agreed to up the BPM by 10 or so because it got people dancing. It was a crazy 40 minute set before we sorted it out though, felt like pushing rope uphill, lol.

[@steveSticksE]

Magnificent drummers together sharing their own experiences with the world which is fantastic !! I used to with my right hand the same thing!! Blisters on my thumb and index finger made me use the orthodox way!! Keep on 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

[@AngryD]

I was Drowning Pool's lighting guy for a couple of years and we did a 2 week run with Korn. Ray was so f'ng nice to me men. He is such a nice guy.

[@judonis]

The best drummer ever!

[@Rg452]

This is a great session.

[@zetaritari]

Mangini is my favorite styled drummer who lives b4 it was Neil Peart❤

[@herrelladventures]

Awesome discussion from two legends.

[@1905C7]

Mike : My whole solo album is in 4 Ray : Wow, what ? Are you okay ? 😂😂😂

[@keithpratt1849]

This is just great. These 2 gents brought up the most important qualities of being a desired professional. I practice with a metronome and different tempos an time signatures everyday. I al make Ake sure to be prepared, early, listen way more than I talk and I am a good respectful human. Drummers we sweat, deodorant guys.😂 My bass player, mentioned it once in a text. I said I always do, so someone else in the band listened up.😅. It is all important. Rock on!

[@MotivaAcaoOfficial]

Mike is a humble man!

[@jimshepard5128]

I was at the Pearl event in Nashville that they talked about when Ray asked Mike what kit he played there. I still have a short video I took that I go back and watch when I start thinking I'm a badass or something to put myself back in my place. 😂

[@corystanley4297]

Reminds me of that show metal head to head on fuse

[@celebmrk9]

Wow! Two of everybody’s favorites… thanks for the vid!

[@TheEasyeman]

A few minutes in and I’m happy and laughing and smiling 😊😊

[@genechavez661]

Thank you for this true musicians Masters of Drums so humble

[@Sharing13]

Dude perfect for a Saturday morning👍👍👍👍

[@roloduarte3100]

Great advice and great video, I love these guys.

[@do8671]

It was interesting to hear them talking about rushing, perception etc... I recognized myself in this... This concept of video is awesome, thx for this and good job!

[@dilankarun9172]

Good life lessons. Be on time ! However.... do you think Jim Morrison ever showed up on time 😛 How about Tommy Lee ? Oh that's right, the rules don't apply to them . Mad respect for Mangini & Luzier ! PS: Just bought another Snare Drum from Sweetwater.

[@ChrisPhoenixMusic]

I've played songs live 10 bpm too fast a number of times. I have also played industrial with triggered drums and found out how totally tamed and focused I was required to be from start to finish. I teach drums myself now, and the past decade I tell my students that they need to learn to not only play with a click, but also learn to reference a click to keep certain tempo ranges in mind. Teaching this helped me stay much closer to the original intended tempo more consistently. The internal clock needs a maintenance check every now and again, so no matter who you are, please do remember to revisit the basics of jamming some simple grooves to a metronome.

[@MauricioMagaldi]

This video is a compact MBA in Music Industry

[@goodtimejohnny8972]

Coldest event I have played was outdoors @ about 10 degrees fahrenheit. I'm thankful nothing broke. Guitar pedals were freezing up from the snow on the guitarists boots. It was pretty hard to move around in a snowmobile suit.😅

[@JacobNNorton1982]

I saw Ray with DLR in Nashville close for Sammy. I also say Ray in Blue Cats Knoxville Tn with Richard Patrick and the STP brothers. Less than 500 people could fit in the room. Amazing

[@pearlguy6351]

Pearl guys like me awesomeness 🥁🥁🥁

[@SkullduggeryVFXYT]

That was a fun watch

[@Vitor.Portugal]

Clicking the instrumentation has a creative mould and effect, but in the deepest essence drums tend to be comprehensive with dinamic and emphasive rhythmic blending.

[@AlanCepeda-ty7hk]

2 of the best

[@ArtGuitarLTX]

The stick twirling part.. lol man .. these guys need to have their own podcast lol. Amazing funny chemistry. Thank you sweetwater for this!! "The whole things' in 4" "Wow.. you feelin' alright?" LOL

[@cleire6127]

Great content 🎉🤤🙏🏻

[@roguerecordmusic]

To bad this was not at Drum Feat for the public in one of you rooms as a Q&A for attendees and you filmed it and posted it later. This is so good, but it was one of the major things missing from Drum Fest is artist “TED Talks” and demonstrations. I took Mike’s Masterclass the following day. Hands down my favorite drummer and Ray is also a favorite of mine. Pearl… the best reason to play drums!

[@MNDrummer]

I regret not trying to be a professional drummer. I was a really talented drummer in high school and thought about moving from my little town in the middle of the country to California to study music. I wish I had. The worst thing that could have happened is I would have failed or changed my mind. I just couldn't leave my family. I was really close to my parents. I guess I shouldn't regret it as I was able to spend more time with my parents and they are now both gone. Everything happens for a reason. I played in cover bands for a large part of my adult life and have had a blast. I think I may need to try this KZbin channel thing and record some videos. I guess that means I need to build a music shed in my backyard or buy a bigger house.

[@bcdt1947]

Lee-Lifeson-Mangini

[@josephfelix2588]

awesome stuff- for not rushing, I tend to breathe and count half time of the groove and for not dragging I lock the snare back beat to whatever corresponding surface is being played ( hi-hat, ride, tom, etc) of course I am no mike nor ray

[@adventureclub007]

mike *the alien* mangini

[@brucekerr6488]

That Pearl Reference a beaut.

[@jjd1983]

Im a guitar player and the only thing worse than not having a drummer in the band is having a bad drummer in the band. These two have never been that guy!

[@barryckemp907]

Mike mangini looks like Vic reeves. Vic & Bob

[@marco_andy02]

Ray Luzier (Korn) & Mike Mangini (Ex Dream Theater)

[@NIJHR]

funny guys

[@MNDrummer]

Those sticks look like they are 3 feet long

[@frost3853]

goffies drumers

[@rogeriosantospinto4648]

ringo star é o melhor baterista do mundo ?

[@user-rv9ph2xu2s]

Two killers on the skins

[@JohnnyCarterMusicOfficial]

watching mike get old is the weirdest thing.

[@leftrightadliber]

They look like siblings...

[@ytsejam7]

The robotic mangini

[@kindradeleon9053]

Click tracks, make everything sterile .

[@mymodel6]

Mike is the best female drummer ever...

[@pgrove]

Better than Portnoy in every way.

[@haroldgonzalez-pm9hg]

Nope, portnoy on top

[@bishopoftroy]

two different beasts, one a great ex DT drummer the other one a great drummer for DT.

[@phillandry]

I realize with this that I finally like Ray, he is just not the right fit for Korn. They needed a groovy, back beat drummer

[@TheAmerican7]

🥱

[@jamieseiple]

Mike Mangini, the world's greatest living drummer...gets nervous.

[@bishopoftroy]

no

[@JulianFernandez]

Ray cool and relaxed. Mike making a character, not funny at all. smh.