Terry Bozzio breaks down the drum beat of 'U.S. Drag' by Missing Persons

This video excerpt is from our Official Thomas Lang Drum Universe live streams, live every Saturday at 9:00AM PT on our KZbin and Facebook pages 📚
---
Terry Bozzio is one of the modern-day masters of the drum set. His drumming for Frank Zappa, Missing Persons, Jeff Beck and a host of today's top artists has become legendary. His solo concerts have been acclaimed around the world as entertaining and inspiring. His incredible drum set includes 26 tom-toms, 8 bass drums, 53 cymbals and 22 pedals. Find out more on www.drumchanne...
Upgrade your playing on Drum Channel!
👉 www.drumchanne...
Free drum lessons!
👉 www.drumchanne...
---
Connect with Terry Bozzio!
📘 Facebook - / terrybozzioofficial
📷 Instagram - / terry_bozzio_official
🐧 Twitter - / terrybozzio
Stay in touch with Drum Channel!
📕 Facebook - / drumchannel
📸 Instagram - / drumchannel
🐦 Twitter - / drumchannel
Get better faster with our Practice Assist Metronome™!
www.drumchannel...
Visit the Drum Channel Store!
shop.drumchann...
#TerryBozzio #MissingPersons #USDrag

[@LS-ki9ft]

Terry Bozzio is a really great drummer. He never got the recognition that he deserved. Missing Persons was a very cool band back in the day.

[@ER-me1ii]

How much recognition should he have received. Bonham, Moon, Ringo, Peart received so much recognition be cause they were great drummers in bands that dominated sales and airwaves. Weckl, Wackerman, Walden, Colaiuta and many more are in his league or better and not household names. Not knocking your point just that there is a reason. Zappa, MP, UK, Beck is quite a resume but it’s not drumming for zep etc.

[@rudyecheverri7654]

What’s important is that we recognize his genius 🤓🥁👍🏼

[@Flux_Flow]

@@ER-me1ii Ringo is nowhere near as good of a drummer as Terry. Ringo has to have another drummer or two on stage with him to even play a modern song. There's nothing drum technical with any Beetles songs.

[@ER-me1ii]

@@Flux_Flow captain obvious missing the entire point.

[@larst560]

Il riconoscimento non dipende dalla bravura . La massa e' stupida non ragiona con la sua testa ,e i media sono anche peggio 🤑

[@TonyTheBassPlayer1]

I never knew Terry could explain things as well as he does. He would be an incredibly gifted teacher.

[@krusher74]

Apart from it being in 6/4 and it starting on the snare , i have no clue what the beat is. Gifted teacher? he just played it about 3 times and never showed the pattern.

[@maxcohen13]

U.S. Drag is such an underrated tune. I hate that so many people wrote off Missing Persons as an 80s short-lived pop band without appreciating the backbone of all that talent.

[@tomgorycki7176]

I got to see them when they toured the Rhyme & Reason album. Terry left a lasting impression on me. He had an electronic kit and was towards the front of the stage. He was beating the crap out of that kit! Great show!

[@johns8848]

maybe you seen , there some great ol Live Missing persons out there i come across lately , quality recording of audio only i seen

[@smtpgirl]

I LOVED MISSING PERSONS IN THE 80s. LOVED THEM.

[@GoblinGuy333]

My favorite Missing Persons song, hands down!

[@soundhealer6043]

THERE'S the guy. There's ALWAYS one. The guy who leaves the "...most underrated" comment. There's one on every video involving a musician. Every one. Even when the musician is so blatantly obviously highly rated and has been for decades, you go to the comments section, and inevitably there it is: "...the most underrated blah blah". lol

[@j.d.7208]

Terry is one the greatest teacher's of all time what a genius

[@russmartin1814]

Yeah, but the apos......never mind.

[@KPac1234]

Agreed and if you haven’t seen it there’s a KZbin video titled rudiments from hell and it had really helpful stuff in it and is only 5 mins long

[@rodrigoaquinoofficial]

Absolutely.

[@MrRezRising]

@@redacted5035 Not wrong, as he uses all of it, and his chops are legendary. From Zappa to today, Bozzio is a monster musician.

[@morbidmanmusic]

Run on sentence much?

[@FusionHowie]

Hell yea~ I had the Roto toms mounted with clamps, and the two China cymbals mounted in my face, im almost 60 and to this day I still use the Bozzio fills quite often. Terry Bozzio never received his credit, it sucks! Spring Session M is a very important drummers' album. Perfect explanation from Terry . THANK YOU for posting this ! Peace from Detroit MI.

[@morbidmanmusic]

You and me, buddy.

[@RustyKnorr]

Never received his credit? Wtf? He is one of the most respected and beloved drummers of all time! No one generates more admiration from drummers than Terry. He is an icon!

[@danflak2370]

Yeah yeah, remember Spoxe hi hats??

[@AlmostReady504]

cool. !!! ....post it !!!

[@BamBam_PDX]

“You Keep A-Knockin” by Little Richard is the song he’s referring to that was the inspiration for Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll”

[@charlesseagraves6210]

Correct! 👍🏻

[@Andrew_Haase]

Good call, I had forgotten that tidbit from a music class I took

[@johnk6982]

First time I saw Terry Bozzio was with Frank Zappa, I remember thinking who the heck was this guy? Great drummer, Then a few years later a friend turned me on to the Missing person's EP, ah ha ! I know this drummer! You can always tell it's Terry on the drums. The Electric drum set he toured with on the ryme & reason tour! So f ing cool! Incredible drummer! Love Missing Person's! Thanks for posting this.

[@tomtompkins7546]

I had the pleasure of meeting and having dinner with Terry years ago when he was in town for a drum clinic. What a gentle, gentle soul and a monster drummer. He was as nice as could be, but transformed into a beast behind the kit. He was awe inspiring.

[@steves2176]

Wow! That is VERY Cool man!!! One of the most ambidextrous, creative and complex drummers of our time! I mean, c'mon, anybody who can take the sheet music for The Black Page out of Frank Zappa's hands and play it is incredible in itself!!! He was a major influence to my playing during his years with Frank!! I'm 66 and still crankin' on my drums nearly every day and still use some Bozzio fills and open hi-hat beats that are burned into me after all those years!

[@HughMorristheJoker]

Bozzio is a living legend

[@chrisyasus8912]

I'd enjoy a podcast or a reality show w him just playing ALL THE TIME

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

I've been a loyal fan of Terry Bozzio for many years, he is a true master of his craft and a thinking man's drummer, he doesn't just "play" drums, he plays it as an actual instrument and can generate so many different sounds from his kit but does it in such a musical fashion that it draws you in. Loved his work with UK, Jeff Beck and Zappa. One of the true legends of drumming

[@reneg8223]

One thing is to be able to play this and it's another to write it. So eccentric.

[@billr55]

If you want your mind blown check out the song 'Carry No Cross' by UK. Talk about beat displacement. Be sure to listen through to the end. The synth solo and drum beat Terry has going is just amazing

[@boblob2003]

My favorite Bozzio performance. In 15/8 no less!

[@zoohuman]

Your one of the most original drummers and Einstein with drum knowledge. 🙌

[@jumpinjojo]

*You’re

[@zoohuman]

@@jumpinjojo You are what?

[@jumpinjojo]

@@zoohuman I corrected your post. See above. ⬆️

[@zoohuman]

@@jumpinjojo 👉👌 What post?

[@METALFAN4EVS]

A true master of his craft here. Now off to the Missing Persons US Festival performance, totally legendary set.

[@GretchenNGould]

I'm a guitar player, but I really like the way that you are concise on breaking the beats down and the notes . It gave me some clarity, thanks Terry!

[@mrtee8964]

Pots and pans Bozzio's the man ! Jammed out to 'Noticeable One' just last-night , , , Thank you Sir...

[@jimgorycki4013]

The influence of zappa progressive rock mixed with new wave made missing person one of the best 80s bands of all time

[@timreardon4973]

The drum part to Clandestine People is also amazing. It's on the Rhyme and Reason album.

[@frankmeenzen787]

There are some amazing drum part on the albums from Missing Persons!

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Best album of '84.

[@j.wilcox3547]

I love the way he approaches the drums, not as just something to keep time, but as a musical instrument. His playing always blows my mind.

[@davidsayegh1806]

Big fan of Missing Persons, so this is great.

[@jskypercussion]

I am so looking forward to this.

[@gadymarcus5297]

me to.

[@patrickberkery8854]

Terry used to do the most rad solo during US Drag in the live show. Saw MP a few times, even with the electronic kit, which was really cool because it was so minimal that you saw most of Terry's movements.

[@danocallaghan6875]

That first e-kit was something else with the cables for cymbals!

[@ERICF66]

I sure wish there was some live video from the Rhyme And Reason tour with that electronic kit!! I have the pro recorded audio from the Irvine Meadows show in 1984 but don’t know if they filmed it as well.🤷🏽‍♂️

[@newhorizonsforfifty2833]

This is what makes this song a standout among the songs on this album.

[@whatworld70]

U.S. Drag was my favorite song from Spring Session M for the longest time, going back to high school. However, over time, No Way Out has become my favorite. Just epic.

[@DruidTM]

Excellent. I remember learning this one from the MD article (1984?). They had a transcription. Then I got “solo drums” on DCI and it was further explained. Such a cool song and groove. 👍

[@GeorgeEpting]

This is easy to understand that that chords that originally are assigned to instruments of any kind is just simply change the voice to one part of a chord meaning using a different instrument and or voice or sound in place of what you would consider not right but in fact you are in a place of all possibilities and a endless of recreating of a original chord,thanks for this video❤😊

[@muchopomposo.6394]

One of my best life memories is of going to see Terry at Newcastle Sage (a UK venue). By the door, at the entrance to the hall, is a TV on the wall. You can see what's happening on stage, and as I was admiring the gigantic kit, being set up by the crew, the door suddenly opened and out walked Terry B. At first I was so surprised I spluttered " Hi, Terry, I'm a big fan! ", something I'd vowed I'd never say to one of my heroes. I was on my own at the door, as the rest of the audience was around the corner, enjoying a beverage at the bar. He was very gracious, as when I asked him if he'd sign my ticket, he said yes, but alas, I didn't have a pen. So he raked around in his shoulder bag, found a pen, and signed my ticket. After he'd gone back into the auditorium, people started to queue up behind me. At first no one believed he'd been at the door, until I showed them the ticket he'd autographed! Needless to say, it was a terrific night, and everyone was buzzing after his virtuoso performance. As we say in the UK: ''he's a jolly good egg'..! 👍☺️

[@billr55]

Cool story, thanks.

[@muchopomposo.6394]

@@billr55 thanks Bill..! 👍

[@johnwilmer2551]

now if if we could Terry to break down the china / bell combo figure on mental hopscotch. Always baffled me

[@nelsono4315]

saw Terry and Missing Persons on their first album tour. Loved that band! Terry took those pop songs and elevated them with his creative drumming. Masterful stuff.

[@Heavyperro]

That’s a deep pocket groove. Wow! Love Terry! What a master of his craft!

[@brucewood6126]

YES! I am a big Terry Bozzio fan!!! Especially during FZ days.

[@weschilton]

Man that is such a cool tune and great record! Thanks Terry!

[@bolobolobilabila6036]

Thanks DC! How about getting Terry to play in a group setting on DC? It was great that Vai and Isham were interviewed by Terry recently. It would have been great if they could have jammed too!

[@Cjzdrums]

I love this man!

[@joelstroud9434]

U.S. Drag was one of the first drum parts I tried to learn along with King Crimson’s “Three of a Perfect Pair”. I loved the Missing Persons US Festival concert where you could see the insane fills Terry was playing at the end of U.S. Drag. Amazing performance!

[@martinhedberg3514]

Great drummer, great technical break down.

[@Cass2112]

Superb drummer US Drag still my go to practice number, MP were an awesome band back in the day.

[@johngeorges1510]

Wonderfully explained! Professor Bozzio! Love this!

[@mariomelillo3770]

My drummer told me the “song” Bonham was singing in his head for the intro to Rock n Roll was Johnny B Goode. I tried it. It works! 😆

[@JacksonAxe]

It was Little Richard's Keep a Knockin.

[@mariomelillo3770]

@@JacksonAxe ah thanks. I’ll tell my drummer.

[@TonyJBrennan]

rumour is they recorded the intro with drums, and guitars etc, then took out the instruments later in the mix . its based on chuck berry song run rudolph run , the actual beat is keep a knockin by lil richard but the timing is run rudolph run .

[@bigwillie5717]

Alas…THIS is why Professor Bozzio is THE instructor to take for calculus (timing), physics (dexterity), and economics (dynamics). You’ll learn complicated methods without even realizing it.

[@bretwalrath5297]

It's great to see Terry looking so good and so game. Every Missing Persons song a gem.

[@joemusicman64]

I'm so thankful this guy exists. My drumming would not be the same because he's taught me so much. All of it in Missing Persons believe it or not. I was never a Zappa guy even though I went back to listen to the songs that Terry was in after discovering him in Missing Persons.

[@gmcjetpilot]

I played in a band late 80''s while in collage and we covered Mental Hopscotch and US Drag. Always found Bozzio''s parts challenging because they were not typical... Mental Hopscotch was a work out.... No internet to learn songs, you had to pick it up by ear. I use to record the record to tape with speed control, slow it down, set a Metronome., to learn. Then bring up to speed.

[@alanconrad8490]

the always amazing Terry

[@richieflenniken9974]

Saw MP in Lubbock Tx oct 28 1982 Terry was and is a beast on drums!!

[@THXx1138]

I have ALWAYS loved this beat!!

[@Bricameron]

Yeah the Bonham thing has always been tricky as is Hendrix’s all along the watchtower.

[@Revelator2025]

One of my favorite grooves. Burned it into my head back then and it’s still immediately accessible. :)

[@babyraccyt3451]

Can’t wait 😀

[@ZooK_Studios]

I met Terry at a drum clinic he did in 1987 and not only a great player, but a cool guy to talk to. Just two guys talking drums. I was 22 playing professionally and he was very encouraging about playing the music you like and being yourself. I’m 57, still playing in happy semi-anonymity and working on being the best me I can be. I figured out US Drag along time ago so how about a break down of the Black Page. That song makes me cry when I try to play it.

[@franklande6575]

This beat is not only complex , but is played with a lot of attitude and cross filling with accenting ..its quite fun to play. i aways loved the overdubbed ride bell at the ending that drives it into your head too.

[@brianspectre2343]

Always loved this beat ! I'm a ghost noteaholic so beautiful to my ears!

[@stephenmahlstedt7276]

I was familiar with their hits in the 80s, but never listened closely until recently when I bought an original pressing of Spring Session M. on vinyl. I’m totally blown away by it. It’s now one of my favorite albums of all time. So much talent across the board in that band.

[@amour4all]

I Love so Much this Drummer Terry Bozzio! Thank You 4 the great Rythms ++++ :D

[@greggregg4852]

very cool that you do this!

[@DugEphresh]

The most INSANE kit I have ever seen! How the Phuck do you even learn to play that! Awesome, just AWESOME!

[@maladykiller]

We need more breakdowns of songs like this of his. Makes for great historical insight as to how he approached his technique with the musicians he worked with. And if he could use the exact same kit setup of those eras especially with Zappa tunes would be amazing!

[@mitchwarren1600]

Wow never thought anything Terry played could be comprehended. Masterclass

[@dstarks360]

Underrated, Super-Prog album! Love it! Hard to count the meter on this song!

[@Dan-hc1ow]

Love that beat. I remember rewinding the tape again and again until I figured it out. Then I got a copy of SOLO DRUMS on VHS and Terry explained it in the accompanying booklet. D'OH! 😂

[@doncunningham3124]

I watched Missing Persons in concert a few times back in the day. This guy had the biggest kit I'd ever seen and he used every bit of it masterfully! He was SO under rated! The kit in this video is pretty impressive too and I'll bet he kicks freaking ass on it! I'm off to find some current videos of him now...

[@gregsuarez5205]

Missing Persons changed my life when I first heard them. Started mowing grass to buy my first album because parents wouldn't get it for me :) I was in the 6th grade. Great to see this.

[@LiquidAudio]

I love Terry Bozzio!

[@karlhungus8841]

Summer of ‘84. My break summer from drum corps. Beach almost every day. This album was in heavy rotation in the Malibu tape deck. Awesome summer.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Such an awesome and bad ass beat. Loved those first 2 albums. Still play them out. Lol

[@Romans219]

I have been enamored with Terry since day one and always will be. Thank you for sharing your passion.

[@LuRojas]

He is just so musical!

[@RandyHanley]

Terry is so amazing and kind too!

[@christopherhall1021]

Thank you for explain this Mr. Bozzio.

[@ViceSquad]

The Bonham Led Zeppelin intro referred to here as taken from a 50's song 1:40 is Little Richard - Keep a Knockin'. The Zeppelin intro was taken from a previous take of Rock n Roll and spliced in prior to mixing. It can be counted but isn't actually played by Bonham as part of the song on the recording. Regards from London

[@chrisharbin623]

Still to this day, SSM is my favorite albums. So pop, so good, and I love the "lead drums" :)

[@thebarak]

It is wonderful to discuss kick-snare-hat variations from a 12,096 piece kit.

[@jordangroff8978]

That moment when you remember that that;s his small kit

[@robertnobody]

One of my favorite Bozzio beats from the Missing Persons catalog, by the way, that's the longest hi-hat reach I've ever seen....lol.

[@voronOsphere]

Amazing Beat! Terry rules!!!! Thanks!

[@davdenm]

I wonder if he ever thinks, “I still don’t have enough drums”.

[@aneoid6323]

Every waking minute and most of his dream sequences...

[@lionheartroar3104]

Terry is a premium drummer. love this man!

[@charlesevenstad]

Love this song! I just saw Dale at the Cruel World Festival in Pasadena, and I was hoping you were going to be there and play this song! Nice to see you making content. I really enjoy it.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

I've only just discovered missing persons but the drumming stands out

[@MrJohnnyace777]

Saw him 2-3 times with UK once when UK warmed up for Jethro Tull. Terry totally kicked ass I especially remember the intro to Caesars palace blues . The danger money album AWESOME

[@stephenpemberton85]

His kit looks likes car parts from the world of Mad Max!✌️💛🤘 Love it!

[@kingshopper84]

TOTALLY AWESOME 👍😎👍

[@andersdo2925]

Terry is such a great guy, his ego is nowhere in the room! Got to talk to him briefly and he talked to me as if we had been friends for a long time.

[@jukesjointOG]

My drum teacher got pretty close to writing a decent transcription, from me humming it to him (he never heard the song). But of course, we were thinking 4/4, not 6/4. It was funny to see that when I found those notes years later.

[@paradiddle16]

the song he's talking about (most likely) from the 50s is Keep a knockin from Little Richard.

[@ralphbenites1819]

Yes.thank you.

[@veerchasm1]

I wish Terry had stuck with his acoustic kit on Missing Person’s later albums instead of the electronic ones he experimented with after Spring Session M

[@johnc6042]

I never knew the drummer from Missing Persons was such a badass on drums. How would anybody know? I mean, I haven’t been this surprised since I found out Neil Peart was the drummer for Devo

[@jharley15]

Terry has achieved what many musicians lose sight of: Terry sounds and plays like Terry.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I love Missing Persons. Terry is a monster. Listen to tracks like: All Fall Down & Tears. His hands are so-fast it's like Bruce Lee with drumsticks. Fun fact: (it was reported) Prince was listening to alot of Missing Persons just before he passed away. oNe LovE from NYC

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love your work!!

[@grendelrobert7511]

The song for John Bonhams intro to 'Rock and Roll' was taken from an old Little Richard song intro called Keep a-Knockin. Led Zep stole so many songs and ideas. Especially for their first album.

[@snowflakethedrummer]

The King!!!

[@roachrip]

Amazing brilliant drummer.. danger money..

[@kitchendezina]

Legend!

[@lagpressure]

Great demonstration of technique....

[@larshogstadius]

Terry Bozzio my fave drummer 🩵

[@deadreckoning292]

Damn. Terry is highly articulate and intelligent with his music vocabulary.

[@mossmonaco9061]

The greatest rhythmic architect in the world!

[@jamied1969]

'Can anyone give me a hand with my gear?' You're on your own Tez

[@fritzneuenschloss4989]

Chuck Berry's .... Johnny Be Good is the song. Marco Minniman mentioned this on one of his KZbin videos.