Tim Alexander breaks down Over The Electric Grapevine (Livestream 25/01/24)

[@StoneBasses]

song is a masterpiece. Big fan of Tim's approach to drums.

[@brlnrd]

Always my favourite song off of punch bowl. The drums do make this song and work so well with the bass and guitar parts.

[@usernameinvalid2675]

He just announced his retirement. Hope he's OK. He's one of the very best.

[@FraaaaaankRizzo]

He included a very important life thing in there as one of the reasons. He’s a dad and wants to spend more time with his family. I get it. Once my kids were born I no longer wanted to play live anymore as it was all nights and weekends, so I scaled it waaaay back. Band broke up in 2017 after 22 years together. Now I’m focused on putting my kids through college which is waaay more important than music I’ve been doing for 54 years.

[@usernameinvalid2675]

@ yes 👍 very good reasons thanks for the info ℹ️

[@anthonygrilli4919]

My favorite drummer

[@oxouk]

I remember the premiere of "John The Fisherman" on MTV. Tims drumming was such an eye opener. It was refreshing and inspiring. There was now so much more than Lars, Lombardo, Benante and whoever was drumming for Megadeth at the time. It wasn't just Tims playing that inspired me, it was what he used on his kit. Zil Bells or Ice Bells, Splash cymbals, who knew?, but what a cool sound. It was like a recipe that just needed a little flavor to make it incredible.

[@AUXdrone]

Menza. Sheesh. 🤦‍♂️

[@KinseiSensei]

Amazing insight, thanks so much, Tim! So glad to have found this channel. 🙏🏼

[@NotAChickenREAL]

Yo dad i found your comment

[@mgnz88]

Legend sir! There are a million good drummers, but the creativity and sound are what separates the greats from the average. Viva la primus

[@AUXdrone]

Primus sucks

[@Lannycakes42]

Definitely my favorite song from Tales! Tim is one of my all time faves as well. Very cool to see him doing videos like this!

[@narlusspectre]

Agreed! Lucky livestream I caught, and i don’t even play drums. So so cool to see him break it down, easily my favourite Alexander part and one of my all time Primus tunes for sure.

[@RolandDuke]

Outstanding

[@raceenergy6951]

Thanks for breaking that down Tim "herb" 👍👍

[@TreyPhillips19693]

"Now it sounds like some really bad rock song! Sorry, am I boring everybody? Well, this is important...so you need to hear it." 🤣

[@1985sfa]

Thanks for uploading!!!

[@narlusspectre]

my absolute pleasure

[@MatChew75]

He's a linear kind of guy and he's one of the very best at layering drums and he's an amazing pocket drummer. One of the very best drummers of past 30 years I know he just retired the throne at 60 it's been doing it since he was 24. I don't know if he's retiring for good I just think he's in a good place minus Touring being away from his family and drumming professionally I just don't think it's in his heart but we havent seen the last of him. he's got too much to offer the world with drumming because he's heard the ginseng drummer. He's been so important in my drumming career ever since I saw the very first inkling of Primus on Headbangers ball in 1990 with John the Fisherman video and then a year later I saw them at Tipitina's in New Orleans for the Frizzle fry tour and every subsequent tour sense with Tim Alexander on drums. Les and Larry will never find a drummer quite like him you will always be the master of Primus melodies , Tim. He took my drumming to another Stratosphere when I was in high school I was kind of stuck with my drumming and I wasn't progressing and then I started listening to Primus and his ability as a drummer helped me to take my drumming to another level. I'll go out on a limb and say he's been the best drum in the last 30 years and if Alex lifeson and Geddy Lee ever wanted to start a side project with another drummer I don't think you go any farther than Tim Alexander and now that he's available maybe in the future they might want to ask him. I don't think he turned down a gig with Getty and Alex from Rush. After seeing Primus do the tribute to rush and Neil Peart it was very apparent that Tim Alexander's very Adept at playing Neil Peart style drumming just like Danny Carey is very Adept at playing Bill bruford style drumming. But yeah that would be my wish come true and I was fortunate enough to see Primus open up for Rush in 1992 during roll the bones tour. Single greatest concert I've ever been to my two favorite bands were touring together and I knew the guys in Rush would recognize the greatness and Primus and the fact that they're a trio and they play progressive music I figured it would catch on with the boys in rush and they would instantly be intrigued by Primus. Hell I think that's when Tim Alexander was using pork pie drums and he was actually endorsed by them but yeah his drum set was even bigger than Neil drum set at the time which was a Ludwig. But I've seen every subsequent tour with herb Alexander on the drums. Tim might also have some health issues pertaining to his heart I know he had two heart attacks and open heart surgery so I don't know if you ever really get over that kind of stuff. But he seems to be in a good place I don't necessarily think it has anything to do with his heart and the issues that he had I know he's had back problems I don't think that's it I just think it's hard it's not in it right now and he wants a break. I mean he just turned 60 years old so it's certainly catches up to everyone. But God bless him and I wish him the best I'm going to miss him dearly and I hope he comes back one day and he's with us for a long time.

[@jim2823]

Reversing the role/roll of the snare and floor Tom could work too.Thoughtful approach, good lesson. Ty

[@MatChew75]

I don't think there's a greater drummer the past 30 years than Tim Alexander the greatest concert I ever saw was was Primus opening up for Rush in 1992 sailing the Seas of Cheese slash roll the bones. Very reserved fellow introverted quiet and he just retired from Primus and I am shocked but he's 60 years old he's got a family and kids and he also had open heart surgery not too long ago and I'm sure you never really get over that and I just have this feeling that he felt like he was neglecting his family and he needed to be a bigger part of their lives. It seems like he's in a really good place right now considering the circumstances. being in a band and doing that was just secondary I guess and possibly touring probably got to him and being on the road and playing in different cities every night he I think got burnt out on it it is crazy as it sounds he obviously is burnt out on playing drums in a band for now. I'm just glad that I was able to see him during every album he did with Primus I never saw Primus with brain or Jay Lane as the drummer and I was able to meet herb in New Orleans at the show they did for the desaturating seven. And he really is a stand-up guy I mean I wish he would have gone to les & larry in person and told them the state of his situation. that he was leaving the band I'm sure it was a shock to them like it was to everybody in the Primus camp but you do have to respect his wishes & the way he does things. I can't imagine either one of them being real happy about it at first but I'm sure after they've had time to process it everything is good between them. The bond that Larry les and Tim have is very strong and I'm sure they will always be there for one another it goes Way Beyond the music. But I have nothing but the utmost respect for Tim as a drummer and as a human being and if it wasn't for him my drumming career would have never gone in the direction that it did he inspired me to take drumming to the next level what he was doing with Primus was Next Level drumming like nobody else the last 30 with the exception of Danny Carey. I mean to me those are the two best drummers the last 30 years and I happen to see them both at a benefit concert that primus did for a friend of theirs that had cancer and it's on KZbin and the three guys in Primus are on stage plus Justin Chancellor and Danny Carey and they jam on some Primus songs and then do a couple of covers and then they go into the Led Zeppelin song where Tim and Danny break it down into an amazing solo between them sort of like a drum off and it's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. you can find it on . If I were to give the edge to either it would be Tim. he's every bit as talented as Danny Carey is. It doesn't sound like he's hit a brick wall in his drumming and the videos I've seen he seems really into what he's doing but I guess you just really never know what is on someone's mind and where they are in their life . I also heard that Danny might fill in on the throne for Tim until Les and Larry find a new Drummer and that would be cool seeing him fill in for Tim but besides Danny filling in... if it is not Tim on the drum throne I'm not going to pay money to see Primus. there's a reason they've always brought him back because there's nobody that can drum quite like him I mean to me there's nobody in the drumming community that can play Neil peart's drumming better than he can after seeing Primus do the tribute to rush & Neil Peart for farewell to Kings album. They play it front to back that, it's was absolutely insane to see and it blew me away. I mean seeing that in person is one of the greatest musical experiences I've ever had the opportunity to enjoy and man I'm going to miss this guy I mean he's just done so much for me as a drummer and I've got so much respect for him. I wish he would do more videos like this and I also know they were supposed to go back on tour with perfect circle and Puscifer again next year sessanta pt.2; but it's going to be without Tim The ginseng drummer will be missed. God bless you brother your drumming will live in infamy

[@narlusspectre]

amen

[@bcancun123]

Amazing breakdown of a awesome beat

[@bigloaded8324]

Love the sound of those 13” New Beat hihats

[@TjByers369]

"They were tiiired, they were sleeepy..."

[@narlusspectre]

@@TjByers369 “so they paarked behiined the roooxy”

[@DesignRhythm]

This song is the perfect start to a road trip.

[@billylopez6075]

I love the play on 'is it luck..

[@MattWeedon]

That second part was extremely confusing for me as a lefty on a righty kit.

[@Mankindisunkindman]

Yeah Man , I can dig it

[@billylopez6075]

Scene since jan 1992 oakland. 34 primus shows , you are Dope Sir. I pound skins a lil.

[@billylopez6075]

I so Dig the semi simplicity of Yo me yamo Mud'...

[@BrockSampson29]

Hold on! Tim talks?

[@Lycurgus1982]

Herb, the ginseng drummer! \m/

[@narlusspectre]

@@Lycurgus1982 3, 4!

[@StationaryDingleberry]

I am a senior beginner student. My question is what is the overview topic here? I don't know the song or the band, but I assume the idea is to play the drums to a known song. This is my question: Is this what a drummer goes through to play a song?... basically coming up with there own part? I don't know and apologize if it's a dumb question. Is this because there is no drum sheet music and/or it is difficult to make out the original part???? I know I find it next to impossible to make out what is being played on many songs. Is this the core issue or what is the task/goal here?

[@StationaryDingleberry]

@@dugdrums Thank you very much. My question though is still why is he embarking on such an exercise? If the original part is understood why not play that part unmodified? That's my question.

[@winstontelly2232]

The topic is drum composition; more specifically the thinking/inspiration behind his creative choices.

[@StationaryDingleberry]

I think I answered my lingering question by reading about the band and song realizing the discussion is about what went into the writing of the original part. I may still be wrong about that..

[@winstontelly2232]

@@StationaryDingleberry No wrong assumptions here. That's exactly it.

[@jas_bataille]

It's not at all a dumb question! Yes, we do come up with our own parts. Even when reading, most composers do not actually write for drumset very well (they usually sck pretty bad, if I'm being honest lol). So there are gonna be a ton of repeat signs and then little notes like "fill" and so on for most of the charts we read. Drumset sheet music does absolutely exist tho! Few composers really write note by note is what I mean. Now tbh, you're starting with the top of the iceberg in terms of creativity and complexity. This isn't easy at all, even for me after 20 years.There is no way in Hell a beginner is figuring that out... I'd take me a few days to figure that out without this explanation for sure, especially since this could be played in a bunch of different ways but his mechanics greatly affect the feel.

[@jsullivan2112]

This is a big part of how he makes his living. Not cool just taking it and uploading it to KZbin for anyone to watch for free, honestly.

[@narlusspectre]

I agree that without his permission it was probably disrespectful to record and upload it like that, and if i respected him as a person i wouldn’t have done that. So your comment has made me think a bit about whether i’ll keep this up or not out of respect, especially since he just retired. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@jas_bataille]

​@@narlusspectre If you respected him as a person... so you don't respect him as a person? Kind of a weird take... I think you do actually. I don't think it's that much of a big deal. In fact, it makes me want to take a lesson from him, if anything. But I do understand the feeling of asking permission of course.

[@PoppaBadger]

Primus sucks!!! Of course its a really bad rock song!🤣👍🏼

[@dukeplow]

I love linear beats. Probably too much 😂