VIRGIL DONATI OBSESSIVE RHYTHMS whole video

Great Video I used growing up learning the drumkit.
Virgil uses simple rudiments and demonstrates how they can be used to make so many interesting rhythms. His improvisation with odd time is also above and beyond.
He truly is a master at this instrument and proficient at the keyboard.
Enjoy the video

[@BaconIsNotBiceps]

Absolutely one of the greatest drummers to ever live.

[@daviddicara991]

Virgil Donati, in my humble opinion has taken drumming to new places, never before seen. I believe overall he is the most technical drummer to ever live. I know that is saying a lot. I know who the greats are. I know what everyone can do. The reason I say this is because Virgil has such an unbelieveably wide range of skills, that he can do what any one of them can do at their best. And then he can do things that they cant. On top of this he is an AMAZING keyboard player. He could have had a superb career as a pianist or keyboard player. He can sight read almost as well as Vinnie. Virgil is the best. Now do you have him as your favorite drummer? Maybe yes, maybe no, but you must acknowledge his special and unequalled talent.

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

Agree totally on his drumming ability. But if he’s such an amazing keyboard player, why does he write such awful music?

[@daviddicara991]

@@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv I like his stuff...

[@theavenger3363]

@@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv It’s not right to say he writes awful music, it’s correct to say you don’t like it. Big difference.

[@ericmsandoval]

@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv Just because someone is a great at their instrument, DOESN’T mean they can write good music.

[@Mike-uw5os]

His technical ability is off the charts but his orchestration and creativity have been surpassed.

[@FranHn1982]

Virgilio is a language by itself, a true alien rythmic master!

[@DRUmBEaTTS]

Anybody else notice the obvious Terry Bozzio influences with the Black Remo drum kit with the high tuning, the Bozzio type fills he plays during the introductory solo, the all black clothes w/tank top and boots, the two chinas up high in the front, the Remo Spokes, it just says Terry Bozzio, still pretty cool to see a little more of how he developed in his early days.

[@natestewart1975]

those high chinas

[@malcolmlarri9073]

Yes some very big Bozzio influences going on here !

[@WolvesNotLions]

No. No one noticed that.

[@warbirdfotos]

@@WolvesNotLions LMAO

[@malcolmlarri9073]

Thanks for posting this ! I had the VHS when I came out and watched it relentlessly for months ! Brings back great memories - thank you and thanks to Virgil for decades of inspiration!

[@mauricedisisto1050]

Haha likewise 👍🏾👍🏾

[@robertoricci3393]

When Virgil was still human

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

He’s still human. Just add 35 more years of practice and experience and to get where he is today.

[@Stu.6]

Legend has it The full on hiss you can hear was from the Greece lightning jacket

[@onurertemmusic]

The most Virgil video far away 😂🎉🔥🔥🔥

[@thomasnappo6309]

Virgil is the most Underated Great drummers out there....hes a Beast😊

[@Hhhlll7778]

It’s more of a matter that he is too advanced to be truly appreciated

[@rodrigodallacqua]

he is not underrated at all, he is one of the best of all time and is very recognized for it

[@keysersoze9511]

Underrated my ass

[@deadhead6966]

His mind is on a different level than the normal human.

[@lucianogiordana]

great (and maybe rare?) video ! Thanks for sharing !

[@fitzcaraldozito]

I like his style at that time :) reminds me Johnny Depp in Jump street 21 😎

[@YAS6931]

😂 where IS Vanessa Paradis ?

[@hectorroca9076]

Wooow, what a video...he,s absolutly Out of this world.....love it!

[@thetruegodless]

Bad Ass Legendary Drummer! Bad Ass drum Sound!

[@GuiSchwertner]

I started watching then started working and now I realized he is playing this for my background music. Awesome flow to do that. Recommended.

[@jimmythebold589]

so freaking good!

[@PinoBenattiMusicDrums158]

Number One in the world 👽👽👽

[@davidprawira7813]

Awesome

[@mintaka3407]

Thank you for posting this! I never knew of the existence of this video till now…I was actually searching for an old Dave Weckl video where he is using the Yamaha brass piccolo snare when I came across this…😊

[@mauricedisisto1050]

I'm surprised no body else posted this. It's another video to learn from and appreciate this great drummer

[@unkind78]

@@mauricedisisto1050 I tried a few years ago but it was deleted because of copyright reasons

[@crashtestdrummie-nl6411]

Indeed, an obsessive (compulsive) drummer with exceptional skills. Those double bass patterns and speed were unrivaled at that time I assume. Phenomenon, though I think Virgil's virtuosity makes drumming almost too technical in approach. On the other hand: the world needs innovators

[@rodneyradnowski8334]

What time? I’m curious what year this is?

[@calmac9720]

I would guess it's something like 1989@@rodneyradnowski8334

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

Video copyright says 1994

[@josemoyan5792]

The only one 🥁🔥❤️

[@gaborszekeres1672]

Unbelievable!

[@KitCotter]

Finally, someone's found & posted it ! My big brother had it on VHS, back in the day, long-gone now, tho'.

[@mauricedisisto1050]

My friend had it on VHS also back in.. around 1994!! Yeah like 30 years ago!!!

[@glenncollie9806]

I still have it on VHS and burned it to DVD before it stretched

[@Zaraduba]

​glenncollie9806Do you have the BOOKLET??

[@Zaraduba]

This video has been posted a few times over the years, but it was always taken down by Virgil's Police I don't know how this hasn't happened yet with this post👀

[@TimIsmagOfficial]

A message to the future

[@gustavoamilcarlopez8698]

Corriendo los límites del instrumento!!!

[@josephgiarraffa6379]

Some people just create this stuff before we even imagine it Ahead of his time 30 years ago Virgil is one of those people Just like ThomasLang May I mention

[@Gevoltful]

Technicaly today he is fare away from this , here you see a start of progression . He is insane 😊

[@Dave-lr2wo]

True. I saw a recent solo of his and was just absolutely blown away. He goes way beyond blinding chops (which you can find all over youtube), it's also truly generational creativity and personal style (which you almost can never find except by the very best artists). Very unique.

[@drummermodern]

thanks for this

[@350kph]

sick

[@memopadilla5931]

I didn't know the lead singer of the band "Bush" was also a great drummer .

[@MrDAVIDIANS79]

Hace 14 años aproximadamente, subí a youtube este mismo video y a los pocos días me bloquearon la cuenta.. Cuidado con Virgil que cuida muchisimo su material. Gracias por subir!!!

[@cesarvaldez112975]

Gonna have to transcribe these exercises and practice them myself.

[@Tanildes]

ORIGINAL FROM 1989!

[@RandyHanley]

My forearms would be so sweaty and uncomfortable wearing that jacket...and he's just insanely shredding on drums in the heated lights. Insanity.

[@JamesSmith-kv8js]

43:54 Best groove in the video

[@hazardeur]

obsessive is the right word. insane would be another

[@scottallard5849]

I so love this was my first video of the Man of the best/beast so cool what a memorable time then.

[@frans_YouTube]

Greased Lightnin!

[@acidrums4]

Now we know he had a heavy hand into composing much of Planet X stuff. There are several riffs on Quantum that just sound like what he played here

[@clarenceoveur9497]

"Now we know" lol now YOU know... Virgil is a multi-instrumentalist and prolific composer. Drums is just what he's best known for. ;)

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

There’s a reason for that. While his drumming is out of this universe, and far beyond just about all, his musical compositions are truly awful. He is a drumming virtuoso but a good composer he is not.

[@the1youlove940]

Wooow

[@DavidWilson-rk2zf]

I would definitely hire thsi guy to paint my house

[@keremeye]

Making a video with a leather jacket under these spotlights and not sweating with these exercise is scary:)

[@Stu.6]

The donati effect

[@Spierdalajyoutube]

He is an alien 🤷‍♂️

[@DRUMPROGRESS]

He is not Human ;)

[@Stu.6]

@@DRUMPROGRESS hes leather man from Greece

[@hermanvanhaagen]

I love Virgil. Is this video still available for purchase somewhere? And the sheet music as well?

[@nemesisinvidia5792]

Toujours agréable de voir le plus grand batteur au monde donner des conseils. Merci pour cette vidéo

[@doubts]

I've never heard Virgil, or any other world class player call themselves 'the best'.

[@nemesisinvidia5792]

Must listen carefully !@@doubts

[@myworms]

19:17 Virgil posted the first minute of this on his website ages ago, and I always wanted to hear the whole thing, and now I finally have.

[@Michael_Michaels]

Just imagine what he could achieve if he grabbed the left drumstick properly!...

[@giovannigamberini1971]

I disagree totally. The traditional left hand grip is actually more interesting in a modern, hyper-technical drummer. It's a connection with the jazz/swing-era of Buddy Rich and the other fathers of our instrument. It shows that "old school" is not old at all, that "traditional" is not "weak" at all (plus, it looks so classy, it's a matter of style and elegance 😉). Another example would be Thomas Lang, a drummer as "muscular" and hyper-technical as Donati is, and also employing traditional grip (and large sticks) when he appeared on the scene; too bad he's switched to using matched grip almost exclusively 🤷🏻‍♂️. P.S.: Donati (like Lang) shows how it's done with traditional grip and a straight back posture (the shoulders at the same height etc), while too many "fusion" drummers using traditional grip around the 1980s/1990s (Weckl, Colaiuta, Gadd, Smith...) had terrible posture.

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

He stated in an interview that if he were to start over he would use matched grip.

[@JohnKostarasskn]

Thank you for this video. Don't suppose there is a transcription out there anywhere?

[@adrianhernandez4527]

Excelente Mterial para estudiar, muchas gracias

[@mauricedisisto1050]

Piacere

[@subatomic10]

Ask Frank Corniola to release his cover band footage he recorded in a club back in 1994 ! He played Zeppelin, Pearl Jam , Chilli Peppers etc

[@Zaraduba]

🙏🏻😍!!!

[@siloagrain2176]

Still listening to mister donati for personal élévation

[@rodneyradnowski8334]

What year is this from? 1989?

[@Zaraduba]

Does anyone have the booklet??🙏

[@said7794]

Играя много лет на барабанах я понимаю что мне это интересно это очень круто потому что он играет все время грув и сбивает его по разному я люблю конечно и джаз но это чуть по круче то что делает Донати

[@piotrkolasa182]

Virgil played gospel chops long before they were a thing.

[@rodneyradnowski8334]

Yeah these patterns feel like what Gospel drummers were doing which has influenced mainstream drumming today.

[@joshuajuaire8757]

Want sticks are he using in this clip

[@heatherjarry5281]

i'm assuming there's an accompanying book with the excercises written out?

[@JulianFernandez]

go BUY the thing, dudeee

[@mauricedisisto1050]

I don't think there was a booklet to go with the video. I'm sure you could write out some exercises yourself 😉

[@jipihorn]

There were indeed a little booklet provided with the videocassette with some transcriptions, remarks and even a drawing of the setup !@@mauricedisisto1050

[@theoriginalderhythm]

Charlie Sheen plays drums?

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

Any idea what Paistes he’s using here? 3000’s?

[@Zaraduba]

2000....

[@emmanuelhdrum]

Exist that drum method?

[@francoa2197]

no

[@emmanuelhdrum]

@@francoa2197😢😢😢

[@Zaraduba]

Yes,a booklet with Vhs,but not at the web🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dramer9671]

Где найти распечатку всех упражнений

[@Stu.6]

The Fonz definitely couldn’t tune toms 😂

[@calmac9720]

How would you have tuned them then Potsie?

[@Stu.6]

@@calmac9720 haha! Are you serious? Sound like dustbin lids!

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

They sound better than the DW crap he plays now. I prefer his Paiste and Remo sound over his current setup. And yes I know Remo drums are long gone

[@Stu.6]

@@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv really?

[@YAS6931]

Virgil next Metallica drummer please just for a concert

[@ericmsandoval]

Overqualified.

[@drtrumm]

Can play no problem, but streching ??? Hit 18" tom w left hand swiss grip in overhand solo...then we talk. I do but not idio.... swiss grip.

[@ChontosDrumLessons]

All this in a leather jacket 😂

[@ericmsandoval]

Well, not all if you watched the entire video

[@DrDr-pg5br]

Why is he dressed like a 1950s greaser?

[@Marisueksu]

that be the style in those days haha

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

Because he’s Italian and grew up in Australia?

[@RichardCoskey]

The leather jacket is a bit much lol. Great drummer obviously but lol come on

[@ambroulard]

So yeah,,, I always put a leather or vinyl coat on before throwing my arms All over the place,,, kinda weird Virgil,,, just a little.

[@82mangini]

Thomas Lang is better by far

[@herrxav]

In 1993?

[@82mangini]

@@herrxav now

[@herrxav]

@@82mangini Of course. But this video is from 1993.

[@Hhhlll7778]

Interesting you say this because Thomas himself has said Virgil is far ahead of him

[@82mangini]

@@Hhhlll7778 Thomas is a gentleman!!! Lang respect Donato but we ALL know Lang is better by Far. His foot techniques kick donati ass!!! Pete Zeldman is better than donati too. Dave Weckl too. Vinnie Colaiuta too

[@kayned47]

Ahhh nice 2 see virgil being a great but pretty normal player not the monster we know him 2 b 2day

[@stevevorass]

Wait.. this is normal?

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

“Great but pretty normal”? This video came out 35 years ago and he was *still* at the top of the heap by today’s standards. The difference here is that he’s breaking things down at a granular, digestible level, which he doesn’t typically do in live clinics.

[@ico8272]

I wish he was playing more like this. Today you literally cant listen to 2 minutes before you ask yourself.....this has zero feel, its all math and the rhythms are unnatural feeling. Who cares if no one can play that shit. He couldnt play like Vinnie even if he tried. Virgil is a great player but he let self indulgence and ego took over in his playing. How cool can I be, to stump every drummer in the room? Really? Who gives a shit. Drumming is not a spectator sport...

[@Tanildes]

I'm sorry ,but you're talking about the wrong Drummer Virgil has only evolved, as well as, as a composer, perhaps his works are not so palatable, they are complex, but never a gratuitous display of chops... this is stuff from Thomas Lang, Mangini...zero feel, all mechanical speed chops etc

[@calmac9720]

You've got it completely wrong

[@PeterDeLuca-rz3dv]

I think he has fallen into the trap of jazz-like endless noodling these days. Very repetitive and boring to listen to. Have to dig deeper into his older stuff to find it enjoy.