Why Jon Theodore Is An UNDERRATED Drumming Monster | Off Beat
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- Опубліковано 10 чер 2024
- The powerful and dynamic drumming of Jon Theodore is the basis of this video essay that analyses his electrifying performances and unique style. From his seminal work with The Mars Volta to his collaborations with Queens of the Stone Age and other iconic bands, I dissect the vitality and precision of his drumming, his ability to blend different genres and how he pushes the boundaries of what's possible on the drum kit.
#jontheodore #marsvolta #queensofthestoneage
00:00 - Intro
00:18 - Background
01:53 - Versatility
04:16 - Energy
04:44 - Complex groove
05:32 - Solos
06:11 - Outro
Music credit:
Morning by KV / kvmusicprod
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For as amazing a drummer as Jon is, he is an even better human being. Jon and I went to high school together at Gilman School in Baltimore and we remain friends to this day. His great success and his renown in music has not changed him one bit. He is as down to earth, humble, funny and kind as he was back when we were teenagers in the early 1990s. Rock on, my friend!
That rules.
Really nice to see it confirmed that he’s a great guy! 🤘
Never knew Jon is from Baltimore. Interesting stuff!
Saws queens in Baltimore and he brought his little brother out on stage
I kept seeing a vehicle with a bunch of snares and I think a surfboard outside of my band's practice studio. For some reason I kept joking it was his. One night, I saw him standing outside and yelled at him, "Jon! Give me lessons!" He respectfully declined, but we ended up chatting about drums for like 10 minutes. He was the coolest, chillest dude, and I feel like he would've stayed there talking forever if I didn't cut it short to get back to rehearsal. Still my favorite living drummer, and can also confirm his coolness and lack of ego. Dope human.
FINALLY A VIDEO ABOUT JON THEODORE
Jon changed my life forever with the mars volta, he’ll be always recognized for those 3 landmark albums
Me too man. The ambition, competence, feel, creativity, originality and honesty of JT's work on those TMV records is something that I can't express enough appreciation for, and I wouldn't be who I am today without having experienced that.
Me too!!!
Me too 🤯
Absolutely. The 1st time I heard Deloused I was dumbfounded.
Hard to think of a more creative / intense / mesmerizing album from start to finish.
When I first heard Deloused and Frances in the mid 2000s as a teenager and noob drummer I couldn't believe anyone could play the drums like that. It was as if an alien had come down and sat behind the kit to show us how it's done. That music changed my life and I still get goosebumps listening to it now.
🙏
Deloused high as kite around 20 yrs old in really good headphones blew my mind. Insanity.
I just turned 40 and Deloused, stoned, through headphones is still fucking phenomenal
He certainly isn't overlooked among fans of the Mars Volta. There's been a revolving door of fantastic drummers in that band but he's widely regarded as the best of the bunch. He had the best combination of technicality and feel among them. I think drummers at large recognize his brilliance among other prog/fusion giants such as Danny Carey, Billy Cobham, Bruford etc.
This comment was scanned for falsehoods and none were detected.
I just saw him live with QOTSA and he sounded great! He may be underrated in the mainstream community but it the drumming community he's very respected.
He together with Juan Alderete is one of the greatest rythmsections ever. He's a mixture of Tony Williams and John Bonham😍
they made this band way better than the guitarist and singer ever deserved to be
He’s an all around drummer. He’s playing exactly what’s needed. Mars Volta felt Latin jazzy zeppelin
In an interview Cedric said kicking Jon out of TMV was their worst mistake. He said every time they saw him after they would just apologize.
i was a huge volta fan throughout highshcool and once jon was gone it was noticable. the band went to shit. i didnt think pridgen was for marsvolta. i Loved pridgen's drumming but its evident that the band just didnt work without jon.
@Miquitzli that's just factually incorrect lol. Even after Jon left, they never put out a bad record
@@cotopaximusicyeah they did, especially the garbage they’re putting out now. After Jon left they MAYBE have 1 decent song off each album, but the drums lack and it shows
@@cotopaximusic.. Couldn't be more tone deaf....they steadily declined after the first 2 albums
@@KyFiGz... Listen to their albums mowing the grass... Can't even make it through them. Garbage
I think it's worth to add that he was the drummer for the entirety of the ...Like Clockwork tour.
I think his uncanny ability to blend and elevate the tracks he plays on may cause him to go unnoticed
Technical ability, precision, power, groove, inventiveness he has it all.
The first 2 Mars albums were unreal... The drumming really drove it all for me!
I'm a guitar player and massive QOTSA fan; love watching and listening to drummers but don't know much about actually playing. When Joey left and JT came in I really wasn't sure if he was a good fit; I should have just trusted Homie's instincts. Joey was a monster - His timing would drift a bit but I didn't care - It was part of his no-hold-barred approach and I loved it. I just didn't quite get JT - on the Like Clockwork tour his playing was brilliant but didn't really reach me. Then on Villains he seemed to settle more and I got used to him, but it's on In Times New Roman that I feel he's really hit his stride and now I can't imagine the band without him. Seen them a few times on each of those tours and live he's unquestionably good, but on this current one he seems like an absolute monster, and his feel and power, plus his timing, makes the band so rock solid. Homme goes over and plays with him a lot during the show and Mikey's bass locks in with JT's playing to create this incredible momentum - They're absolutely formidable now; I'd say untouchable. Maybe this isn't what everyone else hears, maybe I'm romanticising it, but for me it's just how I saw and felt it evolve. From what I gather he seems like a really genuine guy too so to have him playing in my favourite Rock n Roll band of all time is a pleasure.
Deloused In The Comatorium is some of the greatest drumming I have ever heard. And One Day As A Lion is just as good.
One of the best live drumming performances I ever witness was Mars Volta at Joe Louis Arena in 2005. After listening to Francis the Mute and trying to learn the drum parts all summer, Cygnus....Vismund Cygnus was the first song. The crescendo coming out of the breakdown was the most intense musical energy I've ever felt. When the song exploded I involuntarily started a circle pit and was kicked out and thrown on the streets of Detroit after the song finished. In an era of rock drummers that just played at volume 10, Jon could play with tremendous dynamic range. Along with that beautiful Vistalite and Supraphonic snare sounds gave the band that 70's feel of jazz fusion, but with punk energy. I hope music history will eventually celebrate that 2001-2006 era of Mars Volta with Jon on drums!
Cedric said that letting go of Jon Theodore was the biggest mistake TMV ever made
I saw The Mars Volta with Jon open for System of a Down in Philly 20 years ago
We saw that tour too in Seattle (at the Key Arena) and Jon was throwing a fit and yelling because he apparently couldn't hear himself and the sound was awful in that tin can. SOAD kicked ass though.
You forgot Cygnus Vismund cygnus. Stan Bicknell made a fantastic medley of Jon.
Jon is one of thr best drummers of all time. The last movement of the mars volta song meccamputechure (starting at 9:08) the intro and verses of tetragrammaton, and thr opening to roulette dares are some of the most epic drum performances youll never hear analyzed in a music theory class for some reason. Hes totally one of a kind.
The Best TMV drummer.
It wasn’t Mars Volta after he left
Jon Theodore: The man who played ghost notes *louder*.
I absolutely loved the constant chaotic motion Thomas Pridgen brought to TMV, but Theodore just had that un-doubtable *groove* that really glued everything together. Him and Juan Alderete were an absolutely MONSTROUS rhythm section.
I really love what this guy has done with Bright Eyes. Always spot on, surprising and complimentary. Next level.
Just downloaded that Golden Album after seeing this. This guy is excellence. Thanks for sharing🤙
In times new Roman is a jon masterpiece
Theodore rips and should do one more record with the Volta 🤞🏻
You could dive into more about what he did with Golden! Really great stuff prior to MV.
De-Loused has some of the BEST drumming I've ever heard.
He’s been one of my favorites for years
Beautiful man, amazing music
Jon is literally the greatest drummer of our era
Jon is your favorite drummers favorite drummer.
Kick ass drummer for The Mars Volta
this video was so cool, thanks
Thank you!!
the best drummer the mars volta has ever had and ever will.
One Day As A Lion!
Saw him live this week and he is the best drummer actively touring today.
Ha! Mars Volta's early albums and QUTSA's Villains are among my favorite albums. I played Villains every day during my commute to/from work for months.
No brakes on the Off Beat train 🚂💪
still love it!!
As a fan of both Mars Volta and QOTSA I kinda feel like he's a bit wasted in queens.
Queens are certainly a kick ass band but the music Jon made with Volta is legendary
Well, I think he did a really good job at Villains, even though there's not much to say about his drumming besides The Evil Has Landed.
But damn, In Times New Roman? I understand the idea of making everything strange and not right, but that's just a fucking lame for any drummer who expected some really good grooves.
Hope they will turn in the other direction with their next album (yeah, maybe after 10 years or something)
This is the truest comment on this video, although there's no accounting for his happiness. The Volta became something he wasn't passionate about anymore, and he wants to make solid rock n roll. He's got one of the best gigs you could ask for and I'm glad for him. But yeah, nothing he's done in Queens has blown my mind like what he did with The Volta
Not too late to delete
One of the coolest intros* I noticed him doing was Song for the dead. When it clicked for me that he was channeling Black Flag 'Slip it into, I lost my mind.
Everything I heard him play was glorious. It was such a good show in OKC when I saw the band with him
Dave Grohl wrote that drum part though.
@@DesignRhythm sooo Dave Grohl was inspired by Black Flag? Cool. I could see that from his lineage in his earlier work
@jaimedeleon1194 Yes, he has hard-core/punk roots. So the name of the song is "Slip It" by Black Flag? I will have to check it out.
@@DesignRhythm slip it in
@@jaimedeleon1194 wow. 1000% the same exact fill and groove. Thanks man, I had no idea.
I find it totally mystifying that this may be the very first video on UA-cam that reacts to Theodore's playing (though some people have covered his work). But there is not one "drum teacher" reacts video to any of his songs. Meanwhile, as a fan of rock, I can't think of a better rock drummer alive right now. His stuff with the Volta is transcendent, he can do it all live, and he's killed it with every other project he's done. There's a newer video of him playing improvisationally on cardboard drums and he just murders it - precision, power, creativity. He's like Bonham and Keith Moon had a love child.
Yes he is fantastic and a huge influence. His jazz fusion style playin for TMZ compared to his thunderous syncopated style with Queens are both fantastic.
Fun fact: I noticed there's a groove from the One Day As A Lion EP which he plays on the latest Queen's Album (In Times New Roman).
He made the STACK popular…Prove me wrong!!!
Damn, and that video came out just a month before qotsa's new album where there's a lot to discuss about Jon's drumming
subscribed because of those definitely not lies
I'm watching cos I love john theodore but there is no way anyone thinks hes underrated!
What's your favourite album that features Jon Theodore? 🎆
I'm a Delaused in Cromatorium guy for his drumming (comming rom a bass player)
Frances The Mute is my all time favourite record, so i guess that wins by default lol
@@m.f.3347 I like more that album... but the drumming on Delaused leaes me floored
I think Deloused is one of the best records ever made. The funny thing is that he didn't like the drum sound that I think Rick Rubin encouraged. But the sound of that record is just off the charts, even better than Frances the Mute (my second favorite). I'd say the One Day as a Lion EP would be third.
@@m.f.3347 Hell yeah, Cassandra Gemini is one of the highest pieces of art ever
He’s the best.
I didn't know he was in Golden!
Apollo stars is a perfect album ❤
Man, I would love to see some of this videos, but instead of drummers, the rhythm section (examples: Meters rhythm section, Chad and Flea, billy sheehan and portnoy...)
No argument that Jon is a monster drummer BUT the specific song you used (cicatriz) and a lot of the drum beats on de-loused are the result of the drumming of BLAKE FLEMING (formerly of Laddio Bollocko).
Cedric has admitted this himself,
"I feel as if Jon Theodore's drumming was based on the simplicity of, like, John Bonham. As some kids were saying, it's like Jon was more groove-oriented. Blake can be, too, but Blake likes to flip beats on you, and he likes to throw you off and have fun with it. He leans more toward [the style of] Zach Hill, Hella's drummer. I find myself tapping my toes while I'm singing to stay on top of the beat - figuring out how to [perform] and ignore the drums sometimes, and flow over it. Blake is the father of most of The Mars Volta songs. He's the one that came up with a lot of beats for us. Even on Frances the Mute, "L'Via L'Viaquez" and certain parts [of the songs on the album], Blake Fleming beats [were taught to] Jon Theodore. Sometimes [we'd have] to not let Jon know that they were Blake's beats, because he'd have a bit of a problem with that, since Blake was our first drummer and tracks like "Cicatriz ESP" and "Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of)" were Blake Fleming beats."
When Thomas Pridgen played with mars Volta on David letterman...the house band could be found in the back.... crying their eyes out 😂.. check that video for sure!
What video is 4:44 from? I've never seen it before
Golden is my favorite band, pretty much. The spin-off “Extra Golden” is wonderful too, though lacks Theodore.
Dave elich ?? is amazing too
Who is underrating Jon ?!
What’s the song at the end with the red kit?
Pretty sure it’s “last letter”by one day as a lion ! That whole EP was fire 🔥
Underrated? Every musician i know says he is the GOAT, no debate.
Tell me more abt that who else do they put on his level
Decent drummer
Jon is an absolute marvel of a drummer. He would probably have much greater respect if he joined a more challenging band than QOTSA after leaving TMV. I can’t help but feel he’s been kind of underutilized there. It’s like what happened with Matt Cameron when he joined Pearl Jam,one of the greatest drummers of his generation stuck playing pretty uninspired drum grooves that’s far beneath his talent.
He is not underrated at all... he is very well known tbh.
A very good work from him: Golden - Apollo Stars (2002 album)
What song was he playing in the outro?
In the clip with the red kit? I'm not sure...it's from a video he did for Ludwig's Vistalite 50th anniversary, might be more info there
You have to listen One day as lion with Zach de la rocha
It’s” last letter”by one day as a lion
Thanks!
I still think this was the best drummer to go with the Foo Fighters, Freese is cool but this dude is on another level
Yeah but why would he leave Queens to join Foo Fighters.
Yeah foo’s are too vanilla
The guy could easily get that spot, but he'd be completely stifled.
6:21 .. punching a hole in that bd head
I don get dis underrrrrrated bulshit. His drumnin in da best rock band.
Golden was a brilliant original band - theodore was the same force of nature, just younger.
Did you just say “late 90’s and early naughty’s” 😂
Underrated?? Pretty sure he has the appropriate amount of respect & clout.
He really is the best. So glad QOTSA got him....I saw them in mid 2000s and the guy they had then just sucked. He always sped up. It was like Lard Ulrich level bad. Joey Castillo just wasn't that great in Queens.
Underrated? I don’t think so. He’s one of the greats
He’s not underrated though..people just don’t know his work very well because it’s avant-garde
he is not underrated at all!
The Mars Volta aren't a "Prog Rock band".
What?? Yes the fuck they are.
They’ve experimented with over a dozen other genres but the main core of there sound has always been prog rock.
@@kingmob2716 Wrong! Even the band have said they are not prog rock!
You live under a rock bro. Anytime Mars Volta is talked about they are classified as prog rock. They even have King Crimson and Rush references in there songs. Are Crimson and Rush not Prog either?
underrated? nah he's mid af
Average Dave grohl fan gtfo