@@SuperheroJunior It's funny how we call them the greatest when there is people on UA-cam that are faster and better that are called intermediate because they don't know metal or not playing in 7/8. Like people perfectly transcribe their parts and they get no recognition for it or it says "you will get there someday." It's just crazy that the same people that say Louie Bellson is the best drummer of all time say that Dave Grohl is a horrible basic drummer.
Anyone who can play drums like that in a tuxedo has got my respect all day. The Great Louis Bellson never got to see him live every bit as good as Rich.
I think Bellson has always been kind of and underrated drummer, at least when discussions arise nowadays and people like Joey Jordison are mentioned. As a metal drummer myself (although I do play jazz as well) I think it important that bellson's double bass play probably influenced a generation of rock and metal drummers.
Oh Man, "I am NOT worthy!" It's embarrassing to say I was a fair hand on traps, but this Man was from Outer Space or the planet Percussion! There aren't words! Louie Bellson, absolutely fabulous!
One Of the OGs. I got to sit down and talk with him in San Jose after his j it band rehearsal. He was the most gentle soul. He told me that he never used substances and that’s why he’s had the best career. He saw all his friends fall off from abuse. He then reached into his vintage drum thrown and handed me a few pairs of his sticks and CDs. Still have them :-) #legend
How on earth did anybody give an 80 year old man that could play like this a thumbs down??? Always played with with a smile, unlike Buddy Rich...who always looked like he was severely constipated when he played. Louie invented the double bass kit as well. One of the greatest...no doubt about it!
@@rayatkin7868 Dude...I made that comment 11 years ago! I've thought this over and have changed my tune on Buddy. I don't think he was a nice person but I do think he was the greatest drummer ever. Even Louie acknowledged that. Both were great in their own right! I think we can agree on that. 😊👍
When I was in high school, my band director met Bellson in an airport I think. They had their picture taken and my band director had it developed into an 8"x10" black and white picture. He framed it and hung it on a wall in his office. I don't remember much about the picture except that Bellson was wearing a trenchcoat that made him look super cool.
He was not only a great drummer but a wonderful person. I remember him from working the Village Lounge in 1976. After the shows, he would hang out with the bartenders, parking valets, waiters, cocktail hostesses. One night he had house drummer, Harvey Lang, uncover his set to swap solos. I was so stunned, I could hardly pour a drink. Some 20 years later, I was working as stage manager/monitor operator at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday. I was micing up his drums, when I told him I had seen him at the Village Lounge. His reply: "I loved that place. Were you working there the night Harvey and I tore it up?" my reply: "Yes, I was there, I couldn't pour a drink". We shared laughs. He would play with this big grin on his face. He did the cymbal section that night. Coachman Park is huge. Maybe 15,000 or better persons. They were stunned. Perfectly silent. Louis Bellson: one of the best of the best and a true gentleman. FYI, his monitor mix: "A bit of this, a bit of that... "\
A true master of masters. He would play patterns and amazing fills way ahead of their time, but only in his solos because they had no place in Jazz or music at the time yet.
Louie makes it look so easy, so fluid and effortless. It almost...almost makes you think for a nanosecond you can make the same moves. But, reality sits in and...nah...it ain't happening.
I used to play SKIN DEEP and air-drum the entire solo from the album ELLINGTON UPTOWN when I was 14 years old. It came in handy when I did the DRUMATHON in Honolulu in 1965 and beat the then standing non-stop Guinness record of 89 hours by playing 92. Thanks for the inspiration Louie. Your playing was joyous and full of skill and love. Still is.
I saw Louie play in person at my college in 1972. He was amazing and as he demonstrates here while I agree he plays a big drum kit he plays ALL of the kit with talent few other drummers are even close too. I think Louie is also credited for either popularizing or creating a double bass drum kit. Gene Krupa is credited for inserting a bass in a drum kit. Two innovative geniuses. I saw Buddy Rich and his Big Band perform in 1973. His power and speed was amazing. Comparing Buddy, Gene, and Louie seems unproductive to me. Buddy played a single bass kit, Louie played a double bass kit and had more other drums, cymbals, etc in his kit than any other drummer I've seen. They had different styles, Louie is more of a finesse drummer, Buddy is more of a power drummer and Gene was able to get more out of a drum beat than anyone and in addition is considered by Louie to be the best drum performer ever. All three were great for different reasons.
Bob you are absolutely on point. Despite my picture, I have been on the throne for 19 years. About 5 years ago I began playing jazz drums. I try to use a lot of techniques from the Buddy, Gene, Louis and Papa Jo Jones. All 4 are the fantastic at how they play. But as Louie said and I agree Gene was a better performer. It was just the way he moved with the rhythm is what made it great.
Adam, "Best" is so subjective. To apply the term to any one of them as "the best" is wrong in my opinion. Each was best at some aspect of drumming but one could say that Gene and Louie added more to music as a whole for their innovative additions to the drum kit as we now know it. I am not a drummer but studied music and am a woodwind / keyboard guy. I understand to some degree what each of these three talented musicians contributed to music. Each deserves kudos in their own right. Thanks for the feedback and keep playing.
I’ve been drumming for 47 years and I’ve just realized how big of an influence this man has been on my career and most modern day drummers one of the first double base drummers with the biggest kits ever from his era I’ve always known who he was but with today’s technology, I get to see how amazing he really was every rock ‘n’ roll drummer owes Louie Bellson, a pat on the back in my opinion….
Most metal drummers are clowns who rely on the double kick and do very rudimentary beats and fills on top of relentless double kick. You can't compare a genius of the drums like Bellson to any metal player really. He would blow the bulk of them away, even in his seventies. I've never heard a metal drummer play anything remotely close to this. Nice try though.
I got to see Louie Bellson at New Trier High School in 1989 with the Jazz Ensemble that my brother performed in. What an amazing experience! I was drumming on my legs in my seat! It blew my mind!
Saw him live in 2000 at the Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts High School. Louie spent an extra day working with the percussion section of the school and none of them will ever forget it. RIP Louie
To be honest, I had never heard of Mr. Bellson until I read some comment about Rich "being motivated to play double bass because of Bellson being way better". Always nice to discover musicians you had never heard about before, but I am glad to see this video. Awesome.
Indeed. I can't imagine what the world would be (for me) without me being able to watch these Masters of drumming play. Imagine if Louie Bellson and Buddy Rich were combined. I think that truly would be godlike.
I love how all the old time drummers spent time learning technique and not just trying to play like a lot of people do in our time today. I'm considered an amazing drummer among those at my high school and all i did was wont on technique for 2 years. i went from begging to wind ensemble with just 1 year of learning pure technique . i hope to become a Legend like these guys .
im so happy i ran into this video ..im so blown away ..Louie is smoking..I mean for crying out loud ..he's wearing a tux and damn it he makes it look so damn easy!,, I am so inspired , i cant wait to pick up sticks!!! I really like his unique style...
Louis Bellson was to Buddy Rich,like the Red Sox are to the Yankees.I only wish both parties can appreciate the unique style of these great stickmen.They are both in a class of their own,never to be duplicated,they broke the mold,it's a new ballgame with drummers.RIP Mr. Bellson,you did us a solid!
He's obviously very talented, but musicians have advanced so much today. There are many drummers today that can do this and better. Check out Tony Royster Jr's drum solo when he was 9. No disrespect to Louie, he was amazing, but today there are many drummers in any city that can do this or better. Thats how far music in general has come. That is a good thing for all of us
Most modern metal drummers would be in the graves right now at that age. Diseases and shit. This old man, kickin' it up like he is 18 years old. A true legend.
That's because most songs nowadays are pedestrain and unmemorable. Popular music is dummed down to the lowest common denominator to the point that amateurs can claim to be pros. Back in the day, most of the modern pop and rock groups would've been laughed out of the studio and off the stage.
A solid believer in Jesus Christ, Louie's nickname was "Apples" because he always had some with him. He took good care of himself and others. As a result he played well into his 80's. One of his kits is displayed ( or was) in the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix
If Louie was a viking he'd be in Valhalla. He'd be the fastest most dangerous man to come up against. He'd also be the happiest. He gives those drums more than a beating & smiles all the way. Hope he's there, & hope to meet him.
I always dug Louie Bellson's approach to drum solos more than Buddy Rich's. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and respect Buddy Rich's virtuosity/chops. But, to me Louie Bellson was more musical, where as Buddy Rich was more raw power, drive. Louie was the only drummer I felt fully utilize two bass drums as an addition to his playing and not as a gimmick like too many other drummers. I once say him live with his big band at a concert in the park by the LA Museum of Art ... Magnificent, Incredible
I have a PR of his drum sticks when I seen him in 1965 and met him after the show. Also have a PR from Buddy Rich. I played 2 shows with Buddy when he did a USO SHOW for the US MILITARY in 1969
I could never decide if Buddy Or Lou ? I stole as much as I could from both ! Love it, love it, love it. At my age I was trying to mix Inagadadavida w/ Buddy and Louie .Get B33t Up Da B33t Lab Dennis Stone drumming
A true legend and so ahead of his time. His kit is big and his playing style is so innovative. That snare work around 4:00 is wicked. Most say Buddy is the all time best drummer. Louie's hand speed is very close to Buddy's and his style is more progressive with a better sounding set of drums. Where does that put Louie. I'd say he's neck and neck with the master. Easy top 3 for his era.
One of the BEST drummers of all time hands down.
Oh yes, and getting down he is. 😉
@@jimcolby2885 Buddy Rich had the fastest hands in drumming. He beat Louis Bellson and Gene Krupa in a drum battle.
@@SuperheroJunior It's funny how we call them the greatest when there is people on UA-cam that are faster and better that are called intermediate because they don't know metal or not playing in 7/8. Like people perfectly transcribe their parts and they get no recognition for it or it says "you will get there someday." It's just crazy that the same people that say Louie Bellson is the best drummer of all time say that Dave Grohl is a horrible basic drummer.
@@SuperheroJuniorlol um no. He did not “beat” Louie bellson in a drum battle. They did an album together over in Japan and it was pretty even
Chops, showmanship, musicality, and pure fun. What more can you ask for?
I saw him in concert in ‘97, he was 73. Played hard for over an hour, unbelievable!
Saw him in 89 so he would have been around 68 at that time, amazing performance.
Anyone who can play drums like that in a tuxedo has got my respect all day.
The Great Louis Bellson never got to see him live every bit as good as Rich.
I think Bellson has always been kind of and underrated drummer, at least when discussions arise nowadays and people like Joey Jordison are mentioned. As a metal drummer myself (although I do play jazz as well) I think it important that bellson's double bass play probably influenced a generation of rock and metal drummers.
Dude, he invented using the bass drum for the left foot back in 1939! :)
Brendan McGlinchey ex slipknot drummer
Not probably, absolutely did.
JJ isn’t even in the Top 50 Best Metal Drummers...how is he even comparable to Bellson who is probably in the Top 10 Greatest Drummers of All Time..
Oh Man, "I am NOT worthy!" It's embarrassing to say I was a fair hand on traps, but this Man was from Outer Space or the planet Percussion! There aren't words! Louie Bellson, absolutely fabulous!
THE greatest jazz drummer of all time even surpassing BR.
Bellson was the Musician's Drummer.
One Of the OGs. I got to sit down and talk with him in San Jose after his j it band rehearsal. He was the most gentle soul. He told me that he never used substances and that’s why he’s had the best career. He saw all his friends fall off from abuse. He then reached into his vintage drum thrown and handed me a few pairs of his sticks and CDs. Still have them :-) #legend
Awesome.
DAAAAMN!!! That's Master Bellson all right! The man could play the drum like we can breathe.
How on earth did anybody give an 80 year old man that could play like this a thumbs down??? Always played with with a smile, unlike Buddy Rich...who always looked like he was severely constipated when he played. Louie invented the double bass kit as well. One of the greatest...no doubt about it!
Err no. Louie Bellson started the double bass drum gig while still at high school, when he was in his mid teens.
@@rayatkin7868 Dude...I made that comment 11 years ago! I've thought this over and have changed my tune on Buddy. I don't think he was a nice person but I do think he was the greatest drummer ever. Even Louie acknowledged that. Both were great in their own right! I think we can agree on that. 😊👍
When I was in high school, my band director met Bellson in an airport I think. They had their picture taken and my band director had it developed into an 8"x10" black and white picture. He framed it and hung it on a wall in his office. I don't remember much about the picture except that Bellson was wearing a trenchcoat that made him look super cool.
OMG this was the wildest ride I've ever been on!!
I love It when Louis gets SO absorbed in the solo, that his whole face starts dancing!
He was so tasteful....... I loved his style. RIP Louie
Another prime example of what is totally missing today. Class, syncopation, dynamics and style!
Louie Bellson is the most heavy metal jazz drummer of all time.
He was not only a great drummer but a wonderful person. I remember him from working the Village Lounge in 1976. After the shows, he would hang out with the bartenders, parking valets, waiters, cocktail hostesses. One night he had house drummer, Harvey Lang, uncover his set to swap solos. I was so stunned, I could hardly pour a drink. Some 20 years later, I was working as stage manager/monitor operator at the Clearwater Jazz Holiday. I was micing up his drums, when I told him I had seen him at the Village Lounge. His reply: "I loved that place. Were you working there the night Harvey and I tore it up?" my reply: "Yes, I was there, I couldn't pour a drink". We shared laughs. He would play with this big grin on his face. He did the cymbal section that night. Coachman Park is huge. Maybe 15,000 or better persons. They were stunned. Perfectly silent. Louis Bellson: one of the best of the best and a true gentleman. FYI, his monitor mix: "A bit of this, a bit of that... "\
A true master of masters. He would play patterns and amazing fills way ahead of their time, but only in his solos because they had no place in Jazz or music at the time yet.
The innovator of the double kick.
On another level of EPICNESS!!
Louie makes it look so easy, so fluid and effortless. It almost...almost makes you think for a nanosecond you can make the same moves. But, reality sits in and...nah...it ain't happening.
I can't even do this 1/4 as fast on a drum app with 10 fingers. Humbling.
I used to play SKIN DEEP and air-drum the entire solo from the album ELLINGTON UPTOWN when I was 14 years old. It came in handy when I did the DRUMATHON in Honolulu in 1965 and beat the then standing non-stop Guinness record of 89 hours by playing 92. Thanks for the inspiration Louie. Your playing was joyous and full of skill and love. Still is.
I saw Louie play in person at my college in 1972. He was amazing and as he demonstrates here while I agree he plays a big drum kit he plays ALL of the kit with talent few other drummers are even close too. I think Louie is also credited for either popularizing or creating a double bass drum kit. Gene Krupa is credited for inserting a bass in a drum kit. Two innovative geniuses.
I saw Buddy Rich and his Big Band perform in 1973. His power and speed was amazing. Comparing Buddy, Gene, and Louie seems unproductive to me. Buddy played a single bass kit, Louie played a double bass kit and had more other drums, cymbals, etc in his kit than any other drummer I've seen. They had different styles, Louie is more of a finesse drummer, Buddy is more of a power drummer and Gene was able to get more out of a drum beat than anyone and in addition is considered by Louie to be the best drum performer ever. All three were great for different reasons.
Bob you are absolutely on point. Despite my picture, I have been on the throne for 19 years. About 5 years ago I began playing jazz drums. I try to use a lot of techniques from the Buddy, Gene, Louis and Papa Jo Jones. All 4 are the fantastic at how they play. But as Louie said and I agree Gene was a better performer. It was just the way he moved with the rhythm is what made it great.
Adam,
"Best" is so subjective. To apply the term to any one of them as "the best" is wrong in my opinion.
Each was best at some aspect of drumming but one could say that Gene and Louie added more to music as a whole for their innovative additions to the drum kit as we now know it.
I am not a drummer but studied music and am a woodwind / keyboard guy. I understand to some degree what each of these three talented musicians contributed to music. Each deserves kudos in their own right. Thanks for the feedback and keep playing.
Very well articulated.
Saw him at my elementary school in 3rd grade. 1968. Melted my brain.
He's the reason why I am a drummer today.
this took the cowbell from "epic" to "legendary"...this man is a friggin genius and must be honored with the likes of Rich
Jesus! Why have i never heard of this guy before? He's the king of drumming hands down
HydraOfTheStars you mean never heard about Jesus??!
HydraOfTheStars Louie is Jesus, Buddy is God!
I wanna be this guy when I grow up! Holy shit!!!
I’ve been drumming for 47 years and I’ve just realized how big of an influence this man has been on my career and most modern day drummers one of the first double base drummers with the biggest kits ever from his era I’ve always known who he was but with today’s technology, I get to see how amazing he really was every rock ‘n’ roll drummer owes Louie Bellson, a pat on the back in my opinion….
The drummers of that era, Louie, Buddy, Gene, etc were not only truly great but great showmen as well! A pleasure to watch
There you go guys, Metal did evolve from Jazz!
This genious is using plenty of double bass and at 4:38 even a Blast Beat!
Amazing!
Most metal drummers are clowns who rely on the double kick and do very rudimentary beats and fills on top of relentless double kick. You can't compare a genius of the drums like Bellson to any metal player really. He would blow the bulk of them away, even in his seventies. I've never heard a metal drummer play anything remotely close to this. Nice try though.
@@theface07 Ian paice , Carmine Appice , Lesbinks, Bill ward....
Don’t insult jazz lol metal is garbage
Style, showmanship and imagination.....I'll take that over the technical guy any day.
Superb :-)
Louie was one of the greatest and most innovative drum soloists ever...
I got to see Louie Bellson at New Trier High School in 1989 with the Jazz Ensemble that my brother performed in. What an amazing experience! I was drumming on my legs in my seat! It blew my mind!
another legend, always had a superb style...that's why jazz drummers are great drummers
omg....I believe this guy is the best drummer I ever seen. ..real name Luigi balassoni,amazing ...technical and so musical
Here's a guy that is not mentioned nowhere near enough when it comes to drumming legends imo. That was a thing of beauty to watch.
Saw him live in 2000 at the Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts High School. Louie spent an extra day working with the percussion section of the school and none of them will ever forget it. RIP Louie
Just reminding some great drummers out there, to watch every Louis Bellson drum solo they can find.
Cannot believe I got to see him do this dozens of times!
He made it look so easy and effortless all with a smile on his face.
Legend. What a joy to listen to and watch.
To be honest, I had never heard of Mr. Bellson until I read some comment about Rich "being motivated to play double bass because of Bellson being way better". Always nice to discover musicians you had never heard about before, but I am glad to see this video. Awesome.
Indeed. I can't imagine what the world would be (for me) without me being able to watch these Masters of drumming play. Imagine if Louie Bellson and Buddy Rich were combined. I think that truly would be godlike.
He was a true master of his craft. One of the best this world has ever seen or will ever be seen / heard
Bellson never messed up. Ever!
One of my favourite drummers, R.I.P, history will remember you.
I love how all the old time drummers spent time learning technique and not just trying to play like a lot of people do in our time today. I'm considered an amazing drummer among those at my high school and all i did was wont on technique for 2 years. i went from begging to wind ensemble with just 1 year of learning pure technique . i hope to become a Legend like these guys .
Best Technical Death Metal drummer
Louie plays with such delicacy
im so happy i ran into this video ..im so blown away ..Louie is smoking..I mean for crying out loud ..he's wearing a tux and damn it he makes it look so damn easy!,, I am so inspired , i cant wait to pick up sticks!!! I really like his unique style...
that was just wonderful.
Amazing!!!
Louis Bellson was to Buddy Rich,like the Red Sox are to the Yankees.I only wish both parties can appreciate the unique style of these great stickmen.They are both in a class of their own,never to be duplicated,they broke the mold,it's a new ballgame with drummers.RIP Mr. Bellson,you did us a solid!
fantastic!
Very good technique.
He's obviously very talented, but musicians have advanced so much today. There are many drummers today that can do this and better. Check out Tony Royster Jr's drum solo when he was 9. No disrespect to Louie, he was amazing, but today there are many drummers in any city that can do this or better. Thats how far music in general has come. That is a good thing for all of us
his brushing is amazing
great drummer^^ and thx for inventing the double-bass XD
God damn he is creative !!
and what a wonderful technique !
AMAZING
amazing snare drum action
always will be my greatest drummer of all time.
He is .... AMAZING!
I saw Louie play twice in the UK and also met him at a Jazz festival. I think he was a better player than Buddy Rich.He was more musical.
masterpiece!!!
Ah..!! Bellson!!!Just watch that left hand..!!! So wonderful with the brushes.... And Oh So Cheeky!!!
When you at the end of the video think that only two minutes have passed and it have been five... 🤩
very tasty solo an well nuanced
his identity is double bass drum.
unbelievable
Louie Bellson!!!
smooth as silk
I want those cymbals!!!
LOUIE BELSON IS 1 OF E CLASSIEST DRUMMERS AND PEOPLE EVER !! NOT STUCK ON HIMSELF LIKE RICH !!
Most modern metal drummers would be in the graves right now at that age. Diseases and shit. This old man, kickin' it up like he is 18 years old. A true legend.
Right on. Technique is key. It's becoming a dying art. You're learning the right way. Too many drummers today are merely functional at best.
That's because most songs nowadays are pedestrain and unmemorable. Popular music is dummed down to the lowest common denominator to the point that amateurs can claim to be pros. Back in the day, most of the modern pop and rock groups would've been laughed out of the studio and off the stage.
the Master
A solid believer in Jesus Christ, Louie's nickname was "Apples" because he always had some with him. He took good care of himself and others. As a result he played well into his 80's.
One of his kits is displayed ( or was) in the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix
Esse cara é mto bom.
GRANDISSIMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
luigi balassoni .....you are rock and roll!!!!
Bellson, le meilleur batteur de jazz !
dat is de truth. joe morello is da man
More cowbell, I want more cowbell!!! 😁
Not only a great drummer, but a great composer as well. A true ubermensch
If Louie was a viking he'd be in Valhalla. He'd be the fastest most dangerous man to come up against. He'd also be the happiest. He gives those drums more than a beating & smiles all the way. Hope he's there, & hope to meet him.
Wow !!!!!? drum 🥁 mix that music today.
I always dug Louie Bellson's approach to drum solos more than Buddy Rich's. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and respect Buddy Rich's virtuosity/chops. But, to me Louie Bellson was more musical, where as Buddy Rich was more raw power, drive. Louie was the only drummer I felt fully utilize two bass drums as an addition to his playing and not as a gimmick like too many other drummers. I once say him live with his big band at a concert in the park by the LA Museum of Art ... Magnificent, Incredible
WOW!!!!!
I have a PR of his drum sticks when I seen him in 1965 and met him after the show.
Also have a PR from Buddy Rich. I played 2 shows with Buddy when he did a USO SHOW for the US MILITARY in 1969
simplemente el mejor
I could never decide if Buddy Or Lou ? I stole as much as I could from both ! Love it, love it, love it. At my age I was trying to mix Inagadadavida w/ Buddy and Louie .Get B33t Up Da B33t Lab Dennis Stone drumming
dat double bass yeah man!
the godfather of modern DRUMMING
John bonham and Keith moon loved Louie belson
I love them too, but this .....wow.
So far ahead of his time he even played a blast beat @4:28!
In 50's he was doing it too
I actually met Louie at a Dixie land clinic he gave was a nice guy could do a mean swing thats for sure
muy bueno...
I pretty much agree with you on that.
2:44 Jazz musician plays a blast beat
A true legend and so ahead of his time. His kit is big and his playing style is so innovative. That snare work around 4:00 is wicked. Most say Buddy is the all time best drummer. Louie's hand speed is very close to Buddy's and his style is more progressive with a better sounding set of drums. Where does that put Louie. I'd say he's neck and neck with the master. Easy top 3 for his era.
no one can beat him