One of the things that makes this a joy to listen to is that his remarkable technique serves his musical idea. He goes off with great flair but always returns to his initial statement. You hear a composition with theme with variations, phrasing, dynamics and form. A great musician who happens to play a drumset...and a pretty big one at that! Bravo.
Loved it. I remember his words from one of the Modern Drummer events, "If you are right-handed, try brushing your teeth with your left hand". A great exercise to work both sides of your brain. This guy is a genius.
This is the essence of what it is to be an innovator. Simon plays like no one else and his drums sound like no one else's. Completely unique, highly technical, but always tastefully musical....... and always AWESOME! THANK YOU SIMON FOR SO MANY YEARS OF TREMENDOUS INSPIRATION!
When I say someone playing the drums, This is the definition of someone "Playing the drums". Simon is so inspirational, And his kit always sounds so perfect.
There are drummers that are a joy to watch and listen to, everything they do is musical, tells story or evokes a mood. Simon is one of those drummers. It's damn near a religious experience because you come away changed from the experience.
I'm gobsmacked! I think I need a minute to collect myself.... What a masterful performance. Simon is definitely up there with the all-time top-tier drummers! Best thing is, in interviews he comes across as a sincere gentleman. Thank You for posting Beat It!!!
The groove, the creativity, the technique, the control, the dynamics, the precision, the speed, the sound is unmatched!! Simon Phillips!! My favorite drummer and musician ❤️
Legend and inspiration. His drumming on Mike Oldfield's Crisis drew my attention for the first time. I'm a fan since. I saw him live with Toto and was blown away by the sounds and dynamics of his playing.
@@BOT_Ivan Oh okay. Simon Phillips is still good at the drums even though now he is older. I saw a comment from another user saying that Simon Phillips as not as good as he used to be. To me Simon Phillips still plays the same and he is still a good drummer.
Great point! I learned a long time ago to make music every minute on the kit. Hum or hear a musical theme when doing rudiments. Play to and with that inner music and all playing will be more musical. Simon's playing here has me left with a few melodies that have stuck in my head. I haven't seen him in quite some time...what a treat!
this guy is playing drums rolls with one hand, so he basically is playing like two drummers, sense of tempo, composure, ease of transition from one complex metric to another, this guy is up there with the best.
I was lucky enough to have a drum teacher in my early 20s that always talked about having a theme during a drum solo. This is a perfect example of that. Simon is on my list of biggest influences.
He doesn't have to find it, though, he never loses it. You can snap your fingers to the down beat, and no matter how crazy he gets, it's always in a time that's a multiple of one, two, three...- and then he's right back on one- having never lost it.
Way back in the 80s my drummer from Fort Wayne, Indiana, told me about 2 drummers who would frequent the once famous "Percussion Center. and do frequent workshops." He said that there were only 2 drummers in the world who could do with their feet what most accomplished drummers could do with their hands. One was Billy Cobham, and the other was Simon Phillips. Being a bass player, I have enjoyed following both these cats ever since.
With the easy access to drum solos on UA-cam, I find I'm rarely impressed anymore, but holy sh*t! Simon has something new to offer and he has blown me away once again. This guy....
SP is simply incredible, a different level as always. Technique. Precision. Musicality. Feel. On top: the whole package in open-handed playing style. And after putting his sticks aside - just the coolest, down to earth type.
I don’t know what to do after watching this... go practice ? Or just quit playing the drums ? And this is exactly what I do... I « play » the drums... Simon « honours » them ! Salute Master !
Simon, Bozzio, and Morgenstein are in a special club of musicians who happen to be drummers. Their compositional minds make a drum solo into a song like nobody else.
I hope Mr. Phillips is in good health. I really really liked him in Hiromi's trio. I was sad when that ended. He and Anthony Jackson were excellent together!
I love how he's able to switch his rudimentals between right and left handed whichever he feels more comfortable with in a certain position. Sure, drummers always strive to develop two equally strong hands but not everybody can follow a steady leadtrack with both of them. Very skilled artist and creative.
I have to disagree with that one😔 Simon is a great SOLO drummer. Jeff Porcaro has him beat with being in a band. When Simon was with Toto things changed it went from being smooth to being more about the drums and drum solos. Jeff always kept it smooth and it sounded great. Listen back at videos of Jeff and Simon.
The part following after around 4:00 is just brilliant, it feels like he's throwing you off the beat after every fill, but then keeps the beat going just right. :D
Simon is always the man but wow what a special night , it all came together , the flow , the dynamics , the GROOVE , the energy in the room , it's all there . This video should be a mandatory must watch for all drummers .
My favourite all time drummer. The Mantis. Toto "falling in between" live concert in Zenith, France Simon was awesome! Best live concert I've seen Toto perform.
I'm not saying that they are not well tuned, but you'd be surprised how good even a mildly out of tune kit sounds once mic'd up, or even just played in a big room. I once lent my mid-range kit to a drummer who used it in a theater… I listened to the performance, knowing full well that due to unforeseen circumstances the kit wasn't in tune. I mean it wasn't wildly out of tune but it certainly wasn't well tuned… You couldn't even tell; the kit sounded great (not just my opinion but a viewpoint shared by everyone I talked to about it).
Not a fan of his kick drum sound or the gong drum here, but the snares and toms sound great! The octobans are probably better sounding than any others I've heard. Yeah, a lot of what I love and don't love could be due to sound processing as well, but either way there's a lot of great-sounding stuff here!
If Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson ever held a tribute concert in honor of the late Neil Peart, I think Dimon would be a more than worthy drummer to play behind them.
This man of the time& talent will be missed by many,I still think of the different folks that asked me who is he and what was so great about him,to all of them I say, Keep listening.
I saw this video when I first started drumming almost two years ago now, and today I decided to come back here to the greatest drum solo of all time. It was amazing watching this as a 13 year old who next to nothing about drumming but it's even more amazing watching this with two years of information under my belt and having an understanding of some of what he's doing.
I've spent countless hours trying to emulate his open hand style and independence... it inspired me and incorporate some of h ou s concepts. I soon discovered he is the master who can't be copied.
Such a musical drummer! Also so interesting how he uses a lot of rudiments in he's playing like 5-stroke roll and double strokes a lot, very interesting! When a drummer has such a big kit you think it's just of showing but Simon really uses every single drum to make such a musical and melodic yet technical solo!
He has remained an inspiration to me throughout my playing. Met him at the airport and talked shop until we landed. And he wasn't being polite, but was digging the coceptual approach to our craft.
Aside from Simon's playing, I love the purism he offers. His drum sound; clear ambassadors, minimal muffling... just pure. Tuned drums. Open, singing, pitched and awesome. I primarily play Sonor (German sonors) but I have a Starclassic Birch from the late 90's and I ADORE any starclassic series drums. The quality and sound are top notch.
absolutely. I also have a late 90's starclassic birch - or birch /basswood/ birch (can't tell) as well as my Sonor SQ2's (vintage beech shells) - I dont have the balls to do clear ambassadors though. Coated yes, but clear ambassadors sound brilliant! TUNE it, dont' muffle it!!! I worked in a drumshop years ago and laughed at all the muffling products that were available.
Funny I share a lot of similar vocab with The Maestro. Incredy solo! Had me dancing and my melodic and rhyhtmic brain engaged!! Strong composition, dynamics, & feeling!!!!!!!
One of the things that makes this a joy to listen to is that his remarkable technique serves his musical idea. He goes off with great flair but always returns to his initial statement. You hear a composition with theme with variations, phrasing, dynamics and form. A great musician who happens to play a drumset...and a pretty big one at that! Bravo.
Loved it. I remember his words from one of the Modern Drummer events, "If you are right-handed, try brushing your teeth with your left hand". A great exercise to work both sides of your brain. This guy is a genius.
Actually he got that idea from Gene Krupa. It was american door knobs at that time.
The lad switches leads like no one else.
I only soak mine 😜
@@kevinjohnston7404 Billy Cobham is the original ambidextrous player, as well as Lenny White....
@@spiritof1960Why does this person always move his shoulders, is he mentally ill?
I love Simon's playing. He is getting more & more musical in his solos all the time. A superb technician, but a true musician as well.
How can there be nearly 1,000 thumbs down for this? Must be non-drummers who can't appreciate his skills.
They're waiting for the band to kick in! ;)
Simon started quit a bit with his autonomous style & sweet rudiments
some just wait for just fast hands and feet and nothing else.
I give a huge thumbs down to anyone who gave this performance a thumbs down. Imbeciles.
There are just better drummers out there🤷♂️
How can any sane person dislike this? Simon is from another planet when it comes to drumming. There are only a few who come close to his skills.
Julian Heel because there are so many idiots who know nothing about drumming.
More groove here than 99% of drum solos , this man is a legend
i mean hes the dude that had to fill Porcaros shoes in toto for a while. thats not an easy thing to do
This is the essence of what it is to be an innovator. Simon plays like no one else and his drums sound like no one else's. Completely unique, highly technical, but always tastefully musical....... and always AWESOME! THANK YOU SIMON FOR SO MANY YEARS OF TREMENDOUS INSPIRATION!
When I say someone playing the drums, This is the definition of someone "Playing the drums". Simon is so inspirational, And his kit always sounds so perfect.
Consistently one of the greatest masters of his craft for over 30 years. I love how he keeps coming back to that particular groove.
And I will never understand, why he's never listed with the "100 Top-Drummers of the World"....
There are drummers that are a joy to watch and listen to, everything they do is musical, tells story or evokes a mood. Simon is one of those drummers.
It's damn near a religious experience because you come away changed from the experience.
Simon Philips reminds me of the legendary jazz drummer Gene Krupa.
Simon is so awesome!! So musical. Loved his stuff since '81. Solid gold.
Such a melodic and virtuous drummer, master class!
One of the best drum solo's i have ever seen !! what an incredible drummer
What a beatiful set. He knows the placement of each drum and cymbal precisely.
It's not only about beat, it's about groove! This guy is epic! A legend
But you know that all is written by Mike Oldfield..?
Absolute MONSTER musician. So much going on and so fluid.
I'm gobsmacked! I think I need a minute to collect myself.... What a masterful performance. Simon is definitely up there with the all-time top-tier drummers! Best thing is, in interviews he comes across as a sincere gentleman. Thank You for posting Beat It!!!
So rare to hear a drummer with a big double bass kit be so groovy and play with such musicality and finesse. What a great solo.
Seth Gecko Right? So much better than Ulrich’s double bass
That kit sounds fantastic and Simon's playing makes it sound even better.
The groove, the creativity,
the technique, the control,
the dynamics, the precision, the speed, the sound is unmatched!!
Simon Phillips!!
My favorite drummer and musician ❤️
But you know that all is written by Mike Oldfield..?
Legend and inspiration. His drumming on Mike Oldfield's Crisis drew my attention for the first time. I'm a fan since. I saw him live with Toto and was blown away by the sounds and dynamics of his playing.
I will never understand why 1.2k people dislike this
Derek Richard they probably play guitars...
Probably because Simon didn't hit everything on the kit at lightning speed in the first 24 bars.
That's their problem man, not yours. Prost!
Because they “CAN’T” know! Lol
Same people that hate police and destroy property.
Simon Philips is a drumming master of masters. My gawd...that entire solo was brilliantly phrased.
Jeff Porcaro is smiling from ear to ear. What an incredibly talented guy.
You do know that simon does not play for toto anymore right?
@@BOT_Ivan How long has it been since Simon Philips left Toto???
@@SuperheroJunior he played from 1992 till 2014. the reason he left is because he said toto was not fun anymore as it used to be
@@BOT_Ivan Oh okay. Simon Phillips is still good at the drums even though now he is older. I saw a comment from another user saying that Simon Phillips as not as good as he used to be. To me Simon Phillips still plays the same and he is still a good drummer.
@@SuperheroJunior yea his still an very talented and precise drummer😌
Very few drummers sound "musical" when playing. He is more like a composer than simple a groovemeister. Hands down, my favourite drummer.
He is a musician in the truest, most purest form of the word and it's not just his drumming.
Perhaps you should listen to Weckl or Colaiuta as well🤔
@@zoltanhriagyel6683 ahh, Dave and Vinney!! Amazing drummers !!
I tap into this grace..,
Great point! I learned a long time ago to make music every minute on the kit. Hum or hear a musical theme when doing rudiments. Play to and with that inner music and all playing will be more musical. Simon's playing here has me left with a few melodies that have stuck in my head. I haven't seen him in quite some time...what a treat!
this guy is playing drums rolls with one hand, so he basically is playing like two drummers, sense of tempo, composure, ease of transition from one complex metric to another, this guy is up there with the best.
That is a class drum solo! Makes you actually want more... it’s joyful, technical, dynamic... Brilliant! :)
I was lucky enough to have a drum teacher in my early 20s that always talked about having a theme during a drum solo. This is a perfect example of that. Simon is on my list of biggest influences.
Love it. Musical and groovy. A drum solo that doesn't sound like the set was pushed down a flight of steps.
Pretty groovy! and those drums are tuned perfectly!
I love the moments where simons finds back to the groove . He looks so statisfied every time
He doesn't have to find it, though, he never loses it. You can snap your fingers to the down beat, and no matter how crazy he gets, it's always in a time that's a multiple of one, two, three...- and then he's right back on one- having never lost it.
@@catkeys6911 I mean the moments where he gets back to the motiv of his solo
Way back in the 80s my drummer from Fort Wayne, Indiana, told me about 2 drummers who would frequent the once famous "Percussion Center. and do frequent workshops." He said that there were only 2 drummers in the world who could do with their feet what most accomplished drummers could do with their hands. One was Billy Cobham, and the other was Simon Phillips. Being a bass player, I have enjoyed following both these cats ever since.
Simon is like an exceptional wine, older he get better he is ...Each hit sound amazing, Simon is the absolute drummer!!!Awesome
Loved his work with Michael Schenker and Judas Priest. One of the best drummers in the world, no question.
Great to hear such a seasoned player who can do more than just blaze and actually compose a solo with groove and taste. Wonderful stuff!
With the easy access to drum solos on UA-cam, I find I'm rarely impressed anymore, but holy sh*t! Simon has something new to offer and he has blown me away once again. This guy....
One of the true masters. Brilliant performance.
SP is simply incredible, a different level as always.
Technique. Precision. Musicality. Feel. On top: the whole package in open-handed playing style. And after putting his sticks aside - just the coolest, down to earth type.
I want to congratulate the Videomaker who created this !! Excellent angles and image quality !! Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina !
thx a lot from Beatit Team.
Don't forget the absolutely stellar audio! Great job!
Best audio representation of Simon 's sound live. Power and low end but still crisp. Love this. Thanks so much
thx a lot!
Thank you!
so clean so technical yet so musical and groovy- exceptional
It's like... a never ending groove. What a drummer!
I don’t know what to do after watching this... go practice ? Or just quit playing the drums ?
And this is exactly what I do... I « play » the drums... Simon « honours » them !
Salute Master !
That is absolutely fucking awesome. Bravo performance.
12 minutes well spent. I've seen bits of his work over the years. Always bloody impressive✌🇦🇺
This sounds like an orchestra to me. Absolutely lovely.
Well that is a master class in drumming. Absolutely beautiful to hear thank you.
Very Musical.. perfection is what Simon IS
One of my favourites, I always get back to listening to Simon, and also to Billy Cobham of course
Simon, Bozzio, and Morgenstein are in a special club of musicians who happen to be drummers. Their compositional minds make a drum solo into a song like nobody else.
In my opinion, one of the best drummers ever. Just the understanding of the kit and dynamics and technique. Class.
No matter what kit he plays it always sounds the same, fantastic
Absolutely killer groove and the fills are incredible! Yeah he’s got it and a lot of it !
I hope Mr. Phillips is in good health. I really really liked him in Hiromi's trio. I was sad when that ended. He and Anthony Jackson were excellent together!
Simon is such a graceful and yet massive drummer! Love this video!
I love how he's able to switch his rudimentals between right and left handed whichever he feels more comfortable with in a certain position. Sure, drummers always strive to develop two equally strong hands but not everybody can follow a steady leadtrack with both of them. Very skilled artist and creative.
What a talent! Love those Tama drums too, what amazing tone and presence!
Spectacular--technical and musical. Wow.
One of the best ever! Was incredible as a teenager and awesome now!
The great Simon; my favorite drummer.
Yeah. Best thing that happened to The Who after Moon passed.
The Who had Kenny Jones after Moon passed. Simon came along later played with Townsend Solo .
I have to disagree with that one😔 Simon is a great SOLO drummer. Jeff Porcaro has him beat with being in a band. When Simon was with Toto things changed it went from being smooth to being more about the drums and drum solos. Jeff always kept it smooth and it sounded great. Listen back at videos of Jeff and Simon.
His consistency of the beat, throughout the solo, is astonishing. His drums are tuned perfectly.
The part following after around 4:00 is just brilliant, it feels like he's throwing you off the beat after every fill, but then keeps the beat going just right. :D
Simon is always the man but wow what a special night , it all came together , the flow , the dynamics , the GROOVE , the energy in the room , it's all there . This video should be a mandatory must watch for all drummers .
Simon: Ambidextrous, Consistent kit, consistent drum brand, consummately perfect tuning. The man, the myth.
this is best i've ever heard,thank you for letting me hear it.
My favourite all time drummer. The Mantis. Toto "falling in between" live concert in Zenith, France Simon was awesome! Best live concert I've seen Toto perform.
So original, so amazing! He just has his own recognizable style.
The 1.1k thumbs down are just mad cause they can't stomach his giftedness! They should practice more and spend less time critiquing talent.
Incredible. Simon is just flawless
Simons drums are always so well tuned !!! They always sound great !!
Those Zildjians sound pretty great too!
It's Tama. And the guy knows how to tune. 99.8% of all drummers can't even tune a snare properly. He has three. Perfect.
I'm not saying that they are not well tuned, but you'd be surprised how good even a mildly out of tune kit sounds once mic'd up, or even just played in a big room.
I once lent my mid-range kit to a drummer who used it in a theater… I listened to the performance, knowing full well that due to unforeseen circumstances the kit wasn't in tune. I mean it wasn't wildly out of tune but it certainly wasn't well tuned…
You couldn't even tell; the kit sounded great (not just my opinion but a viewpoint shared by everyone I talked to about it).
Ewout Honig What?
Not a fan of his kick drum sound or the gong drum here, but the snares and toms sound great! The octobans are probably better sounding than any others I've heard. Yeah, a lot of what I love and don't love could be due to sound processing as well, but either way there's a lot of great-sounding stuff here!
Greatest and most musical drum solo I have ever seen. What a musician. Great camera work also, by the way.
If Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson ever held a tribute concert in honor of the late Neil Peart, I think Dimon would be a more than worthy drummer to play behind them.
Absolutely!!!
Agreed
I agree!
Even better I'd love for Ged and Alex to write new instrumental material with Simon
For sure
Simon just gets better. Magnificent skills, dynamics and musicality.
Man those drums sound absolutely fantastic as well as Simon's playing, there just singing!
Yes they are!! No doubt about it. They’re just singing!
he's the king :-) awesome... Thanks for sharing this gem... :-)
This man of the time& talent will be missed by many,I still think of the different folks that asked me who is he and what was so great about him,to all of them I say, Keep listening.
I saw this video when I first started drumming almost two years ago now, and today I decided to come back here to the greatest drum solo of all time. It was amazing watching this as a 13 year old who next to nothing about drumming but it's even more amazing watching this with two years of information under my belt and having an understanding of some of what he's doing.
that dynamic approach to a solid groove just blew me away..... just wow. Absolutely beautiful.
Those little smiles when people cheer... yeah, you know he's enjoying himself. Made me smile, too.
That musicality is outerworldly. Good drumming is one thing, this is WAY beyond.
This man is nothing but great. Unbelievable!,,
awesome sounding kit and of course awesome player
I've spent countless hours trying to emulate his open hand style and independence... it inspired me and incorporate some of h ou s concepts. I soon discovered he is the master who can't be copied.
It's easy once you start relaxing and practicing every day
God Bless you Simon and thank you for putting your complete heart and soul into this masterful demo! Thom Meinert Fellow Musician USA -Encore!
Such a musical drummer! Also so interesting how he uses a lot of rudiments in he's playing like 5-stroke roll and double strokes a lot, very interesting! When a drummer has such a big kit you think it's just of showing but Simon really uses every single drum to make such a musical and melodic yet technical solo!
Excellent video, excellent sound...and Simon is my favourite..!!!!!!!
Just an on the fly genius musical arranger "who happens to play drums". Just always so tasteful.
Great sounding drums ,especially that snare , its so crisp. Very nice crack to it.
He has remained an inspiration to me throughout my playing. Met him at the airport and talked shop until we landed. And he wasn't being polite, but was digging the coceptual approach to our craft.
Simon is simply awesome. I recognize that snare tuning. It sounds just the way Bonzo tuned his. Awesome
Yeah, this is fantastic. Greetings from Germany
ed tv
This is greatest drum solo I have ever heard . Funk Rock Jazz . Cool stuff . 👍👍👍
That hi-hat sounds like it would slice through rock! Such a knife sharp sound.
I’m not normally a massive fan of hi hats that cut through so finely but Simon makes it work so well!
Aside from Simon's playing, I love the purism he offers. His drum sound; clear ambassadors, minimal muffling... just pure. Tuned drums. Open, singing, pitched and awesome. I primarily play Sonor (German sonors) but I have a Starclassic Birch from the late 90's and I ADORE any starclassic series drums. The quality and sound are top notch.
absolutely. I also have a late 90's starclassic birch - or birch /basswood/ birch (can't tell) as well as my Sonor SQ2's (vintage beech shells) - I dont have the balls to do clear ambassadors though. Coated yes, but clear ambassadors sound brilliant! TUNE it, dont' muffle it!!! I worked in a drumshop years ago and laughed at all the muffling products that were available.
Every time this guy gets to play drums he offers us a master class.
Simon is phenomenal drummer. He can play everything. Any kind of music. There's no doubt, he's drummer number one.
I love his playing, so musical and his drum set sounds amazing
Astonishing. Didnt lose the groove once. Adore this man's work. Listen to "Out into The Daylight" on Smallcreeps Day. Inspirational
Always liked Simon's solos, very musical and groovy, not just technique and speed stuff
Checkout his tandem playing with Gavin Harrison🥁👍
Funny I share a lot of similar vocab with The Maestro. Incredy solo! Had me dancing and my melodic and rhyhtmic brain engaged!! Strong composition, dynamics, & feeling!!!!!!!
This is not a drum solo, this is a drum STORY!
Mladen Palenkaš well put, I was just thinking how absolutely musical this solo is,like a song unto itself.
Or (I was thinking) a Drum SONG.
yes... like a Billy's Cobham's solo the first to tell stories whit his solos
I love this comment!
Great drummer! He builds the solo so well!
Very musical in spite of his chops.