Dave Abbruzzese's drumming, am I the only one?

24

Comments

  • DamianK
    DamianK Posts: 192
    And let's not forget that it was Dave that inspired the opening lines of Glorified G!!
    Dave was/is a very talented musician and came up with some of the riff ideas on V's if I'm not very much mistaken. He was a great drummer and he did some great work with Pearl Jam. I just don't think he was quite right! At the time I loved his playing! I did my dissertation at university on the (contrasting) drumming of Dave & Mike Portnoy of Dream Theatre. Surprisingly got a very high mark for that too! Thanks Dave!! :D
  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    Dave is pretty fucking awesome. What's most amazing to me is the diversity of styles in the drummers of PJ over the years.
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • Greatplainsman...
    Greatplainsman... Posts: 842
    Spiritual_Chaos wrote:
    Dave made the drums a forefront instrument. He let them take up some room. Made them be heard.

    Matt does not.
    IT'S EVOLUTION BABY!!!!!
  • veddertown
    veddertown Scotland Posts: 5,260
    I've enjoyed every PJ drummer but Jack Irons is my favorite by far. Dave A was a bit heavy handed with the cymbals at times for my liking. Matt made Riot Act the great album that it is but on Backspacer he seemed pretty pedestrian but then it's not PJ's most exciting album to be fair. Still kills it live but he expresses himself best with Soundgarden. To share a previous post, what has Dave A done outside PJ?
    Like a book among the many on a shelf...

    Dublin 02 Arena - 22/6/10. Belfast Odyssey Arena - 23/6/10. London Hyde Park - 25/6/10. Berlin Wuhlheide - 30/6/10.
    Manchester MEN - 20/06/12. Manchester MEN - 21/06/12
  • badbrains
    badbrains Posts: 10,255
    jdesantis1983 wrote:
    If they never got rid of Dave A, we never would have had the phenomenal drumming of Jack Irons on No Code and Yield. Also, I think Matt handles the material that pre-dates him well, and without him the band probably wouldn't have made it this long. The band has had Matt as a drummer for a majority of its existence and he helped keep them going at a time they might have folded all together. While people complain about the time between album releases/tours now, there might be nothing to complain about at all if not for him which is too often overlooked :) :thumbup: :clap:

    I must be in the minority but I think jacks drumming was so generic and predictable. I feel Matt's drumming is being held back. He could do so much more but dnt know why he holds back. As for Dave A, he'll always be my favorite drummer we had. His sound was so loud and fast yet clean. Just imagine what pearl jams sound could've been if he was still drumming.....
  • Grandmas Jam
    Grandmas Jam Posts: 1,860
    I dont care what anyone says about the guy. He was their best fit at drummer. Now Matt Cameron is definately a better drummer (technically speaking). But I think Dave A's style fit with Pearl Jam so much better. Matt C has definately softened up their music a little bit lately
    Ryan Crooks insists upon himself
  • badbrains
    badbrains Posts: 10,255
    veddertown wrote:
    To share a previous post, what has Dave A done outside PJ?

    Probably collecting royalties..........
  • CROJAM95
    CROJAM95 Posts: 10,823
    Spiritual_Chaos wrote:
    CROJAM95 wrote:
    What has this great and powerful Dave A done since PJ?
    Such a tired defense.

    You think Backspacer would have sold anything if it didn't said PEARL JAM on the cover?


    After you hate the next album backspacer will be classic to you :lol: Thats how it works round here, rip the latest and greatest.

    They were all playing balls to the wall back then...you really think Dave would have kept it up in the same fashion when the rest of the guys mellowed out a bit over the years?

    Its not a defense its the truth...learn to let go. Lets talk about all the rockstars who either killed themselves on purpose or accidental OD's.....lets yell at them for dying and not releasing more music that you liked :lol:

    You guys need to step away...I guess it comes down to cup half empty r half full. Pessimist vs Optimist.


    Oh what could have been is a dumb way to live....Lets look forward.
  • 2-feign-reluctance
    2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,460
    Dave was an animal. My favorite years of Pearl Jam were with him behind the kit - but that does not diminish my love for all the others that came before and after.
    www.cluthelee.com
  • CROJAM95
    CROJAM95 Posts: 10,823
    2-feign-reluctance wrote:
    Dave was an animal. My favorite years of Pearl Jam were with him behind the kit - but that does not diminish my love for all the others that came before and after.


    Is it really Dave or that the band was new and fresh to you? Ah the 1st time you fall in love. Ask married couples to be honest when they found their spouse' the most attractive :lol:


    Diminishing returns are the norm all over the place.

    Athletes, Musicians, Actors etc. all lose a bit over time. Why does everyone think Pearl Jam is the exception to the rule? They've done better than most...lets all rejoice about that!

    I do believe for Some Dave is their favorite and that people here are intelligent enough to like what they like. But the newness of the band back then has alot to do with it
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,335
    I love how people think the drummer alone changed the sound of the band. The band itself was much different back then. They had more energy and more emotion to their songs than they do now (in the live setting).
    While they certainly have different styles, I'm fairly certain that if Matt started and stayed with the band over the 22 years, we would STILL hear that evolution of sound and tempo.
    I honestly feel the band itself wants Matt to play how he does. Matt is almost an entirely different drummer when playing in Soundgarden. I think PJ really holds him back...which is too bad because I'd like to see him more involved during live performances.
  • jdesantis1983
    jdesantis1983 Posts: 411
    badbrains wrote:
    jdesantis1983 wrote:
    If they never got rid of Dave A, we never would have had the phenomenal drumming of Jack Irons on No Code and Yield. Also, I think Matt handles the material that pre-dates him well, and without him the band probably wouldn't have made it this long. The band has had Matt as a drummer for a majority of its existence and he helped keep them going at a time they might have folded all together. While people complain about the time between album releases/tours now, there might be nothing to complain about at all if not for him which is too often overlooked :) :thumbup: :clap:

    I must be in the minority but I think jacks drumming was so generic and predictable. I feel Matt's drumming is being held back. He could do so much more but dnt know why he holds back. As for Dave A, he'll always be my favorite drummer we had. His sound was so loud and fast yet clean. Just imagine what pearl jams sound could've been if he was still drumming.....

    I don't think the drumming on tracks like "Who You Are," "In My Tree," and even though it's a slower number, "Low Light," sound generic or predictable at all, and they really show the kind of sound he brought to the band. I'm not discrediting Dave's drumming at all, I just don't think he had as much of an influence on their music that Matt has. His drumming sound is very distinct and all over the early live stuff and Vs/Vitalogy, I just don't believe they'd sound any better if he was still in the band.
    "I'm a lucky man to count on both hands the ones I love."

    Continental Arena I - 6/1/2006
    MSG II - 6/25/2008
    MSG I - 5/20/2010
    Beacon Theatre - 6/21/2011 (EV)
    Made In America Philadelphia - 9/2/2012
    Buffalo -10/12/2013
    Hartford - 10/25/2013
    Philadelphia II - 4/29/2016 (TEN show)
    MSG II - 5/2/2016
    Fenway II Boston - 8/7/2016
    Rock & Roll HOF - 4/7/2017
    Asbury Park, NJ - 9/18/2021
    MSG - 9/11/2022
    Camden - 9/14/2022
  • DewieCox
    DewieCox Posts: 11,432
    mca47 wrote:
    I love how people think the drummer alone changed the sound of the band. The band itself was much different back then. They had more energy and more emotion to their songs than they do now (in the live setting).
    While they certainly have different styles, I'm fairly certain that if Matt started and stayed with the band over the 22 years, we would STILL hear that evolution of sound and tempo.
    I honestly feel the band itself wants Matt to play how he does. Matt is almost an entirely different drummer when playing in Soundgarden. I think PJ really holds him back...which is too bad because I'd like to see him more involved during live performances.

    Not the drummer alone but it's not a coincidence that you can pretty easily see the dividing line.

    Dave A was the perfect drummer for the early explosive years. Tight with great groove and I think that has alot to do with the early stuff that rocked but also had a kinda funky element to it.

    Jack was the perfect drummer for the more experimental years. Kinda sloppy, but I think precision is something that's sacrificed accross the board when you try to push yourself creatively.

    Matt's the perfect drummer for transitioning from the experimental stuff back to a more basic approach.


    Matt clearly has to change his style to adapt to each band, but I don't think it's all that different. It's more that his drumming within the SG framework comes off as much more interesting. It's all about precision and that can be a detriment to the flow.
  • jeffmack22sd
    jeffmack22sd Posts: 385
    Nicely put.
  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,335
    DewieCox wrote:


    Matt clearly has to change his style to adapt to each band, but I don't think it's all that different. It's more that his drumming within the SG framework comes off as much more interesting. It's all about precision and that can be a detriment to the flow.

    But that's the point. The framework of PJ has changed. There is no question in my mind that Matt could have brought the same energy that Dave did back then (with less cymbal). The last few PJ albums have been very straight-forward. The time signatures have been simple and concise. You're average rock drummer could have been swapped in for most of those songs during their recording and nobody would have noticed much. The same can't be said for SG. There are so many crazy time signatures and he's waaaaay more free to a) let it go and b) improvise a bit (live). I think that's what the band (probably mostly Ed) wants. In the Dave years, they had only what 15-20 songs they'd play. They played the shit out of those songs, extended and experimented more to fill a 1.5-2 hour show. Now, they are more or less going through the motions and trying to fit in 30 songs a show of their lineup of 100+. There is no passion, no uniqueness to most songs anymore...and I certainly can't blame the drummer for that.
    I mean, what really could Dave do to "Love Boat Captain", "Evacuation", "Cropduster", "Help Help", "Parachutes"...well, you get the point.
    Interestingly, when Matt first joined PJ during that '98 tour, he also played live songs a whole lot different than he does now. Pretty sure the powers that be wanted it a certain way...and here we are.
  • peacefrompaul
    peacefrompaul Posts: 25,293
    Dave is a great drummer, plays a lot better than I can, for sure. :lol:

    His style isn't my favorite, though... too much cymbal....
  • evenflow82
    evenflow82 Posts: 3,892
    CROJAM95 wrote:
    What has this great and powerful Dave A done since PJ?


    Nuff said

    If he was such a great drummer he would have done a few things in the last 20 years.

    One band member gets replaced in 20+ yrs.....can you imagine if PJ was like the others selling you a watered down version of PJ :lol:


    PJ gets crucified here for the dumbest shit ever

    Just because someone doesn't have commercial success or wants to pull back doesn't mean he's untalented.
    I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell.
    -Christopher Walken

    you're=you are
    your=showing ownership

    The truth has a well known liberal bias.
    -Stephen Colbert
  • CROJAM95
    CROJAM95 Posts: 10,823
    evenflow82 wrote:
    CROJAM95 wrote:
    What has this great and powerful Dave A done since PJ?


    Nuff said

    If he was such a great drummer he would have done a few things in the last 20 years.

    One band member gets replaced in 20+ yrs.....can you imagine if PJ was like the others selling you a watered down version of PJ :lol:


    PJ gets crucified here for the dumbest shit ever

    Just because someone doesn't have commercial success or wants to pull back doesn't mean he's untalented.


    Dave from most accounts wanted the spotlight, he doesnt seem like the shy type to me. I dont think he's untalented, just Not that Keith Moon-esque drummer he's made out to be here. Like PJ isnt kickass without him.He got canned from his job....just like millions of people each year. I hope Dave has moved on, more than his sympathizers here have. I hope their arent any Pumpkins, Aerosmith, Foo Fighters, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Zeppelin, Ramones, Clash, Oasis etc etc fans trying to hammer home the point Dave should still be the drummer......Cause that would be silly and naive.

    I guess these are the discussions when the band isnt cranking out music and shows :roll:
  • jeffmack22sd
    jeffmack22sd Posts: 385
    http://youtu.be/jPGiwRfGGkU

    Just watch from the 5:45 mark. Pretty f-ing awesome
  • jeffmack22sd
    jeffmack22sd Posts: 385
    That's was with a broken wrist too.

Categories