Somewhere around the year 2000 (ish) we were hosting a jam session/musos night at a small pub and out of the blue, Phil Emmanuel walks in and says he has time to play one song then he has to go. So we all started leaving the stage to let him have his bit and he stops me and asks if I would mind playing drums for him. Obviously, I said I'd love to and he said great, we're doing Sultans of Swing.... I knew the song but never played it before so I was quite nervous. After the song, he shook my hand and said, "f#$k it. I'm sticking around, can you keep playing for me?" So what started as an easy/boring host night, turned into a mini gig playing drums for Phil Emmanuel and getting very drunk with the man!
I was in a country band and we played a local bars grand reopening. The gig was from 2 to 6. When we hit 6, the place was jumping so the bar asked us to stay and play another hour. At 7, they asked us to stay again. Then again at 8 and again at 9. I played an 8 hour gig and made nearly 800 bucks for the night. Love them drunk country people!
In 2006 I was sitting in on a gig for an old friend and about 3/4 in to the set list some drunk forklift driver for the event decided to slam into the wall behind me and one of the forks snapped my left leg like a twig as it came straight through that wall. Apparently when asked if I was ok I was so in shock I just said "Well.. no more finesse on the hi-hat tonight" and sat there expecting the show to go on 🤣
The only story I have is I was playing at a New Year's Eve party back in 1989 and the guitar player of the other band was SO drunk, he couldn't play and started crying on stage before walking off.
I don't play pro, so have no stories like this. I once years ago got up on stage (after my buddies pushed me too) for a band jam type of thing happening in a local bar, where they invite players for drums, guitar, base or vocals to do a song with the band. I played, and played well enough the singer unexpectedly said 'OK, now for a solo!' during the song. I did it, and have to say, it was one of the greatest nights of my life. I was cheered on for a few minutes solid, because no one expected me to play that well for the time, and I remember being unable to sleep for 3 days because it gave me such a rush. I still have self esteem issues, but I have to say, I probably never felt as good as I did that night some 27 years ago. Almost depressing... Anyway, love the stories. Keep them coming.
I'm Scottish. That tartan hat you mentioned is called a tam o' shanter. Or tammie for short. Lots of shops sell them to tourists over here, many of them with comedy ginger hair attached. That's not a joke. To be fair to the guy, if he looked homeless and was too drunk to do something he then expected you to do, he probably was Scottish XD
Played in a mostly female band. Drunk guy comes up to me after the show and says "You are one really lucky guy," and starts the "nod and wink" bit. I look over and the drummer is laughing hysterically. She told me later that when approached by a drunk guy, they would simply say they were married to the closest guy. I was still on stage breaking down gear... So drunk dude was told by 6 women that they were all married to me - and he was apparently impressed... lol.
I was playing at a gig. Female punter asks if she can play my guitar on stage. I asked her can you play? She replied you can teach me. Can you imagine trying to teach guitar with a live audience through a PA. Never gonna fly. Dunno what goes through some people's heads.
More than twenty years ago the guitarist in our metal band (we were mostly him and me with occasional addons on guitar and bass) got a free gig at our highschool. Very bad idea, horrible, actually. We had a second guitarist at that time. When we started, we quickly ran into some technical issues and had to borrow some gear from another band for him to be able to play. They then suddenly decided they wanted to go home and no amount of beer could convince them otherwise (I think they did it to stop us from playing-nice guys). This meant that our second guitarist couldn't play and had to leave the stage. So we were just me on drums and my friend on guitar and vocals (we didn't have a bassist at that time). It was already embarrassing, but not as bad as it could get just yet. We were playing a technical song, where I had to do a lot of nifty double bas stuff. So, of course, my right beater decided to disengage from my pedal and fly across the stage. I was quite ready to die at that point. I didn't want to be there in the first place, and now I had to scurry around on a dark stage looking for my beater in front of a silent and, to be honest, disinterested crowd. Great times!
i was doing the sound and lights for my friends band. it was a sat nite,last set around 1230am. my friend plays keyboards and sings. the dance floor was packed with women. the band was near the end of a song and as it ended my friend said thank you and good night! unfortunately there was still a half hour left to go in the set! everybody left, boy was the owner of the club sooo pissed!! he never played there again, looking back on it, it was pretty funny! the band did get paid though
I went to go see Periphery in 2019 (matt halperns band) and decided in my intoxicated state towards the latter half of the gig to try crowd surfing for the FIRST time (sure why not, it was the right thing to do at the time). during such decision and whilst already riding across many sweaty scalps I managed to lose the loose, untied shoe that wriggled free from my death grip like toe curl in a desperate bid to keep it planted on my foot, but no matter how tight I clenched my efforts were not good enough So it sank to the lower depths of the arena floor and out of sight. After being gently lowered by security at the front of the stage I rejoined my friends back in the pit with a hobble like skip, dissapointed I had only just the remaining 1 shoe, and very loudly vocalised (due to the gig environment) my discomfort around the unfortunate event which had just unfolded. A guy who's name I did not obtain but for the purpose of the story we shall name him Jesus christ himself and is the absolute mothership to this story overheard and all of sudden started chanting at the top of his voice: "RETURN THE SHOE, RETURN THE SHOE". His bellowing cries were heard amongst those in the vicinity and many others joined in until a dominant portion of the crowd were all chanting the same. Then.... From the darkest corner of the arena surrounded by golden rays and doves was the shoe, sent spinning through the air with what I can only describe as the PERFECT throw a good 15 metres away only to be caught by my friend who had just freed up one hand after handing me a beer. THE CROWD. GOES. WILD. The band don't know what's happened but Acknowledge an almighty uproar. faith had been restored and I no longer had to worry about getting a soggy foot on the walk home after a cold and wet evening in London City centre. I still have this shoe and will never throw it away, its a prized possession which I will carry to the grave.
Ever hear about the infamous Skuldom gig at Waiwera hot Pools? Picture us th-cam.com/video/WtUzDFCHkko/w-d-xo.html playing next to the kiddies pool. Why? How? Well, Andrew Featherstone had something to do with it!
I love the "Flam Guy". The soloist was very sad (for him). Imagine if he sobered up & watched this vlog. Once I was on tour, playing in Colchester, UK. It was just a filler pub gig & in walks this older guy accompanied by a huge guy. The older guy was wearing red leather head to toe with fringe. The guitar player & I exchanged glances & chuckled at the guy. Once we started playing our first set I noticed the guy watching me very intensely. Afterward, he walked up & said he loved our playing & wanted to get one of our CDs. He said he liked my style & tight playing. I sort of grudgingly asked, do you play? Of course, he did but what he said next absolutely floored me. I asked have you played with anyone I would have heard of? he said, not in a while. Then he says, Jimi, The Experience & a lot of people. He said his name was John. John Mitchell. He was in town to visit one of his parents who were in a senior home in Colchester & just popped out to check us out. Needless to say, I felt like an idiot when he laughed & asked us to all sign the cd which we gave to him. I asked him to sign something for me which I still have.
Hi Andrew, I'm not sure if you were referring to one of my comments. I have said that I'd be very interested to hear your experiences as a gigging drummer. Your stories reminded me of all the times I've had someone (usually rather inebriated) come to me and ask if they play my drums. One guy, who looked barely old enough to drink legally, was somewhat insistent. I told him no (I think it was after our last set), that I didn't know who he was, and that I don't let just any Joe Blow play my kit. To which he responded that, really, he was a "professional drummer." You can guess, I didn't let him anywhere near my kit. I couldn't think of any of the pros that I knew who would say something like that. ; ) Another time, a guy up to me after a set and told me I wasn't too bad, but he would have done a better job. Ah, life in the club scene! As always, thanks for what you do, Andrew.
@@AndrewRooneyDrums Well, except maybe for Keith Moon or John Bonham on their worst days. We lost them too soon. Alcoholism can be so devastating. I say this as a recovered alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in 33 years, and who would not be playing at all if I hadn't put the drink down. While things have improved a lot in the last forty years or so, it is my hope that one day we will never have to lose another shining light to this affliction. I hope this isn't too much of a downer for your channel. You usually keep things light, which I do appreciate.
One of my good friends worked on cruises (drummer). He has a million stories from those things. My favorite is the Indian guy with the dress pooping while walking, like a fucking goat.
@@AndrewRooneyDrums the band leader at that cruise was the pianist. I can't tell you how many stories I've heard about this guy. And they all nearly kill me. The guy is always playing chords on the lowest octave and solo on the highest octave. So his body is stretched to it's utter limits. One time, my friend bought him a back scratcher (those dummy hands) as a gift so he can reach even wider range of low/high notes.
I have been practicing my ass off in my basement every single day for 4 years. Taking lessons from Wyatt Stav/Juan Carlito Mendoza/Drumeo.... one day, I will come out of no where.
The worst show for me that I played was with a broken collarbone... Took painkillers and drank alcohol like crazy to ease the pain... When it was our time to play, I setup my drum set all one with only one arm because the other one wasn't moving along because of the pain. We played a show of around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Laughing and crying of pain... This was around 2 in the morning. At 8 in the morning is was in the hospital. I told the doctor what happened, and she told me it was the most idiotic story she'd ever heard ... Haha
Wasn't me that made the suggestion but my ego size increases whenever you love my comments. I'm working towards not being able to fit through my front door. So... yeah. Help fulfill my dream of having an ego big enough to trap me in my home. 😏
God, I HATE audience backseat drivers. Usually, their advice isn't remotely profound or useful, just repeating dumb platitudes like "play less cymbals" or something. The persistent ones are the most annoying. Meanwhile, I know have the experience to know full well where the line is with embellishments and all that stuff, only to be subjected to some self-righteous douche's inane ramblings about how he wants me to sound like a drum machine. Sure man, I can do that, it's not as if this is ART where I'm supposed to be CREATIVE. Basically, treating rules of thumb in Drumming 101 like they're some sacred formula and expecting me to abide by it like a robot is what pisses me off.
Somewhere around the year 2000 (ish) we were hosting a jam session/musos night at a small pub and out of the blue, Phil Emmanuel walks in and says he has time to play one song then he has to go.
So we all started leaving the stage to let him have his bit and he stops me and asks if I would mind playing drums for him. Obviously, I said I'd love to and he said great, we're doing Sultans of Swing....
I knew the song but never played it before so I was quite nervous.
After the song, he shook my hand and said, "f#$k it. I'm sticking around, can you keep playing for me?"
So what started as an easy/boring host night, turned into a mini gig playing drums for Phil Emmanuel and getting very drunk with the man!
I was in a country band and we played a local bars grand reopening. The gig was from 2 to 6. When we hit 6, the place was jumping so the bar asked us to stay and play another hour. At 7, they asked us to stay again. Then again at 8 and again at 9. I played an 8 hour gig and made nearly 800 bucks for the night. Love them drunk country people!
Yup I've done a few like that! Not for quite that long though. JEEZ
That's awesome !!! That's a lot of money !
In 2006 I was sitting in on a gig for an old friend and about 3/4 in to the set list some drunk forklift driver for the event decided to slam into the wall behind me and one of the forks snapped my left leg like a twig as it came straight through that wall. Apparently when asked if I was ok I was so in shock I just said "Well.. no more finesse on the hi-hat tonight" and sat there expecting the show to go on 🤣
That's the spirit! ; ) Hope the leg healed up well, though.
@@jakeloranger1419 9 weeks later it was good as new and my rudiments had become second nature 😆
WTH!? 😮
The only story I have is I was playing at a New Year's Eve party back in 1989 and the guitar player of the other band was SO drunk, he couldn't play and started crying on stage before walking off.
Oh dear Michael LOL
I don't play pro, so have no stories like this. I once years ago got up on stage (after my buddies pushed me too) for a band jam type of thing happening in a local bar, where they invite players for drums, guitar, base or vocals to do a song with the band. I played, and played well enough the singer unexpectedly said 'OK, now for a solo!' during the song. I did it, and have to say, it was one of the greatest nights of my life. I was cheered on for a few minutes solid, because no one expected me to play that well for the time, and I remember being unable to sleep for 3 days because it gave me such a rush. I still have self esteem issues, but I have to say, I probably never felt as good as I did that night some 27 years ago. Almost depressing... Anyway, love the stories. Keep them coming.
That's so great!!! I love that
That's a great story, Traf !
@@michaelb.42112 Thx bud. I think about that night often and it brings a smile to my face.
I'm Scottish. That tartan hat you mentioned is called a tam o' shanter. Or tammie for short. Lots of shops sell them to tourists over here, many of them with comedy ginger hair attached. That's not a joke. To be fair to the guy, if he looked homeless and was too drunk to do something he then expected you to do, he probably was Scottish XD
HAHA!!!
Trust me he didn't look Scottish :)
Played in a mostly female band. Drunk guy comes up to me after the show and says "You are one really lucky guy," and starts the "nod and wink" bit. I look over and the drummer is laughing hysterically.
She told me later that when approached by a drunk guy, they would simply say they were married to the closest guy. I was still on stage breaking down gear... So drunk dude was told by 6 women that they were all married to me - and he was apparently impressed... lol.
HAHAHA
I was playing at a gig. Female punter asks if she can play my guitar on stage. I asked her can you play? She replied you can teach me. Can you imagine trying to teach guitar with a live audience through a PA. Never gonna fly. Dunno what goes through some people's heads.
Those requests are endless at bar gigs.
Trying to cash in on the vibe you've created for their 15 minutes of fame
More than twenty years ago the guitarist in our metal band (we were mostly him and me with occasional addons on guitar and bass) got a free gig at our highschool. Very bad idea, horrible, actually. We had a second guitarist at that time. When we started, we quickly ran into some technical issues and had to borrow some gear from another band for him to be able to play. They then suddenly decided they wanted to go home and no amount of beer could convince them otherwise (I think they did it to stop us from playing-nice guys). This meant that our second guitarist couldn't play and had to leave the stage. So we were just me on drums and my friend on guitar and vocals (we didn't have a bassist at that time). It was already embarrassing, but not as bad as it could get just yet. We were playing a technical song, where I had to do a lot of nifty double bas stuff. So, of course, my right beater decided to disengage from my pedal and fly across the stage. I was quite ready to die at that point. I didn't want to be there in the first place, and now I had to scurry around on a dark stage looking for my beater in front of a silent and, to be honest, disinterested crowd. Great times!
Wow, talk about rough.
It's not the best of memories 😆
Ouch! 🤦🏼
@@AndrewRooneyDrums Oh yes ... Deep trauma!
i was doing the sound and lights for my friends band. it was a sat nite,last set around 1230am. my friend plays keyboards and sings. the dance floor was packed with women. the band was near the end of a song and as it ended my friend said thank you and good night! unfortunately there was still a half hour left to go in the set! everybody left, boy was the owner of the club sooo pissed!! he never played there again, looking back on it, it was pretty funny! the band did get paid though
Oh damn! HAHA
I went to go see Periphery in 2019 (matt halperns band) and decided in my intoxicated state towards the latter half of the gig to try crowd surfing for the FIRST time (sure why not, it was the right thing to do at the time). during such decision and whilst already riding across many sweaty scalps I managed to lose the loose, untied shoe that wriggled free from my death grip like toe curl in a desperate bid to keep it planted on my foot, but no matter how tight I clenched my efforts were not good enough So it sank to the lower depths of the arena floor and out of sight.
After being gently lowered by security at the front of the stage I rejoined my friends back in the pit with a hobble like skip,
dissapointed I had only just the remaining 1 shoe, and very loudly vocalised (due to the gig environment) my discomfort around the unfortunate event which had just unfolded.
A guy who's name I did not obtain but for the purpose of the story we shall name him Jesus christ himself and is the absolute mothership to this story overheard and all of sudden started chanting at the top of his voice: "RETURN THE SHOE, RETURN THE SHOE". His bellowing cries were heard amongst those in the vicinity and many others joined in until a dominant portion of the crowd were all chanting the same.
Then.... From the darkest corner of the arena surrounded by golden rays and doves was the shoe, sent spinning through the air with what I can only describe as the PERFECT throw a good 15 metres away only to be caught by my friend who had just freed up one hand after handing me a beer. THE CROWD. GOES. WILD. The band don't know what's happened but Acknowledge an almighty uproar.
faith had been restored and I no longer had to worry about getting a soggy foot on the walk home after a cold and wet evening in London City centre.
I still have this shoe and will never throw it away, its a prized possession which I will carry to the grave.
Best. Story. Ever.
Holy S**T!
These are great stories, Andy !!
Got plenty of em Michael!
Ever hear about the infamous Skuldom gig at Waiwera hot Pools? Picture us th-cam.com/video/WtUzDFCHkko/w-d-xo.html playing next to the kiddies pool. Why? How? Well, Andrew Featherstone had something to do with it!
What the hell!?!?
I remember Andrew running Battle Of The Bands lol
I love the "Flam Guy". The soloist was very sad (for him). Imagine if he sobered up & watched this vlog. Once I was on tour, playing in Colchester, UK. It was just a filler pub gig & in walks this older guy accompanied by a huge guy. The older guy was wearing red leather head to toe with fringe. The guitar player & I exchanged glances & chuckled at the guy. Once we started playing our first set I noticed the guy watching me very intensely. Afterward, he walked up & said he loved our playing & wanted to get one of our CDs. He said he liked my style & tight playing. I sort of grudgingly asked, do you play? Of course, he did but what he said next absolutely floored me. I asked have you played with anyone I would have heard of? he said, not in a while. Then he says, Jimi, The Experience & a lot of people. He said his name was John. John Mitchell. He was in town to visit one of his parents who were in a senior home in Colchester & just popped out to check us out. Needless to say, I felt like an idiot when he laughed & asked us to all sign the cd which we gave to him. I asked him to sign something for me which I still have.
Hi Andrew, I'm not sure if you were referring to one of my comments. I have said that I'd be very interested to hear your experiences as a gigging drummer.
Your stories reminded me of all the times I've had someone (usually rather inebriated) come to me and ask if they play my drums. One guy, who looked barely old enough to drink legally, was somewhat insistent. I told him no (I think it was after our last set), that I didn't know who he was, and that I don't let just any Joe Blow play my kit. To which he responded that, really, he was a "professional drummer." You can guess, I didn't let him anywhere near my kit. I couldn't think of any of the pros that I knew who would say something like that. ; )
Another time, a guy up to me after a set and told me I wasn't too bad, but he would have done a better job. Ah, life in the club scene!
As always, thanks for what you do, Andrew.
That's right Jake. No great player is out drunk and belligerent demanding to play drums at bars LOL
@@AndrewRooneyDrums Well, except maybe for Keith Moon or John Bonham on their worst days. We lost them too soon. Alcoholism can be so devastating. I say this as a recovered alcoholic who hasn't had a drink in 33 years, and who would not be playing at all if I hadn't put the drink down. While things have improved a lot in the last forty years or so, it is my hope that one day we will never have to lose another shining light to this affliction.
I hope this isn't too much of a downer for your channel. You usually keep things light, which I do appreciate.
One of my good friends worked on cruises (drummer). He has a million stories from those things. My favorite is the Indian guy with the dress pooping while walking, like a fucking goat.
😂😮
@@AndrewRooneyDrums the band leader at that cruise was the pianist. I can't tell you how many stories I've heard about this guy. And they all nearly kill me. The guy is always playing chords on the lowest octave and solo on the highest octave. So his body is stretched to it's utter limits. One time, my friend bought him a back scratcher (those dummy hands) as a gift so he can reach even wider range of low/high notes.
I have been practicing my ass off in my basement every single day for 4 years. Taking lessons from Wyatt Stav/Juan Carlito Mendoza/Drumeo.... one day, I will come out of no where.
Good for you
YESSSS! Go get it Drakaus!
Hey Andrew, good choice as always. Can you maybe do the Arithmophobia playthrough by Matt Garstka. He has got one his channel and it's amazing
Thanks Silas!
(Please) 🤣🤣🤣🤣 wingman ? Ahhh
I died a little that night Rob...
The worst show for me that I played was with a broken collarbone... Took painkillers and drank alcohol like crazy to ease the pain... When it was our time to play, I setup my drum set all one with only one arm because the other one wasn't moving along because of the pain. We played a show of around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Laughing and crying of pain... This was around 2 in the morning. At 8 in the morning is was in the hospital. I told the doctor what happened, and she told me it was the most idiotic story she'd ever heard ... Haha
Oh wow... LOL
How's the collarbone these days!?
@@AndrewRooneyDrums not straight, it`s more of a V - style now a days haha
@@AndrewRooneyDrums the best thing of all was that everyone said, best show you ever played... I`m like WHAT?!
The drummer list Andrew cedes the throne too is #1. Gavin Harrison, end of list.
I wouldn't want Gavin sitting in at my gig.
How am I gonna get up after that!?!?
@@AndrewRooneyDrums Very humbly. ; )
MORE FLAMS!
BAHAHA
Guy clearly thought Flam and Flash were the same thing.
That must be it Matt!
Kai Hahto ...Nightwish/ Wintersun 😉
Hey Rooney! Can you react to Blastbeatology? I promise, he is worth your time.
Wasn't me that made the suggestion but my ego size increases whenever you love my comments. I'm working towards not being able to fit through my front door. So... yeah. Help fulfill my dream of having an ego big enough to trap me in my home. 😏
Heart done.
Thanks for the support John! lol
@@AndrewRooneyDrums my pleasure sir.
God, I HATE audience backseat drivers. Usually, their advice isn't remotely profound or useful, just repeating dumb platitudes like "play less cymbals" or something. The persistent ones are the most annoying. Meanwhile, I know have the experience to know full well where the line is with embellishments and all that stuff, only to be subjected to some self-righteous douche's inane ramblings about how he wants me to sound like a drum machine. Sure man, I can do that, it's not as if this is ART where I'm supposed to be CREATIVE. Basically, treating rules of thumb in Drumming 101 like they're some sacred formula and expecting me to abide by it like a robot is what pisses me off.