# Ask a Drummer. aka  Ask a semi-successful musician.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-drummer-aka-ask-a-semi-successful-musician/251328>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [June 20, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-drummer-aka-ask-a-semi-successful-musician/251328 "2004-06-20T18:46:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-drummer-aka-ask-a-semi-successful-musician/251328/41 "2004-07-03T02:54:03Z")

</div>

> [@Krokodil](#):
>
> When a rock star hits the big time, he does two things right off the bat: Hooks up with a supermodel and fires his drummer.
> 
> Are drummers not actual members of the band? Are they just hired guns perceived as basically interchangeable? I remember _Rolling Stone_’s first big article about Pearl Jam, all of them were acting like they’re above worldly Rock Star concerns except for Dave Abbruzzese, the drummer. When he asked a legitimate question–like, “What song are we looking at as a possible single?”–he was hooted down by the others, who just wanted to drink Budweiser and play hoops. A few months later, he was unemployed.
> 
> What’s the deal with the essential disposability of drummers?

Unfortunatley, some drummers _are_ disposable. If AC/DC changed drummers it would take years for anyone to notice. Dave Abbruzzese was still a bad ass drummer though, I admire his work (but not his soul patch). He was replaced by Jack Irons, a tormented soul who was once a monster on the kit.

Jimmy Chamberlain from Smashing pumpkins was fired for drug use and was later reinstated, he was a valuable music writer. Steven Adler was also fired from Guns N’ Roses for drug use. He was replaced by Matt Sorum who was formerly of The Cult, and who is now in Velvet Revolver.

Some drummers just beat on things, they play parts and collect a check. Others put time and effort into their creations, these drummers are the ones that are remembered.

When I quit my main band, I found and trained a replacement. He meshed well with the guys and could play my parts well after a few months. Eventually the band was just not his thing anymore, and he quit. The band held auditions for a while and eventually found a guy with great chops and precision. He played his parts to a T, but the feeling just wasn’t there. I thought it was just me thinking that until the drummer I trained, my friends, and various others agreed.

I guess great drummers can either make or break a band, or they can be interchangable. Not much of a definitive answer, because it really depends on the band. I’d be happy to give you my opinion on any drummer’s value and/or status in the drumming world.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-a-drummer-aka-ask-a-semi-successful-musician/251328.md?page=2)