# longest and then best drum solos **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806 "2001-11-22T21:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/1 "2001-11-22T21:34:13Z")
The local rock station was sponsoring a pay-for-play special. You pledge some money to go to charity and they will play your song for you. Well someone requested Iron Butterfly’s **Inna Godda Da Vida** (sp?) in its entirety and I figured this has to be one of the longest recorded drum solos. Then I got to thinking that it isn’t the longest. I would think that the solo from **100,000 Years** from the _Kiss Alive!_ album has got to be the longest though it has been literally, decades since I last heard it. Is there another one that is longer? O.K. briefly, as for the best, I still have to give the nod to Ringo’s solo on the **Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End** medley since unlike the two other songs mentioned, happens to actually be part of a GOOD song. Any other thougts? ---
**Author:** ![flano1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f14d63/32.png) [@flano1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flano1)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/2 "2001-11-22T21:54:33Z")
um…ginger baker “toad”, i think, from cream live somewhere. it was the '60s. i’ve misremembered ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/3 "2001-11-22T23:30:10Z")
I’ve heard that John Bonham wailed on the drums for an extremely long time (an hour? probably exaggerated) when he played **Moby Dick** live. Also, Chad Sexton from 311 extends the drum solo in **Applied Science** for a pretty long time when he plays it live. So long, in fact, that the other members of the band usually leave the stage for several minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/4 "2001-11-22T23:33:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*Also, Chad Sexton from 311 extends the drum solo in **Applied Science** for a pretty long time when he plays it live. So long, in fact, that the other members of the band usually leave the stage for several minutes. \*\* Oh yea, and as for the best…I guess I would probably say this one. If any of you have ever seen 311 live you know what I’m talking about. The last time I saw them they rolled 3 big floor drums out on stage and the rest of the band played along with him for quite awhile. But then, is that really a “solo”? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/5 "2001-11-22T23:40:36Z")
Oh, here we go: from [http://www.led-zeppelin.com/EmagicJB.html](http://www.led-zeppelin.com/EmagicJB.html) (Regarding John Bonham): [quote] \*\*Live performances truly showcased his abilities during the numerous improvised jams throughout every concert and of course his famous “Moby Dick” drum solo; reaching a half-hour in length at times! \*\* [quote] It’s going to be pretty hard to conclusively beat that. I’ve seen Chad Sexton play for quite a long time but 30 minutes is an incredibly long time to be out there banging away on the drums by yourself. I’m assuming solo performers whose main attraction is that they play the drums don’t count. ---
**Author:** ![jabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/db5fbb/32.png) [@jabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabe)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2001, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/6 "2001-11-22T23:41:22Z")
I have a Phish bootleg that has a drum duo between Jon Fishman and Carter Beauford (sp?) from The Dave Matthews Band. Not the longest I’ve ever heard, but definately the best. Also ‘drums’ When Mickey and Bill from the Grateful Dead would do their solos lasted pretty long sometimes. peace, JB ---
**Author:** ![DPWhite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/7 "2001-11-23T00:30:21Z")
Mickey and Bill are always interesting, but for my money, I’ll go with the drum solo on Abbey Road as previously mentioned, it is jusssst right. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/8 "2001-11-23T00:42:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flano1 \* > \*\*um…ginger baker “toad”, i think, from cream live somewhere. > it was the '60s. i’ve misremembered \*\* You haven’t misremembered. It’s on both “Live at the Fillmore” and “Wheels of Fire”. These versions of “Toad” are a bit over 16 minutes, most of which is Baker’s drum solo - it may be shorter than some of the other examples, but I might be prepared to suggest that it’s better, and in the running for “best”. A shorter version was recorded on an earlier album. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/9 "2001-11-23T05:06:21Z")
Don’t know how long it runs (and my turntable is on the fritz, or I’d time it and see) but Carl Palmer’s solo from _Karn Evil 9_ on **Welcome Back My Friends to the Show that Neer Ends, Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson Lake and Palmer** is a pretty long one (and interesting to listen to, as Carl recreates the sound of a train pulling out of a station). ---
**Author:** ![Frannie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Frannie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frannie)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/10 "2001-11-23T05:48:27Z")
I guess it’s not the _longest,_ but it sure is nice: the solo at the beginning of Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.” (Teachers love this sorta thing.) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![octothorpe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@octothorpe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octothorpe)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/11 "2001-11-23T06:40:36Z")
My favorite is **Gene Krupa’s** driving beat in the **Benny Goodman** classic “_Sing, Sing, Sing (with a swing)_”. Especially the rendition on _ **Live at Carnegie Hall** _. For those of you who have never heard it, it is worth the price of the CD just for that tune. * * * Expect the worst, that way you’re never disappointed. # ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Second\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Echo)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/12 "2001-11-23T06:56:59Z")
How about Neil Peart’s “The Rhythm Method” off of more than one Rush concert album? A admit it’s not THE best and it’s not THE longest (a little under 10 minutes, I think)…but it’s a damn good drum solo. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/13 "2001-11-23T19:01:09Z")
Well, I might end up flamed or mocked for some sort of all-time most pointless post, but here goes. There is a brilliant world-beating quartet called ‘Flook’ whom many would describe as playing ‘folk music’. Actually, their skill and ability transcends any easy categorisation, so even if the term ‘folk music’ normally has you reaching for the instant ejector seat, you’d love ‘Flook’. Anyway, one of the four (John Joe Kelly) plays the single-skin drum called a bodhran. During most ‘Flook’ shows he eventually gets 5-10 minutes to himself to play a bodhran solo. So, that’s one man, with one flat single-skin drum and one leather ‘beater’ with which to play it. Not much you could with that, huh? That’s what I would have said, but this guy is simply **stunning**. His skill simply leaves one **stupefied with disbelief** , and his solo turn is as musical, as thrilling, as exciting, as enchanting and as sensitive as any music I’ve ever heard in my 40-odd years of listening to rock, pop, classical, swing, jazz, cabaret and film music. So he gets my vote. Of course, most of you will have never heard of ‘Flook’ and will never get the chance to experience what I’m on about, hence the pointlessness, but he still gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2001, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/14 "2001-11-23T23:20:22Z")
While I agree with **octothorpe’s** opinion in regard to **Gene Krupa** as the best person doing the drumming, I prefer his \*“Drum Boogie”. ---
**Author:** ![VeraGemini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9bcb4/32.png) [@VeraGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VeraGemini)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/15 "2001-11-24T05:11:52Z")
No one’s mentioned _Wipeout_? It’s not the longest, but _Who D’King_ by Cheap Trick is one big drum solo. No other instrumentation, just drums and chanting. ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/16 "2001-11-24T06:12:04Z")
Neil Peart also did a long drum solo on Rush’s first live album (that dates me eh?) entitled “All the World’s a Stage” but for the life of me I cannot remember the song. Excellent solo. That was back when Rush was hungry! ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/17 "2001-11-24T08:20:29Z")
Towards the end of the era of Cream, they released a 3-album set of solo work from each of the band members. It was terribly difficult to find, but I managed to locate the 3rd album, which is basically a full 2 sides of drum solos by Ginger Baker. I think if I ever wanted to torture someone, I’d lock them in a room and play this album in a loop for days on end. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/18 "2001-11-24T09:11:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cholo \* > \*\*Neil Peart also did a long drum solo on Rush’s first live album (that dates me eh?) entitled “All the World’s a Stage” but for the life of me I cannot remember the song. Excellent solo. That was back when Rush was hungry! \*\* Released in late 1976. The solo came in ‘_Working Man_’. Actually, he did a better solo in ‘_YYZ_’ from **Exit…Stage Left** in 1981. ---
**Author:** ![lawoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@lawoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawoot)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/19 "2001-11-24T12:23:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by VeraGemini \* > **No one’s mentioned _Wipeout_?** _WIPEOUT_? Hell, I could do the drum solo on _wipeout_ (and did, back when I was the drummer for my highschool’s jazz band). It’s basically nothing but straight 16th notes with wandering accents (although most of them fall on the beat), and the occasional shift to one of the toms. No big deal for most drummers. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2001, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806/20 "2001-11-24T15:42:04Z")
Favorite always has and always will be Joe Morello’s work in Dave Brubeck’s **Take Five** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-and-then-best-drum-solos/94806.md?page=2)