Manu speak about Vinnie

[robertopeland]

Read what Manu said about Vinnie's playing with Sting in an interview I've posted on my website. he said it's not a criticism, but I feel like it is! I like Manu's playing, but I think he's the baddest drummer who ever played with Sting. Read what he said, and tell what do you think about it.......

"The difference with me playing' the same music is that Vinnie would go for more complex drum figures, which makes the whole thing maybe more technical, with less space for Sting to put his voice. My way is to be more simple to try and make as much space as possible for Sting's vocals. I hope you understand that that's not a criticism of Vinnie. My approach is to remain constant in that simplicity and to provide a solid groove to complement Sting's bass playing and to leave his voice and his emotions totally free."

You can find the rest of this interview right here: http://digilander.libero.it/drumland...herhtmIntw.htm

Peace
Robertopeland

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 06, 2002 06:49 AM: Message edited by: robertopeland ]</font>

[ashio nz]

Cheers Robert, I had a look at that interview too.

I like Manu too, he's just a bit light for Sting though. Some of the stuff he has written has Vinnie all over it in terms of the concepts involved (ie 7 Days). I think they are 2 quite different players who happen(ed) to play with the same artist. I thought that the 'Brand New Day' album sounded a bit light on some tracks. But Vinnie's stuff was unmistakeable.

I think Gabriel's 'So' was the best album to check out Manu. Solid, simple playing with nice pocket.

[shedder]

vinnie kicks manu's butt, ESPECIALLY with sting. please don't talk about stylistic differences. simple vs. complicated... whatever! they're both playing sting's same music. one makes it rock and the other... well, ya'll read the previous thread about stings current band. i agree 100%. vinnie drove sting's music to a place no other drummer can ever get to. manu, please!

[Nikk]

I find it interesting, the notion that Gabriel's "So" contains simple playing. Have you heard the groove on "That voice Again"? We're talking complex stuff here.

[ashio nz]

Yeah,I agree Nikk. Some serious hi-hat work in there which was very tasty. By meaning 'simple' I meant that the grooves didn't sound complicated in any way - the drumemr was saying just the right stuff in the right way.

The way Vinnie approaches a tune is unique though as he has such an arsenal of stuff to call upon.

Also, Stewart Copeland plays on that So album, again two quite different drummers.

[Geoff_G]

well, i don't really agree with what Manu is saying...but i will give him the benefit of the doubt, since the article was from oct. 2000 -- perhaps he was just paying attention to the chops that month. i think what Vinnie does with Sting, is basically pretty simple...mebbe not conceptually (like to come up with the part for 'seven days' that makes odd times sound so fluid & radio-ready), but i think to the average joe, it's just a SOLID groove with nice textures that suit the music. i don't remember anything Vinnie did with Sting (live or on CD) that seemed cluttered or overly drum-istic. especially the 1st Vinnie/Manu Soul Cages album right around when Sting's father died...real mellow & dark. the live stuff was pretty subdued, too...Vinnie didn't really stretch all that much, just killer grooves.

and on the "with less space for Sting to put his voice" quote, i thought his mildly crazy stuff always happens after the vocals end with horns / piano...not like triple-Forte tony flams in the middle of a sensitive vocal line or something. [img]biggrin.gif[/img] "la, la, laaa...fields of gold...FLAM,FLAM,FLAM!!!"

[beat Hit]

Well, I think Manu deserves to be given the chance to clarify his thoughts further. We may all say certain things the wrong way only because we didn't take the time to ponder enough before expressing them. I've done that so many times and thank God I was NOT being taped by a journalist!! LOL!! So maybe Manu left the interview and drove his car thinking "Arrrrgh!!! I should have said this in a different way!!" Maybe....

That said, I would disagree with Manu in the way he expresses himself on Vinnie. Vinnie can, does and will give any singers all the room they want on any given records. Vinnie has displayed his servanthood side of his playing many, many times. Just go and read how he admired and learned from Jeff Porcaro's sweet feel-good pocket. Like what he said in a recent Modern Drummer Porcaro tribute.

Let's keep in mind that people will hire Vinnie for other reasons than they would hire Manu too.

Ciao,