Billy Ward DVD out...

[neber_dude]

Came out a week or two ago, and I have my copy (?21 inc 3 day delivery from US = DEAL!). I've gotta say thats it's absolutely incredible as far as knowledge and inspiration. Billy Ward is a complete natural in front of the camera and the whole thing feels like a personal drum lesson. He covers topics such as groove, grip, kit setup, mic positioning, body mechanisms whilst playing and other stuff. I know its a really cliche thing to say; but I swear I came out of just watching this a much better drummer than I was couple of hours before. I'm crap at reviews, but look at the response on the Billy Ward forums to see how incredible this thing is...www.billyward.com (a preview is also avaliable to download on his site). Ahhh I sound like a salesperson [img]rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Randy walker]

i got a copy too and I think Billy did a very nice job.

[quitou]

I was contemplaying ordering it aswell....now that I hear that some of you guys really like it, I think I'll get it...

My teacher actually lent me Billy Ward's book "Inside Out" and it was quite good...a lot of the essays in it are the same as the articles he's written for Modern Drummer, but there also some new essays in there as well...a pretty good read for sure with lots of great info.

[Vdrummer]

I think it's very good too, my only criticism is at points he has some odd, almost new-agey advice. Clicking your teeth and playing heel notes on the heel plates of your foot pedals seem like strange, unhelpful ideas to me. The newspaper thing is a hand/grip exercise, but it wasn't clear in the DVD.

Other than those little things, he plays with a really deep groove and is definitely thinking outside the box. He approaches drums more like a musician than a drummer. Watch the DVD and you'll know what I mean. I recommend it for groove-oriented drummers more interested in sounds and textures than licks. I love the feel he gives his grooves. I bought some dreadnoughts, rhythm tech canz and splitstix after viewing it.

Brad

[CLWarunki]

Billy is a true artist... very refreshing to hear and see his approach to rythem and the kit.

Can't wait to see this, I loved his MD articles and his performance at the MD Fest a couple years ago.

Thanks for the notice! (I didn't know the DVD was infact out!)

[FuseU1]

Altho i tend to agree w V about his occasional 'new-agey-ness,' [img]wink.gif[/img] Billy is a great player with big ears, a phat pocket, & a good attitude. I liked the statement about his 'thinking outside the box' [& while still having to be 'in' it! [img]wink.gif[/img] ]
I felt that Bruford was sort of doing this AW in his own way ['thinking outside the box'] when he left Yes & pursued Crimson back in the day...

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ June 10, 2004 08:12 PM: Message edited by: FuseU1 ]</font>

[PocketPlayer]

I haven't seen the DVD, but used to hang out in Billy's forum a lot while he was making the thing. He gave a lot of updates and "in the moment" posts on how it was going. Joan Osborne made a comment about him by introducing Billy Live as, "the ridiculously talented Billy Ward." Not a bad compliment.

As for the man himself (not why you would actually buy a DVD, but it doesn't hurt) he is as down to Earth as it gets. I've enjoyed my personal correspondence with him and appreciate him inviting me & guest to a show when he gigged with Joan. I also dug his reply to an email asking him to profile his time on Conan and Leno. He gave an hour by hour report, right down to the temperature in the studio.

The guy's just so human!

[Vdrummer]

That's good to hear. He comes across as pretty easy going. I'll see him this Sunday, we're doing a clinic with him. It's just $8, and I'm sure it'll be worth a lot more.

Brad

[drum4fun]

Brad, if it is not too much trouble, can you write a review of Billy's upcoming drum clinic? Thank you. By the way, good job on your articles/transcriptions in DRUM magazine!

[Vdrummer]

Drum4Fun, thanks for noticing the Drum! stuff. It's fun to do. I don't know if you meant the TV Themes or the Carter Beauford transcriptions, but thanks.

Brad