Is Alex considered a great drummer by drummers

[monkeythe]

I always read on these forms that Alex is a great drummer. Now I am not a drummer and don't know how he is judged by drummers and if he has received any drumming awards.

However, my favorite band (since VH has been defunct for 20 years) is Dream Theater. The things that their drummer, Mike Portnoy does I find to be on a different level than Alex is capable of. I also feel that Alex wasn't the best drummer ROth had, as some of the parts Bissonette did on Skyscraper I don't think Alex would be capable of either.

If a drummer could reply to this, and especially if they are familiar with Portnoy's work, I'd greatly appreciate an answer to this question I've wondered about for a while.

[pete]

VH is rock-n-roll. Dream theatre is progressive music. It's very technical. What Vh did was create music that was more complex than rock music up to that point. But what made it so commercially appealing was the simple rock structure of the songs. Ed progressed rock structure at that point but, although it was complex it was 3 chords in basic structure. Rock music is simple. It's chuck Berry, The Ramones. The songs are very simple. That's why Vai is not a hit. People want songs they can easily remember. "Up for breakfast" is like that. But U2 Vertigo works within the rock-n-roll structure and yet is cool. to be continued

[pete]

The point is Alex is a simple 4/4 drummer

[monkeythe]

How would he rate against other simple 4/4 drummers? Is he a great talent in that class or is he riding off the coattails of the greatness of Eddie and Dave?

[Firebrand]

Alex ain't no 4/4 drummer...

...if you doubt for one second how incredibly sharp he is listen to Light Up the Sky Again. Unreal.

The rhythms he and Ed come up with freak me out...some of the best stuff is on Fair Warning.

[pete]

I hate to say - He doesn't rate.

[badhorsie]

I dont think too many people care for him as a drummer. Everyone in the band gets outshined by Eddie's contributions .

What he plays for the songs usually fits nicely but its not in the same league as other drummers out there.

[TongueNGroove]

Alex is an awesome drummer. Listen to Hot for teacher or better yet Pleasure Dome.

Alex is a rock drummer so you can't expect him to be doing all that progressive stuff on tape. However, I bet behind closed doors that dude can do anything you can imagine. For a "RocK" drummer I think he is top of the line. Nobody in top 40 rock even comes close.

[TwoFoolsAMinute]

Al is not a great drummer.

[Panamark]

Unfortunately any musical talent Alice may possess, is lost in the
haze of the asshole aura, that permanently floats around his head.

[Splooge]

Originally posted by pete
VH is rock-n-roll. Dream theatre is progressive music. It's very technical. What Vh did was create music that was more complex than rock music up to that point. But what made it so commercially appealing was the simple rock structure of the songs. Ed progressed rock structure at that point but, although it was complex it was 3 chords in basic structure. Rock music is simple. It's chuck Berry, The Ramones. The songs are very simple. That's why Vai is not a hit. People want songs they can easily remember. "Up for breakfast" is like that. But U2 Vertigo works within the rock-n-roll structure and yet is cool. to be continued

Pete "Up For Breakfast"?

Isn't there a difference between simple and simpleton?

[Wayne L.]

Alex is a great rock drummer in his own right who is highly underrated for some reason even though he kicks ass more so than any drummers after the VH explosion like Tico Torres, Tommy Lee & Rikki Rocket.

[Big Train]

The great debate here isn't if he did, but can he, have the same level of chops the usual suspects have (ie. Peart, portnoy). Those drummers in the progressive style make music that is more akin to engineering. Complex for the sake of being complex. Alex plays what fits the song, more of a "groove" player.

If the question is where or not he can do it, I would say yea he can. I doubt his ability to swing, but to play complex patterns with ease (ala progressive drummers), no doubt.

[diamond den™]

How many Drummers on this site can play as good as Alex Van Halen????

I know of only one and that is Ozzy Fudd

That guy is a fucking Genius

[saint]

Even though I hate to admit it the guy really can play the 4/4 beat and he does it really well. I have to say that his asshole appearance really makes it hard for me to admit but on the classic 6-pack he really contributes.