Joey Kramer Quotes

It's always been my dream to have a monster rhythm section that's just all groove and pocket.

But primarily, the drummer's supposed to sit back there and swing the band.

My role in AC/DC is to keep time and to drive the band as much as I can. That's a drummer's role anyway.

In the Foo Fighters, my main job is to be the drummer, and that's enough.

I started out as a drummer, and now play with a back-to-basics rock band called the 'Luddites.' I'm happiest when I'm behind the kit.

An important part of being in a band is the rhythm section.

I never professed to be a great drummer but I was a very heavy drummer.

Jazz drummers traditionally are not always prepared to just hold down the beat; it's like they're soloing the whole time.

I don't want to be a lead player. I don't want to shred and play fast licks. I just want to be the best rhythm section ever.

Most great records really start with the drums.

With horns and a full rhythm section, the drums always looked like the best seat in the house.

A good bassist determines the direction of any band.

Phil is a real drummer's drummer.

The bass player's function, along with the drums, is to be the engine that drives the car... everything else is merely colours.

I listen to Bill Stewart play the drums and when I have finished doing that, I listen to Bill Stewart.

Come to think of it, the way I play is like a drum machine- very mechanical.

I tend to think of the organ as part of the rhythm section, rather than a frontline voice.

Being a drummer, I'm always like, 'Oh, that's got a funky beat. That's cool,' and I like to dance.

Probably for drums, a guy I really enjoyed watching is Simon Phillips. I've seen him play with The Who and with Pete Townshend on his own - a really great drummer.

If you don't have a good rhythm section, your band is toast; you're a bar band. Good rhythm section, you've got a chance to get out of the bar.

There's something about rhythm and bass sections generally, how the bass and drums interact, that's basically the soul of any song.

I tend to think about so many different things on a recording. I'll be trying to tune into what the drummer's doing, trying to keep everyone playing the groove and other things like making sure the piano's in a nice pocket.

Bill Ward, when you hear his beats, he's not just playing a straight 4/4 beat; he's doing almost a hip-hop beat. There's a song called 'Sweet Leaf.' The drum beat that he's playing, he's trying to kind of swing and funkify it. Now, is he doing a great job of it? Maybe not. Maybe.

For me, it's always easier playing with a drummer.

Being a bass player in a band without a drummer for seven, eight years has been kind of weird.