Stewart Copeland, renowned for his time with The Police, is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time. In 2016, Rolling Stone even ranked him as the 10th best drummer in history. Furthermore, Copeland has held a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for over two decades.
It’s safe to say that Copeland easily rises to the occasion in the Drumeo challenge, where drummers are tasked with playing a song they’ve never heard before. The challenge involves listening to a version of the track without drums, then interpreting and performing it in their own style. In this case, the song was ‘Rollin’ by Limp Bizkit.
While I often question whether drummers on the Drumeo challenge have truly never heard some of the extremely popular tracks they’re asked to play, it’s entirely believable that Stewart Copeland hadn’t encountered ‘Rollin’ by Limp Bizkit. The track’s genre seems far removed from The Police’s sound, and it’s also understandable for a 72-year-old musician who’s composed film scores like Wall Street and worked on TV shows like The Equalizer to be unfamiliar with the song.
Copeland starts listening to the Limp Bizkit track around 2:30 and jumps right into playing along. His style is a departure from the usual Drumeo approach, offering a unique and refreshing interpretation.
Before the vocals even start, Copeland is already laying down some truly creative and expressive drum parts. It’s a moment that reminds me how powerful some of Limp Bizkit’s tracks truly are—something I hadn’t fully appreciated in years.
After finishing his attempt, Copeland asks, “Who was that, by the way?” Upon learning it was Limp Bizkit, he comments, “Oh really, I like those guys in concept.” My advice: Stewart, dive into their music! Also, how do you look 58 when you’re actually 72?
Around the 5:50 mark, Copeland explains his “instinctual” and “improvisational” approach to drumming. When asked about his process for creating drum parts, he responds, “I don’t, I just make the s— up.” If that’s not a refreshing take, I don’t know what is—true genius at work.
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