The Spin Doctors’ 1992 breakout hit Two Princes is instantly recognizable — not just for its infectious melody but also for its iconic drum intro. Yet, more than three decades later, drummer Aaron Comess admits he can’t quite remember how that unforgettable drum fill came to be.
“I honestly can’t remember how my drum fill intro came to be. It just sort of developed and stuck,” Comess told MusicRadar. “The stars aligned in the recording of that song.”
Two Princes became the band’s biggest success, charting in the top 10 in the U.S., U.K., and multiple other countries, even hitting No. 1 in Sweden and Iceland. Along with their other hit Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong, the track helped propel their debut album Pocket Full of Kryptonite to over five million sales in the U.S. alone.
According to Comess, the making of Two Princes was a full-band collaboration, with songwriting credits going to all four members: vocalist Chris Barron, guitarist Eric Schenkman, bassist Mark White, and Comess himself.
Interestingly, the song was originally penned by Barron before the band had officially formed. “That’s a song that Chris Barron had written a few years before the band formed,” said Comess. “Although we did not play it until the band had been together for over a year.”
Once they began working on the track seriously, it became the first song the group recorded under Epic Records, produced by Frank Aversa. During pre-production, key changes were made to the arrangement, including a slower tempo that Comess says helped the song “breathe better” and become “more danceable.”
Another crucial touch came from Schenkman, who added a B minor chord and the memorable guitar hook that elevated the song even further.
Still, it was Comess’ opening drum fill that set the tone — even if its origin remains a bit of a mystery to him. The track was recorded at the iconic Power Station’s A Room in New York City, which he calls “the best drum room in the world.” He played on a Brady drum set and a Brady piccolo snare, with heavy tape compression and vibrant room mics helping create that booming sound.
The final mix was handled by Peter Denenberg, who co-produced most of Pocket Full of Kryptonite. Comess remains grateful for the production team’s work. “I’m forever grateful to Peter and Frank for that drum sound,” he said.
Adding to the track’s rich background, John Popper of Blues Traveler — a longtime friend of Barron from their high school days and former bandmate in a group called Trucking Company — contributed background vocals near the end of the song.
Today, Comess still reflects with pride and wonder on how Two Princes came together. “Having a great song is the most important thing,” he explained. “Often, the little subtle things make a song really stand out. It’s almost an unexplainable magic that has to happen.”
“Who would have thought it would have turned into such a big song that is still around today? We are very grateful.”
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