Sick Drummer Magazine

I have been without a band for the last 6 years, mainly because I just can't find people who want to play metal. I have gone through guitarists like water probably about 5 of them by now. Only 1 guy was really into metal but he played everything ridiculously slow and got butthurt whenever I played a blast beat cuz he couldn't keep up with me. I've been getting asked to play stuff like Theory Of A Deadman, Alltime Low, Protest The Hero, Cage The Elephant you know all those shitty bands that get shoved down our throats and played on the radio 20 times a day. When a guitarist told me he wanted to play Journey, Rush, ACDC I thought to myself il play this over those other shitty bands anyday. So im a death metal drummer basicly gonna be joining up a bar band, we will just play all the garbage that people expect to hear at bars. I won't enjoy it, im just thinking about getting payed and getting layed. I realize I have to down tune my abilities to jam with any guitarist in the area, so I kind of gave up on blasting and have been trying to take it back 10 years to the basic rock and roll beats. Im not gonna lie, I wont enjoy this at all and im only in it for the money.. il be the out of place drummer with the Cannibal Corpse shirt that jams with these rock and roll dudes. Those bands do give me a headache but it's a step up from Nickleback. After I get a few beers in me I just stop caring anyways. Do any other drummers here have a problem finding guitar players who aren't total pussies?

I had that problem in the early '90s, which is why I (stupidly) hung up the sticks until 2008. I was faced with the same dilemma that you are facing right now. I hope that whatever you choose, you won't just quit drumming. Myself, if I had it to do over again, I'd have simply played for my own amusement and keep getting better. But if you need some cash, there's no shame in "dumbing" down your abilities to play in a rock band.

Happy day after 420 drummer420!
i can identify with you post. about 7 years ago i decided to take on a (cover rock) band aside from the metal band due to the money thing. soon found out that death metal and metal drummers are really good at standard rock and blues, even funk. and you would really be surprised on how playing those other styles of music can increase your ability with the metal thing.
I would suggest listening for the Classic Rock bands and drummers, like Captain Beyond(bobby Caldwell), King Crimson/Yes(bill Bruford), Rush(neil Peart), Jethro Tull (Barriemore Barlow), Black Sabbath(Bill Ward), Frank Zappa (terry bozzio).
It seems all of these guys have created alot of what we hear in modern rock, just 30 years ago or more. But now its just really dumbed down.
all in all. I think playing drums in general helps you play better drums.
cheers Bro.