Pick Withers: how to play Sultans of Swing

[qjamesfloyd]

If I didn't know it was Pick in this video, I doubt I would have recognized him He has changed a lot, and I am not talking about his clothes.

[dustyvalentino]

I mean, it's over 40 years since he left DS.

I bet no one here would recognise MK now if they had last seen him in 1982.

[Chris W]

First in the politest way possible...this is typical internet. An originator takes the time to reveal some of their skills and everyone is talking about the way they look!

Interesting video.
I'm very glad Pick took the time to make it. I've always said I didn't think anyone played 'Sultans' correctly after Pick, including me.
For me it's more about the vibe, the touch, not the specific hi-hat patterns.
I might incorporate these demonstrated bits if I ever play Sultans again though.
The two reasons I didn't play that hi-hat pattern in 91/92 though was because I wanted to be true to myself, not slavishly copying. Also, I found Pick's style was quite busy, lots of notes, which was the opposite way I liked to play at the time. Plus the fact mark had brought in Omar Hakim and Jeff Porcaro for the last two albums, who were both much more stripped back than Pick. So I was usually trying to emulate Omar and Jeff more than Pick at the time.

[quizzaciously]

Not only Internet... I still remember the review of the On The Night DVD where this guy gave it 1/10 rating because of the band's apparently poor clothing choice. In the early 90s! Who cares about music, right?

Clothing and food are two topics with the most amount of snobs it seems. In my childhood, I wore socks and sandals all the time just to piss everybody off, while feeling 100% comfortable myself.

Mark said in Kemp/Pratt podcast Pick was told to simplify things a lot, I wonder how Sultans would sound should you let Pick play at his full potential. Would sound like The Police?

[rmarques821]

Why do you people take things so seriously?

I could come here and say "wow, what a great drummer he is", but doesn't everyone already know that?
Mocking his funny choice of clothes is much more productive in my view.

[Pottel]

First in the politest way possible...this is typical internet. An originator takes the time to reveal some of their skills and everyone is talking about the way they look!

Interesting video.
I'm very glad Pick took the time to make it. I've always said I didn't think anyone played 'Sultans' correctly after Pick, including me.
For me it's more about the vibe, the touch, not the specific hi-hat patterns.
I might incorporate these demonstrated bits if I ever play Sultans again though.
The two reasons I didn't play that hi-hat pattern in 91/92 though was because I wanted to be true to myself, not slavishly copying. Also, I found Pick's style was quite busy, lots of notes, which was the opposite way I liked to play at the time. Plus the fact mark had brought in Omar Hakim and Jeff Porcaro for the last two albums, who were both much more stripped back than Pick. So I was usually trying to emulate Omar and Jeff more than Pick at the time.

interesting pov. thnx