Billy Joel Drummer Larry DeVitto Has a Groovy Take on Deftones’ “My Own Summer (Shove It)”

One of the cooler things to come out of YouTube in recent memory has been the “…For The First Time” series that Drumeo’s been putting out. It’s when an established drummer has to come up with a drum part to a well-known song that they’ve never heard before on the spot.

We’ve seen Megadeth’s Dirk Verbeuren tackle The Killers and Frank Bellucci rock on Rob Zombie’s “Dragula,” but this one may be one of the coolest. Released earlier today, Billy Joel drummer Liberty DeVitto was given Deftones’ classic track “My Own Summer (Shove It)” to lay a beat on. DeVitto’s been Joel’s drummer for 30+ years, so chances are you’ve heard the dude’s playing on any litany of number one hits. I don’t care how metal or kvlt you are — you’ve fucking heard some Billy Joel songs and this guy’s playing is on every one of ’em.

Given the fact that Abe Cunningham’s original drum track is super memorable in our circles, it’s a little jarring to hear someone play in a way that deviates from the original track, but it’s interesting. DeVitto approaches the task with a great New York-style attitude and a some extra cursing thrown in for good measure, but what comes out at the end is super interesting.

As you’ll hear in the clip below, DeVitto adds way more embellishments than normal and he’s louder in parts where you’d expect Cunningham’s more subdued playing, but overall it sounds cool for someone that never heard of Deftones or the song.

And once you’re done watching this one, be sure to watch ex-stOrk drummer Thomas Lang adding his drum part to Metallica’s “Lux Æterna” after a couple takes and Jack Thomas’ one-armed take on Slipknot’s “Duality,”