Chops, Licks, Fills, Rolls, ....
THEY'RE NOT DIRTY WORDS!

Despite popular opinion, it is not a sin to play a drum fill. It's not wrong to use fills and creative nuances when you play. It's not taboo to talk about liking drum "LICKS"... although many would make you feel otherwise.

There.. I said it. Now if I can stake the reputation of my company on the "C, L, F and R" words, you can certainly come out of the closet and admit that you like them too! (smile)

Ok, we probably did it to ourselves. We played one too many fills over the lead vocal or guitar line when we were younger. But does that mean we are doomed to "2 and 4 prison" for the rest of our lives? Are we to play 2 and 4 for the remainder of our time on earth and relinquish all hope of exploring personal expression on our instrument? Listen to much of modern music out there today and one would almost think so.

Now before you get your panties in a wad (as my sister used to say ;), let me state for the record:

"I swear before the Groove God that I believe it is our responsibility,
as drummers, to play "for the song" and lay down a firm, stable
foundation (groove) for the band to play off of."