Mike Mangini Drum Cam Bridges in the Sky Live w/Click

Please read this about click tracks to relate my feelings on it to your own opinions and feelings about it. This is a version of Bridges in the Sky of our (Dream Theater) album A Dramatic Turn of Events. It is a live version with the click track that I hear in my ear monitors every night. Using one camera from the front is a sign that there is no editing of any kind. The levels are not edited either. Nothing is. I realize the camera angle doesn't capture the whole kit. I didn't 'try' to shoot nightly videos for releases and I never checked them. This is any night. Doesn't matter. Eric put up the cameras and here it is.

Not the click track itself, but having the entire show depend on me amplifies the difficulty of playing Dream Theater music and makes it significantly harder to play. It is a pressure that has to be experienced to really "get." Nothing can go wrong.

That's different than my using a click for reference, say with the past G3 tours, Annihilator, Dale Bozzio [Missing Persons,] or some songs with Extreme. With DT I did not use a click early on except to reference some beginning tempos. These bands and musicians LOVED the click use. The song samples (like the ones used in 6:00 and many other DT songs,) lined up and feel comfortable. Also, they love it because their instrument delays/effects are in time. But mainly, they really love it because the difficult parts are not too fast; no drummer rushed the tempo.

In the early 1980's, I measured that the average increase in BPM drummers (including me) made on live albums or shows was about +12 BPM. That's an insane amount. Musicians with difficult parts can't stand that. I don't know a single one that doesn't get infuriated when they cannot play their parts.

And yes, I would love to play some nights with no production, nothing on my back, and without this pressure. However, the most important thing is the result. No joy compares to hearing a show back that was executed spot-on while knowing that fans got the best out of me and that it looked and sounded as great as we could possibly make it. There is nothing is worse than hearing old shows compromised with brutal speed-ups than were NOT intended. All adrenaline. Fun at the time for a drummer, never fun for the musicians struggling to play, and no fun later for anyone because the results were not intended. The excuse of "feeling" while ruining songs can take a hike according to the composers and players.

* "Mike Mangin" is a registered U.S. Trademark

**Be aware that legitimate "Mike Mangini" accounts are listed in this video. Any other account using anything but Mike's URL's are fake. Mike has no "telegram," or any accounts where he messages or chats with anybody on any accounts of any kind.

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[DarrenX]

The precision, authority, and commitment of every stroke is something to behold.

[ItsTheBongoman]

I already know that Mikes drum parts are extremely difficult, and I can’t usually count them out. Hearing a click with it just makes me understand even more how much of a master this man truly is

[laurelhardymarx]

Round of applause for the guy offstage who has to hit those 2 cowbells all night

[sangraaltheband]

This is just extreme out of this World drumming. So accurate but still with lots of musicianship

[zioziozie]

This is not Mangini Play with Click, this is Click play with Mangini.

[shanegriffin]

This was a complete JOY to watch. Power, speed, control, super human chops, 4 way ambidextrous insanity, humor, brilliance. Mike, you are an inspiration to us all. The heights that you have ascended to with the instrument is breathtaking. Thank you for many years of incredible playing, and hope for many more!

[j.d.]

Mike the Master Mangini the human metronome
He's on a different level than anyone period

[jichola]

I highly value this level of precision - I was completely blown away during the whole 2hrs show just because all the people on stage were totally in control. It's up to the artists to show what they know and can do and it's up to the receiver to enjoy it; the reverse doesn't work too often. The nature of this experience is more evocative (artwork offering a base for perceiving and feeling) than expresive (artwork and/or artist is showing some kind of enjoyment or other emotions). Honestly I dont't understand what all the people who see DT's playing as "not entertaining enough, a.k.a. boring" want. It's our job as fans to have fun!

[miguelperezgalan]

I believe it's extremely difficult to play with a click while watching your bandmates perform, all the energy of the crowd and the adrenaline building up. Also to be capable of giving them the relief that everything will be played as meant... A total Master!!

[bibleenglish.]

Absolutely outstanding. Mike takes drums to a level that few have or ever will. Watching Mike play either inspires you or leads you to quit. There are no other options. He makes you see, in real time, your own mediocrity, and sometimes that is hard to deal with. I hope that he inspires you to see how far you may go if you practice, practice, practice, and study, study, study. Enough said.

[SimonAshcroft]

Cannot believe the absolute precision on this. Outstanding Mike!

Such an inspiration 🤘

[bowotrianggoro]

The way he plays, despite the difficulty of his drum part, this guy always amazes me. Mike Mangini is different. End period

[Mattonassis]

4:24 - look at Mike's face. His brain is always 3 seconds ahead of his body. Incredible monster!!!

[IvanOliv]

The words are not enough right now! 👏
Thank you for this version, Mike

[intertubicular]

OMG. That just made me quit playing drums again. INSANE flawless timing and chops Mike. Loved it!

[negedex]

This is an absolutely masterful performance. Loved it Mike!

[randysariollevy]

This is probably the first time in my life all I see is positive comments 🔥 genious, master, virtuoso 💪 falling short of adjectives here !!!

[Kretscire]

Mike's drumming is art!
He's from another planet.

[wongsakornwattanavekin]

I can see that for the part with simpler constant patterns is like a coffee break for him. Those moments are almost like he using only 0.0001% of his capacity so he can recharge his energy like running in eco mode. Then he switches to complex part by smoothly spending conserved energy. So efficient and Control.

[Cdrummer]

Awesome as always. A consummate Master. Thank you Mr. Mangini for putting in the thousands upon thousands of hours of practice over the many years for all of us to marvel at your absolute skill and perfection. Again, thank you for your tremendous professionalism. It is simply amazing.